Ongoing new manager discussion and speculation

[Davie P 4]

Everything appears to be pointing to McLeish sadly.

[Oleg_Mcnoleg 50]

Ange Postecoglou has quit the Australian national team and has risen in the betting to 9/1 for the Rangers job.

 

sod that. He's been a decent manager at A league level and gets some credit for taking a poor Australian side to the world cup. But it's a hell of a step up to a ckub like Rangers. His temperament is doubtful too: touchline rage of Di Canio-levels which would be a concern, given the presdure at Rangers.

Had an amusing touchline scrap with Muscat in the Grand Final a few years back. That Muscat was the innocent party forbthe first time in his career should be a warning!

Edited November 22, 2017 by Oleg_Mcnoleg

[Uilleam 5,929]

Postecoglou from today's Guardian. An interesting fellow.

 

Ange Poststecoglou stays true to his convictions until the very end

 

The coach’s decision to step down before next year’s World Cup is puzzling but a bigger shock would have been if he had stayed on

 

Paul Connolly

@PFConnolly

Wednesday 22 November 2017 04.12 GMT

 

Considering an increasingly uncomfortable and world-weary Ange Postecoglou has spent the past month throwing esoteric smoke bombs at questions about his future it hardly seems surprising that on Wednesday he announced his resignation as Socceroos coach. A bigger shock would have been to hear that he was staying on.

 

Nevertheless, on the surface, his decision to leave the Socceroos a week after overseeing their qualification for the 2018 World Cup in Russia doesn’t make a lot of sense. Though it may be disingenuous on his part – given that he would have been heavily involved in all manner of discussions with Postecoglou over the past weeks and, indeed, years – even Football Federation Australia CEO David Gallop conceded this morning that he too was “puzzled” by it.

 

For most of us in the cheap seats it does indeed seem odd. You go to the back-breaking trouble of tearing down and then rebuilding a playing style in-line with an aspirational philosophy, you scour the world for overlooked Australian talent, you soak through business shirts from Kazakhstan to Bangkok, and you make yourself the target of the slings and arrows of both outrageous fortune and look-at-me punditry; and you do this all in the hope of steering your team to the World Cup finals, football’s biggest stage.

 

But then just when you’ve done the hardest bit, just when you’ve got them over the line despite all the public challenges and personal sacrifices along the way, you chuck it all in.

 

This isn’t the way these things normally happen. Coaches resign all the time, of course, but usually only when they notice the axe glinting above their heads. One suspects we’ve a lot to learn yet abut the dynamic between Postecoglou and his employers at FFA but there’s no suggestion at this time that Postecoglou’s position was in jeopardy.

 

So why has he quit?

 

For one thing, and this says much about his character, his determination to chart his own course and stick to it no matter what the weather throws at him, it was never all about the World Cup. “Bigger things [than World Cup qualification],” he said, “were driving me when I took this job and from that perspective I’ve accomplished what I wanted to do.”

 

Nevertheless, he said, his decision to stand down, a decision made in the best interests of him and his family, was just an instinct, “an instinct [that] it’s the right time for me, it’s the right time for the team, the organisation ... for me it feels like the right time.”

 

You can’t argue with that. Did anyone really want him to stick it out and take the Socceroos to the World Cup if his heart was not in it? That said, in a media-fed world that eschews nuance for click-bait extremes, it’s not the most conclusive of explanations and it will do nothing to prevent criticism and speculation: “Postecoglou’s a quitter, he can’t handle criticism, he’s got a big money job lined up already, he’s leaving his team in the lurch” – the responses can almost be scripted.

 

On the subject of criticism, at least, it does seem fair to say that Postecoglou struggles with it. During an often disappointing World Cup qualifying campaign Postecoglou seemed to get increasingly short and defensive as if taking personally any criticism of the team’s playing style, their lack of goals, their defensive vulnerabilities. Any veneer of equanimity dropped off him like rubble from a cliff-face the longer the qualifying rounds went on. He said when he took over as Socceroos coach in 2013 that he invited informed debate and criticism, that this made for a mature football nation. This didn’t always seem to be the case when put to the test.

 

That said, it makes little sense that criticism from the media – particularly ex-players-cum-pundits – would be his reason for standing down, especially as he has pointed out in the past his desire to coach in Europe. As he would well know, media scrutiny in the big European leagues will be like a blowtorch to the trousers compared to the partisan attentions of the Australian media who, for the most part, were behind the team.

