What does it say about Melbourne City as a football club if they retain the services of Warren Joyce as their coach for another season?
I should preface this by stating it’s not intended as a pile-on of Joyce.
Sometimes when I write a strongly worded column or pose some questions about the A-League, certain readers assume that every word I’ve written is a staunchly held personal belief.
Most of the time I’ve simply proposed a topic that I believe needs to broached – whether I feel particularly strongly about the subject or not.
And I must admit I’m fairly ambivalent about Joyce’s tenure as City tactician.
Maybe that’s not necessarily a good thing?
I’m also aware that plenty of decent judges of character rate Joyce’s coaching skills highly. Including, all evidence would suggest, Melbourne City.
Still, it came as a surprise when The World Game journalist David Lewis suggested late last week that City were considered offering Joyce a one-year contract extension.
Why would they do that?
In almost two seasons in Melbourne, Joyce has overseen two trips to the finals.
And City, it’s worth remembering, were 1-0 up away at the Newcastle Jets in last season’s semi-final with just over half an hour left to play.
Had it not been for Riley McGree’s miraculous scorpion kick – and how ironic that McGree currently plies his trade for City – Joyce could have led his side into an A-League grand final at the first time of asking.
So why is that the former Manchester United reserve team manager remains the most maligned coach in the A-League?
We can start with his personality. No colourful Markus Babbel or Marco Kurz, or brooding Tony Popovic or Mark Rudan is he.
He’s not quick with a sound bite or witty response like Kevin Muscat or Ernie Merrick either.
So what kind of coach is he? A disciplinarian for starters.
The jettisoning of Tim Cahill, Neil Kilkenny and Bruno Fornaroli is proof of that.
](Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
Does he promote youth?
Nathaniel Atkinson, Lachlan Wales and more recently Ramy Najjarine have all enjoyed decent game time under Joyce, while McGree was signed on loan from Belgian side Club Brugge.
But plenty of A-League clubs have given kids a chance over the years.
And Joyce’s ongoing tenure as City coach gets to the heart – pun intended – of what the club wants to be.
Are they a development club? Do they exist solely to on-sell players like Aaron Mooy and Daniel Arzani?
Are they in the entertainment business? Is their style of football easy on the eye?
Or can they pose a legitimate threat to the city’s resident juggernaut Victory as the biggest club in Melbourne?
Because at the moment it’s not really clear that City are any of those things.
And it’s hard to see how extending Joyce’s contract – when he’s almost universally disliked by the club’s dwindling fan base – might solve that.
Strange as it may seem, there are plenty of people behind closed doors who believe that City’s presence – and influence – is vital for the A-League’s future.
And it’s not like City are the only club with some big decisions to make.
Brisbane Roar’s 6-1 humiliation at the hands of the Newcastle Jets on Saturday was simply not good enough, and it hasn’t been good enough all season.
To think the team could send a loyal servant like Matt McKay off with a display like that simply beggars belief.
If the club are to announce a new coach next week, they’d better hope they’ve made the right decision.
Because the first thing the new coach will need to do is try and win back some of the disgruntled fans who’ve decided enough is enough.
Ironically that’s the sort of passion Melbourne City’s fan base could probably do with.
They arguably didn’t deserve to lose 3-2 to the Wellington Phoenix yesterday, but the bigger question is whether Warren Joyce deserves to keep his job.
Aiden
Guest
At least Bolt hasn’t put his hand up. Brisbane would probably consider him.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
I hope he brings an attacking style and you can enjoy a few goals. Joyce has brought 'joyceball' to the HAL, boring possession with slow ponderous attack.
Evan Askew
Guest
Fadilda, second poor season, last season was terrible as well. But I do take your point. I am aware of all the financial issues with the clubs but at what point to Australian football fans show some loyalty to their clubs when a bad season occurs?
Stevo
Roar Rookie
But he is underwhelming as a senior mens coach. His claim to fame is youth development. As a youth coach you can drive the players into the ground and ask for more and they will do whatever it takes to get a shot at playing in the senior team. Apply the same heavy handed, old fashioned management techniques to senior players and you’re likely to get a very different reaction. Cannot wait to see the back of him.
Jordan Klingsporn
Roar Guru
Our crowds are better than last year. And how great it will be to see 60k in Optus for the GF.
Waz
Roar Rookie
Ha Ha ... hope not
TK
Guest
Waz - we will have to wait and see won't we? Let's hope it isn't Joyce>>>>>Daylight>>>>>Fowler.
