Robbie Slater: ‘Lack of support and ‘hatred’ behind unloved Graham Arnold’s shock Socceroo resignation despite World Cup success

Graham Arnold was handed an impossible task and exceeded expectations with the Socceroos, yet Football Australia and fans could never unite behind him writes ROBBIE SLATER.

Robbie Slater | News Sport Network

Calls for Graham Arnold to be sacked have been a constant throughout his reign as Socceroos coach – but his decision to step down isn’t him giving up as the pressure mounts.

He has simply realised there is little more he can do.
Arnold has taken more than most would during his tenure, which has been the longest and arguably most successful of any other Socceroos coach.

Calls for him to be sacked and outright hatred was levelled at him when the Socceroos were relegated to the intercontinental playoff qualifiers for the last World Cup.

Football Australia would have axed him if they had been able to find a replacement.

I think Arnold has always suffered from a lack of support from the organisation.

Arnold took it all on and then did the impossible – guiding the Socceroos through to the World Cup.

We weren’t meant to do anything there. We were meant to be hopeless.

But Arnold got them their best ever performance at the tournament – a narrow loss to eventual winners Argentina ending their dreams in the Round of 16.

That is when Arnold should have bowed out.

I remember talking to him at the time – he had received lots of offers, he should have left them on top of the world after the most successful ever World Cup. But he stayed on and the Asian Cup was deemed a failure, exiting in the quarterfinal.

Now we have one point from what should have been six from our opening World Cup qualifiers.

I’m not completely surprised this has happened.

Arnold has been on an emotional rollercoaster ride. It has always been a battle for him.

He has never been a loved coach – despite his successes.

But having spoken to him – this is a decision he made for the team.

Arnold said he spoke to other coaches from other sporting codes and told them he didn’t think he could take the team any further – they said “well you’re done then”.

Once you start thinking that you can’t take a group any further then it is time to leave.

He could have stayed on but he felt that would have been the selfish thing to do.

His abrupt ending with the Socceroos isn’t dissimilar to the way Tony Gustavsson departed the Matildas after their poor Olympic performance.

Both Gustavsson and Arnold have flagged with Football Australia the need for better pathways and player development.

The coach can only work with the players they have. Australian fans have very high expectations of their coaches.

No disrespect to the players, they are good players, they are playing in good leagues, they have strong professional careers, but the reality is we don’t have the quality of players that we used to have.

We don’t have the group that we used to have. This is what Arnold talked about constantly.

He has said for the past decade the future will be a problem if we continue down the same development path – and we’re at our worst place in history.

Take the last four Olympics, the men’s team has made one Olympics in that time.

It leaves Football Australia in a predicament – I can’t recall there ever being a time when both the men’s and women’s teams were without a coach.

It will be an exciting challenge for whoever does take over – in spite of the ordinary start to the qualifiers. With more teams in the World Cup, qualifying is easier – you only have to finish third or fourth.

We’ve still got a massive chance of making the next World Cup.

But whoever takes the offer will have very big boots to fill.

We could field a very different team with a new coach if they have the information to go for it. What a joy that would be. Arnie really reflected where we were as a footballing nation at the end of last century, insecure and insular both in respect of our place in Aussie society and the football world, but a great love for this big wide land. Its time we grew up and put our own stamp on our National Team. As you suggest, we have the cattle to do so, they just didn't fit Arnie's psyche.

cut and paste would be nice if you have it?

I hope this presents a new opportunity for the likes of Genreau, Robertson, Luongo (if he wants back in), Volpato, Kalik, Langerak, Davidson etc are chance to get back in the national team.

I feel Arnie discarded too many of our technical, creative talents whilst ignored players that were playing a good level for awhile just to keep that siege mentality within the squad but harmed larger footballing problems.

I did see the headline through the Daily Telegraph (but couldn't be bothered reading it):

Slater: The 'hatred' behind Arnold's shock exit

The winners of the BVM era thinking about it quickly were Risdon and Nabbout. The losers would've been Luongo (at least at the WC) and probably just Degenek. I'm not sure too much else change? Midfield was pretty much set.

