The sacking of Alistair Edwards by Tony Sage was the very disappointing, but seemly inevitable conclusion to this sorry saga of disquiet, dischord and perceived nepotism that has rocked Perth Glory.
The power of a tragedy according to Aristotle is when a misfortune befalls a flawed man like us. Aristotle’s idea of what makes a tragic hero is a man “whose misfortune is brought about not by vice or depravity, but by some error or frailty.” He is virtuous and “one who is highly renowned and prosperous” but one who is not “eminently good and just” due to his flaw.
Alistair Edward’s fatal flaw as a coach was to love his sons so much he decided to recruit them to come to Perth Glory on loan. His downfall, has been slowly and tragically working it’s way out since then.
Let me just say at the start that Alistair Edwards is a great coach, and Cameron Edwards and Ryan Edwards are good players and definitely A-League standard.
I wish them all well, particularly Alistair, as he’s been doing some good work at Glory, and seems a genuinely decent guy.
However, the decision to bring his sons back to Australia on a loan deal and sign them to play for his team was always going to end this way.
Whilst it might be understandable as a man to have your sons with you, as a coach of a professional team, it is always going to create resentment. Whether nepotistic or not, it looks that way. Whether his team selections were unethical or not, it looks that way. And whether I would have sat Jacob Burns off, and I probably would have, given the fact that the rebellion he has led does not seem to be spur-of-the-moment, the image of sitting off your captain and one of your most experienced players, while sending your boys on, galls the egalitarian instincts of every player.
There is a reason why Tony Sage wasn’t keen on the signing of the Edward’s sons when they came. It was a ticking time-bomb waiting to go off. Sadly, the other day, it did. Having Dad as coach works in the Nundah-Wavell U9’s. In the A-League, not so much.
Alistair, if you ever read this, I wish you and your boys all the best. You are a good coach and I hope to see more of your coaching in the A-League again. And I’m sorry that you now know, as every other team in the A-League already did, that Jacob Burns is a bit of a jerk.
Cameron and Ryan, if you ever read this, don’t blame yourselves. As much as I don’t think Dad should have signed you, you are great footballers, worthy of a spot in the A-League.
Take the pain from this and use it to show people you are great footballers. As a coach, Dad made a mistake. But as a Dad, he obviously cares about you very much, and that is worth more than all the coaching jobs in the world.
“The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves.” – William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar
apaway
Roar Guru
And yet they made the Grand Final with him at the helm.
Squire
Guest
Sack Burns.
Kristian
Guest
Hopefully will still see the best young west australian talent in the glory team, Ryan Edwards and Cameron Edwards included.
fadida
Guest
Ferguson was a dreadful coach, which shows how poor glory were
volti10
Guest
the tragedy is that now Burns will cry foul is he doesn't get picked EVERY TIME; he is a 35 year old player of medium ability, quite below the standard of many A league players and coming back from a red card suspension, gee what an example. You cannot have players dictating terms and Sage will regret this, he should have shown the disesting players the door.
Brick Tamland of the Pants Party
Guest
Well he definatley wasn't talking to his players,that was clear when he told a journalist a couple of weeks ago that Gallas being out for 3-4 weeks was "rubbish" and he had no idea where the journalist got that from.Embarrasingly enough it was actually William Gallas himself that said he'd be out for 3-4 weeks after a MRI scan.
Da`
Roar Rookie
You're right. I erred to use the phrase "great coach", I should have said what I actually meant. Not great coach, as in "Sir Alex Ferguson is a great coach" or "Ange Postecoglou is a great coach". What I meant by the phrase is that he is a coach whose standard of coaching is appropriate for the standard of the A-league, and that, except for his decision to recruit his sons and the fallout caused by it, was overall doing a good job, and except for that decision would have achieved better results in recent games. Not sure though if Ferguson would be doing any better with the squad PG has. Though you're right that Edwards wasn't doing the best in Victory game.
The Bear
Guest
Oh. To be a coach. -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
fadida
Guest
Agree with all the above. I'm not sure why Burns is being made the villain of the piece. By the sounds of it he stood up as the captain and asked the relevant question "why the f%£k are you picking your sons"?
fadida
Guest
Decent guy? Yes. "Great" coach? No chance. The MV game highlighted his many faults. Team selection apart to sit on your own 18 yard box even when a goal down and chasing the game was ridiculous. They were 40 yards too deep and should have been pressing MV high up the pitch, knowing that MV would play out regardless of the pressure. It was about damage limitation and it was cowardly. Last season they were playing from the back with purpose and looking to press higher when warranted. This season it could easily be Ferguson choosing the tactics
Michael Bovell
Roar Rookie
Burns was speaking for virtually the entire squad, and as captain he had a duty to do so. I'm not a fan of his on the pitch but my opinion of him has actually improved based on this sorry saga. Tony Sage had no option but to change Ali's role based on how things have panned out (Edwards apparently not even talking to senior players including Gallas and with all but 4 members of the squad not happy with his way of doing things) and when he wasn't willing to accept compromise, he had to go. It's a shame because as you say Ali brought a lot of positive things to the table in terms of football philosophy and the willingness to trust youth, but he clearly wasn't able to do the job in the whole. Hopefully the next coach keeps the good stuff Ali started at the club, and we don't get a throwback to the Mitch/Fergie years. As for Ryan and Cam Edwards, well if they really are up to scratch then the new coach will keep picking them and they'll know they deserve it. That's got to be a positive for them. I think Ryan Edwards in particular has potential, but the role he was being used in by Ali Edwards was so critical that by not being an absolute gun he made the entire team look worse.
baankskis
Guest
sack Burns now! Rubbish