As the A-League nears the finals series, another coach has called it quits. According to reports from New Zealand this morning, Wellington Phoenix manager Ricki Herbert has resigned from his position.
After a terrible run of form, it appears Herbert quit before he was sacked by the board.
After announcing plans to play a possession-based game mid-season, Herbert’s side has suffered several heavy defeats, losing 7-1 to Sydney FC in Round 17 and 5-0 to the Central Coast Mariners less than three weeks later.
They have quickly become the competition’s whipping boys.
Still, after a spirited comeback against Adelaide on Sunday afternoon, there were some signs of a revival for Wellington.
But it has been a tough year for Herbert.
His recruitment has been decent, bringing in Stein Huysegems, Benjamin Totori, Corey Gameiro and Carlos Hernandez, while promoting promising youth players Louis Fenton and Tyler Boyd.
He also made some cunning positional changes this season, moving Leo Bertos to right fullback and allowing Manny Muscat to cement his place as a defensive midfielder.
Both players have benefited immensely from their new roles.
Yet, Herbert should have been able to do more with the squad at his disposal. There is a feeling that his mid-year epiphany to play more “attractive” football may have been a misguided one.
With uncompromising defenders and big strong forwards, perhaps the Phoenix personnel would have been better to stick to their direct approach.
As the foundation coach at the Phoenix, it will be interesting to see what happens now in Wellington.
Herbert’s role has always been intertwined with his job for the national team. Assistants Chris Greenacre and Jonathan Gould are said to be taking the team for the rest of the season.
But assuming that Herbert is to stay on as national team coach, it is important for football in New Zealand that Wellington appoint someone who is willing to work closely with their predecessor.
It is hard to imagine Herbert being shoved aside completely.
Herbert’s demise is eerily reminiscent of Ian Ferguson’s at Perth. Both got their teams to the finals last season, and recruited well in the off-season, but were unable to continue their run of form.
And try as they might, both seemed unable to change their teams into attractive, enterprising sides.
It’s a timely lesson for A-League clubs looking to play possession-based football. The coach needs to be able to impart his philosophy to the players, and bring them along with him. It’s no good simply talking tiki-taka.
In any event, Herbert will be missed at Wellington. He is a hero of Kiwi football as both a player and a manager. He can now redeem himself by focusing on the All Whites. He is still one of the few who can say that he is undefeated as a World Cup coach!
It’s been a turbulent time for A-League managers this season. Herbert becomes the fifth coach to be sacked or quit this season.
Surely, he will be the last.
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