Arnold came in and that's where Mabil started getting exposure as did Grant and Ikon. Iredale was picked straight up too. 

That's right. Only if they receive a list of all eligible players they might be inclined to wonder how or why Elder hasn't been picked for years. Add Robertson and Volpato and then the calls can start being made. 

i doubt a new coach would know much about fringe players?

anyone have code sports? Would be curious to read robbie's reaction

Every player could have a comment or question about their case under the manager.

Is Crawley staying? So what's up with the keepers? 

Will a less familiar coach look at Behich's record and go with him while seeing the high level and form of Elder and bring him in? Will Lewis Miller ever get picked again once the nee manager sees how technically poor he is

Robertson is now a massive question. Can be be tempted or are we back to square one on rapport? 

Duke is leading the J League. That looks good. You've then got all the strikers waiting around. Will they be put ahead?

Will the new coach even care about someone like Arzani? 

Might Arnold's departure provoke some players to retire not wanting the shame of not being picked ever again? 

Bump

7 were too smart perhaps? 
Got a good deal when 10 didn't want it. 

Punted on a home WC. 
Games in prime time. 
Matildas expected to do well at home. 

Asking price to high now perhaps?
More surprised 10 didn't want it last time. 

I'm not surprised that 9 couldn't care less. But I am surprised that 7 didn't have a crack, considering they had all-time ratings with the Tillies. Very weird.

Reminds me of the A-league announcement with paramount a few years ago. 

If there isn't a figure given, then it's usually a lot less than the rumoured figures. 
It's a figure that would sound disappointing if officially released. Therefore don't mention it, and let the rumours swirl around. 

Found Rugari's article on the TV rights deal this morning in Fairfax to be disappointing. Suggested that the dollar value is much lower than the $200m floated around and that no one made a serious offer other than Paramount. In particular, he said something along the lines of Channel 9 not making a serious offer.

I find it interesting that Nine claim to have not been interested in the rights given that (1) the Matildas sell out every stadium they play in at the moment and have just smashed, and I mean smashed, Australian TV records (2) the Socceroos have just come off a very successful world cup which drew large exposure and tv audiences and (3) Channel 9's share price has declined 32% in the past 12 months, or 31% in the past 5 years, when using the same old tired formula / approach to entertainment and sport. 

Maybe Nine should be reconsidering their approach and their investment in Rugby League / Union.  

I appreciate that the A-League is struggling for crowds / tv audiences at the moment, but that is very different to what the national teams are putting forward. 

Yep - anti-siphoning list only covers now (for both mens and womens):

• World Cup finals games involving Australia
• The World Cup Finals (as in.. the final, mens and womens)
• Home World Cup Qualifiers
• Matches at the Olympic Games (covered under the Olympics, not under Football)

It was the case last round that games not in Australia didn't end up on the FA Youtube feed for international audiences. See what happens this time. Paramount still works with Aus VPN but the USA Paramount is totally blocked off so it won't take much to flick a switch.

So away qualifiers exclusively on Paramount which will catch out a lot of people who don't have it. 

The full list of rights included in the agreement are:

• AFC Asian Qualifiers (FIFA World Cup 2026™ Asian Qualifiers Final Round):
  • 5 Sep 24 - Australia v Bahrain on Network 10, 10 Play and Paramount+.
  • 10 Sep 24 - Indonesia v Australia exclusive on Paramount+.
  • 10 Oct 24 - Australia v China PR on Network 10, 10 Play and Paramount+.
  • 15 Oct 24 - Japan v Australia exclusive on Paramount+.
  • 14 Nov 24 - Australia v Saudi Arabia on Network 10, 10 Play and Paramount+.
  • 19 Nov 24 - Bahrain v Australia exclusive on Paramount+.
  • 20 Mar 25 - Australia v Indonesia on Network 10, 10 Play and Paramount+.
  • 25 Mar 25 - China PR v Australia exclusive on Paramount+.
  • 5 Jun 25 - Australia v Japan on Network 10, 10 Play and Paramount+.
  • 10 Jun 25 - Saudi Arabia v Australia exclusive on Paramount+.
• FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027™ (15 matches on Network 10, all matches on Paramount+).
• AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026™ (six matches on Network 10, all matches on Paramount+).
• AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ (all matches exclusively on Paramount+).
• AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026™ and 2028™.
• All CommBank Matildas and Subway Socceroos International Friendlies 2025 to 2028 (15 CommBank Matildas Friendlies on Network 10, all matches on Paramount+ and 10 Subway Socceroos’ Friendlies on Network 10, all matches on Paramount+).
• Australia Cup Finals 2025 to 2028.

