The appointment of 17 year-old debutant Mitch Cooper as captain of Gold Coast United at tonight’s A-League fixture put coach Miron Bleiberg in some hot water with the boss yesterday.
It has also unfairly placed the youngster right in the centre of yet another controversial club decision.
From day one, Clive Palmer has made it his mission to be involved as much as possible in the running of Gold Coast United.
Though his decisions sometimes shock and confuse, and earn the ire of Australian football fans, for the most part you can tell Palmer loves his club and desperately wants it to succeed.
His latest audacious move was instructing Bleiberg to give the captain’s armband to National Youth League regular Mitch Cooper, while their skipper Michael Thwaite is out suspended.
This will make Cooper the youngest ever player to captain a side in the A-League.
Palmer prefaced the decision as just another example of the commitment the club has to giving greater exposure to their younger players, by allowing them to play alongside the big boys.
Bleiberg’s comments after the announcement, however, were far less rosey.
“He will toss the coin. Then he will ask Kristian Rees which way to go, and then Kristian will tell him what to do during the game.
“He will do the ceremony,” Bleiberg said.
“It’s a nice gesture from Clive Palmer and the club to make him captain for the day.”
This blunt response from Bleiberg wasn’t well received by Palmer and earned the head coach a one game club suspension, leaving assistant Mike Mulvey to take his place for the game against Melbourne Heart.
Rees, along with a handful of other more experienced players, would appear the more logical choice for captain in Thwaite’s absence. But despite his young age, Mitch Cooper has proven he can handle himself on the big stage.
I’ve been lucky to have followed Cooper’s rise to prominence in recent years, while covering the Queensland State League.
Cooper was consistently a stand-out on the pitch, playing for the Queensland Academy of Sport. Not long into the season mid-last year, he was selected to play for the U-17 Joeys at the last FIFA U-17 World Cup in Mexico, where he bagged a man-of-the-match award against trailblazers, Brazil.
Instrumental playing for Gold Coast United in the National Youth League, Cooper’s talent continues to blossom.
As a menacing and versatile attacking midfielder, he’s scored six goals so far this season. Joined in the team by other rising stars and fellow QAS reps, unlike their senior counterparts, the youth side are actually doing exceptionally well in fourth spot on the NYL ladder.
So you cannot doubt Cooper’s quality.
Still, with their apparent refusal to sign experienced players, the selection of Cooper as captain on debut is one that will baffle many, and reinforce Gold Coast United’s growing reputation as the joke of the A-League.
There’s already been an overwhelmingly negative response from football fans.
But while we begin the fierce debate over whether or not this was the right or wrong move for the club, let’s not forget there’s a young man involved with a very bright future ahead of him, about to face a significant moment in his footballing career.
For him, his family and friends.
PeterK
Guest
I'm with you, Ben. The damage done to the HAL by another club's departure is far greater than anything we're witnessing now.
Titus
Guest
See ya Clive, don't let the door hit you on the way out. PS we'll take Thwaite, Halloran and Traore at Sydney.
jamesb
Guest
looks like this issue regarding palmer is coming to a head very quickly. http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/soccer/clive-palmer-slams-football-refuses-to-guarantee-future-of-gold-coast-united/story-e6frepmf-1226274668335 comments such as "i don't even like the game" "I think it's a hopeless game. Rugby league's a much better game." "the A-League's a joke. I don't think I'll ever talk to Ben again in my life, to be honest." you would think that those comments are very defamatory towards soccer/football Its time for Buckley and Lowy to step up right now. Palmer has to go, while for GCU, either get a consortium in place or fold.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
It seems that, no matter how much money a person has and how many toys he/she has acquired, the richest people in the world want to be involved with professional sport and, for the super-rich "involvement" means ownership. Of course, for most of the world, sport equals football. Some also invest in F1 Racing teams & racing yachts, in the US, the rich folk also invest in professional baseball, gridiron, basketball & ice hockey and recently, on the subcontinent the super rich are investing in football & 20/20 cricket. By all accounts, these purchases are acquired & managed as hobbies; not as true investments. The name Roman Abramovic will be known to most adults on the planet but his countryman, Suleiman Keimov is more anonymous ... for now. Keimov will spend more than €1 billion (yes, BILLION) on his hobby - the unfashionable football club, Anzhi Makhachkala, which is based in Dagestan, which is one of the most dangerous parts of Russia. Keimov just acquired Guus Hiddink as team coach and has the world's most expensive footballer - Cameroon striker, Samuel Eto'o, who will receive €60m for 3 years football. For the super-rich, it's obvious that investing in football clubs is more than simply striving for an ROI that exceeds your WACC. Source: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/ad4e8816-52d0-11e1-ae2c-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1metaRpSZz
pete4
Guest
Ian - the A-League hardly gets saturation media coverage like the AFL. So I don't agree with your assertion no-one turns up to our games. I think the A-League does very well crowds wise considering we are lucky to even feature for 3 second highlight on FTA and all the negative press some outlets are very keen to bring up from time to time
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
But when you dont like a sort of football, then everything you can make up that makes it look bad is by definition true ! Documentation is for wimps, and, remember, there is no difference between a planned investment program and losing money because no one actually showing up at your games. And, yes, Im expecting crowds of 9000 at GWS games this year.
