Carl Robinson’s birthplace was recently voted the happiest place in Wales, which seems important to note since Robinson is perhaps a happier person than we give him credit for.
If there’s one thing the A-League needs, it’s more coaches like Robinson.
The Welshman has brought all the brooding intensity of Hannibal Lecter to Australia with the added bonus that he can actually coach.
And when it comes to leaving clubs in contentious circumstances, Robinson knows a thing or two about it.
When New York Red Bulls hammered Toronto FC 4-1 at a packed BMO Field in August 2010 it was Robinson himself who nodded home New York’s fourth goal.
Rather than celebrate, the much-travelled Welshman looked embarrassed to have scored, with the goal coming against a Toronto side for whom Robinson was twice voted MVP of the season.
At the end of the game Robinson told a Canadian reporter, “Sometimes it takes a big man to walk away, and that’s what I did.
“There’s no bitterness by me at all with how things ended here.”
Sound familiar? This is a man who does things by design.
So while we don’t know the full reasons of why Robinson chose to walk away from the Newcastle Jets after just 11 games as coach, it feels safe to assume he knew exactly what he was doing when he left the Hunter.
And on the basis of Western Sydney’s 2-1 win over Newcastle on Friday night, Robinson has made a smart decision.
The scoreline didn’t necessarily do the visitors justice, because when Nicolai Mueller blasted home a swerving long-range effort in the 25th minute, the Wanderers were all over the Jets.
Sadly, but with an air of predictable inevitability, Mueller’s spectacular sonntagsschuss was ruled out by VAR because striker Simon Cox had strayed offside by a blade of grass in the build-up to the goal.
“I think it’s probably going to be play on,” said Fox Sports commentator Andy Harper after Mueller’s early goal-of-the-season candidate.
“I think it’s going to be taken off,” replied Brenton Speed, proving once again that the introduction of video technology has done nothing to remove doubt from the game.
Which was a point rammed home by Macarthur’s 1-1 draw with Wellington Phoenix on Saturday, when Phoenix midfielder Alex Rufer was sent off following VAR intervention amid genuinely baffling scenes.
At first glance it looked like Macarthur midfielder Denis Genreau had gone studs-first into Rufer’s ankle, causing the Phoenix man to wince in pain and close his eyes as he hit the deck.
Yet Kris Griffiths-Jones clearly saw something different in the VAR booth, because despite Rufer looking like the player who’d been fouled, he was handed a red card for violent conduct for lashing out and tripping Genreau after the tackle.
It looked at worse like a complete accident – the sort of coming together you see dozens of times in any game – but it didn’t stop referee Stephen Lucas from reaching into his back pocket for a red card following the VAR’s intervention.
Phoenix general manager David Dome has since tweeted that he spoke to the A-League’s “refs boss” – who would be Strebre Delovski – and was informed that both the decision to refer Rufer’s challenge and punish it with a red card were wrong.
But that’s scant consolation for a Phoenix side that saw Macarthur equalise less than five minutes later.
It’s a shame we have to keep talking about dodgy VAR decisions, because there are better narratives to focus on.
Like Carl Robinson’s return to the Hunter as Western Sydney’s latest coach.
The former Welsh international knows all about trying to grow the game in non-traditional football markets, and with his intense persona and savvy media responses he played his role in building up Friday night’s clash to perfection.
Love him or loathe him, the A-League needs more coaches like Robinson.
When it comes to marketing the competition, a headline-generator on the sidelines is hardly a bad thing.
Punter
Roar Rookie
2 champions leagues cups, 2 Europa/UEFA cups, 2 Priemera Liga titles, 3 premiership League Titles, 2 Serie A titles, 1 La Liga, plus numerous domestic cups in Portugal, Spain, Italy & England. No I don't think Australia has anything close to Mourinho.
Tigertown
Guest
I’d say Robinson adds some sumptuous spice to the A-League.
AndyAdelaide
Roar Rookie
amor was nice from what i saw in training and on the few occasions i met him, all the coaches were. I've only ever seen kurtz and verbeek tear the shreds off a few players because they werent following instructions in training. I think european coaches are used to how they train over there, training in australia is completely different with the weather and hard pitches, plus players here are 'babied'
Buddy
Roar Rookie
Hey, long balls can’t be consigned to the 1970’s surely? If you eVer watched the Leeds side of that era you’d know what I mean. There seems to be a place for the long ball across the globe - when it is used in a lightning raid....quick throw or kick from the keeper, one or two touches to get it to a chasing forward who finishes off the move.....fast and effective in places. Might not be how we want to see the game played but if it brings in points then the majority are satisfied!
