Arnold given eight months

[Socceroo_06]

Arnold given eight months (http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,20731144-23215,00.html)

INTERIM Australia coach Graham Arnold has been given eight months to prove himself by Frank Lowy.

The Football Federation Australia chief revealed yesterday that he had put his quest for a big-name successor to Guus Hiddink on hold until after the Asian Cup finals next July.

Arnold, whose latest audition is the friendly against Ghana in London on Wednesday morning (AEDT), received a cautious endorsement from Lowy, who has been frustrated in his efforts to snare a Hiddink clone.

In a bid to dispel some of the uncertainty over the job, Lowy said: "The speculation is unsettling. Such things are never good.

"Graham is doing a good job. We've had discussions recently and he and I are in the same page. There are no problems with him.

"He has learned a lot under Guus Hiddink and one day he will be ready to become a top coach in his own right."

Arnold has the support of his squad for the Asian Cup finals, and he showed in the 1-1 draw with Paraguay and the 2-0 win over Bahrain last month that he is on the same wavelength as Hiddink.

The signs are more ominous for youth teams coach Ange Postecoglou, whose Young Socceroos failed to qualify for the World Cup on Monday, leaving him without tangible success after seven years with the under-20s and under-17s.

"There's a lot of work to be done (to the youth teams)," Lowy, who hinted at an A-League youth league, said.

"It's something that needs to be looked at urgently." .

[futuremelvicstar]

"There's a lot of work to be done (to the youth teams)," Lowy, who hinted at an A-League youth league, said.

"It's something that needs to be looked at urgently."
I like this part. On topic though Arnold can be the coach for 8 months i realy don't care but i still think he isn't good enough i just hope that after those 8 months the FFA can have suitable replacements on the spot because we can't waste anymore time.

[~LUFC~]

Think about the momentum we lose if we don't perform at the Asia Cup! If we win that then the game will push forward, and theres no reason why we shouldn't be aiming at that. But they sound like its of no importance and they will simply let Arnold coach (we are showing ourselves to be fools very earlly by under estimating asian oponents, we have already failed at junior level and been beaten comprehensively at senior level). I don't understand why being an assistent coach qualifies you for a national gig.

[Alistair]

A more comprehensive article was in The Australian (http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20730971-2722,00.html) today:


CHAIRMAN Frank Lowy has given Football Federation Australia's official blessing to Graham Arnold continuing as national team coach up to and including next year's Asian Cup finals.

In his first public statement regarding the Socceroos job, Lowy admitted he has put his search for an overseas replacement for Guus Hiddink on hold until later next year.

"I don't see any reason to change things at the moment," Lowy said. "I am more than happy because Graham has been doing a great job under difficult circumstances.

"It is not an easy situation when there is always conjecture about the coaching position. It doesn't help the players or the person in charge, but Graham has been handling it very well and I think the players have been responding to him.

"There is no doubt he learned a lot from Guus Hiddink while he was in charge and he is using that knowledge well.

"He has the game against Ghana next week then a match against Denmark next year and will stay in charge to the Asian Cup finals next year."

While it has been said several times over the past six weeks that Lowy has given his unqualified support to Arnold, he had not made his thoughts public until yesterday.

The endorsement will be a significant boost for Arnold, a popular figure among the Socceroos who has done a terrific job since Hiddink left.

The former Socceroos striker guided the national team through a difficult Asian Cup qualifying process when he was forced to use a combination of overseas-based stars and players from the A-League.

Lowy said he was in no hurry to find a full-time replacement for Hiddink, although he has left no doubt that he wants a big name in place by the time the Asian World Cup qualifiers start in 2008.

"Really, there is not too much around at the moment in terms of coaches," he said. "The coaching situation is changing all the time.

"Coaches are coming and going and you don't know who will be available when the time comes to discuss a replacement."

Since Hiddink left to take up a job with Russia, a number of names have been touted as possible coaches, including Carlos Bilardo, Gerard Houllier, Alan Curbishley, Martin O'Neill, Guy Stephan and Leo Beenhakker.

It was suggested that Lowy used a trip to Europe last month to sound out former Dutch boss Beenhakker, who is in the first year of a two-year contract coaching the Polish national team after taking Trinidad and Tobago to the World Cup finals in Germany.

If Arnold's future is much clearer, the same cannot be said of Young Socceroos (under-20s) and Joeys (under-17s) coach Ange Postecoglou.

Postecoglou's contract with FFA ended this week when the Young Socceroos were eliminated from the Asian Cup finals and, subsequently, missed out on qualifying for the World Youth Cup.

Postecoglou had been under pressure going into the tournament after the national under-17s also missed out on the World Youth Cup this year. They did not make it through to the second qualifying stage in Asia.

He is unlikely to be offered the posts again, with Adelaide United coach John Kosmina and AIS head of soccer Steve O'Connor in the frame to take over.

