Not before time and with still enough time to steady the ship before the World Cup, the FFA have bitten the bullet and sacked Holger Osieck after consecutive 6-0 defeats to Brazil and France.
This morning’s hiding by a motivated Le Bleus in Paris, coming after a similarly lifeless performance against the Selacao in Brasilia, left Frank Lowy and David Gallop with no choice.
It had to happen.
Despite qualifying the ‘Roos for a third consecutive World Cup, there can be no disputing that the team under Osieck’s guidance has been on a downward spiral, and for some time.
The slump in FIFA rankings certainly tells one tale, but it’s been the unacceptable performances and his inability to turn the team around and get it trending upwards that ultimately cost him his job.
For whatever reason, both Osieck and his predecessor Pim Verbeek were unable to rejuvenate the Socceroos, never truly showing the type of belief in our youngsters and mentality that Guus Hiddink did when he took over from Frank Farina in 2005.
There are many similarities in the decisions then and now. Essentially, they were both teams heading nowhere.
There were also signs nine or 10 months out from South Africa that Verbeek was struggling to regenerate his side.
Despite the odd question by this correspondent and a few others at the time, the FFA stuck with the Dutchman and ultimately suffered the 4-0 embarrassment against Germany.
This time Lowy wasn’t prepared to suffer the same fate, and rightly so.
“The decision is based on the longer term issues of the rejuvenation of the Socceroos team and the preparations for the World Cup and the Asian Cup,” he said.
“FFA has set a strategic objective of having a highly competitive team in Brazil and then handing over a team capable of winning the Asian Cup on home soil in January 2015.
“We have come to the conclusion that change is necessary to meet those objectives.”
Essentially, they have a couple of options.
The first involves going with someone like Guus Hiddink for the next eight months, knowing he won’t be afraid to make the tough calls or turn over the team, as he did in 2005.
Hiddink, or someone of his ilk, would essentially be here to not only refresh the team, but get them organised and competitive enough to make a mark in Brazil.
Due to the cost, there would be some expectation to balance the regeneration of the Socceroos with results at the World Cup.
But Hiddink would be here only for a short term, and hand over the team to a new manager, who would then have only six months to prepare for the home Asian Cup in January 2015.
Another position is to think of the World Cup and the Asian Cup as part of a longer strategic plan that involves the national team manager working to a process of bringing through our best talent to the national team.
Of course there will be pressure on that Socceroos manager to get results and be competitive, but the end goal wouldn’t be just about the results.
There would also be an evaluation of performance, playing style and whether the team is constantly moving forward.
Such a long-term plan may feature a desire to go with a homegrown manager.
In truth, it needn’t be so black or white, and we should always keep an an open mind about finding the best candidates.
But frankly, the technical work produced by the likes of Ange Postecoglou, Graham Arnold and Tony Popovic over the past few years of the A-League is light years ahead of anything produced by Osieck or Verbeek.
Postecoglou and Arnold, in particular, have served time in the national set, gone away and learnt from their errors, and have been producing consistently excellent work since.
What Postecoglou showed at the Brisbane Roar is that he isn’t afraid to come in, make the tough calls, and do things his way.
Essentially, his work involved turning over an aging team in a short period and instilling a confidence and template to play – just the type of job required here.
Arnold, too, has also had great success at building something over a longer term.
He takes a slightly more pragmatic or adaptable approach to finding football solutions than Postecoglou, and given the current shape of our playing roster, that would also be an option.
Either way, the aim wouldn’t be to turn our team into word beaters in eight month. It would be to turn the team over and find a template to make them competitive, and at least having a crack.
While they might not quite have the depth of talent coming through that Hiddink had at his disposal in 2005, between the likes of Robbie Kruse, Tom Rogic, Mat Leckie, Mat Ryan, Tommy Oar, Oliver Bozanic, James Holland and Mitch Langerak, there is enough of a base for a competitive unit, on the up.
Things can change very quickly in football, as we saw in 2005.
One of the disappointments under Verbeek and Osieck is that the Roos adopted a negative mentality and strategy to achieving their qualification.
It’s as if neither truly believed in the mentality or ability of their players.
By the time Verbeek woke up, after the 4-0 loss to Germany, it was too late. Osieck stubbornly refused to.
While it would have been better if the FFA had intervened earlier, this is a welcome move and breathes some life and hope back into the Socceroos.
Subbed
Guest
Marcelo Bielsa. That is all.
aubgraham
Roar Rookie
Australian U-19s qualified - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_AFC_U-19_Championship_qualification
Justin Thighm
Roar Guru
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-AFO0hmqB0
j binnie
Guest
realfootball - Glad to see someone else has noticed a common denominator. Let me add to your suspicions.Back in 2010. Berger was given charge of the Socceroos for a friendly match against Slovenia prior to Holger's arrival, he selected a pool of 20 players 11 of whom were still in the squad that met France the other day,7 actually taking the field. At the time Berger stated to the press "This is the start of the regeneration period for the Socceroos". So in 3 years we have seen 5 "new" players introduced into those that Berger had named,Langarack,Davidson, Williams,Kruse,& Mackay brought in as "improvements" to his squad.Discarded have been Federici,Burns,Djitje, McKain,North,Garcia & Valeri, 4 of these now playing in the HAL.Now like you say there is a high probability that since that statement, made in 2010,there has been one person in a job that would almost guarantee a "finger in the pie" for ALL decisions made re. coaching appointments & player selections at all levels,Han Berger, & I would not put it past the FFA to use him as an interim until his contract runs out AFTER the World Cup when,despite having stated publicly he is not satisfied with the progress being made with his "curriculum", he has now declared he will be leaving us, again,AFTER the World Cup !!.Interesting scenario. jb
Squizz
Guest
Have you every listened to Ange. Even last night when he should have had two players red carded he complained about the constant interruptions from the other team upsetting Victory's tempo. Good luck with that attitude going through Asia
realfootball
Guest
When did our U19s lose 5-1 to Vietnam? I've been overseas and must have missed this. Was Okon in charge? I assume he was. This is part of the problem. Where on earth is anything on Okon's CV to suggest he is an international youth coach? Sure, he was a player. Bobby Charlton was a rotten coach. The impression I have from the outside is that a jobs for the boys mentality rules in these appointments, and that it is almost impossible to get sacked if you are Australian. After that 5-1 defeat, the coach should have been immediately removed. How on earth is the lamentable Vidmar anywhere near any national team coaching setup after the debacle of the Olyroos? Those calling for a top to bottom review are right. But, guess what? The review is being conducted by the man who is the common demoninator in all these distrastrous decisions - Han Berger.
