It’s hard to ignore the similarities between Ian Crook’s weekend resignation from Sydney FC and Mehmet Durakovic’s Christmas-time exodus from the Melbourne Victory.
Both took command of the A-League’s two most high profiled clubs in the wake of their respective administrations ditching the two men who’d brought them their most success.
Durakovic and Crook both arrived at their clubs with a degree of goodwill. Both fairly likeable, good intentioned chaps who fostered an air of smooth transition in the wake of Vitezlav Lavicka and Ernie Merrick’s messy, perhaps unwarranted, departures.
Lovely. If only professional sports were a book club.
Crook and Durakovic landed their jobs with resumes which really weren’t good enough for the A-League. During the pre-season and in interviews this was masked by their positivity and clean record. However once the real stuff got going, they both floundered.
Where both really came unstuck was when Melbourne and Sydney brought in the big players on the big wages, with resumes overly qualified for the A-League.
Brilliant as both signings were, the Harry Kewell and Alessandro Del Piero signings both served as the catalysts for their manager’s departures.
Not because they rocked the boat and not because they underperformed. They each sealed their manager’s fate because they quickly exposed their boss’s weaknesses.
Perhaps a manger’s credentials and tactical nous can be hidden when a team is populated by a team of players whose on field qualifications are the equal of their coach’s off field acumen.
Yet let loose a coach whose shortcomings are revealed to players who have been in places and situations their managers could only dream of, and the boat begins to wobble.
Kind of like the backyard gardener being called up to run the botanical gardens.
Durakovic held on longer at Melbourne because management at the time couldn’t bring itself to admit how badly it had screwed up both Merrick’s sacking and their apparent ‘worldwide’ search for a new manager.
By resigning, Crook made Sydney FC’s job a lot easier and saved their administration from making the tough call. Ironically, Crook may also have just saved Sydney’s season.
Bela Guttman
Guest
There is pressure from the fans of course, but I think (and hope) that one thing that distinguishes Heart is that it takes a long-term view, just as it prefers to develop young players than to buy a ready made solution, it also has planned for and is prepared to develop it's own coaches from within the club as a first option. I'm sure that the biggest pressure on Aloisi is the one that he places on himself. He's certainly played under some great coaches like Aguirre at Osasuna and Venables at Portsmouth and of course Hiddink for the Socceroos. I think that the club will give him time.
Seven Nation Army
Guest
And how much pressure does Aloisi have on him to succeed?
Jonno
Guest
It's not just about the coaches resume, it is his ability to hold his own in every aspect of the game, training, dressing room, media, Board etc. If the coach isn't completely confident it just won't work. We have very good youth team coaches who can take this step, the problem is clubs often fail to recognise who the best are and just keep making poor choices.
TC
Guest
Some good observations - I think the parallels are definitely there. Both were youth team coaches, rightly or wrongly were given the top job, both involved successful clubs with very big expectations and in both cases, a mega-star was foisted on them by club management, and one suspects the two managers had very little say in the matter, and unsurprisingly, neither was well-equipped to handle the changed circumstances. That is not to have a go at them, most people would not have been enamoured of not having control of your circumstances. TC
Geordie
Guest
Hmmm seems as though there is a similar scenario playing out at the roar.........unfortunately
Bela Guttman
Guest
I'm not sure why there's such a rush to sack coaches when we play in a league without the risk of relegation. Aloisi is a case in point, a new coach who will be given time to develop with his team
Joe Gorman
Expert
dunno about that, Sydney's squad looked as balanced as it ever has until the departure of Niicky Carle, which was the catalyst for the signing of Del Piero. They certainly didn't 'prioritise' a marquee, they ended up with one after some unforseen circumstances.
Joe Gorman
Expert
James, not sure if you can say that Crook wasn't qualified for the A-League. He knows the club better than anybody and did well with the youth team. However, I like the comparison, HK and ADP did increase the pressure on both coaches to perform in their first season
Mato-Bateman
Guest
Said the exact same thing before the game. I said, just looking at the bench, that Sydney were going to lose. I kept saying during the game that 2-0 was a nervous lead and that shutting shop early would be a mistake, especially with the bench they had. Lovrek should have at least made the bench.
Paul
Guest
It would remain to be seen whether Sydney FC prioritised a big marquee over squad balance and coaching staff. I'm not sure Crook should be the one falling on his sword.
Antonio
Guest
Contrast this quick exit to what happen to Perth Glory's head coach Ian Ferguson last season. In a similar position with fans and there were accusations that the board was turning against him and look at what Perth archived last season where Perth are now.
George
Guest
As much as i feel for Crook, this was his side.. 11 new players, 10 are his, ADP was a club thing but never the less, he was left to his own devices. The game against MV, i said to my mate before the kickoff "i hope we dont need to use our bench because it doesnt inspire me one bit" and well.......... the rest is history.