Football Federation Australia has chosen Melbourne Victory coach Ange Postecoglou to replace Holger Osieck as coach of the Socceroos after the German was sacked following consecutive 6-0 losses to Brazil and France.
Postecoglou is the right man for the job. He is the most successful Australian domestic football coach, with four national championships, two national premierships and one continental title to his name.
He has also worked previously for the FFA, spending a number of years coaching Australia’s youth teams and playing a role in scouting and developing homegrown talent.
However, we cannot forget Postecoglou’s failed attempt to qualify the Young Socceroos for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2007, the first time since 1989.
The FFA needs to continue showing confidence in the playing and coaching talent here in Australia for us to grow as a competitive footballing nation.
Hiring Postecoglou is a great start. He’s been there before as a player too, having represented Australia on four occasions between 1986 and 1988, as well as at youth level in 1985.
But we need Ange to stick around as a long-term fixture in order to rebuild.
The quick-fix nature of the Socceroos coaching role must change, otherwise the FFA may as well start looking for Postecoglou’s replacement now.
A plan also needs to be implemented to help blood more young players for our national team. Why do you think football powerhouse nations such as Spain and Brazil have been so successful year in, year out?
The FFA should also look to eventually introduce a promotion and relegation system to the A-League competition.
Ultimately, this would expand and improve the quality of professional football in Australia, as well as the depth of domestic talent.
We want the Socceroos to be competitive at next year’s FIFA World Cup in Brazil, but we’re not expecting them to advance past the group stage.
The FFA needs to already be planning ahead for the next two World Cups, as well as the AFC Asian Cup, which will be held in Australia for the first time in 2015.
And whatever their plan, Ange needs to be part of it.
JWillus
Guest
Enjoyed reading your article Huntley. Ange Postecoglou will surely have to bleed new players throughout the World cup, Asian cup and into the future finding permanent replacements for Cahill (though tearing up the MLS), Schwazer, Brescanio and the likes. However I feel the issue lies deeper in youth development that separates the Australia from Europe. Australia has more juniors playing soccer than the Netherlands (runners up at the last World Cup) yet some where along the line these kids lose interest and the capacity to nurture young talent is lost. I would say David Gallop place needs to continue making changes from top to bottom to maintain soccers progress in Australia.
AndyRoo
Roar Guru
It was also our first time going through Asia. I bet we made lots of mistakes in the planning. Most A league clubs struggled with their first crack at ACL football and the Socceroos first appearance at the Asian cup wasn't full of highlights.
striker
Guest
True AZ the best thing about Ange he does it his way unlike Holger who was getting feedback from the media on who he should choose to play, what a joke no wonder there was no confidence in therr last two games.
AZ_RBB
Guest
I wonder how many seats have been put aside for people who buy season tickets before the match.
AZ_RBB
Guest
Using Ange's U20 experience is like using Lucas Neill's career from before 2007 as validation for why he should or shouldn't be in the team. Time changes a lot of things. In Ange's case he has done wonders since.
Melange
Guest
I would only be worried about the failed U20 world cup attempt, which people continue to bring up as evidence that Ange is not the man for the job, if he hadn't learnt anything from it. Each year I watch Ange's teams I see evidence of further improvement. Has there ever been a world cup coach that has won one after previously failing? Considering how few teams get to win a WC then I'd suggest yes.
striker
Guest
The game changer is definately western sydney wanderers and a off course Del piero, if we can keep the new fans in there that will be the challenge, the thing that puts us in front of the other codes its the colour and atmosphere at our games this is our biggest selling point, lets hope its a great game as the atmosphere will be incredible and probally the best ever witnesed here.
Towser
Guest
TImmuh Outside or inside its an important question. Firstly setting up P/R in the 21st century is not the same as when P/R started over 100 years ago in Europe. It evolved naturally back then. In England this allowed 4 professional divisions & teams found their own level of support in accordance with, as a general rule the size of City/Town. So today we have to manufacture a P/R system & ask will it work if say for instance WSW's or Victory dropped down a division therefore presenting their fans with a lower standard of football. IMO no it wont ,for any P/R system to stand a chance of working today the difference between the standard of first division football & second has to be minimal. To do that every expansion team that comes into the A-League has to be a WSW's & hit the park running. That means finding at all times quality footballers be that imports or locals. This for me is the most difficult task going forward. Whether The NPL will provide some of these expansion clubs too early to tell. However lets presume each expansion club maintains the standard of the A-League at what point do you split it in two & have two divisions? Twenty sounds good ,but I dont see enough towns in a small population like Australia to make up twenty. So 10 currently add Canberra Wollongong Geelong North Qld Gold Coast thats fifteen. Look across the Tasman Christchurch,Auckland,thats 18. Leave it there as a 10 team first division & 8 team second division. Could possibly be Ipswich in the future as the population is growing rapidly there,but all, pie in the sky anyway unless there's a major input of finance from the next TV deal,so I dont see anything happening practically before then.
