Actually if you read or listen to many of the so called experts they do expect us to play like and match the better credentialed teams and too many of our fans have believed the hype. We are still learners at international level and we have a team that is the shell of the 2006 team on the way down near the end of their careers.

I don't believe that Pim got his tactics right but he didn't put a 4-6-0 on the pitch to avoid defeat he put a 4-4-2 on the pitch to try to take the game up to Germany and to snatch a result. Unfortunately the players were outskilled to a man (except maybe for Emerton) and were not up to the task they had been set. That we could have chosen more suitable players for this formation is a very valid thing to argue but to suggest that we played with a midfield of 6 is an utter nonsense. We started the game with 2 up front and it didn't work because we were not able to move the ball to them effectively.

Edited by gyfox: 18/6/2010 10:11:48 AM

We don't expect to play like the better credentialed teams. We expect to go out like we believe we can win a game and with a formation and tactics that will allow us to do so. Playing like that and preparing like that and surrendering like we did in the media... all down to Pim and the management of the team - I can't remember any side playing a 4-6-0 formation to avoid defeat - even Andorra and San Marino play with one striker.

I don't expect us to play the best stuff out there, but I expect us to attack, at the very least, have a go - something we showed no intent whatsoever of doing against Germany, and it's all down to Pim.

I actually think that the Australian football media and fans have been very effective acting as a fifth column to undermine the Socceroos and their staff. We aren't the best team in Asia even though we are ranked #1. It speaks volumes of the Socceroos set up that they have achieved above their collective abilities in qualifying "easily" for the World Cup and, with a big struggle, for the Asian Cup. Since they achieved this, however, there has been this constant haranguing of the staff and team about style. We expect a bunch of middle range internationals to play and achieve like the better credentialed teams. Its time to be realistic about the quality of our team and our football and just tell them to go out and do their best and we will be proud of them for doing it.

The media blowing things up. No surprises there.

Agree 100%

Not true at all, we have a list of quality players there. But a poor coach who doesn't know how to get the best out of them.

I had confidence in Pim until he came out and said we CANNOT
WIN the world cup before the Germany match, and he and Neill had no confidence we could beat Germany despite the NT in the past having had a very good go at Italy, Netherlands, Brazil, England etc. If your coach has no confidence in you to win why would you have confidence in him? Journeyman has found his natural level coaching the Morocco youth team. Good riddance to the box-ticker. Give me Maradona any day: even Craig Foster, mental as he might seem on SBS, would at least have brought some belief if not better results.

Whoever said where there is smoke there is fire is dead right.These things dont just come about out of nothing. Verbeek is narrow minded and will be as boring as watching paint dry to get a result.The problem is that just about goes against every natural instinct australians have.Where taught to never say die and always get on the front foot no matter what the situation in life is.Clearly Pims boring negative tactics go against everything that is australian.

"yes, lets be happy we beat or drew with all the little Asian teams during qualification"

The "little Asian teams" seem to be doing pretty well in this World Cup so far!

Come on everyone and unite.

We are Australian football fans forever!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ErEk2720CA

^ When you look at the world cup and the Asian teams, they are not powerhouses are they! We are 'ranked' 1 in Asia but means nothing at the world cup. Watching NZ play the other night, it is obvious we have come on but we are not there yet and there is a long way to go.

that way @ Shorty

^ I disagree. The FFA have made a lot of shit descisions but the international coach system has gotten us past Uruguay,conquered Asia to get into the World cup. True that the relationship between state league clubs and the A-League clubs have not helped development of football in this country.

The socceroos have a couple of "good" players, that's it. That is the reason we lost, the reason we won't get out of the group, the reality of the situation. We have won one game against Japan at a world cup, that's our pedigree. I want us to go through as much as the next bloke but reality is we probably will not.
It will be refreshing to get a new coach and a socceroos clean out though.

In the old days of Aussie football the game suffered because of ethnic parochiolism and a sort of separatist feeling between typical Aussies and what people called wogball.This had to be changed for football to go ahead, even though one should recognise the contribution by ethnic clubs to establish football from this era. However the actual football at senior grass roots level has gone down hill since the FFA took over.Crowd numbers across the board are woefull and the FFA and many people look overseas for a coach or players to save us, which just isn't happening. It's time to build a culture from grassroots to senior level without all this elitism shown by the FFA. We have a pro -league in this country with full time players and coaches so there should be no excuses for not building the sport.We no longer should have to look o.s. all the time. Lets promote our up and coming stars through the state and premier leagues, including the coaches, to build an Australian way of football.There are good and bad coaches in every country. so hiring from o.s. doesn't guarantee success.It's time for the FFA to get off their asses and fix the game in our own backyards and encourage A-league clubs to promote their own regions players.For instance no player from Cairns has even been approached by the N.Q. Fury for a trial or some sort of recognition. Yet the city has produced some of the countries finest players.It's just ridiculess and if something is not done we are looking forward to another four years of nothingness.Hopefully we will learn from what the FFA and Verbeek haven't done for our game.They have spent millions of dollars at the top end of the game with nothing to show for it.They must be accountable to the Aussie football public.The N.R.L and AFL's promotion of local regional players to their teams leaves us for dead.Their feeder clubs have a very close relationship with each other with players being dropped to state league if not in form or recovering from injury while other players are given a chance at the top level.It works beautifully with some top class athletes being produced.Unless we follow suit the game won't get any better as elite players and officials are in a comfort zone with no threat to their positions.

Frankly it's way too late in the piece to gain much benefit from sacking the coach, especially since it is Graham Arnold who would almost certainly take over the reins if that happened. (Ironically, he qualifies as one of Foster's "former captains" who apparently should be steering the ship).