NoMates
Guest
Look i dont know what club is worse, the Jets or WSW. Robinson did well at the Jets with the players lifting there game %100 at the end of last season, but now he is at WSW its like the players think there to good for him. And whats the go with 1970s longball football?
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Surely Gui?
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Agreed Lionheart. Cost me a winning tip and plenty of dosh! Very disappointing. If only the Roar had played. I would most certainly have got that one right. :laughing: :laughing:
Newie
Guest
Agree with you. Yuel looks like a real threat except that his shooting was wayward. It felt to me (as a Jets fan) that we coulda/shoulda been 3-0 up by half time if it wasn't for our terrible finishing. We were constantly attacking in the first 30 minutes and the Wanderers first goal came against the run of play. Then, yes WSW looked the better team until the last 20 minutes of the game and the Jets just couldn't get the ball into the goal for the equaliser. I don't think we'll be the pushovers that people seem to be expecting. On Robinson, it's a real shame for the Jets that he went, but can you blame him? Who knows if he was even being paid! Lee turned off the lights, so Robinson went elsewhere (pun intended).
AndyAdelaide
Roar Rookie
out of the 4 i mentioned? it would be rudan, he was a hard bastard as a player and hes an even harder bastard as a coach. Hit type of thuggery with his team needs to be outlawed, closest thing to mourinho we have in australia.
Samuel Power
Roar Rookie
That's why Muscat was a great manager for Melbourne Victory. Everyone loved to hate him and the Victory, which is one of the reasons they were such a big club and fairly successful. Hated everything about Melbourne Victory as an Adelaide fan from about 2012-2018, now I just don't care about them, kind of feel sorry for them in a way. That's when the A-League was thriving.
TomC
Roar Guru
I'm in the minority who thought Rufer's card was probably justified. It looked like he rolled back with his leg raised and studs up to kick his opponent. You'd normally go forward in the way momentum carries you, but Rufer went the other way. It doesn't seem reflexive and natural to me. Adam Peacock wrote an article on Foxsports that rubbished the idea that anyone could deliberately kick another player with his eyes closed, but Rufer knew where Genreau was. I doubt Rufer had time to think about much of anything at all, but his instant reaction - the same as any player - is to try to stop your opponent getting away and he did that in the wrong way. That said, I don't think it's cut and dried enough to warrant a red card. And I'm tired of VAR getting over-used, so in principle at least I guess I agree with Mike's position. I'm very surprised Delovski admitted to Dome that it was the wrong decision. It wouldn't surprise me if Dome was overstating what was actually said.
Buddy
Roar Rookie
AA - you've had your fair share in Adelaide down the years. If you had to choose one to keep, who would it be?
Kevin
Roar Rookie
Thank goodness Popovic left. Don’t think I could’ve bared another season with him ruining the Glory.
dennis emery
Guest
Spot on Buddy. I guess the question for CR is why both the Bull and Jets both targeted the right side of the WSW defence. It may just be coincidental with left sided strikers but was worth noting.
Terry Polious
Roar Rookie
Why are the Newcastle club such a shambles? They have no first class cricket up there as far as I know so in the summer they should be the only show in town, Novacastrians love sport (The NRL Knights got one of the best Average crowds even when they came last) and they have an amazing stadium, they should be a force in the A-League
AndyAdelaide
Roar Rookie
no thanks, don't need any more coaches like this in the league. There's already enough pricks (rudan/milicic/talay) Robinson is joining that group very soon.
AGO74
Guest
I can't really comment on Robinson as I haven't seen or know too much about him besides his somewhat acrimonious departure from Newcastle. What I can say is that having watched about 2/3 of Friday's game, it was another entertaining affair. Newcastle played some good stuff but WSW's quality was there. I feel dirty saying it - but it was a shame that Muller's goal for WSW was rubbed out as the leadup play as well as the strike itself were excellent.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
I'm way too busy this year to follow matches and coaches too closely, or comment much here, bar for Roar matches, but that red card in the 'nix match to Ruefer was a shocker. That ref should be sent back to lower grades for a while.
Craig Thompson
Guest
Would you elaborate?
Waz
Roar Rookie
I have no problems with him leaving Jets, that’s not the behavioural problem I was referring too.