I have to hand it to the FFA, they didn’t mess about announcing Bert van Marwijk’s successor as Socceroos coach after the World Cup in Graham Arnold.
I share the same opinion of most of the football community in wanting an Australian coach for the 2022 cycle.
I’m not here sing Arnold’s praises nor am I here to slander his appointment. Instead I want to bring to attention what I’d say is the despicable and unnecessary jibes that have been aimed at Arnold and, unbeknownst to them, at the national team itself.
However, I have nothing but faith in Arnold putting the national team’s best interests first. It’s a results-based business, and when push comes to shove there is no time for loyalty to philosophy and certainly no time for quarrels with reporters.
Like every other football fan, I do not have a time machine. I cannot go into the future and see that Arnold is going to be a shocking appointment. My criticisms of Arnie have been summed up perfectly by Simon Hill last week, who highlighted his vulnerability in front of the media when results aren’t going his way.
(AAP Image/Joe Castro)
“When results are ticking along nicely, there is rarely a problem,” Hill said. “But when they turn (and invariably, at the rarefied atmosphere of international football, they do), he doesn’t cope overly well.
“He can tend to play the ‘blame’ game a little too often, refusing to accept responsibility for his own failures.
“Remember the 2015-16 season, when Sydney FC failed to qualify for the finals? Arnold spent most of that campaign at war with a media he felt (wrongly) were being unfair in their judgment of his rather ordinary side.”
Hill makes a good point. No matter his success domestically – as we saw with Ange Postecoglou – the level of scrutiny rises tremendously at the national level. Arnold over the years has displayed a cocky confidence riding high on his success. At times it is cringeworthy, even if it is justified.
Nevertheless the boo boys have wasted no time in jumping to hyperbole with repugnant comments about the arrangement, with some claiming they won’t watch the Socceroos until he get’s sacked or that they refuse to support their country as long as they play ‘Arnie Ball’.
Those making these doltish comments fail to see the full picture. I guarantee they have kits and posters supporting Manchester United and Barcelona. They make these comments because they believe they have a claim of ownership over the national team, seeing it as if it’s another club.
(AAP Image/David Moir)
Despite that, Arnold at least deserves our time of day. He is on track to be the most successful manager in A-League history; he should be congratulated and allowed the time to show us if he truly has what it takes. The Socceroos job is a platform for Aussie coaches to climb higher. Why deny him that?
There is no other objective to our national team at the moment than to challenge for the Asian Cup and qualify for the World Cup, and for those who want to heap more criticism on the FFA, just know that it was you who wanted an Australian coach. If Arnie isn’t your solution, then I implore you to provide another.
If you insist on throwing Arnie’s name in the dirt before he even takes over, then know that if he provides success, if he wins the Asian Cup, if he qualifies for the World Cup, you can’t celebrate. If you wished ill upon the national team, you don’t deserve its triumphs while he’s in charge.
The national team is the most important part of professional football in Australia. Every level revolves around making our Socceroos the best they can be. We want the best man for the job, and if he happens to be Australian, then you beauty, it’s cherry on top.
But wishing ill upon the Socceroos all because of one man is a sure fire way for you to isolate and cast yourself away from the football community.
Whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty? I’d say these people are guilty of blindly spitting on Arnold without knowing it’s hitting our sacred jersey.
Cousin Claudio
Roar Guru
Nice article - highlights how football can take you round the world and present you with challenges that one day become your dreams coming true. https://www.playersvoice.com.au/matt-jurman-how-feel-about-ange/?utm_source=Direct#jdCc2PCfeK3YGsP2.97 I too dreamt of one day playing for the Footballroos, but only got half way. Still playing but not on the international stage. Still loving it, its been a big part of my life.
Kris
Guest
Strawman arguement.
