reg22 wrote:
After the confed cup in 2009, we we told by FIFA, and i believe funded as well, to add technical expertise to our coaching team. Ricki added Raul Blanco, who had been involved with the Socceroos since 1981 and I believe was on several FIFA technical committees. We switched up our playing style to play to our strengths and deployed the tactic in a 3-4-3 (7-3-0 lol). We also had Nellie and Elliott bossing it. Nellie even brought in the Blackburn Rovers kitman. Ricki was open minded enough to let others have geneuine input.
This time around, it's hard to deny that we were under done on the coaching side experience wise. Baze was last choice and I'm not aware of anything that any of our assistants have achieved. And the World Cup is next level gravy. The players had a big say in the playing style, but none of them are Ryan Nelsen.
It would have been nice to be that team who surprised everyone, but I don't think we ever had the quality in any department to make that happen. And worryingly like others have said we have large organisational flaws on the pitch.
I agree with Coochie that's it's not viable to attract a top coach for four years of our itinery. So I think we need to do a Hiddink; qualify under a Baze equivalent, who then steps back for the next World Cup proper.. Our unique situation in Oceania should make this viable. And there's no excuse not to get expertise in for the finals, there's a large pool of coaches of the required standard available. We'd just need to pick the right personality and make sure we don't get another Heraf, i.e. you're here to coach a team for a year, not to change the fabric of our footballing environment.
I did say as much, on more than one occasion that a top class coach could be brought in for the WC. Australia did go to a professional coach for WC qualifiers halfway through the cycle or even later (more than once). However, I also appreciate Coochie's response to one of my posts pointing out that if you leave it till very late, the incoming top coach may not know the quality of the players at hand or what to expect of the potential backups.
I know it did not stop Hiddink from having Australia progress past Uruguay to qualify for the WC 2006, but it was a damn close call. He was contracted after the calamity of Frank Farina's team also playing off against Uruguay 4 years earlier and not doing very well.
I know it did not stop Hiddink from having Australia progress past Uruguay to qualify for the WC 2006, but it was a damn close call. He was contracted after the calamity of Frank Farina's team also playing off against Uruguay 4 years earlier and not doing very well.