Graham Arnold's decision to leave Nathan Burns and Bruce Djite out of the Australian Olympic football squad has left him in Australian football's last chance saloon.
By casting out two of this country's major young talents, Arnold has effectively put his coaching reputation on the line this August.
If the Olyroos play above themselves and qualify from a very difficult group, then Arnold should be applauded for making the right decision when selecting his squad and coaching the team into the next round.
But if the young Australians fail to get out of their group – and play poorly while at it – calls for the 44-year-old's head need to be taken seriously.
Now I don't have a problem with Arnold as a coach and I don't think he's ever been given a fair crack of the whip by either the FFA or the fans. But, my God, he does make it hard for himself, doesn't he?
Nathan Burns is without doubt one of Australia's brightest talents, and although maybe not showing the best form recently, would have to be in most people's Olyroos first XI. He's been a consistent goalscorer in the A-League and has just signed a four year contract to play for AEK Athens in Greece. (Unlike Olyroo inclusion James Troisi who still hasn't got a team...)
When I first heard the news Burns had been left out of the squad at today's [Friday] press conference, I initially thought that the players must have been chosen by someone in the Olympic Committee who had no idea about football. Some might say I was still 50 percent right...
I'm hoping this is a case of smoke and mirrors that coaches and players employ to mask the real reason for a player's exclusion.
I'd like to think he's taking the bullet for AEK Athens reluctance to release Burns and rather than cause a rift between the youngster and his new club, the coach is diffusing the situation by taking the blame for the exclusion himself.
Whatever the reasons, the coach is doing things his own way.
And this time there will be no excuses. Like it or not, Arnold's coaching reputation will be decided this August.
By casting out two of this country's major young talents, Arnold has effectively put his coaching reputation on the line this August.
If the Olyroos play above themselves and qualify from a very difficult group, then Arnold should be applauded for making the right decision when selecting his squad and coaching the team into the next round.
But if the young Australians fail to get out of their group – and play poorly while at it – calls for the 44-year-old's head need to be taken seriously.
Now I don't have a problem with Arnold as a coach and I don't think he's ever been given a fair crack of the whip by either the FFA or the fans. But, my God, he does make it hard for himself, doesn't he?
Nathan Burns is without doubt one of Australia's brightest talents, and although maybe not showing the best form recently, would have to be in most people's Olyroos first XI. He's been a consistent goalscorer in the A-League and has just signed a four year contract to play for AEK Athens in Greece. (Unlike Olyroo inclusion James Troisi who still hasn't got a team...)
When I first heard the news Burns had been left out of the squad at today's [Friday] press conference, I initially thought that the players must have been chosen by someone in the Olympic Committee who had no idea about football. Some might say I was still 50 percent right...
I'm hoping this is a case of smoke and mirrors that coaches and players employ to mask the real reason for a player's exclusion.
I'd like to think he's taking the bullet for AEK Athens reluctance to release Burns and rather than cause a rift between the youngster and his new club, the coach is diffusing the situation by taking the blame for the exclusion himself.
Whatever the reasons, the coach is doing things his own way.
And this time there will be no excuses. Like it or not, Arnold's coaching reputation will be decided this August.