Griffo
Roar Guru
Yep Nicholas, Arnold does deserve time now that he has been chosen. After making the final then winning the Asian Cup the last two times respectively, I hope this doesn't cloud judgement by expectation of the performance in the Asian Cup defence. It really is only post Asian Cup we will see where we may be headed into initial 2022 World Cup qualifiers. I don't think a 2007-type performance would go down too well. On the other hand would we be happy with a tight, defensive, low scoring Asian Cup win? Disregarding Craig Foster's 'wrong direction' type commentary, that would be a yes from me for the short term.
Grobbelaar
Roar Guru
You remind me: it was 11 years ago, Arnie was coaching the socceroos in the Asian Cup, we're down 3:1 against war-torn Iraq (who would go on to win the whole shebang), and who does Arnie bring on to help us get back into the game? The very energetic Brett Holman.
Grobbelaar
Roar Guru
"I guarantee they have kits and posters supporting Manchester United and Barcelona. " Any Australian having kits and posters supporting both Man Utd and Barca are likely to be posers who don't know all that much about football. I wouldn't be worrying too much about what they have to say about the game.
Nemesis
Guest
Nope. Never met the man. Don't particularly like his coaching style for football, nor his deameanour. Enjoyed watching him play for Australia many times.
LuckyEddie
Guest
Are you related to him?
Cousin Claudio
Roar Guru
Lets be Worried and as negative as we can again today! Are you paid by the NRL or Victorian Rules? Sure he needs time. He hasn’t even started yet. Lets bag him to death before he even takes over. Postecoglou had his doubters when he started after his efforts with the Aussie youth teams. Its the end of the world as we know it and I don’t care. Not Worried. Reply
Cousin Claudio
Roar Guru
Lets be Worried and as negative as we can again today! Are you paid by the NRL or Melbourne Rules? Sure he needs time. He hasn't even started yet. Lets bag him to death before he even tales over. Postecoglou had his doubters when he started after his efforts with the Aussie youth teams. Its the end of the world as we know it and I don't care. Not Worried.
steve
Guest
Which of his scouted youth players has he nurtured and developed who have gone on to " big brand FC's"? I really hope you aren't referring to Brighton and Hove Albion as a big brand.
Worried
Guest
RUBBISH ! This article is not worthy of more than a one word answer! Written by Arnolds mother!
Nemesis
Guest
Next 4 year cycle is going to be an interesting ride. Some things we know for sure: - Arnie will value ALeague players highly - Arnie has the ability to identify youth who have technical ability - Arnie has the ability to develop, nurture these youth to evolve into professional players who are good enough to catch the eyes of scouts at the big brand FCs around the world. - Arnie's teams will be well-organised & should not leak goals I'm ready to give Arnie full support.
Fadida
Guest
Yes, he deserves time. Unless we're 70 minutes into his first game and he brings on the Axe. Or Brosque or Wilkshire
chris
Guest
"But wishing ill upon the Socceroos all because of one man" Who's been wishing ill on the NT? I haven't heard anything along those lines nor the usual pros and cons comments of GA's appointment. I've not heard anything that could be deemed despicable etc as you point out.
Kangajets
Guest
All a bit sanctimonious from the author .
Buddy
Guest
Quite a few years ago I altered the way I consume all things football as I was getting sick of hearing uncalled for opinions, and what appeared to be agenda driven editorials as well as the totally inane utterings that were being forced from pundits as they were required to have an “expert opinion” and clearly, they didn’t. As a result, these days I turn the tv on at kick off time and it goes off shortly after the final whistle, or at least the channel is changed. As a result of my viewing habits, in relation to the appointment of GA, I haven’t heard any negatives on the subject. I have read a few comments on this site but that’s about it and on here, the opinions are fairly widespread. All that you ever learn is that there will always be supporters and detractors for every decision that is ever made. Right now Mr Arnold is coming towardsthe end of succesive successes on the domestic front and therefore became the obvious choice to be given an opportunity at national level. I imagine he will enjoy some kind of “honeymoon period” with the media and public although that may be governed by world cup results this winter and how everyone feels about the national team and how they fared. Like any other appointment at national or club level, only time will tell although it sometimes depends upon aspirations and whetherexpectations are realistic in the first place.