If Lowy Doesnt Sack Him... Foster Will!!

MegaBonus · Post by **MegaBonus** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 10:03 pm

hard hitting journo Foster.... is at it again (with justification)

Foster questions appointment of ArnoldJuly 9, 2007 - 3:07PM

Socceroo Craig Foster has questioned the appointment of Graham Arnold as coach for the Asian Cup, accusing Australia of lacking discipline and saying the players were "taking liberties".

"It was an extremely poor performance and that's being kind," Foster said of Australia's 1-1 draw with Oman last night in Bangkok.

"I just think the guys have lost their tactical discipline."

Foster said the team cohesion that coach Guus Hiddink relied so heavily upon to guide Australia into the second round of last year's World Cup had broken down dramatically with his former assistant Arnold in charge.

"None of the guys played to their capabilities and that's the real point," Foster said on Sydney radio 2KY.

"Hiddink took an average team and made them very good.

"All of the players played above themselves because they played together to a system.

"Last night and against Singapore last weekend, it looks as though the danger is that they play below themselves and go back to (being) an average team."

Foster said Hiddink had given individual players "very defined jobs" within the team.

"It's one of the things that they didn't particularly like. They had to stay in their position, they had to play to a system," said Foster, who has been a long-time critic of Australian coaches relying heavily on English-style tactics.

"The difference between last night and last year was very simple.

"Before our players got the ball they knew exactly where it was supposed to go and they knew where their team-mates were going to be.

"That's why Vinnie Grella played poorly last night because of all of a sudden he has to take more touches on the ball, he doesn't know where people are going.

"I think the system has broken down.

"Brett Emerton for instance ... is starting to take liberties.

"In the first half, Brett Emerton is trying to play in the centre of midfield.

"I don't know what he is doing there. He wasn't there under Hiddink.

"All of a sudden players are starting to take liberties. Our distribution is extremely poor.

"Lucas Neill has ... been coming forward with the ball and playing balls in the air down the centre of the park, long balls.

"He never once did that under Hiddink because he was not allowed.

"When defenders start getting on the ball and they start looking up and taking their time and they've got no pass, they have to wait for a pass, you know that players are moving too late.

"The cohesion is not there.

"Serious questions have got to be asked, as they have been for the last six months, of Graham Arnold in the role.

"We have to get realistic and say that he is a young developing coach and potentially a future very good one.

"But at the moment he is up against coaches who are far more experienced.'

Foster said he felt Australia would overcome Group A rivals Thailand and Iraq.

"But the signs are there that once you hit the knockout stage against the better teams you are going to struggle," he said.

the lorax · Post by **the lorax** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 4:00 pm

and everyone was quick to give farina a mouthful and wanted him out. i think farina did a better job than Arnie. Unfortunately, we need an o/s coach and it is evidenced that socceroos perform better as they did with Guus and even Terry back in the day.

mr_bojangles · Post by **mr_bojangles** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 5:46 pm

and if we win it?

LFTWNG11 · Post by **LFTWNG11** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 6:20 pm

mr_bojangles wrote:and if we win it?

shows how poor Asia is, rather than how good Australia is... you shouldnt win a tournament playing football like Australia did in the first game... they need to improve and drastically.

Rocky10 · Post by **Rocky10** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 7:52 pm

Australia still have two more games to prove themselves to the world.

The boys need support and this negative criticism wouldn't help the self confidence of the supporters nor the Aussie team.

And the conditions in Asia aren't an excuse. These guys are professionals and get paid money to play.

We didn't play good on the day. That fact. we were lucky to Draw. Oman should of berried us with all the chances they had.

Schwartzer got Australia out of jail for the draw. He made 4 top class saves. Man of the Match with out a doubt.

Baptista · Post by **Baptista** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 11:45 pm

Rocky10 wrote:Australia still have two more games to prove themselves to the world.

The boys need support and this negative criticism wouldn't help the self confidence of the supporters nor the Aussie team.

And the conditions in Asia aren't an excuse. These guys are professionals and get paid money to play.

We didn't play good on the day. That fact. we were lucky to win. Oman should of berried us with all the chances they had.
Schwartzer got Australia out of jail for the draw. He made 4 top class saves. Man of the Match with out a doubt.

sorry man to brake it to u we drew 1-1
[/b]

THE ANALYST · Post by **THE ANALYST** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 11:52 pm

Australia needs a Tactitcian!!! simple as that!!!

Rocky10 · Post by **Rocky10** » Tue Jul 10, 2007 11:53 pm

Baptista wrote:
Rocky10 wrote:Australia still have two more games to prove themselves to the world.

The boys need support and this negative criticism wouldn't help the self confidence of the supporters nor the Aussie team.

And the conditions in Asia aren't an excuse. These guys are professionals and get paid money to play.

We didn't play good on the day. That fact. we were lucky to win. Oman should of berried us with all the chances they had.
Schwartzer got Australia out of jail for the draw. He made 4 top class saves. Man of the Match with out a doubt.
sorry man to brake it to u we drew 1-1
[/b]

I changed it cheers for picking me up on that