Bert van Marwijk is a pragmatic choice as Socceroos coach, although the announcement seemed timed to overshadow Bonita Mersiades’ tell-all book.
Kudos to Football Federation Australia, who by all accounts got their man without paying over the odds to do so.
Van Marwijk might be the safe choice to take charge of the Socceroos on a short-term basis, but five months out from the World Cup, that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
Much has already been written about what van Marwijk will bring to the table as Australia’s new coach – defensive stability, a no-nonsense approach to tactics and player selection, and a Dutch haughtiness bordering on hostility when dealing with the media.
Van Marwijk might have enjoyed some success with Feyenoord – and Brett Emerton – in his homeland, but he failed to make much of an impact at two of Germany’s biggest clubs, Borussia Dortmund and Hamburger SV.
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But it’s for his recently acquired knowledge of Asian football – and by extension Australian football – that van Marwijk has really been hired.
He was, of course, in charge of Saudi Arabia as they pipped Australia to the post for an automatic World Cup place, only for a squabble over his living arrangements to put paid to any hopes he had of leading the Green Falcons in Russia.
Instead he’ll take charge of the Socceroos, and we can anticipate a 4-2-3-1 formation with a couple of ball-winning midfielders to be the hallmark of his Australian team.
It’s a safe option for a side that has only a few months to iron out the kinks, however it’s not exactly a continuation of Ange Postecoglou’s all-out attacking ethos.
But then, Postecoglou arguably forfeited the right to care about that by choosing Yokohama F. Marinos over leading the Socceroos in Russia anyway.
FFA should be applauded, at least, for not caving in to the high-salaried demands of either Roberto Mancini or Louis van Gaal, or looking to appease the football hipsters by plumping for a Marcelo Bielsa who speaks next-to-no English.
With current Sydney FC coach Graham Arnold widely expected to take over after the World Cup, it hardly makes sense to break the bank for an interim coach.
But the timing of FFA’s announcement should have raised a few eyebrows.
Last December they declared that a ‘panel of experts’ featuring several former Socceroos would advise the FFA on appointment of a new coach, with the announcement expected to occur sometime in February.
What changed? Maybe the fact former FFA employee Mersiades launched an explosive new book called Whatever It Takes about Australia’s doomed World Cup bid on the same day.
What better way to deflect the media attention Mersiades’ book deservedly warrants than by hurriedly announcing the new Socceroos coach on the same morning?
There’s no point pretending it’s all a big conspiracy theory. This has been FFA’s modus operandi for years.
And they’d better get cracking on fixing their image problem sooner rather than later.
It’s great that A-League boss Greg O’Rourke is set to fly to Brisbane next week to discuss Brisbane Roar’s shambolic midweek exit from the AFC Champions League, as Marco Monteverde reported in the Courier Mail, but why has it taken so long?
It took a perfectly worded open letter from the Roar Supporters Federation to sum up in about two minutes the feelings that every Brisbane Roar supporter has been banging on about for at least the past two years.
On the one hand you have a handful of FFA executives reputedly earning eye-watering salaries, and on the other a club whose numbers are literally falling off their jerseys right before our very eyes.
Something doesn’t add up. That’s presumably the conclusion Mersiades has come to in her book.
Still, it was fantastic to see Matildas star Sam Kerr named the Young Australian of the Year.
Swings and roundabouts. It was ever thus in the tumultuous world of Australian football.
Kris
Guest
Realistically they have no choice. They can choose a Japanese coach or a foreign coach who is a 99% chance to not speak Japanese. Australia can choose an Australian coach, and English speaking coach (which would be at least half of them nowdays) or a foreign non-English speaker. We have a choice not really available to Japan.
The general
Guest
Great post Redondo. Spain were terrible to watch in 2010 and in some part responsible for an awful worldcup. No one knew how to approach Spains slow patient possession game, and hence teams tried to park the bus against them like Switzerland, successfully did in the first game.
