Tuesday's announcement that Mehmet Durakovic would be the new Melbourne Victory coach came as little surprise.
After a supposedly lengthy and exhaustive international selection process it became increasingly clear that caretaker coach Durakovic would be handed the keys full time.
Why? Because it was the easiest and cheapest option. And the one which kept Kevin Muscat at the club.
The only real surprise from yesterday’s announcement was that Francis Awaritefi will be the club’s 'director of football' - a role not previously held at the Victory, and given to someone who’s worked as a TV analyst for the last decade.
Durakovic won the job on the back of five patchy Asian Champions League matches which ended with just one win and a last-place finish in their group. He employed a slightly more attacking formation throughout, however few new faces were introduced. He connected well with the media which ensured his name remained relevant and positive throughout the questionable selection process.
In Tuesday's press conference, all the right things were said. The usual boasting about the being the biggest club in Asia and the predictable rhetoric about wanting to play like Barcelona.
However to be fair to Durakovic, I don’t believe he was complicit in all the shady dealings and half-truths of the last couple of months. Instead I think he was a pawn in a much larger game.
The truth is Durakovic won the job for two main reasons above all else: because he’ll work cheap, but most crucially, he has Kevin Muscat in his corner. Or at least on his ticket.
Muscat’s role in Durakovic’s hiring simply can’t be understated. The Victory hierarchy both pre- and post- Ernie have been seduced by him and view him as a prodigal son. Where others see a thug, the club sees a passionate soldier. Instead of a dogged defender, Victory sees a tactical genius. Most of all they view him as crucial to ticket and membership sales and the logical successor if things don’t quite work out with Mehmet.
No, Durakovic was always going to win the job because any other outcome would have spelled the end of the Muscat era at the Victory.
Which brings us back to Durakovic. First and foremost, he should be warmly congratulated on winning the role. He was neither groomed for it, nor possessed the text-book coaching or playing pedigree despite more than 60 caps with the Socceroos.
What Durakovic does bring to the job is genuine enthusiasm and charisma. He mightn't be the most articulate and inspiring media performer but he developed an excellent rapport with the players at a time when morale was at its lowest. Most importantly however, he was in the right place at the right time. An accidental hero if you like.
When Merrick was sacked, the board’s plan A was to poach Ange Postecoglou from Brisbane. The only problem was Ange wasn’t ready to return to Melbourne while the Victory wasn’t actually in possession of a plan B.
Thankfully for the board Durakovic’s ACL rehearsal wasn’t a complete embarrassment which meant they could publically justify their decision rather than going with a more profiled, perhaps more experienced and qualified candidate. Having the media on their side throughout, helped a great deal.
Yet none of this is to say that Durakovic can't emerge as the real winner from this unfortunate set of events. For starters, he’ll inherit a decent team strengthened by the additions of Marcos Rojas and Jean Carlos Solorzano while he’ll surely have a far fitter Carlos Hernandez to work with.
The best Durakovic can do is put his head down and concentrate on the job of making the Victory the relevant force it once was and perhaps mould the team into the regional force it keeps telling us it is. The worst he can do is to start second-guessing his appointment and looking over his shoulder at Kevin Muscat.
Yes, the Victory appointment was underwhelming yet so too was Postecoglou’s at Brisbane and Holger Osieck’s at the Socceroos yet both will go down now as among the very best in the history of the sport in Australia.
Hopefully Durakovic can ride out all the board’s double-speak and prove them wrong and win the job for a second time. This time under more transparent circumstances.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Boom Recruit
In this Friday’s NBA Draft, the Cleveland Cavaliers will select Duke University point-guard Kyrie Irving with the number one pick.
Not only will it be a major step in the healing process for Cavs fans in the wake of LeBron James skipping town a year ago, but in selecting Irving, the state of Victoria will amazingly have its second NBA number one pick in five years.
Irving was born in Melbourne in 1992 to American parents while his father Drederik was in Australia playing for the Bullen Boomers. The family moved back to the US when Kyrie was two and went on to have a staggering high school career in New Jersey, along with an impressive, albeit brief, spell at Duke.