Asked about the failure of the Young Socceroos, all Lowy could do was shake his head and grimace, while saying: "It is not a good situation. We are used to success in this area."

Lowy foreshadowed huge changes for youth development in Australia.

"A national youth league is a must," Lowy said. "Unfortunately, youth development has suffered over the last three years because we have been focused on reviving the sport at top level.

"But we have to change that."

[futuremelvicstar]

Think about the momentum we lose if we don't perform at the Asia Cup! If we win that then the game will push forward, and theres no reason why we shouldn't be aiming at that. But they sound like its of no importance and they will simply let Arnold coach (we are showing ourselves to be fools very earlly by under estimating asian oponents, we have already failed at junior level and been beaten comprehensively at senior level). I don't understand why being an assistent coach qualifies you for a national gig.

I think he just wants to see what Arnold can do when with his best players against quality teams. If he can perform under pressure. If he can tactically be on par or better then some of the Asian heavy weights. I don't but lowy proberbly wants Buckley to settle in abit before making big decsions like that.

[Victory2006]

Wouldn't have given him 8 minutes.

[Noogie]

at least now we have an idea of what is going on. i would still rather a top quality coach, but if arnold does well over the next 8 months (atleast making the semi finals of the asian cup) they i would re think my position.

I am glad that ange looks set to be replace, our youth teams have not been performing of late and someone needs to carry the blame, having said that our youth development system needs to be fixed ASAP, including an introduction of a youth league so our yougsters can keep match fit and in form.

[futuremelvicstar]

at least now we have an idea of what is going on. i would still rather a top quality coach, but if arnold does well over the next 8 months (atleast making the semi finals of the asian cup) they i would re think my position.

I am glad that ange looks set to be replace, our youth teams have not been performing of late and someone needs to carry the blame, having said that our youth development system needs to be fixed ASAP, including an introduction of a youth league so our yougsters can keep match fit and in form.

Very good point until this week we had very little to no idea what was going on. We just heard rumours of the youth league,John O'neil staying,Arnold getting sacked etc.

[LS 11]

Thought he'd got 8 months jail for impersonating a manager

[stinger]

Thought he'd got 8 months jail for impersonating a manager

BOOM BOOM

[andrew1116]

Never know.

There still could be a chance of us getting Houllier after the European season finishes. He probably wants one more crack at the champions league with lyon..

Then he might come one or two months before the asian cup.

[Popos]

What a joke.

He's a proven failure.

[andrew1116]

What a joke.

He's a proven failure.

Im not a fan of Arnold either.

He hasn't had any first team managerial experience anywhere.

Until he proves himself elsewhere, is when i will give him credit.

We definately need a world-class coach ASAP!!!!

[Popos]

Im not a fan of Arnold either.

He hasn't had any first team managerial experience anywhere.

Until he proves himself elsewhere, is when i will give him credit.

We definately need a world-class coach ASAP!!!!
The frustrating thing is, now the writing is on the wall with regards to our Asian Cup campaign, seven months away. It's only been 5 months since the World Cup, but it's already been a rapid degression, and by the Asian Cup people will be saying 'how shit are the Socceroos' again.

[~LUFC~]

the most frustrating thing is we don't even need another hiddink yet, we simply need a proven coach to take us forward and put us into a position to win the Asia cup. I never saw anything more laughable than being an assistant coach making you qualified to become the national senior coach! has Arnold even coached a league club? the worst fear i have is that we do decent at the asia cup (we have a squad which is top 3, imo far the best) and he gets the job for the WC. With all the success we had this year, they need to realise that if they fuck up the next four years, it was all worthless. Many good teams have missed world cups (netherland as example) and we could well be the next if we're overconfident.

[Victory2006]

Thought he'd got 8 months jail for impersonating a manager

lol, I'll be sure to look for a pig flying. Pete made a funny. :D

[danny-allsop]

Australian Football is doomed again

[futuremelvicstar]

the most frustrating thing is we don't even need another hiddink yet, we simply need a proven coach to take us forward and put us into a position to win the Asia cup. I never saw anything more laughable than being an assistant coach making you qualified to become the national senior coach! has Arnold even coached a league club? the worst fear i have is that we do decent at the asia cup (we have a squad which is top 3, imo far the best) and he gets the job for the WC. With all the success we had this year, they need to realise that if they fuck up the next four years, it was all worthless. Many good teams have missed world cups (netherland as example) and we could well be the next if we're overconfident.
I know what would change your mind. Lowy has done the right thing. I am sure in a couple of months the TD will be here. Once the TD comes in he can have a look at arnold see that he is shit and then advise FFA on who should be the next manager of the Socceroos. If he had of sacked him now and brought another coach in and the TD doesn't want that coach we would be fuked.

[Noogie]

good point, that is if the FFA is smart enough it get a TD, and a good one at that

[sj]

I'm confused :confused:

I thought we'd gotten over the acceptance tactical ineptitude...