As a West Ham United supporter, I was gripped by the round of 16 League Cup encounter between the Irons and Tottenham Hotspur last Thursday morning at Wembley Stadium.
Tottenham were superb and put a lacklustre Hammers defence to the sword in the first 37 minutes, taking a two-goal lead into the break after Moussa Sissoko and Dele Alli found the back of the net.
Potentially, it was the last time Slaven Bilic would occupy the West Ham dressing room at halftime as the mentor, with increasing pressure mounting after a poor start to the season for a team with more ability than their ladder position reflects. After the three-nil drubbing at the hands of Brighton the week earlier, it appeared Bilic was on his last legs.
The Hammers’ miraculous three-goal second half was astonishing and potentially job-saving – at least in the short term.
The range of emotions Bilic experienced reminded me of the intense pressure and scrutiny felt by those in positions of authority in world football and the delicate tightrope they walk.
From a poised and controlled professional as the game began, he turned to a lost and bewildered psychopath as Spurs hammered home their advantage. In the end, he became frantic and panicked, desperate to salvage both his honour and job, as 11 of his players flooded the box in the last ten minutes.
Depending on the state of affairs, the difference between a recalcitrant lunatic launching a venomous barrage at an unshielded fourth official isn’t that far removed from a passionate thinker ensuring justice is done using a measured tone.
The tipping point is so fine and examples of individuals stumbling over it are numerous.
The A-League is no different, despite the wages being considerably lower and a few current managers will be starting to edge closer and closer to the precipice.
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John Aloisi looks like a man set for a Vesuvian-like eruption. After three losses, the Brisbane Roar somehow found a way to pinch a point against the Phoenix after the home side took a three-goal lead in the first half.
Aloisi’s mood appeared reflective, morose and almost forlorn after the third goal, from Andrija Kaludjerovic – as if resigned to a loss.
As his team clawed their way to a miraculous draw, with chances to grab all three points, his demeanour morphed into something resembling the frenetic and hopeful.
It was a complete turn-around from a lost and disheartened soul, to a man with a new hope and something to hang onto and work towards in the next week.
AAP Image/David Crosling
Kevin Muscat is living in a similar universe, as his Victory team bumble along without a win after four weeks. This seemed long odds at season’s start, with the majority of the squad intact. The loss of Marco Rojas’ creativity and Fahid Ben Khalfallah’s move to Brisbane left a few gaps to fill, however with Besart Berisha, James Troisi and new man Leroy George up front, there is plenty of firepower available.
Defensively solid with few additions, there is something unexplained about the ponderous start to the Victory’s season.
Losses to both City and Sydney may be excusable to some degree, considering the form of the ladder leaders, however the subsequent draws with Adelaide and the Mariners were frustrating – in fact, without a freakish strike from George on Sunday, the Central Coast may have got the victory that many felt they deserved.
Muscat will never be a shrinking violet on the sideline and with the pressure building, one must ask, when does it all come to the surface?
While nowhere near desperation in terms of their campaign, a loss to the Wanderers this week could push Muscat to a point completely foreign to both he and the club. This was not the blueprint he mapped out over the winter months and – despite some cool post-game displays, where blame has been avoided and perspective called for – he is seething inside.
AAP Image/Dean Lewins
I have sympathy for all three men as they face the criticism of fans, frustration from club officials, and the disappointment of failing to meet their own expectations. The last of those three has the biggest impact of all.
An unshaven face peering into a bathroom mirror with bloodshot eyes and dishevelled hair after a crushing loss is the true face of managerial duties.
The sheer weight of expectation and responsibility for all aspects of the game are far removed from the streamlined responsibilities of the individual player.
All three have lived the moments on field, the glorious and the guttered. However, as managers, their gesticulations and intensity are far behind anything we observed from them as players.
Bilic gains a stay of execution from the West Ham owners for at least another week, yet his time could be up at any moment.
Aloisi grapples with a playing group looking short on legs and off-field innuendo that helps no one, searching for one victory to right the ship.
And Muscat sits bemused at the plight of the 2016-17 runners-up, who can’t find their mojo after a full month of the season.
Perhaps all three will steer their respective ships well over the course of the coming months and enjoy rewarding seasons where their squads play quality football.
Alternatively, one of the three might be out of a job by Christmas. Muscat would be long odds to fall victim to that scenario, yet the same cannot be said for Aloisi and Bilic.
The tension, speculation and frustration is another side to the World Game that we love. Seeing people under pressure and observing the manner in which they respond to it is a good thing.
Unfortunately, football managers tend to appear as utter madmen grappling with their team’s inadequacies, administrative pressures, and fan expectations as they command the technical area.
There is nowhere to hide and the symbolic presence of a pole and a tightrope might just be apt.
Chopper
Guest
Certainly Aloisi is a good front man ie. he talks the talk unfortunately he cannot walk the walk.
Chopper
Guest
Just a small point he had Hingert at right back and when constantly injured Devere went off he moved North from left back into the centre and bought on Dane Ingham as left back (another right footer). One has to ask the question about Roar's retention policy when two of Aloisi's three centre backs have already been injured this season (with a fourth in Bowles a long way from fitness) and we have seen three or four young centre backs depart the club in recent years.
punter
Guest
Yes 100% agree, variety works, Roma can play direct route or possession. Australia is learning to play possession & we have problems, see why so many are so critical of it.
Nemesis
Guest
BREAKING NEWS Josep Gombau has been appointed head coach of WSW... Should be one of the few coaching appointments that is largely approved universally across all the ALeague community. I'm not a WSW fan, but I'm very satisfied.