Most importantly, however, for future Boomers prospects, is the fact Irving still indentifies with Australia and hasn’t totally ruled out playing for his country of birth.
In a recent interview with BackPageLead’s Ed Wyatt, Irving stated: ‘I’m an Australian-American African-American’. In a separate interview Irving added: ‘You know, it would be great to play for my country, which is primarily Australia. I was born there and want to represent Australia….I want to be claimed by Australia’.
It might indeed be wishful thinking for Australian basketball fans to contemplate Irving playing representative basketball for a country he spent just two years in. However there’s a compelling case to believe it’s a possibility.
As it stands the US national team is currently loaded with established NBA talent at the point-guard position. To think Irving could jump the cue and supersede some of the world’s very best, so early, is doubtful.
It’s where reigning NBA MVP Derrick Rose plies his trade, along with team US members and perennial NBA all-stars such as Chauncey Billups and Chris Paul. Others like Rajon Rondo, Derrick Williams, Stephen Curry and Russel Westbrook also excel at the point-guard position.
It would, of course, be an incredible coup to recruit Irving to the Boomers’ cause, though there are still some obstacles standing in the way, forgetting for the moment Irving himself has given no guarantee of intent.
The major problem is that Irving has previously represented the US at junior level and there are strict FIBA regulations that prohibit players competing for two nations.
However, there exists a vague stipulation where FIBA’s Secretary-General may authorise such a move if he or she believes it would aid the development of basketball in that country.
If Irving were to play for Australia, it would certainly aid development.
The Boomers have contested 12 Olympic tournaments and 10 World Championships over the past 50 years, yet failed to win a single medal in either competition.
For all of Australia’s basketball achievements, which include individual accolades in both the US and Europe, the national team has proven somewhat of a let-down.
Especially when considering the success of the women’s national representative team - the Opals – who have contested 18 major tournaments for seven medals, including gold at the 2006 World Championships in Brazil.
Whether Irving opts to play for Australia and whether FIBA would back the plan are two outcomes which are currently in the air. However Basketball Australia would be remiss to not explore all opportunities.
It could well be the difference in securing a long sort-after medal and the difference between further developing the game in this country.
Not only will it be a major step in the healing process for Cavs fans in the wake of LeBron James skipping town a year ago, but in selecting Irving, the state of Victoria will amazingly have its second NBA number one pick in five years.
Irving was born in Melbourne in 1992 to American parents while his father Drederik was in Australia playing for the Bullen Boomers. The family moved back to the US when Kyrie was two and went on to have a staggering high school career in New Jersey, along with an impressive, albeit brief, spell at Duke.
Most importantly, however, for future Boomers prospects, is the fact Irving still indentifies with Australia and hasn’t totally ruled out playing for his country of birth.
In a recent interview with BackPageLead’s Ed Wyatt, Irving stated: ‘I’m an Australian-American African-American’. In a separate interview Irving added: ‘You know, it would be great to play for my country, which is primarily Australia. I was born there and want to represent Australia….I want to be claimed by Australia’.
It might indeed be wishful thinking for Australian basketball fans to contemplate Irving playing representative basketball for a country he spent just two years in. However there’s a compelling case to believe it’s a possibility.
As it stands the US national team is currently loaded with established NBA talent at the point-guard position. To think Irving could jump the cue and supersede some of the world’s very best, so early, is doubtful.
It’s where reigning NBA MVP Derrick Rose plies his trade, along with team US members and perennial NBA all-stars such as Chauncey Billups and Chris Paul. Others like Rajon Rondo, Derrick Williams, Stephen Curry and Russel Westbrook also excel at the point-guard position.
It would, of course, be an incredible coup to recruit Irving to the Boomers’ cause, though there are still some obstacles standing in the way, forgetting for the moment Irving himself has given no guarantee of intent.