Redondo
Guest
Actually Mike, Nemesis is correct. The 2010 World Cup final was an oddity for van Marwijk. His teams generally play football that aligns with the philosophy of the National Curriculum. That's confirmed by the FIFA assessment of the Dutch team's approach over the whole of 2010 World Cup. But it seems van Marwijk's pragmatic approach to the 2010 final has convinced some that he is a footballing anti-Christ who will reverse the direction taken under Postecoglou. I guess that's possible but more likely he'll look for possession-based football in attack, and, high-energy pressing in defence. My guess is it'll be like Postecoglou's approach but with two key improvements - better defensive structures as a foundation, and, quicker transition from defence to attack. That will be a welcome relief after some of the stuff served up over the last 18 months. And it will fit nicely with the approach Arnold will likely take if he is appointed coach after the World Cup. There'll probably be lots more of Luongo in midfield, lots more of attacking Leckie, lots less of defensive Leckie, lots more of Rogic as a sub only, Mooy further forward with instructions to face forward and pass quickly, and no Cahill. Going back to the 2010 World Cup final, it's strange how highly football idealists rate that Spanish team. Strange because for long periods during the group and knockout stages of those finals Spain played dull, pointless, possession-obsessed football. Even with two outstanding players in Iniesta and Xavi, Spain still desperately needed a Messi-equivalent to add a punchline to all the passing. At least they could defend though. Under Postecoglou, the Socceroos' torturous upfield crab-crawls often ended in a cheap turnover with the opposition counter-attacking against a stretched and disorganised Aussie defence. I'm looking forward to seeing what van Marwijk can conjure up. Quite often in the last few years the stuff served up under Postecoglou was teeth-grindingly awful.
Kris
Guest
It has been 8 years since he left Chile and in that time hasn't done much at all. He survived half a season with Lille and was a catastrophe. His 'attacking' brand of football produced 3 goals in his last 9 games. There is no way his dictatorial style would work with Australian players. BVM's record with Holland was superb, he is taking a lot of condemnation for losing the World Cup final and ruining the neutral's afternoon by actually attempting to win the game.
Kris
Guest
Mark van Bommell is BVM;'s son-in-law and father of Bert's 3 grand kids. He was always part of the deal.
Will
Guest
That's a silly and naive comment, why do the likes of Japan use translators when it comes to there foreign coaches, football is a language everyone can understand. People need to see the bigger picture, do we want to change our football? Do we want to compete with the world's best one day with our own style?
Will
Guest
On a tactical and technical standpoint he would have offered something we never had before, hes a technical beaucrat who inspired the likes of Pooch, Guardiola and Sampaoli. Look him up on the net to see what he has done.
Nemesis
Guest
@Waz What makes you say Adelaide is financially unstable? I'm sure I read last year AUFC made a small profit. Why are owners putting $3-4m per year into clubs now? The Salary Cap is fully covered. The interstate travel & accommodation at matches is fully covered. So, the clubs only have to raise revenue to fund: - Football department (not players): coaches & medical staff, etc. - Back office staff, including CEO - Office costs (rent, insurance, utilities, etc.) If any club owner is still having to inject $3-4 million per year into operating an ALeague club, then the ALeague club needs to review its operating expenses.
Fadida
Guest
In fairness Van Bommel is well credentialed
Fadida
Guest
Same as Chelsea and Man City Waz.
Grobbelaar
Roar Guru
His son-in-law no less. Already he fits in well with the FFA culture.
TheVolley
Guest
Last 18 months was an experimental phase of learning the 3 defender system. It was obvious the team took a while to adapt to it and the quality of the matches suffered. Nevertheless the intent was to play an attacking game. Hence the reason we need someone like Bielsa to carry it forward.
Buddy
Guest
Should be a red card offence...”playing with no purpose”
Evan Askew
Guest
It's going to be awesome
Waz
Guest
They’re financially stable while a seriously wealthy individual continues to put in $3-$4m per year. Same as City, SFC and Glory. Financial instability sits with CCM and Adelaide both of whom are creaking at the moment. Let’s hope the FFAs ready.
Lionheart
Guest
I didn't write it, I merely gave my assumption of what I thought Mike meant. Interesting that you call Roar financially stable though. Certainly it seems true this year, but next year? last year?
Kangajets
Guest
I don’t call the last 18 months of Socceroos attacking I call it ,, possession with no purpose. Or possession without intent ... sounds criminal I know
Kangajets
Guest
I don’t call the last 18 months of Socceroos attacking I call it ,, possession with no purpose.
Cool N Cold
Guest
Yes
Nemesis
Guest
So, I take it you haven't read the Curriculum, nor the FIFA Technical Report from WC2010?