Post the dirty dozen goals at the hands of the Selecao and les Bleus, it seems everyone is weighing up foreign (Guus first, daylight second) versus domestic options (Postecoglou, Arnold).
But as the Mexican girl on the taco ad says: “Por que no los dos?”
The demands we face heading to Brazil are twofold: becoming competitive again, and, equally importantly, ushering through fresh new talent to excoriate the complacent old guard still dining out on that match against Japan at Kaiserslautern.
A foreign coach would certainly satisfy the former, but with eyes on the future may be less than fully committed to the latter.
A domestic coach may have the rush of blood needed to select fresh players like Oar, Rogic and company, but may experience doubts from the experienced members who remain once the inevitable broom goes through the squad.
Why not appoint a domestic coach now as an assistant to Guus or another suitable internationally experienced coach?
Gerard Houllier has much experience in the area of development, and Marcelo Bielsa has a sound international record.
A temporary wedding between (for argument’s sake) Guus Hiddink and Ange Postecoglou would bring back some competitive character.
The two could utilise their collective knowledge of A-League and European based players to form the new squad beyond Brazil, and then clean out the myriad deadwood that Pim and Holger have relied upon for the past six years.
Guus always has an eye for the future, but perhaps his last miracle could be for his beloved green and gold again.
Ange would benefit from his mentoring, while forming his own template for international management. He would be the first to concede that A-League and international coaching are poles apart.
At the end of a dark couple of weeks, we have a great opportunity to be competitive now and for the years ahead.
Miroaust
Guest
Yep, I already suggested a Guus-Ange partnership so no argument from me. It would be perfect. I appeal to Mr Lowy to dig into his pocket. As an aside, we still complain about spending $45m on the WC22 bid. Well the people who comprehensively beat us paid Zidene $15m for half a day in front the cameras to be their spokesman. The world of football is now the world of high finance and I'm sure Mr Lowy understands that. The stakes for Australia could not be bigger We absolutely must put in a good show in Brazil and we must make the AC final. Then Qantas will beg to be our marquee sponsor. I find it absurd that we will not spend say $3m-5m on Hiddink plus pay Ange of course. It will actually be a very small price to pay for what it can get us. A final point on Holger. I am happy he was dismissed. But imagine if we were now playing great football but had failed to qualify for Brazil. Imagine that. It does not bear thinking about. On a scale f 1 to 10, qualifying for the WC is 10, success in AC is 8 and quality of football is 6. But we want it all!
EDO
Guest
Guys, Arnie was already an understudy for Gus when Gus coached the Aussies to the World Cup. I think that at this late stage we need to look for someone who is going to save the team from embarrassing showing rather than someone to build a team. We do not have the luxury of having a Ange or anybody else to build a team. What we need now is results and just after the World Cup then look to put any other coach, Australian if you like to build a team for the next four years. No local coach would be able to make a bunch of disheartened players into shape in such a short time. The idea may be great but not for now, we are in crisis mode at the moment and obviously, the guys did not understand whatever system Holger was trying to implement. I think that Gus is one option, and if the first Melbourne Heart coach is available, bring him on a short contract until the World Cup is over
Football_Wunderkind
Roar Pro
This is the best solution I have heard of for our current predicament. Players in Europe and players in the A-League. Guus can manage the European side of things and Ange can collaborate with him about the A-League side of things. Ange can learn a ton from Guus and then take over directly after the World Cup and lead the team for the Asian Cup 2015 and beyond. This way... Ange can coach Melbourne Victory and has a close up of all the players he is coaching against as possible World Cup Squad players. The more I think about this partnership, the more I love the idea of it but it must be contingent on Ange continuing on for the 2018 Campaign.
ross
Guest
Australia competitive in football man you have no idea NZ have done better in world cups they can say they were the only undefeated team in the last world cup and they have only one A-League team too. Football is the 4th code simple as that Gallop is kidding himself to say it will be the number one football code especially when he was the Rugby League CEO and said that Rugby League would be- best idea is get rid of Frank Lowy the guy is a cancer for Football too much power and no ideas and get rid of Gallop too another useless tosser
ross
Guest
The Socceroos play like a non league amateur side against a full time professional premier league side totally play like nevilles when playing as they have no defence, no attack and no idea. Get rid of the oldies from the side and pick the youngens with 8 months to mould a side for future chances of success which is not Brazil 2014. Australia will never win a world cup so why stick with over the hill players pick players with an eye on the Asian championships at least Australia can then say they are the best team in Asia. If people think the A League is the is the litmus test for players think again its very much third division UK standard or lower and any player of any worth should apply their talents in better leagues overseas as the A league wont develop players enough in skills for future international duties to make Australia at least competitive for a sizeable amount of matches against quality opposition.
Rory11
Roar Rookie
sounds good! if that could ever be possible that is. Guus and Ange would be perfect