If Ange Postecoglou really is the sort of coach Australia needs, then he won’t care who the Socceroos are grouped with in tomorrow night’s highly anticipated World Cup draw.
Much has been made of the possible scenarios facing the Socceroos at next year’s World Cup in Brazil, with the group stage online simulators copping a beating from fans eager to explore the permutations of Australia’s potential opponents.
But if Postecoglou is serious about transforming the culture inside the Socceroos dressing room, he’ll advise his team not to worry about which opposition it might face and simply concentrate on its own performances.
Changing a culture is not easy though, especially when certain practices become so ingrained that to challenge them becomes an exercise in negativity.
I once sat in on a lecture from a prominent psychologist who said if you want a sure-fire way to cause offence and irritate people, simply do something different and challenge the status quo.
This column is a case in point. It may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but the pieces which without fail draw the most vociferous complaints are those that deviate from an arbitrary pattern constructed by its audience.
Poor old ESPNFC columnist Phil Ball copped a similar group-think backlash a couple of weeks ago, when he decided to offer a personal opinion on Qatar hosting the 2022 World Cup which deviated from the collective will.
So spooked was ESPNFC by the whirlpool of online vitriol which followed, it pulled the story – writing that the work of their veteran columnist “did not meet our journalistic standards,” despite publishing it in the first place.
“I do not agree with what you have to say, but I’ll defend to the death your right to say it?”
Not in the online world, where a remove-your-brain-and-retweet mentality now has even respected journalists falling over themselves to dish out the vitriol.
It’s this kind of mentality – one in which possessing a contrary point of view is grounds for censorship, or worse – which Postecoglou must ignore if he is to set about the task of rapidly rebuilding a winning team.
And while it might be said that the national team should largely be insulated from the relentless rumblings of the chattering classes, let’s not forget that Holger Osieck stuck steadfastly to his line that everything was a-okay, all the while as his employers plotted to remove him.
At any rate, the first thing Postecoglou might do is ignore any public sentiment about past exploits and jettison Lucas Neill from his World Cup squad.
He may be experienced, he may be articulate, he may even help sell a lot of ad space with those chiselled good looks, but surely Neill – who most recently skipped out on Omiya Ardija citing “family reasons” – must find his position in the national squad untenable.
And if Postecoglou really wants to set the cat among the pigeons, he should tell his team – be it privately or as part of a bold proclamation to the public – to forget about recent results and return to the mentality which has seen the Socceroos cause countless upsets over the years.
Because you can guarantee there’ll be at least 30 other teams in Bahia hoping to see Australia drawn from their pot, confident that a clash with the Socceroos equals three points.
It didn’t used to be this way under the likes of Guus Hiddink and Frank Farina and no matter how few high-quality cattle Postecoglou can realistically call upon, it doesn’t have to be this way under the new regime either.
The Socceroos will be written off by all and sundry when the World Cup draw is made.
With any luck Postecoglou will simply shrug his shoulders, quip “that’s football” and whisper to his chargers a line about how he desperately wants to shake up the status quo.
Phil Ball
Guest
Hi Vince Of course you're entitled to your view, but Mike's suggestion that the e-world these days is too easily swayed by crowd bullying (e.g your easy dismissal of my piece as 'tripe') remains significant. Perhaps you'd like to elaborate on why you think it's tripe? I want to improve as a writer and human being, and you could obviously help me. Best Phil
Ben of Phnom Penh
Guest
Certainly would bode well for the East Asia comp, though not necessarily for the fate of the Socceroos in general. Whilst kids that stay in Australia should not be overlooked, equally so the ones that go overseas should not be punished for trying to further their careers. The Socceroos need to put the best team on the park regardless of where they ply their trade. The East Asia Cup is a wonderful chance for us to test A-League talent and to see who can step up. The last two works being the most pertinent. I agree we need some strident changes, however I disagree with the notion that an A-League select side is the answer.
j binnie
Guest
Ben - A rather tame reply. What would you suggest we could do to better our chances in the W.C.where we now know what we will be up against. With two very recent 0-6 thrashings from recognised top teams I would have thought it obvious we needed to do something "outside the box" if we are to get a semblance of success.If we did and got some results that would bode well for your East Asia competition,would it not????jb
j binnie
Guest
Cameron .I am not suggesting that Ange "sticks to what he knows" I am suggesting that under the time frame this man has been given to prepare a team for a World competition some six months away,would it be more beneficial to use players who are readily available for regular get togethers ,say once or twice a week for 6 months than the minimal amount of connection he is likely to encounter sourcing players from all parts of the globe,(in using his last squad that would mean 10 countries stretching from China to the USA That leads to the question,just how good are our HAL players,not teams, but players, & how much better are players playing with, or sitting on the bench, with clubs in minor leagues around the world?.To build a hypothetical case I would ask you to consider the following?????? How would this team perform against the team that struggled to beat a weakened Costa Rica 1-0 six weeks ago. Covic,Franjic,Smith,McCain,Behich, Carle,Milligan Mackay,Williams McBreen Pain. You will appreciate I have placed the 3 HAL players already in Ange's squad in this team & built my selection around it & I also appreciate that readers may well nominate other players who they feel could do a better job, but I am not trying to do Ange's job, I am just pointing out how much better he could prepare a team for the WC only 6 months away were he to use local players & have regular get togethers say once or twice a week, & if I have a difference of opinion it is that I do not believe the more experienced players playing in the HAL are all that far behind the "overseas" contingent we have in our present squad.Goalie Ryan is an example, has his game improved all that much in the two months since he left us?????. A good question in my opinion. Cheers jb
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
The East Asia Cup more or less serves this purpose. No need to do it for the World Cup.
