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Well, well, well, the Round of 16 Tony G. Nicely done sir.
After many of us felt sick to the pits of our stomachs during your first year at the helm of the Matildas, the ship appears to have been somewhat righted and the team is finally enjoying some success.
Credit where credit is due. After a stodgy win against Republic of Ireland and a night to forget against Nigeria, your troops were simply stunning against Olympic champions Canada and after sending that quality team to the airport, have now advanced to a knock-out encounter with Denmark next Monday evening in Sydney.
You are unquestionably an excitable man, something akin to a cross between former Perth Glory coach Kenny Lowe and a 16-year-old on a school camp. At times I fear you may launch into orbit, such is the gesticulation that goes on during Matildas matches. However, right now, Australia needs you to knuckle down and think your way through the next five days.
Unfortunately, you have already made a number of blunders leading into and during the World Cup and we simply cannot afford another, before what could be a glorious night for Australian football to celebrate if we get it right.
Tony, Kyah Simon is not fit, yet appeared to have been selected as a perfect back-up for an injured Sam Kerr. When Kerr’s calf tore, and it was a tear Tony, stop being coy and suggesting otherwise, the poor decision to select Simon based on loyalty and emotion was exposed.
Sam Kerr’s injured required a ready made replacement and Gustavsson botched the call at the selection table. (Photo by Maddie Meyer – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
You were caught out.
Australians don’t really like the games mate, press conference after press conference suggesting that Kerr was a day to day proposition didn’t sit too well with many of us. The fans are stressed and letting us know how our star player actually was would have been a better approach. It all looked a little silly from afar.
What you were doing at training that caused both Mary Fowler and Aivi Luik to be knocked into the middle of next week is concerning. Tell me you were not overseeing a morale building game of dodgeball or gridiron!
I’m actually a little concerned that you may have forgotten how many players you selected in the squad. You do know there are 23 don’t you? It seems like the same 14 or 15 get minutes and the rest remain on the pine.
There are some good players in that lot Tony. Why not give one or two a run when the opportunity presents itself. I’m starting to think that the booking for the team bus that delivers them to the stadium may have been botched.
Were you after a coach and accidently booked a mini-bus instead?
If the team does suffer defeat on Monday, please don’t tell the world that they were dominant if they were not, and could have scored four goals in the final ten minutes. You did that against Nigeria, despite the Xg data suggesting otherwise.
All the way through this journey you have told us to trust the process. We have and Football Australia, despite many doubters behind closed doors, resisted the urge to make changes to the coaching staff, despite a very poor run of results in your early time at the helm.
There is something a little eccentric about Tony Gustavsson, but is he the right man for the job? (Photo by Richard Callis/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
In return, could you please play things with a little more of a straight bat this time around? Rather than a continuation of the spin and hype that appears to be the cornerstone of your coaching methodology, how about just admit defeat if and when it occurs and not worry about the implications for your own coaching future.
Keep wearing the scarf champ, it looks good on you and congrats on the words to the anthem, you nail them every time, and good luck on Monday night.
It is a little tough from the outside to know whether the team is performing well due to your astute decision making on the sideline, prudent selections, media savvy or on mere uninstructed talent as you stand by and watch whilst flapping your arms.
I know what I believe, but will hold back judgement until the job is done or the road comes to an end. No pressure Tony, but there is a heck of a lot riding on this.