 

Be that as it may, Postecoglou has now gone and the search for a successor commences. Whoever that will be remains to be seen but it is fair to say that whoever it is they will find the Socceroos in good shape, certainly much better shape than Postecoglou found the national side back when he took over from Holger Osieck in October 2013.

 

In those intervening four years – years in which Australia, playing with a verve and boldness we hadn’t seen for a long time, won their first Asian Cup – Postecoglou dared to aim high. Having honed his philosophy at Brisbane Roar and Melbourne Victory, Postecoglou declared early his desire that Australia should refuse to accept its place as the kids’ table of world football, that it should strive to play the kind of sophisticated football that both entertains and challenges the very best.

 

You might argue that Australia doesn’t have the cattle to beat the best at their own game, but Postecoglou showed unwavering faith in his players and his systems. He showed his willingness to live and die by his convictions, and unlike most politicians he was into nation-building, planning for the future of the game in Australia long beyond his own tenure.

 

As Trent Sainsbury said on Twitter this morning, “The belief and confidence he’s instilled in this team will keep us on the path to great things.”

 

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/nov/22/ange-postecoglou-stays-true-to-his-convictions-until-the-very-end

[johnnyk 158]

Derek McInnes 6/4

Alex McLeish 2/1

Ange Postecoglou 3/1

Graeme Murty 7/1

Frank De Boer 10/1

Tommy Wright 10/1

Giovanni van Bronckhorst 13/1

Michael O'Neill 20/1

Steve McClaren 20/1

Alan Pardew 25/1

Graeme Souness 25/1

Michel Preud'homme 33/1

Walter Smith 33/1

A Karanka 40/1

[Rousseau 10,602]

I wouldn't be too quick to dismiss Postecoglu. He's done remarkable things for Australia. I've read a few articles of his tactical nous which really excited me, especially for a side like Australia who perhaps don't have the calibre of player we see in Europe. He's certainly able to craft a side that plays a modern pressing game. Australia's 3-4-2-1 was wonderful to watch at times.

 

The modern style is great, but I'm more impressed by his ability to instil it in an average side like Australia. We need someone like that; someone that can rebuild us. Frank DeBoer is a 'big' name but I'm not sure he knows how to rebuild a team from the ground up -- at Ajax he had the foundations, that doesn't change; he certainly couldn't do it at Inter or Crystal Palace.

Edited November 22, 2017 by Rousseau

[Rousseau 10,602]

An early article on his Australian 'revolution' from the Guardian:

 

Ange Postecoglou's revolution got under way against Costa Rica but it was a familiar source that gave Australia the winner – corner, Cahill, goal. It was a match which showed clear signs of improvement and a move towards a "Postecoglou" way of playing, but there is still much improvement required and many questions to be answered

 

Penetration

 

The early stages resulted in a few half-chances, and one glorious chance for Mathew Leckie, as Australia played very vertically in attack. In midfield, Mark Bresciano, Mark Milligan and Mile Jedinak looked to play passes through or over the top of the Costa Rican defence and attack the spaces in behind.

The second-half introductions of Tim Cahill and Josh Kennedy made it more difficult for Australia to play penetrating passes, as both players rarely moved in behind the defence. Kennedy looked to receive passes to feet, whilst Cahill, as he so often does, received with his back to goal and moved into deeper areas with the ball before returning to the shoulder of the last defender but rarely running in behind.

 

Neither were terrifically successful but showed glimpses of promise, and Australia were much less reliant on long balls and crosses from deeper areas. The direction Postecoglou wants to go will ultimately determine which style Australia plays – will there be a focus on controlled build up play, with perhaps a Cahill or a Kennedy playing in front of the opposition defence as a focal point of the attack, or will Australia look to draw opponents forward and exploit the spaces in behind with players such as Leckie, Robbie Kruse and James Troisi? This is of course a question that will be answered when Postecoglou has more opportunities to work with the squad.

 

Playing out

 

Australia were unsurprisingly much more willing to play out from the back, something which was never high on Holger Osieck's list of priorities.