• Paramount Australia (parent company of Network 10 and Paramount+) will be the home of the CommBank Matildas and Subway Socceroos in Australia, including the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026™ being hosted in Australia and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™.
• More than 100 international football games featuring either the CommBank Matildas or Subway Socceroos will be telecast live with at least 50 games on free-to-air television.
• In addition, Paramount Australia have acquired exclusive rights to the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027™, in a deal brokered in partnership with IMG.
• New package also includes all CommBank Matildas and Subway Socceroos’ friendly matches, all AFC Tournaments (including AFC Asian Qualifiers™), and the Australia Cup Finals through to 2028.

Under the agreement, Network 10 and Paramount+ will become the exclusive home to all Australian Women’s Senior National Team matches for the next four years, including the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027™, up until the LA 2028 Summer Olympics, and the Men’s Senior National Team matches including all AFC Asian Qualifiers™ (FIFA World Cup 2026™ Asian Qualifiers Final Round) except the FIFA World Cup 2026™

I dont see the dollar value in the article?

https://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news/football-australia-and-paramount-australia-agree-historic-multi-year-multi-platform-media

Football Australia and Paramount+ today announced a landmark multi-year and multi-platform agreement to broadcast an extended package of CommBank Matildas and Subway Socceroos’ games on Network 10 and Paramount+ in Australia, through to 2028.

https://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news/football-australia-and-paramount-australia-agree-historic-multi-year-multi-platform-media

Football Australia and Paramount+ today announced a landmark multi-year and multi-platform agreement to broadcast an extended package of CommBank Matildas and Subway Socceroos’ games on Network 10 and Paramount+ in Australia, through to 2028.

The list of midfielders on the wiki feels thin. We've selected many more defenders of late. It's not like Mabil is a bad extended option either. Arnold has done well to expose so many to the set up.

Balards another player i forgot who will be fit, yazbek another

Pompey analysts claim silvera could play in the epl if he can improve his decision making. They also warned that fans may get on his back if he doesnt convert chances soon, as they may not appreciate that he is getting isolated and doubled up in defence

We'll be right. Quite an extension of options and now Robertson is playing again too. Main race is Bos. Behich shouldn't be included but he will be. Goodwin playing in pre season. Silvera much sharper than at Boro so that's a bonus.

I think yengi and toure are due back this weekend and iredale has been starting. Duke has gotten game time at the top of the j league too. Ryan probably has a season of low game time before he starts losing his timing and touch. Karacic isn't a bad shout for rb. I'm keeping an eye out on italiano (who is weirdly playing lb but whatever). I'm guessing we go 3-5-2 though based on recent games

-------------------------ryan-----------------------
------------souttar---circati---rowles----------
-----------------O'Niell-Irvine---------------------
-----Metcalf---------Mcgree----Goodwin-----
------------------Duke/Iredale-Yengi-----------

Subs(5) Robertson, Irankunda, Toure, Iredale/Duke, Silvera

So I reckon the next socceroos squad judging by the start of the season 

Izzo 

Elder circati souttar karacic 

Baccus

Robertson Irvine 

Metcalfe taggart? (Every other striker is injured) Silvera

This is including injuries from the weekend 

https://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/that-is-diabolical-allianz-stadium-savaged-over-farcical-nrl-scenes/news-story/63235438f0261004e7209640ca1e560b

https://youtu.be/nRWZD3ZJG04?si=q4nhVLbt12yTJymJ

Concerning given we may have some qualifiers there. Commbank was bad for the Saudi game too. 

Bump