Frank Lowy might have talked of the Socceroos becoming the number one ranked team in Asia under Ange Postecoglou’s five-year tenure, but for now most green and gold fans would be happy enough if he gets us excited about watching the team again.
Such has been the stagnation over the past two World Cup campaigns under Pim Verbeek and Holger Osieck that many long time fans have switched off, rarely bothering to get up for games, even against Brazil and France.
With an obsession for short term results, both on and off the field, the Socceroos have essentially gone from the positive team we all loved to a listless one that might be making it to World Cups, but at times resembles melting plastic.
It has been a process of the FFA’s making, hiring old school managers only interested in ticking their qualification boxes, not properly assessing their performances, and allowing many senior players to sign corporate deals that assume they are national team members.
Whether it’s been with Sony, Weetbix, Qantas, Optus or as Captain Ambassador for the Asian Cup, it seems a culture has been created where it’s as much about what playing for the country can do for the player.
The incumbent skipper, Lucas Neil, was allowed to say this about the Captain Ambassador role, “It’s like wearing the captain’s armband, but never having to take it off.”
Spin has surrounded the Roos, from the head office, to the manager, to its players, to the media that have long spruiked for their favourites.
The fact the FFA have allowed this largesse to fester smacks of an organisation that has lost touch with what the Socceroos really stand for.
As Postecoglou so rightfully pointed out in his Fairfax column last week, the sense of entitlement that has surrounded the national team has to be eradicated.
Those involved have to remember it’s a privilege to represent a team that belongs not to them but the nation.
Postecoglou sees the big picture, can articulate it and has a history of making it happen.
He spoke in an impressive press conference yesterday about a priority being to make the Roos world class off the field.
Clearly, everyone involved is now on notice, and accountable.
While he may accept at least some of the branding activity that surrounds the national team, he will demand things be done his way.
With that autonomy, it’s the football that will dictate.
He will build parameters and ruffle feathers, knowing quick change is required.
This might not impress some of the bean-counters and hangers-on that circle the Roos, but he will care little about pleasing them and more about restoring pride in the green and gold.
Ultimately, he is someone who not only cares for the national team and the growth of football in Australia, but has the strength and conviction to manage stakeholders at every level.
Since his successful stint at the Brisbane Roar, I’ve argued he’s the only person who could take any role in Australian football and fit comfortably in it, whether that be Roos manager, FFA chairman or CEO, national technical director, head of A-League or chief Fox pundit.
It has been some bounce-back since that on-air stoush with Craig Foster in 2006, and that’s a credit to his belief.
He points to the experiences in his mid 30s, when he was pipped by Frank Farina to the Roos role and went on to manage at youth level, as formative.
He saw then how tough things were for Farina and went to school on it, describing it as his coaching PhD.
Brendan Rodgers was glowing about Postecoglou’s performance after the Melbourne Victory’s July MCG friendly against Liverpool, privately suggesting he was better than most in England.
Now the world gets a chance to see one of our best.
When Farina was given the job, it was on the basis that the governing body at the time was cash strapped.
Now the feeling is we are throwing our best long-term option at the world stage.
The process has been a right old mess, with the lack of compensation for the Melbourne Victory and consultation with Graham Arnold and Tony Popovic not reflecting well on the FFA, but they have a man who will restore much of the belief, and quick.
With Brazil looming and a home Asian Cup to perform in soon after, the next 15 months will be some of the most important yet for our Socceroos.
We need a team on the rise, and soon.
Lowy might carry on about being the biggest and best at everything, but Postecoglou and his hand-picked crew will immerse themselves in the process, making informed and measured calls along the road to refreshing the Roos and rekindling our love for them.
The Bear
Guest
Good luck AP, I hope you find the balance between your immediate vision of what we potential may do AND what we can actually achieve with the resources and time constraints. With a bit of brave luck we may surprise everybody going into Brazil2014 (especially after the two 6 nil losses!!)
The Bear
Guest
I am hoping Towser has an article being written as we speak to delineate this issue.
The Bear
Guest
Great point. It's a gamble of sorts but it was the best decision under the circumstances, as well. I guess that's what is called a brave decision, although it was the only real practical decision.
The Bear
Guest
Can't you spoon feed it to me, Towser. The data is a bit overwhelming.
The Bear
Guest
I guess it's a luxury of time that we can't indulge. I guess I am merely trying to assuage my guilt for giving an ultimatum to certain players. I need to stir in the concrete to my coffee this morning.
Adrian
Guest
Can you trust ange with this job. Look at international soccer he failed with youth teams
one issue..
Guest
Good appointment in Ange.. Good article too... But i have one nagging issue.. as a child (when it was considered good practice), I absolutely loved watching plastic melt and burn.
