The Candidates

Marco one point though I think if Italy get the right manager they could go far in the Euros. There in a good group not to difficult and will progress easily. I think they would definitely benefit from a non Italian coach.

Posted from  Japan

my comment on Lippi was quite tongue-in-cheek, there’s no way the Italy bashers in Oz would accept him as coach after we lost the way we did. As marco noted also he won’t be coaching an english speaking team.

As for Voller, he was quite unsuccessful with a German team that was near identical to Klinsmann’s team. I think although the jury is out on Klinsmann as a coach, you have to give him some credit for imposing the most appropriate style of play on the german team - whether that is just luck that the players match Klinsmann’s style or whether Klinsmann could coach a defense-built team if that was the best option, is the reason why the jury is still out (imho).

Posted from  Australia

What of Pekerman? Apart from his performance in the world cup I only know what I read on wikipedia, but that looks pretty good on the technical director front (he’s been a very successful youth teams coach). Plus, and don’t quote me on this, but I’m pretty sure I saw on SBS when talking on this topic the panel reporting that Pekerman actually offered his services to us before Argentina took him but we turned him down. Mind you, I’m pretty sure I saw them report that Klinsman was going to coach the U.S. side so you might want to take this with a grain of salt…..

Posted from  Australia

Pekerman has really done good things with Argentinian football, you might say he just had good players but he managed to get them to play as a team without primadonnas which is quite unusual for argentina in recent world cups, also the argentinians played without any of the dodgy diving and injury faking that they had a reputation for. He also imposed his choice to get Riquelme to play (who was thought by the media to be too slow), and he was undoubtably one of Argentina’s best.

Posted from  Australia

Think Klinsmann changed the whole style of play with the young germans, they seemed a lot more upbeat and were predomiently and attacking team. Although Klinsmann was asked to stay on he said no and is apparently taking 6mths out but he has already had prelim talks re taking over team USA.

Posted from  Japan

AF your dead right in what you report.

Posted from  Japan

Lippi has said he can’t speak English and won’t coach a team he can’t speak the lingo of fair enough but I think the guy genuinely wants a break he has all the hassle re his son Davide involved in the Series A dissaster and he did well with the Italian team. However Australia might be the break he needs far enough away and a very good team to work with, not so much pressure. I think when all this upset in the Italian leagues has blown over you never know and the “italian bashers” would just accept I think, you Aussies are so laid back they would get over it.

Posted from  Japan

What about Carlos Bilardo and Philippe Troussier? A lot of people were talking about them a month ago, but it seems like everyone’s moved on.

Pekerman would be my first preference, Bilardo my second. I would like to have a manager with experience at the highest possible international level.

Posted from  Australia

Tom, Yes wouldn’t everyone, but I think the dollars and cents have to be looked at.

Posted from  Japan

would Pierre Liberaski be an option (excuse my spelling)?

inexeperienced, but he was pretty impressive at Sydney FC, is a former world cup winner, and isn’t English (no offence to poms, but we don’t need to return to our bad ol’ days long ball game) he’d also be quite affordable

Posted from  Australia

Nicko no offence taken but would just like to point out one thought. You refer to the English as ‘poms” when in actual fact the word comes from Pohme. Which is an abbreviation for Prisoner of Her Mother England, and not to split hairs, it is the first generation Australians who are Poms (Pohme) just useless information but factual. Have a good day.

Posted from  Japan

I’ve heard that story too Diane, but its a bit of a furphy, although the exact origins are still disputed, pom pre-dates the kind of use of acronyms we have these days. The most common theory is that it derives from pomegranate, which rhymed with immigrant (Aussies used to love rhyming slang). But in any case all australians up until 1901 were British, not just the first prisoners and settlers and despite my dislike for english football managers, pom isn’t used in a derogatory sense - unless its preceded by ‘whining’ of course

anyhow, on the topic at hand any thoughts on Pierre?

Posted from  Australia

Nicko, I will have to agree to disagree with you. As regards Pierre, I don’t know too much about him but would definitely prefer to see some one with a little more experience. Australia had a fantastic team out there, my opinion they lacked a little technical skill but made that lack up with drive, ambition and sheer heart. I still feel that as previously stated (on another blog) there is a lot of young raw talent out there that isn’t being looked. I know this for a fact as I personally know someone in Perth who was a WestHam United trainee, played county, English schoolboys and decided to opt for study in Aussie and is now playing social soccer. There isn’t that many soccer schools available for youngsters in Australia, and that is were you need to focus and encourage up and coming talent. Therefore somebody with good international coaching skills needs to be behind Aussie.

Posted from  Japan

yeah you’re right the lack of coaching experience is a downer, on the other hand he could be the best thing yet and shouldn’t be let go … (yes I’m also a gambler)

You’re right about youth development, this team was the end of our ‘golden generation’, our youth teams have struggled in recent years (It was pretty horrible watching us play in the Olympics at home where we lost every game ) so yeah, someone who can co-ordinate a whole development program is essential, I’m just out of ideas …

Posted from  Australia

Nicko, I tell you somebody ought to get off their butt and just travel around and watch some of the raw talent out there playing in the Sat/Sunday league. I know I have watched it many times. There are kids out there 17-18 with skill half the players in the WC would die for and there playing for fun. With the RIGHT coaching you would have some real superstars. You cannot afford to wait for the real yongster to show promise the WC is in 4 yrs YEAH and Aussie did so well this time but they need to go further next time. I still disagree with the coach I think he needs to have a lot of coaching experience but I tell you Gentile (the under 21 coach from Italy) who has just been let go is rally worth looking at his record is something not to be passed up. Just thoughts but I wish somebody would pay me to come an scout the new talent, I wouldn’t rest until I had seen every amateur team player at least twice cause I know they are out there.

Posted from  Japan

Gentile could be good, the Italian bloggers seem to really rate him

btw have you seen this:
http://www.smh.com.au/news/football/hiddink-to-face-dutch-tax-fraud-charges/2006/07/26/1153816252867.html

Posted from  Australia

yea we have .. hiddink is os dumb haha

Posted from  Australia

oh and Diane .. about this comment ‘There are kids out there 17-18 with skill half the players in the WC would die for and there playing for fun.’ thats a complete lie ok .. and just because some on has skill dont mean they are fast or strong .. if you are not fast you can never play sports .. thats the first thing any one looks at ..

Posted from  Australia

Marco, get a life will you what on earth are you talking about. “if your not fast you can never play sport” what a load of cr*p. Firstly you have to have s strong will and need to succeed and a genuine love of the sport, you have to have passion, you have to have skill and technic and if you have all those then speed is secondary. Have you ever played football dumbo. Unless you can come back with something logical well just don’t bother. I happen to know what I am talking about, perhaps it is time for you to read what you wrote.

Posted from  Japan

Marco perhaps, instead of writing garbage here why don’t you take your little ar*e out of the door and travel around and watch some of these kids/youths/men who play, for the fun of playing, sport on a saurday and sunday then come back and tell me they wouldn’t with the right coaching etc be a credit to any professional team. I know I have been and watched them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted from  Japan

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Posted from  United States

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Posted from  Australia

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Posted from  Australia

Forza Italia!

Posted from  Canada