Socceroos recall worth the Thwaite
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13 March 2013-SBS: Greg Prichard

Consistent ... Thwaite has been one of Perth's best this campaign (Getty)
Life couldn't be better for Perth Glory defender Michael Thwaite, with selection in Australia's squad to face Oman this month coming on top of his team's form surge.
Perth owner defends player exodusEdwards gets Glory players' backingCahill returns to Socceroos squadLate Thwaite goal keeps Glory in hunt
Thwaite has been named in Holger Osieck's 23-man Socceroos squad for the 2014 World Cup qualifier against Oman at Stadium Australia on 26 March.

It doesn't guarantee the 29-year-old will play but it at least puts him in the running to add to his 10 Socceroos caps.

Thwaite said the way Osieck runs his pre-game camps, it gives players the opportunity to press for selection by performing well in training.

"Definitely, you can make a move," he said. "Holger is about making it an even playing field when it comes to the camps, and we've got a bit of a longer camp this time.

"He would have a fair idea in most cases of who he is going to choose but there is still that chance to impress.

"It's going to be up to me to try to force my way into his side and I'll certainly be doing my best at training to make that happen."

Thwaite has described interim Perth coach Alistair Edwards as "a breath of fresh air" at the club and made it clear how much the players want him to stay beyond this season.

"I think it's obvious, from the way we're playing," Thwaite told The World Game.

"Everyone has bought into what he is teaching. It's a breath of fresh air and it's kind of where football is headed in Australia.

"It's that new breed of coaching, with Tony Popovic and Ange Postecoglou, and even Graham Arnold - he has changed his mentality as well. It's the next generation of coaches, and Alistair is clearly a part of that."

Edwards has been a revelation since taking over at the Glory in the wake of Ian Ferguson's sacking last month.

He has transformed the team's style, making it much more inventive, increasing the pressure on the opposition and having the effect of bringing out-of-form players back into form.

The result is that, in his four games in charge, Perth has beaten Central Coast Mariners, Sydney FC and Newcastle Jets, and lost only to relentless Western Sydney Wanderers.

Eighth-placed Glory is now only two points behind fifth and sixth-placed Sydney FC and Newcastle Jets. Perth has a much better goal difference than either of those teams, and - crucially - has played one less game than the Jets.

It is clear, though, from the way Thwaite is talking, that there is a feeling of optimism at the club about the chances of Edwards staying at Glory long-term - with speculation mounting that a three-year deal is not far off being agreed.

"I think, internally, they are talking about terms of negotiation," Thwaite said. "I think they see the players are happy with the foundation Alistair is bringing to the club.

"He is an integral part of the set-up now. It's a big decision for him, regarding his future, but he's got Perth Glory in his blood. He is very positive about the region, and he is helping the club build a long-term culture.

"Negotiations can break down, so you can never be sure of anything until it happens, but I hope he does stay on."

Asked for his description on the Edwards approach to coaching, Thwaite replied: "I've had a lot of coaches in my career who probably talked very emotionally, rather than give specific instructions, but the latter is exactly him.

"If there is one word I can use, it's that he is very specific in what he wants. He expects each player to fulfil his individual role and react quickly to developments, and for us to try to score goals with purposeful movements.

"The analysis he does every week, on every position, is very thorough. Everyone is aware of their roles, so there are no questions."

Earlier this season, when Glory wasn't playing well and shedding players at the same time, Thwaite spoke publicly to detail his concern. He is feeling much more confident about the club's future now.

"I have always been a very honest person," Thwaite said. "And I wasn't happy with how what I said was portrayed in the media.

"I'm honest, and I'm loyal, and I've made a big commitment to come here from Queensland, and I wanted the best chance for the club to have success.

"It was not an attack on the club from me. What I was trying to say was that I want the best future for the club, and that means not letting the best talent in WA leave."

"I had some opportunities to leave the club in January and even more recently, to Asia, but I showed my commitment to stay at the club for these important games because I can see the club is trying to build something, and it can be something special.

"I can smell it in the air and it's exciting."

Perth will play last-placed Wellington Phoenix at nib Stadium on Sunday.

Thwaite said the players aren't doing the sums on how many points it might take for Glory to reach the finals from here, and are looking no further ahead than their next game.

"It's definitely in our own hands," he said. "We know that with good results in the last three games we will be there, so we're just focusing on Wellington.








When one looks at the underlined comments in Italics in the article, I think it sums up the new approach to coaching in Australia. This is the FFA thorough, analytical approach to scrutinising games, with very specific analysis of particular positions.

This is compared to the old, emotive approach of screaming at players.







Edited by Decentric: 20/3/2013 05:18:58 PM

Good to hear and even better to see.

Let us hear an Amen! AMEN!

good job in not putting a foot in when required

How many "old" coaches have you analysed to be able to make such a ridiculous claim?

I'm pretty sure that Ian Ferguson has done his coaching badges here and if not he would hav a UEFA A Licence any way.

He must have been up with new methodology and either doesn't accept it or has far to much of a fundamental belief in how he was coached.

I have seen this happen here in Melbourne with coaches who are going through the system getting C and B Licences but still doing what they've always been doing.

While the common practice of running these courses for 10 days straight from early morning to early evening cannot be condusive to learning. No one can pick up all that info in that format. It would become more a process of passing the course, I think leaving the participant with old values and teaching process learnt from being coached and coaching with emotive style and not getting enough from the new approaches.


While I'm not happy with saying the "FFA approach" they are showing there are better metods of teaching children and senior players to play the game.

i think this is why the FFA has changed to the regional format which is over 2-3 months. This is more of a drip feed approach which helps to change peoples philosophies as they actually have to put it into practice with their teams, and then can discuss and analayse the results with the instructors. Previously you are working with another team and just trying to get all the information into your head so you pass the course.

There is an NPL club that has enforced it coaches to ignore the NC despite getting 40 k from FQ for the DOF salary to implement it and use the course notes of the English FA B course circu 1990's instead.

If this is addressed to me, about 25 coaches.

I think the regional courses, where people acquire information over a period of three months are vastly superior as an educational tool.

I've done both.

This has been a massive problem here.

However, results are starting to change perceptions.

The teams playing the Proactive 1-4-3-3 are starting to dominate possession in central midfield over the increasingly outmoded 4-4-2 with the flat midfield formation.