 

Postecoglou preferred Mat Ryan at goalkeeper and one of his key attributes is his distribution. Seeing him warm up prior to the match, practising his long passing with both his left and right foot, was a joy to watch (and on four consecutive occasions Ryan, with his weaker left foot, played a 50 metre lofted pass to within a metre of Oli Bozanic, his target). Ryan was solid with the ball at his feet and constantly played out. Even when under pressure, Ryan was calm and would look for a short option to feet or would chip a lofted pass past the pressure and almost always find a team-mate. This is an element that Australia would have lacked had Mark Schwarzer, who was less confident with the ball, continued (don't forget Schwarzer played his entire junior career, and two years of his professional career at a time when goalkeepers could pick up back passes).

 

Even when Costa Rica tried to prevent Australia from playing out from goal kicks, there was a willingness to play short that was almost non-existent under Osieck. Neill and Williams on a few occasions pushed up the field, faking to go long from the goal kick, only for Ivan Franjic to dart back and receive a short pass – a ploy he would be familiar with, having played at right-back under Postecoglou for Brisbane Roar. Even on the occasions where Franjic was forced straight back to his goalkeeper, the intent to play out from the back never wavered.

 

Pressing

 

Postecoglou commended his side's defensive performance, and there was a clear intent to press whenever possible.

 

"Throughout the whole game, I thought our defensive pressure was brilliant. Even when we were making mistakes with our football, [the errors] weren't causing us any problems because we just worked really hard to get it back and then we could start again" said Postecoglou post game to Fox Sports.

 

Especially in the early parts of the match, Australia pressed with a 4-2-1-3, with both wingers – Kruse and Dario Vidosic – remaining high up the park, positioned between Costa Rica's outside centre-backs and the wing-backs.

 

One of the difficulties with pressing in a new system is fully understanding the cues of when to press and doing so as a cohesive unit. For much of the match this was the case, however there were some occasions where there was room for improvement needed in that regard.

 

This example was one such occasion. In the 38th minute, Australia had a good structure from which to press and Costa Rica were forced backwards. Leckie, however, was drawn to the first pass (black line) and did not pressure Giancarlo Gonzalez (red line). By the time Gonzalez received the ball, Kruse had already anticipated a cue to press and moved in field to pick up the central player, leaving Bryan Oviedo free. Gonzalez under no pressure was able to pick out Oviedo with a switch and Costa Rica attacked.

 

As the game wore on, and Costa Rica's wing-backs became more influential, Australia's wingers dropped slightly deeper to protect their full-backs and prevent potential 2 v 1 scenarios. But both worked extremely hard, but intelligently to nullify Costa Rica's wide play as much as possible.

 

Patience

 

There were plenty of errors in the first half in possession and Postecoglou even admitted as much, but the pressing as a whole prevented Australia from getting punished. Whether those errors were due to an unfamiliarity with the system and the team-mates around them, or they were due to players trying to force passes is unclear, but better patience in possession in required. Better teams will punish such cheap turnovers in dangerous areas, as Australia found out against Brazil with the second goal.

 

After Cahill's goal, Australia looked to take the sting out of the match (although there was relatively little to begin with). There were a few spells of long possession at the back, even under pressure, where Ryan, the back four and the two holding midfielders patiently kept the ball until there was an opportunity to find substitute Tom Rogic – who looked wonderful in the attacking midfield role. If ever Australia finds themselves ahead at the World Cup, this kind of "death by football" patience with the ball, maintaining possession and moving their opponents around, will be key.

Edited November 22, 2017 by Rousseau

[Gonzo79 15,292]

I'm assuming he's from Greek heritage?

 

I think the board will go for someone who knows the Scottish game. MW & PC didn't and look what happened there. Whether that's a good thing or not remains to be seen.

[Rousseau 10,602]

I'm assuming he's from Greek heritage?

 

I think the board will go for someone who knows the Scottish game. MW & PC didn't and look what happened there. Whether that's a good thing or not remains to be seen.

 

Yes.

 

I don't think it's a prerequisite to success. Rodgers had no experience of the 'Scottish game', and neither did Tommy Wright, Steve Clarke or Steve Robinson.

[boabie 230]

I'd rather have just about anybody than McLeish. That guy sent me to sleep on a weekly basis when last in charge.

I predict difficulty in selling season tickets if he gets the gig.

[JohnMc 2,750]

Or Turkish going by his name. There's a big Greek population in Australia though.

 

Aren't Australia one of the strongest nations in Asian football? Has he really done remarkable things? Japan, S. Korea and Australia are the perennial qualifiers from Asia, no? Since Oz joined the Asian FA they've not failed to qualify for the World Cup.

 

I'd never heard of the guy before today.