Advocaat, what a Dick! Where to now?

It has been the worst kept secret in Australian football. It has now become the worst kept promise.

This should be a post describing how wonderful our victory was against Nigeria, and how great it was to see our new coach, watching from the stands. Instead I’m sitting here, still fuming and still shocked at Advocaat’s snubbing.

The FFA has revealed that Dick had signed a contract in August, to agree to coach Australia until the end of the 2010 campaign. He was due to start after finishing with Zenit St Petersburg. Under no section of the contract was there a clause saying that he had the option to continue with Zenit. Anyone with the slightest legal knowledge knows that this is a clear breach of contract. The FFA is going to take legal action and has every right to compensation. This however is slightly unprecedented. I don’t think a country has taken legal action against a club (its always the other way around). Hopefully sanity prevails and we get our compensation, because we are in a dire situation now. I think any jury would find that Advocaat was a real Dick. This could be a blessing in disguise. The extra compensation can help pay for a more expensive coach.

There are still so many unanswered questions. Yes, what Advocaat did is wrong, but there is more to it. What about the fact that no coach has really put their hand up for the job? I agree it isn’t the most prestigious job in the world, but please, you could do much worse. Maybe this is the reason that the FFA is taking so long. The day that Italy cheated us out of the World Cup seems so long ago now, but that was the last time we had a full time coach. Having said all this we mustn’t rush this decision, nor should we make it look like we’re desperate. The World Cup draw is on Sunday, (live on SBS for all you Aussies out there), and the situation will be made worse if we draw the likes of Iraq, China, Qatar or Thailand in our group.

So who should be the next coach?

Straight after the Nigeria game, Rob Baan hinted that he’d be targeting Jurgen Klinsmann. Although his logic is right, he isn’t exactly what we need. We need a very technical coach, and Kilnsmann was more of a manager. Many stated he took the credit for all the technical work done by his tireless management team during Germany 2006.

There are the more flamboyant options of Frank Rijkaard, Fabio Capello and Jose Mourinho. I don’t know why the media have been talking about these guys, they are way too expensive and Australia is clearly ‘below them’. I don’t think they’d play a entertaining brand of football either (with the exception of Rijkaard). They will not have the passion or commitment to Australia, which is what we desperately need.

This is why I think Verbeek, Neeskens, Viera and the like, are the best candidates. They have Asian experience, they are affordable, and will have the right tactics. I think the FFA has to clamp down on its mentality on getting a ‘big-name’ coach. Sure that has its advanatages, but there are many drawbacks as well. A big name is less likely to have experience in Asia. They are going to cost a lot more, and they will have big egos, and hence, will be less willing to spend time in Australia. What we need is a younger coach, experienced in Asia who still has something to prove, who will have the passion to do everything in their power for Australia’s success.

I wouldn’t mind Houllier, but I think the Ireland job is more to his liking. Again the question of egos and not wanting to be in Australia comes to mind.

The special thing about Hiddink was that he was perfect. He was a big name and had Asian experience and had a passion to take Australia to the World Cup because ‘he wanted the challenge’. Unfortunately the reality is that many coaches, especially big names, aren’t like that, and so a lesser name, that is within our price range, and is passionate enough to take us to South Africa, is required. If you think about it, Klinsmann isn’t going to leave the OC and I can only imagine Mourinho is going to stay in Europe 99% of the time. Is it really worth it then, to pay them $2mil extra? Maybe, but I’m not willing to take that risk, especially with a coach with little Asian experience. Its not for me to decide though, the money is coming out of Frank Lowy’s pocket. I just hope he makes a wise decision. It is very crucial for our chances in 2010.