So Pim Verbeek this week claimed that a player training at a team in one of the top leagues in Europe (Bundesliga) was better placed to step up and play international football than someone playing in the A-League….is there anything inherently wrong or untrue in this statement? Probably not. It would take the most blinkered fan to tell you otherwise. The intensity of club football in Europe whether training or playing regularly is undoubtedly higher and is something the A-League is looking to move towards in the near future given the desire from all parties to deliver more games via an expanded A-League.
I think the issue here is one of diplomacy, timing & tact and having worked for a Dutch company for almost a decade in Europe I can vouch first hand for these three qualities not figuring too highly in their approach to business – they are open, honest and blunt and not too concerned who that may offend. Could Mr Verbeek have answered the question in a less scathing manner? Absolutely. He recited the mantra that he’s not here to win friends just football matches and to an extent that’s true and shows, quite rightly, he’s not here to be an extension of the FFA’s marketing department. That said though, everyone involved in football in this country should be trying to make as many friends as possible…at the last count we’re still in need of around 25,000 “friends” to fill the Telstra Dome for his first game in charge. From supporters to the national coach we all have a role to play in the growth of football in this country and of course having a team at the World Cup in South Africa 2010 will do more than anything to further ingrain our sport in the national psyche…but that process will have much more of a galvanizing effect is it’s done in an inclusive manner.
The failed Asian Cup campaign did show that there are A-League players capable of making the step up to full international level and not only hold their own but make significant contributions. Mr Verbeek of all people should know this…he was there.
At the launch of the A-League finals I think Pim would have been best advised to “put a sock in it” as my mother used to say to me as she saw me shaping to say something embarrassing to the family at yet another social occasion.
It’s a bit like marching up to the parents of a new born baby and saying “urrgghh isn’t it ugly”….you just don’t do it…even if the baby looks like the lovechild of Peter Beardsley and Amy Winehouse.
In the end…actions always speak louder than words….so Pim…please keep schtum in the future…just pick your squad and let us draw our own conclusions as to your views on the country’s new born football league based on the composition of your squad. Just like our last Dutch coach used to.
That way you’ll have a chance of winning both football matches and a few more friends along the way.
I think the issue here is one of diplomacy, timing & tact and having worked for a Dutch company for almost a decade in Europe I can vouch first hand for these three qualities not figuring too highly in their approach to business – they are open, honest and blunt and not too concerned who that may offend. Could Mr Verbeek have answered the question in a less scathing manner? Absolutely. He recited the mantra that he’s not here to win friends just football matches and to an extent that’s true and shows, quite rightly, he’s not here to be an extension of the FFA’s marketing department. That said though, everyone involved in football in this country should be trying to make as many friends as possible…at the last count we’re still in need of around 25,000 “friends” to fill the Telstra Dome for his first game in charge. From supporters to the national coach we all have a role to play in the growth of football in this country and of course having a team at the World Cup in South Africa 2010 will do more than anything to further ingrain our sport in the national psyche…but that process will have much more of a galvanizing effect is it’s done in an inclusive manner.
The failed Asian Cup campaign did show that there are A-League players capable of making the step up to full international level and not only hold their own but make significant contributions. Mr Verbeek of all people should know this…he was there.
At the launch of the A-League finals I think Pim would have been best advised to “put a sock in it” as my mother used to say to me as she saw me shaping to say something embarrassing to the family at yet another social occasion.
It’s a bit like marching up to the parents of a new born baby and saying “urrgghh isn’t it ugly”….you just don’t do it…even if the baby looks like the lovechild of Peter Beardsley and Amy Winehouse.
In the end…actions always speak louder than words….so Pim…please keep schtum in the future…just pick your squad and let us draw our own conclusions as to your views on the country’s new born football league based on the composition of your squad. Just like our last Dutch coach used to.
That way you’ll have a chance of winning both football matches and a few more friends along the way.
