The last time we had a AWs coach co share with the Nix role it ended as a mess. Horror in Honiara followed by getting thrashed at the Azteca.
There were nutty selections for the Mexico series like Jeremy Christie, and Chris James recalled from the wilderness (to be fair he played well). But the lead in preparation was shambolic. A complete mess. Bad enough that afterwards Tommy Smith in absolute frustration, made himself unavailable for a few years.
But in Ricki's defence he was trying to prepare for those IC playoffs (Nov 2013) in the midst of an A League season already well underway. You just can't properly focus on the AWs, doing all the proper analysis, giving your players all the professional detail they need to prepare etc etc - juggling 2 hats.
Sure there are no more IC playoffs, and AWs basically have a free pass to 2026, but if Talay was in charge you risk again having the preparation majorly compromised heading into June-July 2026. What if the Nix are involved in the ALM playoffs, with a final series likely running into say May 2026. How can you be focusing on AWs WC leadin in that case.
This is a talented young AWs group. We want them going into their short 5 day FIFA windows, as well prepared as possible. We want them to be doing well even in friendlies and making us proud. With such short time on the grass each window, the prep beforehand is as important if not more than the limited hands on coaching time you actually have.
And what of the system Uffie loves to play. As everyone knows it takes a long time to bed in, and that's at club level where you have the players basically 24/7. Is he prepared to be flexible, given how little time he would actually have with the AWs squad?
As others have said is no gtee the ALM will always observe FIFA windows over this 4 year WC window. What if Talay gets the sack from the Nix (7 years in total at the Nix would be an unusually long time at one club for a coach). Would Talay be happy enough to lose his Nix salary & still take the AWs to the WC? No other club in the world would let him wear both hats. What if Arnold gets sacked & the Socceroos role is suddenly vacant, and FA make Uffie an offer. So then halfway through the cycle NZF are looking again for a new gaffer.
Rate Uffie as a coach. But just too much risk, could finish as a really shark outcome wearing both hats.
Pragnell has promised AWs friendlies basically every window this cycle, bar when Olywhites are trying to qualify for Paris. You'd assume the AWs coach as per Hay will also coach the OWs. There will be enough to keep a AWs coach full time occupied.
And lastly Pragnell has made it clear after the McKinnon Report, they want a 'collobrative type' as AWs coach. Make that basically a yes man, happy to sit in countless meetings with other NZF staff, including the important Technical Director. That suits a Bazeley far more than it suits a Talay. The coach can't be a lone operator, my way or the highway type like Hay. In hindsight it's a pity he couldn't put his ego aside, and at least find some compromise arrangement with his NZF employers, where he improved his 'collaboration skills'.
Buckingham would have been our first choice, Herdman our 2nd, but Bazeley it will likely be. However it's dumb to focus on how Bazeley was coaching 8 years ago in 2015. He has spent basically 2 years alongside Hay. I expect he will coach in a very similar way. He'll be smart enough to know we have the best crop of midfield players the country has ever had. Let's wait & see.
Oh & when is the TD appointment going to be announced? I thought that role was being filled first. Tumbleweeds out of Albany.
There were nutty selections for the Mexico series like Jeremy Christie, and Chris James recalled from the wilderness (to be fair he played well). But the lead in preparation was shambolic. A complete mess. Bad enough that afterwards Tommy Smith in absolute frustration, made himself unavailable for a few years.
But in Ricki's defence he was trying to prepare for those IC playoffs (Nov 2013) in the midst of an A League season already well underway. You just can't properly focus on the AWs, doing all the proper analysis, giving your players all the professional detail they need to prepare etc etc - juggling 2 hats.
Sure there are no more IC playoffs, and AWs basically have a free pass to 2026, but if Talay was in charge you risk again having the preparation majorly compromised heading into June-July 2026. What if the Nix are involved in the ALM playoffs, with a final series likely running into say May 2026. How can you be focusing on AWs WC leadin in that case.
This is a talented young AWs group. We want them going into their short 5 day FIFA windows, as well prepared as possible. We want them to be doing well even in friendlies and making us proud. With such short time on the grass each window, the prep beforehand is as important if not more than the limited hands on coaching time you actually have.
And what of the system Uffie loves to play. As everyone knows it takes a long time to bed in, and that's at club level where you have the players basically 24/7. Is he prepared to be flexible, given how little time he would actually have with the AWs squad?
As others have said is no gtee the ALM will always observe FIFA windows over this 4 year WC window. What if Talay gets the sack from the Nix (7 years in total at the Nix would be an unusually long time at one club for a coach). Would Talay be happy enough to lose his Nix salary & still take the AWs to the WC? No other club in the world would let him wear both hats. What if Arnold gets sacked & the Socceroos role is suddenly vacant, and FA make Uffie an offer. So then halfway through the cycle NZF are looking again for a new gaffer.
Rate Uffie as a coach. But just too much risk, could finish as a really shark outcome wearing both hats.
Pragnell has promised AWs friendlies basically every window this cycle, bar when Olywhites are trying to qualify for Paris. You'd assume the AWs coach as per Hay will also coach the OWs. There will be enough to keep a AWs coach full time occupied.
And lastly Pragnell has made it clear after the McKinnon Report, they want a 'collobrative type' as AWs coach. Make that basically a yes man, happy to sit in countless meetings with other NZF staff, including the important Technical Director. That suits a Bazeley far more than it suits a Talay. The coach can't be a lone operator, my way or the highway type like Hay. In hindsight it's a pity he couldn't put his ego aside, and at least find some compromise arrangement with his NZF employers, where he improved his 'collaboration skills'.
Buckingham would have been our first choice, Herdman our 2nd, but Bazeley it will likely be. However it's dumb to focus on how Bazeley was coaching 8 years ago in 2015. He has spent basically 2 years alongside Hay. I expect he will coach in a very similar way. He'll be smart enough to know we have the best crop of midfield players the country has ever had. Let's wait & see.
Oh & when is the TD appointment going to be announced? I thought that role was being filled first. Tumbleweeds out of Albany.