The major problem is that Irving has previously represented the US at junior level and there are strict FIBA regulations that prohibit players competing for two nations.
However, there exists a vague stipulation where FIBA’s Secretary-General may authorise such a move if he or she believes it would aid the development of basketball in that country.
If Irving were to play for Australia, it would certainly aid development.
The Boomers have contested 12 Olympic tournaments and 10 World Championships over the past 50 years, yet failed to win a single medal in either competition.
For all of Australia’s basketball achievements, which include individual accolades in both the US and Europe, the national team has proven somewhat of a let-down.
Especially when considering the success of the women’s national representative team - the Opals – who have contested 18 major tournaments for seven medals, including gold at the 2006 World Championships in Brazil.
Whether Irving opts to play for Australia and whether FIBA would back the plan are two outcomes which are currently in the air. However Basketball Australia would be remiss to not explore all opportunities.
It could well be the difference in securing a long sort-after medal and the difference between further developing the game in this country.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
In Pods we trust
When Geelong hoisted the AFL premiership cup in 2009 nobody could have foreseen that the key ingredient to winning another would be a 28-year-old full-forward who’d been running around in the VFL for a decade.
In December that year Geelong drafted James Podsiadly as a mature rookie in a move more motivated by the staffing needs of the fitness and conditioning department than adding another foot soldier to its impressive cavalry.
Two years later, Podsiadly has become one of the most crucial cogs in the undefeated Geelong machine and one whose form will go a long way in determining the club’s premiership prospects this season.
To quote The Age’s Greg Baum ‘a man either knows how to play full-forward or he doesn’t’. And in a position increasingly hard to define and one quickly losing its romance, Podsiadly’s one player who operates as something as a throwback to a time long past.
Unlike many, Podsiadly was able to craft his ancient trade for a decade in a competition not nearly as scrutinised as the AFL and in an environment where his style was allowed to flourish.
The problem was it took ten years for an AFL club to see that his talents were transferable to the big league.
Podsiadly runs straight and kicks straight. He’s a no-nonsense type forward who understands his role perfectly. He contests the ball at its highest point and by virtue of a combination of his pace and brain is adept at creating space for Geelong’s many and varied swoopers.
In Podsiadly’s short AFL career that’s spanned just 29 matches, he’s kicked 72 goals and 46 behinds at a remarkable accuracy of 61%. In the 13 games Podsiadly has kicked 3 or more goals the Cats have prevailed each time and by an incredible average of 65 points.
In short, when Podsiadly’s on his game the Cats are near enough to being unstoppable. When it’s down and his goal output is less than 3, the Cats have tended to struggle boasting a 10-6 record with an average winning margin that slips to 25.
As the season develops Podsiadly’s role will be increasingly important to the Cats as will his dead-eye accuracy which in close matches like Saturday nights’ game often represents the difference between winning and losing.
Geelong can rest assured it made the right move in giving Podsiadly the chance when it did and when no one else would.
Without him Geelong’s predicted slide would have surely arrived by now.
In December that year Geelong drafted James Podsiadly as a mature rookie in a move more motivated by the staffing needs of the fitness and conditioning department than adding another foot soldier to its impressive cavalry.
Two years later, Podsiadly has become one of the most crucial cogs in the undefeated Geelong machine and one whose form will go a long way in determining the club’s premiership prospects this season.
To quote The Age’s Greg Baum ‘a man either knows how to play full-forward or he doesn’t’. And in a position increasingly hard to define and one quickly losing its romance, Podsiadly’s one player who operates as something as a throwback to a time long past.
Unlike many, Podsiadly was able to craft his ancient trade for a decade in a competition not nearly as scrutinised as the AFL and in an environment where his style was allowed to flourish.
The problem was it took ten years for an AFL club to see that his talents were transferable to the big league.
Podsiadly runs straight and kicks straight. He’s a no-nonsense type forward who understands his role perfectly. He contests the ball at its highest point and by virtue of a combination of his pace and brain is adept at creating space for Geelong’s many and varied swoopers.