realfootball
Guest
This, I suspect, is exactly what will happen.
realfootball
Guest
+1 Cahill, along with Neill, is a large part of the current problem. Is not a striker and can't hold a place in the midfield. Impact bench player only at 34.
Rabbitz
Roar Guru
I guess you held it by the clean end?
j binnie
Guest
Melange- you should have noted I was posing a question re. a statement BJ had made re. the improvement in youth football in this country. I have watched most of our youth games played at all levels for the last 2 years & I can assure you there is no one in this country who wishes for improvement in that area more than I. The reference I made to the Vietnam result was simply made because it is the latest game they have played. In Turkey we played 3 games drawing 1 & losing 2 to fail once again in tournament progress.I then read reports that despite the results the team played well & yet IMO only 2 Australian players showed the consistency that I think would guaratee them some success in the immediate future.I refer of course to Da Silva & Chapman & having said that there will be no one more pleased than I if they all make a Socceroo team in the near future,but trouble is, I trust my assessment skills to be just a bit better than average. You ask for evidence. That to me would be superfluous for it is widely known our Under age teams have not done so well in recent years & surely even you would admit that not in every game do they run up against the type of "abberation" you describe. Not bitter,not cynical,but damned angry that we are being left behind.OK ? Cheers jb
j binnie
Guest
Punter - I don't quite follow your logic re. the Brazilians who I first saw winning the World Cup in Sweden way back in 1954.They had players then who would have walked into any European club even those of today but don't forget that back in the 50''s & 60"s money was not as plentiful in the sport as it is today,hence less movement of great players.Now as you say the world has moved on & being of the older generation you know that moving will continue but an examination of our national football teams has shown a distinct,if slow, decline since around 2000.It is really our Asian friends we have to fear for they certainly are moving forward & their improvements in the basics of the game are measurable to the informed observer. ps I didn't get who you meant when you started "they are better all round". Can I ask who????? jb
Justin Thighm
Roar Guru
What a sad and sorry week for Australia's international football development. Our U19s lose 5-1 to lowly Vietnam and likely now to miss qualification for the next U20 World Cup. Our senior Socceroos hammered again by six goals and now no manager. When Holger first started, like most of us, I had a sot spot for him and thought he would bring on the younger players and re-build as the older players retire. Trouble is none of the older players want to retire and are selfishly hanging on for that 3rd WC Finals appearance. What young players has Holger developed over the past 3 years to be regular Socceroos starters? None really. Let's face it, our international teams and international standing is in tatters, just before our fourth and 3rd WC finals appearance in a row and not long before our first hosting of the Asian Cup, which we should be trying to win. WTF is going on. The development of good young talent to take over from the golden era has been hopelessly mis-managed and the damage will last for at least a generation of football development.
smithha
Roar Pro
They could appoint Sir Alex Fergusson or Jose Mourinho as manager of the Socceroos and it still would not make a difference. There is simply not the cattle within Australian football to succeed.... at the moment. You mentioned Matt Ryan, Rogic, Oar etc. These are promising players, but none of them would go close to making the Socceroos side from 2006. We have qualified for the WC, and that is the best we could have hoped for given the players at our disposal. I could see Holger's sacking coming, but think he is pretty unlucky.
Griffo
Roar Guru
Yes, he is my pick for the longer term...
Melange
Guest
j, really disappointed with this comment from you. I've learned a lot of what you've said about the history of the sport and putting today's health and direction of the game into context. But this comment, with none of your usual evidence to back up your assessment smacks of bitterness and seems just a chance to push an agenda at us. Did you watch the 5-1 match, was it an abheration, did Vietnam score 5 from 5 and Australia have 15 great chances with spectacular saves from the Viet keeper/defenders, what was the condition of the players, any mitigating factors, what was the form of the team leading up to this match etc etc etc? M United, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Arsenal have suffered worse hidings the last 2 seasons, any comments on how poor their youth development is? A bit more objectivity please.
Cappuccino
Roar Guru
I'd say the best thing to do would be to bring back Guus on a short-term basis until the end of the World Cup, and then replace him with either Ange or Arnie for the Asian Cup and beyond. The FFA could even decide Guus' successor before the World Cup, and (only with Guus' agreement, of course) have them go along to Brazil as an assistant or observer so they get a good idea of the team before they take the reins permanently.
SVB
Guest
I polished a turd the other day so it can be done.
jamesb
Guest
Could we get a coach that's well known this time. With Pim and Holger, I had to check google to find out who they are!
Kevin
Guest
This is so well observed ! + 1
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
Well, if you don't have the clay, you can't make the pot.