Waz
Roar Rookie
Can’t believe a Glory fan is criticising Roar crowds, hasn’t he seen the pathetic turnout Glory have been getting while TOP of the table all season. Strewth ... they’re hardly better than Roars in 9th
Waz
Roar Rookie
Fowler >>> Daylight >>> Joyce
jbinnie
Guest
Fadida- You are having a discussion with what I term "long term,dyed in the wool", Roar fans (and I DO wish there were more,many more, of them). Brisbane Roar have had "back room" problems since the day the HAL began, problems that are not always evident to the everyday fan, but a quick look at the list of administrator turnover in those years will point out exactly what has been the root of the problem. For a few years ,around 2010/14 those same circumstances caused the club to employ a coach,desperate for a job in the HAL, and an administration so desperate for some sort of redemption, that the new man demanded, and got,almost total control over the football side of the business and we all know what happened,total success on and off the field. This was not to last however and to the shrewd observer,with that coach's departure, the old problems began to influence the licence again and so began a decline that has seen the team slowly but surely degenerate into what we have witnessed in the last few seasons. In season 14/15 a "drop" from 1st to 6th, then a couple of 3rd's before a return to 6th then a drastic drop to 9th, this year, 9th,the teams's lowest ever. The question arises where-to from here for this team?,with a huge list of injury prone contracted players, a couple of retirements already made public, not to mention rumoured "poachings" from elsewhere, what chance does a new manager/coach have in attracting what he would need to build a successful team that can once again live with the big boys of the HAL,the necessity that any club needs to be successful. Young players? A myth perpetrated by the Man Utd team of 1956/57 dubbed the "Busby Babes" by the media. 10 of the regulars in that team were 25 or over and only 3 were in their early 20's,not a teenager in sight. It's a big step up from NPL level to top four in the HAL,and yet that is what the fans really want for their favourite team, yes-no?. cheers jb.
TK
Guest
Well moving north from the focus of this article, the Sydney Morning Herald is reporting the roar are set to announce a completely untied senior mens coach as their next manager. He comes with celebrity power and may bring in the euro snobs - but I think a tried and tested coach would have been a better choice.....but maybe this is the best of a bad bunch???? If true it's a strange decision for me, a former EPL hero true, but no apparent coaching experience at senior. Afetr the weekend match and this article from the smh all I can say is God help us. Take that how you like. https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/brisbane-roar-to-unveil-robbie-fowler-as-new-coach-20190422-p51g8h.html
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
not an excuse because, as I've made it clear, there's no need for an excuse. Just that a lot more people go away, to the beach in Brisbane than any other capital. It's been a weekend attraction forever, go to the Goldie or Sunshine Coast, not just for a few hours but for the weekend. It's a competitor for football, as are the other major sports. WA's beaches are nice I agree, but Perth is colder than Melbourne. Last time I was there at Easter, some years back now, at Observation City we needed wetsuits. How many Perth people go to Exmouth for the weekend? by far Jordan, that is your best and a better comparison to what we have in Qld.
Jordan Klingsporn
Roar Guru
You're using the beach as an excuse for Roar crowds? We've got some lovely beaches out West. Cottesloe, Scarbrough, Fremantle, Rockingham. I'll use that as an excuse for the next time Glory get bad crowds.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
Agree Waz, fabulous post match interview and Topor Stanley was v good. I thought Wenzell-Halls tried to get at him such that it hurt his (DWH's) game. He did ease off after a while, but Topor Stanley spent a lot of time in the first half talking to the referee, who didn't impress me much. Eli Babalj's non-goal lost me. It was right in front of me and absolutely no doubt, he was on-side. It was a very lazy call by the assistant, who was directly in front of me. He was off-side prior to the kick, and several of us were calling 'get on side' but were greatly relieved when two or three defenders jumped and put him on-side before the corner was taken. There wasn't much in it, but it needed the linesman to be focused on his job, not using a picture of what he saw 2 seconds prior. It was very disappointing to watch such poor refereeing. I'm not sure if there were other factors in play, we didn't notice any but Topor Stanley spent some time with the ref and then the VAR was apparently not even viewed. But overall, it's the visa and senior players we need to fix, not the juniors. I remember not long ago when it was D Petratos, C Brown, L Brattan and others who we would groan at for missing a few passes in their twenty minute cameos.
paul
Guest
One gets the feeling that Melbourne City is the runt of the litter
RF
Roar Rookie
My hunch is that an independent A League will see a very different Melbourne City and a very different level of engagement from CFG, Stevo. The problem is getting to that independence. I can see their point - why invest millions in something they don't actually own. Well, more millions - because they have invested millions already.
Onside
Guest
An aside : one day the HAL might schedule an afternoon game on Easter Monday. Maybe make it the one FTA game of the week so everybody in Australia can watch it.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
Newcastle don’t have teams in national comps other than the NRL. I don’t think you’ve even got a NBL or BBL or AHL, tennis champions or tennis championships, let alone super rugby or AFL. And you are just a short drive from three other A League teams, easy for away crowds. Granted, Neilson’s Bay is nice but unbelievable? It’s wet suit water already in Newcastle, don’t kid yourself. But my point is that you come up with your silly little line at just the slightest hint by anybody of falling crowds at Roar, which they haven’t, and yet you never give any evidence, because they haven’t.
Jordan Klingsporn
Roar Guru
Keep ranting please.
Waz
Roar Rookie
“BR fans are the only ones I ever read about that apparently may walk away because they have had a bad season” .... but where have you read this?? Mike mentions it in his article but he’s hardly an authority you accept? Roars average is 9,452 with one game to come this season. That’s down from a long-term 13k average in line with what must European clubs would experience - you win average crowds go up, you lose they go down.