In Podsiadly’s short AFL career that’s spanned just 29 matches, he’s kicked 72 goals and 46 behinds at a remarkable accuracy of 61%. In the 13 games Podsiadly has kicked 3 or more goals the Cats have prevailed each time and by an incredible average of 65 points.
In short, when Podsiadly’s on his game the Cats are near enough to being unstoppable. When it’s down and his goal output is less than 3, the Cats have tended to struggle boasting a 10-6 record with an average winning margin that slips to 25.
As the season develops Podsiadly’s role will be increasingly important to the Cats as will his dead-eye accuracy which in close matches like Saturday nights’ game often represents the difference between winning and losing.
Geelong can rest assured it made the right move in giving Podsiadly the chance when it did and when no one else would.
Without him Geelong’s predicted slide would have surely arrived by now.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
That would be Kewell
It’s dangerous to jump to conclusions and break out the champagne when it comes to rumours in Australian soccer.
Fanciful notions concerning players who may be on their way here, along with the string of managers perennially linked with a move down under have been a mainstay of the sport. Think Gabriel Batistuta’s link to Perth Glory a few years ago or the recent spotting of Roy Keane in Sydney that soon turned into the fiery Irishmen becoming the Victory’s next coach.
Granted, there’s sometimes an element of truth to the rumours and it’s often simply the tyranny of distance or money, usually both, which keep the rumour form eventuating. Regardless, such innuendo adds colour to the Australian soccer scene along with genuine hope, however fleeting and far-fetched.
The current status of Australian soccer is hard to define. On the one hand, participation at a junior level is second to none in this country while the Socceroos under Holger Osiek have emerged as a formidable team who is now ranked inside FIFA’s top 20.
On the other hand, the sport’s governing body in Australia, the FFA, has proven something of a different beast.
Despite the ever improving on-field quality of the A-League, the competition has been plagued by infighting and economic mismanagement since day one. It’s continually been marketed deplorably and after six years struggled to capture the public’s imagination. Crowds are dwindling and not a single club operates at a profit; one was thrown out last season while one was still-born. It’s broadcasting deal, due for negotiation, remains in limbo.
Thankfully, steps are being taken to lift the competition’s status. Recently, the League’s start and end dates have been modified so it doesn’t conflict with the AFL or NRL finals whilst extra revenue has been allocated to marketing. Most importantly, the national team coach has endorsed the League’s standard resulting in promising players thinking twice about leaving for Europe on the first available flight.
But the problem for the A-League has never really been the standard. Getting people to watch has been the real issue.
This is where a player like Harry Kewell can help.
Kewell’s one Australian player who needs no introduction. No singing of his brilliance, no regaling of his feats.
Simply put, Kewell’s the most recognisable soccer player this country has produced and for those not the slightest bit interested in soccer, it’s his face that’s most easily identified in a green and gold line-up.
At almost 33 Kewell still has something to give. He proved this at January’s Asian Cup where he was the Socceroos most potent threat for most of the tournament. And there’s no reason to think he won’t still be by the time the 2014 Brazilian World Cup rolls around.
In the past three seasons he’s scored 33 goals for his club side Galatasaray in the Turkish league and if not for the teams’ failure to qualify for Europe next season, Kewell would more than likely have earned himself another contract there.
So essentially he’s now a free agent. Newly promoted EPL side Queens Park Rangers have apparently expressed an interest, as too have a host of MLS sides in the States. And now Melbourne Victory.
Kewell would have plenty to gain from a move back to Australia. Financially he’ll be offered big bucks now that the Victory has shown its hand and one can soon expect other A-League clubs to follow suit. Sydney FC has declared an interest as too has the Newcastle Jets based on Nathan Tinkler’s sizable wallet coupled with his passion for sport in the Hunter region.