In that context, Ben Buckley's comments were entirely predictable. If you have decided not to sack the coach, what possible benefit is there in publicly acknowledging that there are problems in the camp?

i just hope the squad dont take all these distractions and rumours on board and drop there confidence even further

Verbeek has ruined us. He's convinced us that we're rubbish and that we can't play. But we know this is wrong because Hiddink proved we can play and play well. But Verbeek has done nothing. No player has come on in his time. He played Coyne and Jade North in defence, where are they now? Why wasn't Spiranovic groomed and nurtured to grow into a first XI role? Why the hell is our best striker not even at the World Cup? He doesn't fit into your plans? Change them! The A-League is terrible and worse than training in Europe? Then how the hell does Moore get a game?

Verbeek fumbled his way through qualifying but nobody said anything because the impotence of the Asian teams masked our lack of quality, and everyone was just grateful to qualify. Hopefully now people realise it's more important to actually play decent football than just stumble into the World Cup without a hope in the world.

Higashi said the rumous was "According to channel 10...". Say no more, the commercial channels and their uneducated and pop reports on football is a utter disgrace, they are sensationalised, obscured and ill-informed. Disregard anything they have to say about football. Come on Australia, there are two games left I am behind you all the way!

What a load of bollocks!

Yes you get beat 4-0 so you sack your coach? Pim has taken us through qualification via Asia and helping us qualify to the next Asian Cup. Give the guy a chance to redeem himself. If a player stuffs up, yes you can bench him the next game, but sack a coach during the World Cup after one bad game and the journey is totally over. I'm confident we can redeem some respect in the final two games.

yes, lets be happy we beat or drew with all the little Asian teams during qualification, played NZ in a warm up and should have lost at home, got into SA weeks before anyone else, played 2 more crap games and then got thumped.....thank you Pim, perfect planning, preperation and finally outstanding tacticts and selection against European Opposition in our Rd 1 WCup match....what more can we ask for from you.
You are right, I should be thankful he dragged us through the qualification process boring the nation to tears...
That is why he is going to coach Man City...No, West Ham...No, Dutch First Division...mmmm No,... Morroco Under 20's...ahh Yes...
We will not score a goal under this bloke in the World Cup, never mind win a game...
He should be gone today, now, out on the first boat to Morroco...

The 9 Secrets
1. Have a destination but keep the specifics to yourself. Do you even have a goal?
2. The world is full of pricks who can only criticize. Are you one of them?
3. Use a program designed for your goals. Is your program leading you to your destination?
4. The things you hate to do are the things you need to do the most. Are you doing them?
5. If you're not making progress, it may be your attitude that needs adjusting. Are you willing to change?
6. Your time and energy are limited. Are you wasting them by talking shit on the forums?
7. Become a fanatical believer in your cause. Do you really believe you'll succeed?
8. If you're afraid of breaking any of your precious eggs, don't expect too many omelets in your life. What are you willing to sacrifice in order to achieve your goals?
9. There are people who are better than you, and who know more stuff than you. Are you listening to them?
— Dave Tate, 9 Great Secrets of Training Success, Part I and Part II

Yes you get beat 4-0 so you sack your coach? Pim has taken us through qualification via Asia and helping us qualify to the next Asian Cup. Give the guy a chance to redeem himself. If a player stuffs up, yes you can bench him the next game, but sack a coach during the World Cup after one bad game and the journey is totally over. I'm confident we can redeem some respect in the final two games.

What a piss weak response from the FFA and Ben Buckley, if we are all pissed off with Pim, the players must have had enough by now, I agree with Foster, we should show some balls and send the Beeker home now, No one else would put up with a coach who resigns 4 months out from the World Cup to go to an under 20 coaching job in a small country, bags the A-League, selects the wrong squad, wont play the young players, doesnt understand our country and is never wrong.
He reports to Buckley who has allowed him to get away with this and more and now his boss said "I dont comment on tactics or selection" well its time you did comment on something or you pissed off back to AFL with your mate Pim.
At least John O'Neil would make a call on things even if he didnt understand the rules, he would not have pout uyp with the Beeker, we are soft at the top and that has flowed through to the teams performance.

It might seem logical that there could be some anguish from the players not to have been given a fair go by Pim, but I hardly think anyone expects (or realistically even wants) Pim to quit midway through the World Cup. Every one knows he is leaving after the tournament anyway.

Basically it is more than likely a storm in a tea cup. The players know that the FFA wont step on Pim's toes when it comes down to team selection and tactics. To do so would be suicidal for Australian football, as to undermine the independance of our coach would seriously cause any coach considering coming in as Pim's replacement to reconsider his decision. More likely, a journo got wind of a few players having a bitch about not getting their chance on Sunday. Furthermore, I doubt Harry would have been one of those players as he figured in Pim's plans right up until Tim got sent off. To negate the likelihood of part of the story is to throw the whole issue into disrepute.

Graham Arnold gave my mother gonorrhea.

According to channel 10 it was rumoured that Harry Kewell, Vince Grella and Mark Bresciano contacted the FFA and complained that they weren't happy with Pim's tactics and team selection.

What was the rumour exactly? Did it mention which players?

"I don't comment on coach's tactics or selection. It's not my role, it's not my responsibility".....and to be honest i havent got a clue about the game anyway.

A lot of people on these FFT forums have suggested there s disunity in the change room. I would like to know where they source that rumour.

Personally, when I see people saying things like that at a time like this, I think it's disrespectful - not just to the coach but also the players.

Source your info or STFU.