Kangajets
Guest
I have to disagree that Australia only play a direct route before Ange .
Kangajets
Guest
Punter Did u see Roma from serie a use the direct aerial route to open up Chelsea this morning. Because having variety works
Bob
Guest
John Aloisi's problem is simply Ross Aloisi.
Bfc
Guest
No offence guys, but Fahid is Tunisian....he is not Algerian.
punter
Guest
Kanga, Germany can play possession football & they can play a more direct route. Australia prior to Ange & England only play a more direct route, Australia under Ange plays a very poor possession football. Massive difference.
punter
Guest
BTW JB, not sure why you don't get what I was saying, it's simple, playing the way we did in the last 3 world cups will not get us anywhere in the world cup, one only has to look at the South American qualifiers, see how they play, football has moved on.
punter
Guest
I'm not talking about formation only. If you don't think neither England nor Australia has played & I'll emphasis I did not use the term 'long ball', but a 'more direct route & relying on physical presence', then please explain Australia's inability to produce players in the top 5 leagues or why in the top echelons of these top 5 leagues do you find too little of players from the British teams. Why the best team in England (Manchester City) playing a style of football not seen in England for a very long time, if ever, the host nation does not provide a large contingent especially away from the defensive half. Alvaro Morata, who has played in last 5 seasons in Italy, Spain & England with Chelsea, one of the most skillful team in England said, "In Spain, technique is dominant. In Italy, it's tactics. In England, the most relevant aspect is physical strength,"
Kangajets
Guest
The Socceroos since Ned Zelic have not played direct long ball football Neither has England for 20 years However when necessary even Germany will play direct football. And will adapt and control possession when needed too It’s all about the right pass for the game situation. I think Ange is on the right path but needs to give the players some freedom to go long or short or wide , not just play out from the back and constantly turnover possession .as j b states , the Socceroos are not Chelsea . They have limited skill sets .
Kangajets
Guest
Punter The best team in the world Germany can and often play direct football They often play a long ball or or short ball or play out from the back via Manuel noyer It’s the ability to adapt and play the right pass at the right time , not just play out the back every time . A player of a decade ago called Ned Zelic was a creative genius before cursed by injury and he gave Australia variety in attack . Australia were anything but s long ball or direct team and have not been a long ball team for 20 years . England with Gerard lampard etc although not brilliant have been dnythjng but a long ball team for 20 years . The only ball football is really the lower leagues of England and maybe your stokes and west brim I don’t buy into your constant England Australia play direct only football Just not true The success of man utd and arsenal Chelsea etc was built around creative adaptation of players both English French Swedish and South American players .
j,binnie
Guest
Punter- Sorry I can't follow the point you are trying to make but if you are referring to the "back 3" system at international level I agree it has been tried ,notably by Van Gaal when playing against us in last World Cup, but quickly dumped at half time to cut loose an extra forward and we all know what happened then. To be honest I would imagine it would be hard to procure the right players at an international level for, as you know, the manager's selections are governed by birthright. Club managers don't have that problem they simply go out and procure what they think are the necessary players, but even that has no guarantees, as, firstly Van Gaal and now Mourhino, have tried to incorporate the system at United with what one would have to say ,limited success, Cheers jb.
punter
Guest
JB, while I agree with you 100%. Playing the way we have for the last 30 years, relying on a more direct route & a more physical presence will also not get us far in the World cup, countries with far better credentials then us in England, Sweden, most of the British Isles teams & Scandinavian teams struggle at WC playing this style in the last 2-3 world cups.
j,binnie
Guest
Caltex, - Ange is now competing with Asian countries,but,if he gets results against Honduras he will be coming up against teams from other places in the world so your reference to Asia is a bit misplaced. Developing players to "fit" systems is not as easy a task as you seem to believe. The 3 man back-line with 6 across the midfield and 1 up front is a system heavily dependent on fast,accurate movement, of not only the ball, but players as well, and that my friend is not so easy to teach, in a short time frame, to players with, dare I say, ,limited ability.. Cheers jb.
Nemesis
Guest
This should be interesting. World's first trial starting this week with ALeague & Wleague BREAKING NEWS FFA to trial cards for team officials within the Technical Area Full story: https://www.a-league.com.au/news/ffa-trial-cards-team-officials-within-technical-area
Fadida
Guest
He's started his decline Fuss. Watch the frequency in which he is beaten to the ball, and by defenders you wouldn't consider quick.
j,binnie
Guest
Confused - You truly are confused. We are not talking about 'player performance" but in the ability or inability to play a player in a position where he is likely to give of his best. Let me try to give you another example. Young Colleti is statistically the best passer of ball in this present Roar team. Unfortunately,being of a somewhat diminutive stature his short legs put him at a disadvantage when trying to keep up with players much taller than himself and yet he is consistently used in a defensive midfield role that almost demands that he supplies covering duties for other defenders. He has now been dropped from the first team because of his "poor defending" Now I ask you ,why is he playing in a defensive mid-field role.? Have a look at another "short a--e" player playing with CCM , Da Silva, and you will see where and how a clever, but physically short player should be used. That's what was being discussed,how to get the best out of available talent. Cheers jb.
Caltex TEN & SBS support Australian Football
Guest
JB - It's not like we are in the UEFA confederation---we have the players to compete with the best in AFC. Ange's problem is more of getting everyone and the players to buy into the system and learn how to implement the system properly. One loss playing in the qualifiers is not a bad record. Unfortunately, the Saudis had a good campaign, which no one expected by beating Japan. Cheers