From a professional point of view, Kewell has nothing to fear from returning. Holger Osiek has put his money where his mouth is in regards to Socceroos playing in the A-League; Brisbane Roar’s Matt McKay is now a fixture in the Socceroo midfield, likewise with Victory’s Robbie Kruse. Newcastle’s Jason Culina’s Socceroo status is more determined by his own injuries rather than his chosen workplace these days, while many others such as Mile Jedinak and Sasa Ognenovski are previous A-League graduates.
It might all be pie in the sky and Kewell might just be testing the waters for the best possible deal, wherever that may be, however in the meantime Australian soccer has been provided with one hell of a day dream to contemplate.
Watch out if this one comes true.
Fanciful notions concerning players who may be on their way here, along with the string of managers perennially linked with a move down under have been a mainstay of the sport. Think Gabriel Batistuta’s link to Perth Glory a few years ago or the recent spotting of Roy Keane in Sydney that soon turned into the fiery Irishmen becoming the Victory’s next coach.
Granted, there’s sometimes an element of truth to the rumours and it’s often simply the tyranny of distance or money, usually both, which keep the rumour form eventuating. Regardless, such innuendo adds colour to the Australian soccer scene along with genuine hope, however fleeting and far-fetched.
The current status of Australian soccer is hard to define. On the one hand, participation at a junior level is second to none in this country while the Socceroos under Holger Osiek have emerged as a formidable team who is now ranked inside FIFA’s top 20.
On the other hand, the sport’s governing body in Australia, the FFA, has proven something of a different beast.
Despite the ever improving on-field quality of the A-League, the competition has been plagued by infighting and economic mismanagement since day one. It’s continually been marketed deplorably and after six years struggled to capture the public’s imagination. Crowds are dwindling and not a single club operates at a profit; one was thrown out last season while one was still-born. It’s broadcasting deal, due for negotiation, remains in limbo.
Thankfully, steps are being taken to lift the competition’s status. Recently, the League’s start and end dates have been modified so it doesn’t conflict with the AFL or NRL finals whilst extra revenue has been allocated to marketing. Most importantly, the national team coach has endorsed the League’s standard resulting in promising players thinking twice about leaving for Europe on the first available flight.
But the problem for the A-League has never really been the standard. Getting people to watch has been the real issue.
This is where a player like Harry Kewell can help.
Kewell’s one Australian player who needs no introduction. No singing of his brilliance, no regaling of his feats.
Simply put, Kewell’s the most recognisable soccer player this country has produced and for those not the slightest bit interested in soccer, it’s his face that’s most easily identified in a green and gold line-up.
At almost 33 Kewell still has something to give. He proved this at January’s Asian Cup where he was the Socceroos most potent threat for most of the tournament. And there’s no reason to think he won’t still be by the time the 2014 Brazilian World Cup rolls around.
In the past three seasons he’s scored 33 goals for his club side Galatasaray in the Turkish league and if not for the teams’ failure to qualify for Europe next season, Kewell would more than likely have earned himself another contract there.
So essentially he’s now a free agent. Newly promoted EPL side Queens Park Rangers have apparently expressed an interest, as too have a host of MLS sides in the States. And now Melbourne Victory.
Kewell would have plenty to gain from a move back to Australia. Financially he’ll be offered big bucks now that the Victory has shown its hand and one can soon expect other A-League clubs to follow suit. Sydney FC has declared an interest as too has the Newcastle Jets based on Nathan Tinkler’s sizable wallet coupled with his passion for sport in the Hunter region.
From a professional point of view, Kewell has nothing to fear from returning. Holger Osiek has put his money where his mouth is in regards to Socceroos playing in the A-League; Brisbane Roar’s Matt McKay is now a fixture in the Socceroo midfield, likewise with Victory’s Robbie Kruse. Newcastle’s Jason Culina’s Socceroo status is more determined by his own injuries rather than his chosen workplace these days, while many others such as Mile Jedinak and Sasa Ognenovski are previous A-League graduates.
It might all be pie in the sky and Kewell might just be testing the waters for the best possible deal, wherever that may be, however in the meantime Australian soccer has been provided with one hell of a day dream to contemplate.
Watch out if this one comes true.
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