Justin Thighm
Roar Guru
This is the riskiest (and most exciting) decision taken by the FFA in recent times. Is it based on selecting the best person for the job, the cheapest option or the quickest option. Ange's success is only at domestic level and he doesn't have a very good international record, even in the ACL. Its a risk, but a risk worth taking, because if it pays off the benefits and rewards are immense. I don't expect him to get any magical results in the short term and wonder how much time the FFA will give him to prove himself. He needs time to get his system established, weed out the dead wood and get in the players that suit his style. Be patient people and give the Socceroos all your support. They will do better at Brazil and in the Asian Cup than if Holger was still in charge. But its a bit like Rudd taking over from Gillard - they still lost anyway, but didn't lose by as much as everyone expected.
scott
Guest
I think the next 5 years will be a period of rejuvenation, consolidation and gradual progression. There’s no doubt that Ange will get rid of a huge chunk of our aging squad. Of the players over 30 I’d keep Bresciano, because his vision and passing isn’t reliant on covering huge amounts of territory, and possibly Cahill as an impact player. While the players that we have in their 20’s, such as Kruse, have the ability to be good, solid professional players outside of Kruse we don’t really have anyone playing at a high level in Europe. When a player’s at a club that’s not only challenging for domestic honours but also playing in Europe the player needs to be both technically very good and tactically flexible. This then means the player should be able to adapt to whatever style of play a manager asks of them. To implement Ange’s style of play at club level he needed to be working with his player’s day in day out for 6+ months. At international level he won’t get this opportunity. He’ll also be coming up against the very best players and some of the very best managers in the world, which is a big step up from the A-league. While I think he should still be able to get his team playing a passing and possession game I think Brazil will be more of a learning experience for both him and his players. We won’t be embarrassed, as we would’ve under Osieck, but I don’t think we’ll be going past the group stage. Hopefully by 2018 we'll be in a position to get past the group stage.
Ian
Guest
My sarcasm remark was actually about my own comment...........but Ange could end up at CCM. It's anyone's guess. CCM as good place as any.
The Bear
Guest
The difference in squad depth and quality was obvious, also Brisbane were to be a better team had they a more dynamic midfield in MacKay sticking around. I may assume Ange has developed a fair bit too since then. The first game v FC Tokyo was tight and high praise heaped on AP and the Roar for their football. FC Tokyo bowed out in the Round of 16. Many decent clubs run 3rd of 4th in these group stages...and a team like Adelaide can even progress to the Quarters and beyond, even ; )
The Bear
Guest
I like the attitude : ) Battle through it with an Asian Cup to look forward to. We'll be in a much better place through this fiery furnace which is Brazil 2014
The Bear
Guest
Community Service Announcement: Obviously, this blogger does not speak on behalf of other passionate supporters of Football in this country ; )
Melange
Guest
Any sarcasm intended? None at all, just a tongue in cheek chance to put my team as the pinnacle of coaching.
tom
Guest
people optimism is to be admired over ange's appointment. However I fear it will turn sour. The only time ange had to pit his managerial skills internationally during his period as an a league coach was in the champons league with the roar. he promised to coach the team to go all the way and did not get past the 1st stage. my memory of matches was that Brisbane were 2nd best.
Stevo
Guest
Every group will be 'deathly' for us - but who cares when in rebuilding mode.
Davo
Guest
Goodbye to socceroos useless players such as: Holman, Holland, Neill, Cornthwaite, Thwaite, Brosque, Ognenovski, Wilkshire, Carney. Please Ange!!!
Ian
Roar Pro
Whilst I have been vocal in a recent article (http://www.theroar.com.au/2013/10/16/no-more-socceroo-coaches-with-l-plates/) about my objection to appointing any one of these inexperienced World Cup Finals A-League coaches, I will be right behind Ange and the team, hoping that I am proven wrong, and that he becomes a raving success. One can draw some solace from some of parallels with the USA experience when Bob Bradley was appointed as its head coach with a similar profile to Postecoglou, following USA's disappointing WC2006 performance in Germany. . Like Ange, Bradley was a home grown coach with local knowledge and who immediately went about building a strong foundation for the team, introducing younger players to the squad. He had a successful almost 5 year tenure at international level with a 54% win-loss record from 80 games. In 2009, Bradley led the U.S. team to a 2nd place finish in the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup and reached the second round of WC2010 losing to Ghana AET. He was replaced by Jurgen Klinsmann in 2011 when USA appointed the man they had prerred in the first instance. However, that nagging feeling remains, that this decision was mainly made with the heart not the head by FFA following the emotionally lead clamour fromthe traditional football media including some of Ange’s Socceroo peers, and also by people working at FFA withou backgrounds in the game. But who am I to doubt the judgement of Mr Lowy who has such a marvellous track record so far since he has been at the helm of FFA.
vinnie
Guest
i dont respect sports that are in the way of football, AFL and NRL are a hinderence we dont need in this country.
Daws
Guest
Can't really complain about the process IMO. I would rather assess all options before jumping headfirst into uncharted territory.