THERE is no such thing as a meaningless friendly any more. The days when we could stroll into a game against American Samoa and win 31-0 are long gone.
We’re in Asian now and as we found out to our cost, even teams like Oman and Iraq can match or beat us, and yet we still want to qualify for the 2010 World Cup. Every game has to count for Australia now.
And that’s why we need everyone available for every game. Each match is a rare opportunity for the team to get together, to try new formations, new line-ups and even new positions.
Having some players only turn up for ‘games that matter’ is a recipe for disaster. As the A-League is testament to, it takes time for partnerships to click, whether it’s in attack, midfield or defence.
Flying in the big names for key matches and expecting them to immediately settle into a side with new faces and new tactics will end in tears.
Tim Cahill is the latest to announce he will be putting his club ahead of his country now. Okay, so he might not have said he’s retiring – but quite frankly he might as well have done. After all, we don't actually have any matches scheduled now until the World Cup qualifiers which are months away.
Having stars like that playing for Australia is not just an honour for us, the fans. It should be an honour for them.
Stevie Gerrard plays for England with a broken foot because he cares. Carlos Tevez and Lionel Messi flew halfway across the world to play against a nation almost 50 places below them because they care.
What have we got? Scott McDonald crying off with a hamstring injury that miraculously recovered in time for him to start for Celtic a few days later.
Mark Viduka who can’t decide whether he’ll carry on playing for Australia. Scott Chipperfield’s pregnant wife. Even Adam Federici – who can’t get a Premiership start for Reading – rules himself out.
And now Cahill wants a break too – and Socceroo fans accept it. Sorry, it’s not good enough. It’s piss-weak and I’m sick of it.
You either play for the green and gold, or you don’t. If you don’t want to play against Argentina, or China, or even American Samoa, then fine, we’ll do without you.
Okay, it might mean relying on our Olyroos like Nathan Burns more – but that might not be a bad thing. At least they’re passionate about playing for their country. And passion can count for more than skill. Just ask Scotland.
I’d rather have one player who desperately wants to play for the Socceroos in the green and gold than five who think they’re doing the country a favour by turning up.
Players that cherry-pick their Australia games will be the downfall of the Socceroos. It's a cancer and we need to cure it before it spreads. It doesn’t work for other countries, it won’t work here – and as fans, we should never accept it.
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Graham Arnold reckons he was hounded out of the Socceroos job because he was Australian. Guess what? He’s right.
Football's been a marginalised sport in Australia for decades and as a result, Australian managers with successful experience outside of domestic club level is, erm, zero.
Number of successful Australian managers in Asia? Zero. Number of successful Australian managers in Europe? None. Number of successful Australian managers managing international teams? Zero.
That will all come one day – but right now, there simply isn’t an Australian coach with the experience of truly big matches on an international stage. Christ, even the A-league has yet to find a successful Australian-born manager…
So yes, being Australian is a poor qualification for being in charge of the Socceroos. We need the best man for the job and so far there isn’t an Australian who can claim that.
If Arnold wants to prove us wrong, let him find a European club and take them to Champions League success. Maybe he could then find another national team after that and transform their fortunes too.
But I think we all know that isn’t going to happen. And Arnie knows it too. In the meantime, let’s keep looking for that coach with the top-level experience and tactics to take us to glory…and ignore Arnie’s bitchfest.
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One final thing on Arnie - he blasted A-League clubs as ridiculous for complaining about the lack of a break for the Socceroo call-ups, claiming the clubs knew a year ago about the ties. Which is odd, considering the Argentina match was supposed to be in June - and outrageous considering the clubs weren't complaining about the call-ups, just the lack of a break that weekend. Rather than back them though - a break would have been best for everyone, including him - he chose to attack them instead. He's like the FFA's own house-trained poodle.
++++
SEPARATED AT BIRTH? #3
Henry from Rudolf The Red Nosed Reindeer and Ruben Zadkid
We’re in Asian now and as we found out to our cost, even teams like Oman and Iraq can match or beat us, and yet we still want to qualify for the 2010 World Cup. Every game has to count for Australia now.
And that’s why we need everyone available for every game. Each match is a rare opportunity for the team to get together, to try new formations, new line-ups and even new positions.
Having some players only turn up for ‘games that matter’ is a recipe for disaster. As the A-League is testament to, it takes time for partnerships to click, whether it’s in attack, midfield or defence.
Flying in the big names for key matches and expecting them to immediately settle into a side with new faces and new tactics will end in tears.
Tim Cahill is the latest to announce he will be putting his club ahead of his country now. Okay, so he might not have said he’s retiring – but quite frankly he might as well have done. After all, we don't actually have any matches scheduled now until the World Cup qualifiers which are months away.
Having stars like that playing for Australia is not just an honour for us, the fans. It should be an honour for them.
Stevie Gerrard plays for England with a broken foot because he cares. Carlos Tevez and Lionel Messi flew halfway across the world to play against a nation almost 50 places below them because they care.
What have we got? Scott McDonald crying off with a hamstring injury that miraculously recovered in time for him to start for Celtic a few days later.
Mark Viduka who can’t decide whether he’ll carry on playing for Australia. Scott Chipperfield’s pregnant wife. Even Adam Federici – who can’t get a Premiership start for Reading – rules himself out.
And now Cahill wants a break too – and Socceroo fans accept it. Sorry, it’s not good enough. It’s piss-weak and I’m sick of it.
You either play for the green and gold, or you don’t. If you don’t want to play against Argentina, or China, or even American Samoa, then fine, we’ll do without you.
Okay, it might mean relying on our Olyroos like Nathan Burns more – but that might not be a bad thing. At least they’re passionate about playing for their country. And passion can count for more than skill. Just ask Scotland.
I’d rather have one player who desperately wants to play for the Socceroos in the green and gold than five who think they’re doing the country a favour by turning up.
Players that cherry-pick their Australia games will be the downfall of the Socceroos. It's a cancer and we need to cure it before it spreads. It doesn’t work for other countries, it won’t work here – and as fans, we should never accept it.
++++
Graham Arnold reckons he was hounded out of the Socceroos job because he was Australian. Guess what? He’s right.
Football's been a marginalised sport in Australia for decades and as a result, Australian managers with successful experience outside of domestic club level is, erm, zero.
Number of successful Australian managers in Asia? Zero. Number of successful Australian managers in Europe? None. Number of successful Australian managers managing international teams? Zero.
That will all come one day – but right now, there simply isn’t an Australian coach with the experience of truly big matches on an international stage. Christ, even the A-league has yet to find a successful Australian-born manager…
So yes, being Australian is a poor qualification for being in charge of the Socceroos. We need the best man for the job and so far there isn’t an Australian who can claim that.
If Arnold wants to prove us wrong, let him find a European club and take them to Champions League success. Maybe he could then find another national team after that and transform their fortunes too.
But I think we all know that isn’t going to happen. And Arnie knows it too. In the meantime, let’s keep looking for that coach with the top-level experience and tactics to take us to glory…and ignore Arnie’s bitchfest.
++++
One final thing on Arnie - he blasted A-League clubs as ridiculous for complaining about the lack of a break for the Socceroo call-ups, claiming the clubs knew a year ago about the ties. Which is odd, considering the Argentina match was supposed to be in June - and outrageous considering the clubs weren't complaining about the call-ups, just the lack of a break that weekend. Rather than back them though - a break would have been best for everyone, including him - he chose to attack them instead. He's like the FFA's own house-trained poodle.
++++
SEPARATED AT BIRTH? #3
Henry from Rudolf The Red Nosed Reindeer and Ruben Zadkid
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