Vinnie Grella isn’t the name on most Socceroo fans’ lips when it comes to their favourite player. But as he told FourFourTwo, he’s not in it for the fame. A couple of trophies will do
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The “holding midfielder” is a position that doesn’t even sound glamorous. Even Serie A fans – where everyone focusses primarily on tactics – don’t overtly and publicly celebrate the importance of the role.
However sides that use holding midfielders effectively have been the most successful in the modern game. Real Madrid, Manchester United and Arsenal’s recent successes have all come when they’ve used a midfield anchor.
Granted, Claude Makelele, Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira are obscenely famous but the lion’s share of the praise has always gone to team-mates. Think of those great sides and you think Zidane, Beckham and Henry. In Makelele and Vieira’s cases, their exits from Madrid and Arsenal signalled drastic drops in form for their old sides. This was no coincidence.
“I remember Roy Keane…” says Vince Grella, Australia’s own version of the most important man on the pitch. “Even though he was a big part of the Manchester team, he was always second or third to Beckham and those guys that were taking the limelight. But I don’t think he would have been too worried.
“I believe it always comes back to the coaching staff and how much they appreciate what you do and how important it is for them. When I was with Guus Hiddink, at the start he didn’t really like the way I was playing but then towards the end of the World Cup he was calling me constantly during a game, making sure I was on top of certain situations. For me that was hugely satisfying personally. You know, this popularity thing doesn’t worry me. It’s never been a problem and doesn’t bother me at all. I really like to keep low key.”
Since going their separate ways at the end of the World Cup, it wasn’t until the games against Paraguay and Bahrain in early October that the European-based Socceroos were reunited to play again together. Scorelines aside, fans were relieved to see the team’s slick ball movement from the Hiddink days was still in place.
“There’s (now) just this confidence. Obviously we’ve got to see when we go through a bad spell, when things are more difficult to test the character of the team. Things are going good and the ball’s bouncing our way. Maybe results-wise we’re missing the bigger point, but we’re playing beautiful soccer.
“For Australia to show a South American team how to pass the ball…
I tell you what, you wouldn’t have dreamed of that 10 years ago. Against Paraguay, I can’t remember an Australian team passing a ball like that. South Americans are the kings of possession and passing the ball. They are the kings. We showed them how to do it,” he enthuses.
However sides that use holding midfielders effectively have been the most successful in the modern game. Real Madrid, Manchester United and Arsenal’s recent successes have all come when they’ve used a midfield anchor.
Granted, Claude Makelele, Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira are obscenely famous but the lion’s share of the praise has always gone to team-mates. Think of those great sides and you think Zidane, Beckham and Henry. In Makelele and Vieira’s cases, their exits from Madrid and Arsenal signalled drastic drops in form for their old sides. This was no coincidence.
“I remember Roy Keane…” says Vince Grella, Australia’s own version of the most important man on the pitch. “Even though he was a big part of the Manchester team, he was always second or third to Beckham and those guys that were taking the limelight. But I don’t think he would have been too worried.
“I believe it always comes back to the coaching staff and how much they appreciate what you do and how important it is for them. When I was with Guus Hiddink, at the start he didn’t really like the way I was playing but then towards the end of the World Cup he was calling me constantly during a game, making sure I was on top of certain situations. For me that was hugely satisfying personally. You know, this popularity thing doesn’t worry me. It’s never been a problem and doesn’t bother me at all. I really like to keep low key.”
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| Are our midfielders plotting more success on the big stages? |
Since going their separate ways at the end of the World Cup, it wasn’t until the games against Paraguay and Bahrain in early October that the European-based Socceroos were reunited to play again together. Scorelines aside, fans were relieved to see the team’s slick ball movement from the Hiddink days was still in place.
“There’s (now) just this confidence. Obviously we’ve got to see when we go through a bad spell, when things are more difficult to test the character of the team. Things are going good and the ball’s bouncing our way. Maybe results-wise we’re missing the bigger point, but we’re playing beautiful soccer.
“For Australia to show a South American team how to pass the ball…
I tell you what, you wouldn’t have dreamed of that 10 years ago. Against Paraguay, I can’t remember an Australian team passing a ball like that. South Americans are the kings of possession and passing the ball. They are the kings. We showed them how to do it,” he enthuses.
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