The_Wookie
Roar Guru
you got a source for the losses made by the Gold Coast Suns ? I certainly cant find any? They met Sponsorship, Membership and Crowd targets, so they are at least on budget.
scott rouisell
Guest
Anyone can see Palmer is not an enthusiast. So obvious in fact but I hope he can read these posts telling of the real Palmer - not the kind of owner you would want to be 'backing' you own club. Yes the use of the word backing is very cynical..
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Fussball, You're sure, or you bothered to find out ? For the record, Brisbane ran the equivlent of a 4-4-1-1 last year, and the big target man got injured a couple of times, including when they played the cross-town upstarts, and - as Im sure you know - a target man system doesnt work well without a target man. But I'd be expecting you to have found out stuff like that before you used phrases like "comedy act", unless you're a lazy cheap shot artist.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Ian I'm sure everyone beat Brisbane in AFL last year - from what I've read they were awful. But, in Football, Brisbane won the double and created an Australian record for consecutive unbeaten matches, so GCU's win against Brisbane in football this year was pretty special.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Fussball, Oddly, Gold Coast also beat Brisbane in the AFL. I'd have expected you to have found that out before you called the Gold Coast Suns a "comedy act".
pete4
Guest
Found this article: "Having been burned by its first attempt at expansion, the FFA has now decided to concentrate on shoring up the finances of the existing 10 teams, but head office hasn't given up hope of a 12-team league to coincide with the next TV deal in 2013 - a timeline which dovetails perfectly with Canberra's ambitions" http://www.smh.com.au/sport/a-league/canberra-wants-aleague-berth-by-2013-20110916-1kdb5.html
Atawhai Drive
Roar Guru
Agreed, it's Canberra for me too. I know it's not particularly relevant, but we have the Raiders, the Brumbies, and a pretty good W-League team all representing the national capital. As The Cattery says, they have a good stadium in Canberra, the AIS is there, and it's a good sporting town. Everyone likes to bag Canberra, but I'm a Canberra fan. All right, I don't have to live there, but it's a good place to visit. I'd happily make a weekend of it if Sydney FC were playing in Canberra. And yes, just what is the status of their bid?
SAMURAI
Roar Pro
At least this has got the club some publicity. But really, regardless of how talented this kid is, its insane to give the captaincy to a high school kid making his professional debut.
Australian Rules
Guest
I'm not criticising GCU's on-field performance at all. I think they're done quite well considering.. My criticism is about the attitude of celebrating..and then denigrating...private ownership (vis a vis Clive Palmer). People must realise that these fallouts come with the territory of private ownership...especially when the owner is a cantankerous mining magnate. (Beware Newcastle) As for the Suns' "comedy act"...3 wins essentially by a bunch of untried teenagers WAS a success. As has been repeated ad nauseum...it's a 20 year plan...not a 3 year one.
Realfootball
Guest
Here you go again, Fuss, negating the right for anyone to comment on an issue. Clive Palmer, like anyone, has specific areas of expertise. Football is well outside his expertise. Mining and football, in case you hadn't noticed, are not the same thing. Nice, however, to know that Clive has such a rock solid supporter in our midst.
pete4
Guest
Clive Palmer just posted on Twitter: Last chance today to vote for 7 new National Living Treasures. I'm very honoured to be among nominees. Vote at http://www.womansday.com.au
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
The Cattery I know you watch a lot of HAL on TV so I'm sure you will agree that, even though GCU is bottom of the table this season, they play a fantastic brand of football and, if you are being honest, you, too, would agree that GCU have been extremely unlucky in many of the games they have drawn or lost. And, GCU has beaten last year's champions BRI & smashed AUFC 0-3 at Hindmarsh. In the past 11 games, GCU has only been beaten once by more than a goal, which indicates they're not far off the pace despite losing the core of their team
The Cattery
Roar Guru
It might be true that the Suns have lost more than GCU, I don't know, don't forget that the Suns played for two seasons in lower leagues before graduating to the AFL, and those early years would have generated next to zero income. It's a bit rich to call the Suns a comedy act in the context of GCU, I think many would agree that the establishment of the Suns has gone very well on so many levels, in fact, to win three games was a massive achievement for them, afterall, they entered the AFL with only 8 of 40 players with AFL experience. GCU did well in their first two seasons, but now occupy the bottom of the A-League table in their third - so their onfield performance is at least a bit mixed.
gawa
Guest
Exactly, the people in charge are guilty of using and abusing a 17 year old lad to push their issues with the governing body. Hats off to Miron, his comments were chosen to reduce any expectation and to protect the kid. Palmer and Mensick should be ashamed of themselves, I wouldn't be at all suprised if they in breach of care of duty to an employee.