Cameron Kellett
Guest
Jbinnie, Are you suggesting Ange stick to what he knows, which is players from the A-League?
j binnie
Guest
Mike- I agree wholeheartedly with your headline. Ange has to change the status quo. But I ask,what is the "Status Quo" that has to be changed.Back in the days of the NSL our management decided we needed to have overseas coaches for our national teams & haven't we had some beauties since then ,most of whom have now disappeared into the great unknown areas of world football.The other overwhelming factor we had in those days was the number of Aussie born players regularly plying their trade with top teams in respective top leagues in European football. So even with some dubious coaching credentials it was a remarkably easy task to put together a team that could more than hold it's own against most oppositions,hence our high rankings in the FIFA list. Times have changed drastically since then.The players playing regularly in Europe's top leagues have shrunk dramatically so one has to assume the standard put out by our national team has suffered also,our latest position of 59 mirroring that fact. So what is it Ange has to change???? Is it a culture & if so what is that culture? Is it the idea that all of our Socceroos have to play overseas,irrespective of the standard of league they play in,to get selected for a major competition. If this is so does it then denigrate our attempts to lift our own standard in the HAL to that equalling some second or third division team in Europe or embryo leagues like ours in other developing countries blessed with more financial backing than we can raise at this time. That brings us to where Ange is at at this point in time. Should he look back to the days before our "footballer export trade" began & look at what Frank Arok achieved with part time,but locally based, players.With our HAL standard hopefully improving does that mean Ryan has instantly improved as a goalkeeper after moving to Belgium 4 or 6 weeks ago,or is it just that we greatly downgrade our own standard in our own minds.If so perhaps Ange should have a long hard look at how he prepares a squad of players for a major tournament without the added problems of getting those same players together on a regular basis,say once or twice a week. Cheers jb
nordster
Guest
Its fairly common these days, he should have declared it at least. For all we know his editor may have stitched it up with the Qataris tourist board. Either way...they didnt have sign off on his copy...can only assume that....so whats the difference? Perceptions? Please... The only ones who would pay for expenses is the subject of a story u cant afford to get to. Good way to get writers to actually go somewhere like Qatar. Rather than the usual ignorantly judging from afar?
Me Too
Guest
So Ang should simply listen to mike tuckerman? Hopefully Ang knows better and will do what he will do. And no doubt, being human, and hoping for some success at this world cup, he will be, like every coach, hoping for a favourable draw.
Evan Askew
Guest
True, though I would hate to see what Espana would do to us.
Squizz
Guest
I tried using he draw simulator. The not very scientific observations results seemed to point to:-- 1) a 66% chance of an awful draw 2) a 33% chance of an tough draw where we have some chance. 3) a 1% chance of a great draw. To my mind I hope we don't get (3). I'm much happier if we go in with people thinking we are easybeats, performing well even if we don't get through.
brian drian
Guest
well said... under Ange, if nothing else we should play with conviction and TRY to implement our game on our opponents. And not embarass ourselves! (which looked very much on the cards under Holger) He is not short of self confidence and his teams play that way too...
pete4
Guest
This would be much better... GROUP G Spain - Ecuador - Australia - Greece http://www.foxsports.com.au/football/socceroos-draw-spain-greece-in-mock-world-cup-draw/story-e6frf423-1226776861887
Vince Rugari
Expert
a lot of writers don't accept all expenses paid trips... not if the one paying is the very subject of your story. that's kind of against the idea of being objective, don't you think?
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
"the pieces which without fail draw the most vociferous complaints are those that deviate from an arbitrary pattern constructed by its audience." The most important part of this article, and indeed an astute observation. This is the challenge facing Ange and it is up to him and the Socceroos to avoid the expectations of the masses articulated through electronic media and become the masters of their own narrative. Shades of Asimov's notion of Psychohistory perhaps.
pauly
Guest
Group of death? That would be the group from hell.
nordster
Guest
Well a lot of writers accept all expenses paid trips :) At least those writers spend more time in the place than many lightly informed critics. Most of the reporting on Qatar and the labour situation is tripe i will agree with u there. More so than this particular article imo, though for different reasons.
pete4
Guest
What a disaster that group would be! The worst outcome imaginable for the Roos
Griffo
Roar Guru
At any rate, the first thing Postecoglou might do is ignore any public sentiment about past exploits and jettison Lucas Neill from his World Cup squad. He may be experienced, he may be articulate, he may even help sell a lot of ad space with those chiselled good looks, but surely Neill – who most recently skipped out on Omiya Ardija citing “family reasons” – must find his position in the national squad untenable. Have to agree with Ned Zelic somewhat here: there should be a consistent policy regarding Socceroos selection. I think Neill knows he has to find a club and be starting and playing regularly. Whether that in and of itself is enough for him to keep his spot, or that he might actually have to be playing well on top of starting rather than occupying some space on the pitch, will be up to Ange. Ange I feel will make a rod for his own back if Neill is selected based off limited game time and actual club committment between now and April, regardless of leadership ability or marketing good-looks and elloquence. A player can't help if he's selected I feel, but Neill can kiss his Asian Cup on home soil swan song goodbye if he's not on the plane to Brazil...
Midfielder
Guest
I read an interview with Frank Lowy I think on the News web site last weekend... He said within his grand plan to develop football his hope was we would develop coaches and a number of coaches good enough to coach the national team... He said he believed that AP was ready and that he would implant [which he encouraged] and Australian way of playing... I think both Pim & Holger where needed to get us to the WC's however neither understood nor wanted to understand the desire to play differently to how they played... AP will change the culture maybe back to what it used to be ... but using systems like playing out in a way we never did before... Maybe its my heart and not my head but ... I think we will do better than most think we will...