Mike
Roar Guru
That's a good chart, Fuss! I agree on that one. We are indeed growing quickly this year, and I hope it continues to do so. But even if the growth halted slightly, it's still growth from what once was a couple of years back. But I can't see it happening at this stage.
Midfielder
Guest
Fuss posted the other day a little chart and I think it went like this.. First media deal ... the game starter .. Second media deal ... the game saver.. Third media deal ... the game changer ... I think he is right ... My only concern is we are growing very quickly this year ... hope we don't have a real spike and then drop a little next year... DG has made a huge difference ... I can only imagine if Obi Wan had got him after JON as he wanted... where we would be today...
mahonjt
Guest
Yep - that should be the ultimate aim for the A-League. The NPL should also be allowed to grow over the long term such that a larger pool of StatePL teams go into a couple of groups/phases and then knock out - say over the next 20 years? Then (and only then) should we seriously look at PR, although there may be a case for some of these NPL teams to become part of the 14 A-League teams as expansion occurs..
Mike
Roar Guru
The next TV deal is going to be very exciting, and will do wonders for the FFA and A-League. These next four years will be all about developing and building upon the success of the A-League, and 2013-14 is already off to a huge start. I think a future B-League made up of the best and most stable NPL teams is not out of the question. The two biggest problems would be: 1) Bridging the gap to the A-League. In fact, it might not ever happen, but this B-League would be a great talent feeder for the A-League. 2) Converting fans. Regional teams might be most successful at this, but it'll be hard for seconds tier city teams, especially when there are already one or two A-League teams. Just look at how fierce the competition is for the two Melbourne teams in terms of membership. Obviously people can follow multiple teams, but maybe not to the extent of jerseys and memberships for a B-League side.
striker
Guest
Satudays derby a sellout official tweet from Sydney FC must be close to 40k there lets hope the game is a cracker the atmosphere will be. #SydneyDerby is officially SOLD OUT become a @SydneyFC Member http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/sydneyfc/membership … to attend this blockbuster match! #SydneyIsSkyBlue
pete4
Guest
I think the A-League will become a 12 team league probably after the next TV deal. The long term plan will be I think to form the B-League from a selection of the strongest 12 NPL clubs in each state but this can only happen once the TV deal is big enough to filter right down (probably won't happen for another 20 years realistically)
Mike
Roar Guru
It's hard to say. I'd be more looking at the prospective second division teams instead of the quantity in the first. In terms of numbers, I think if the A-League had 14+ plus teams, they could have just one relegated. Of course, it all sounds so simple on pen and paper. Even if the A-League had 20 or more teams, P&R won't happen until there is money and fans in the second division. I'm with AZ_RBB below. Stability, members, and a few more A-League clubs is what would make me happy! We can live without P&R, the only problem is that the AFC don't like us not having it. Maybe a more powerful NPL and FFA Cup will be enough in terms of lower tiers.
AZ_RBB
Guest
If by 2020 we have 14 very stable clubs and 150k+ season ticket holders, I will be very happy.
Timmuh
Roar Guru
I'm looking at it from outside, but how many teams would be required before P&R was a realistic option? I would have thought at least 20 to make both tiers, assuming only two tiers, a decent size. That surely won't happen by 2020. And that is leaving aside the general neglect of second (regularly available) tiers across sports in this country.
The no. three
Guest
Here we go wanting the FFA to get all fancy when we know that they are one dimentional. Selecting Ange to them is an absolute masterstroke, It is the right choice nonetheless. Expansion to D Gallop is like witchcraft is to being Christian. There is more chance of no more bushfires in Australia than a second division implemented. Progress may take 200 years from now.
Mike
Roar Guru
I'm definitely all for promotion and relegation one day, but the thought of it at present is a little terrifying. I can't help but feel if they tried anything anytime soon it might severely backfire. The main problem is that there just aren't enough teams right now that are capable of being in the A-League. I'm sure some NPL teams might have some money behind them, but it's a logistical nightmare that needs to be very carefully planned out. Simon Hill had some good ideas recently about having the FFA invest in a new club, then selling them off later on, and then using the profits (if any) to re-invest in the next new club. I thought that was quite a good strategy, and clearly it has worked with the WSW. Don't get me wrong, there's nothing I want right now more than expansion of the A-League. But I also know that we are just one-more-team-folding away from a media slaughterhouse. I say they should spend the rest of the decade carefully looking into and planning and implementing expansion. And then, if the time is right, consider P&R after the year 2020. But even then, it's all up in the air. It's hard to foresee the future when it's 2013, but next decade there will surely be a lot more football fans in Oz, and a higher demand for regional teams. If it's feasible, then I'm happy. :)