AUSTRALIA’s FA-LeagueAVOURITE RoundFOOTB A21LL FFridayANZINE 15th AND Feb E VEN- Sunday BETTER 17th WITH Feb 2013 A PINA COLADA! Available FREE $5 at the A-League Available Every Friday From Newsagents Everywhere Follow Us On: E: [email protected] | P: (03) 9551 7588 | A: PO Box 142 Port Melb, VIC, 3207 www.goalweekly.com A-League Round 2 Friday 18th Oct - Sunday 20th Oct 2013 JETS POSTER Page 14 RD ONE REWIND Page 5 VPL REVIEW Page 16 V-LEAGUE WRAP Page 21 NATIONAL DUTY CALLS FOR BRAZILIAN JOB SAVE OUR SOCCEROOS (BLAME IT ON RIO) GOAL! WEEKLY FRIDAY 18TH OCTOBER 2013 2 The Rocky Road To Rio Au revoir Holger after national embarrassment in Paris Holger Osieck sacked after Australia hammered 6-0 by France defenders and the two wing- By Tom Chieftain backs. That gives you the cover in defence and the flexibility in attack. One 6-0 loss can be seen as forgivable, especially when it’s Then there’s the enduring posi- against Brazil in Brazil. A sec- tional error: Tim Cahill as striker. ond thrashing, especially with He’s not a striker! He’s most national pride on the line, and dangerous as a lurking midfielder, even if it’s at the hands of one as proven by his rush of goals Europe’s better teams, is not. with his New York club from With that 6-0 loss to France, midfield and the fact his goal-rate 4-0 at halftime, Socceroos coach has dried up with the national Holger Osieck received his team. Behind Cahill was Robbie marching orders. Cruse – again wasted. Frank Leb- eouf, former French international, Since the mid stages of World gave a commentary in coaching Cup qualifiers, the football com- excellence during the broadcast. munity has been simmering with He noted Cahill needed to be in a virtual ultimatum that anything midfield where his experience less than a reasonably competi- could be used to provide poise tive performance against France during the French onslaught. would be terminal for Osieck. As Often Cahill would drop deep it panned out, Football Federation to find the ball, which saw the Australia harboured those views French line higher, instantly pres- too, and was swift to act, bidding suring the Australians whenever adieu to Holger only hours after they received the ball. When the match. The key reason other France had the ball, Cahill and than the result was the lack of Kruse were easily drawn forward, “rejuvenation and regeneration” virtually allowing a vacant mid- of the squad. Again, a sentiment field with defensive midfielders felt by the broader football com- Bresciano and Jedinak too deep. munity. France’s third goal was a case in point. Collected direct from Two glaring errors were made a goal-kick, passed to Ribery, a in this game against France. through ball, goal. With Tom Oar injured, to fill the troublesome left-back role, Dave Carney was brought back from Osieck is an Aussie Sacked. No bossanova for Holger in Brazil 2014. More like Boss and Over. exile. Why? He’s passed his best, The “review” that was men- if his best was ever good enough. tioned upon Osieck’s sack- little passes were made trying them interested. It should. adjustment phase from casual obviously been in the process He’s been a liability in the past, ing has obviously been in to work an even better option, Asia to up-tempo Europe was too for months, given the fact FFA seemingly a guaranteed option, There were some positives from great. were so swift to act on Holger. and was again. He conceded the the process for months, first goal by throwing his hand in like you might against a glaringly the match. It was 6-0 on 50 While Brazil might have been Those decisions are not made the air and being called for hand- given the fact FFA were inferior team. Bad. Best to get it minutes, so the team kept France forgivable, the fact virtually noth- so abruptly. The action might ball. Regardless that he didn’t so swift to act on Holger. in quickly and keep pressure on scoreless for nearly the entire ing was done about the concerns be, the decision not. The timing actually touch the ball, it was the Those decisions are not by capturing the rebound. You second half. Mitch Langerak there in the game against France, is also right for a local coach. just never saw Brazil or France excelled in his debut as goal- it was self-crucifying. While Australia has been more action of an insecure player – one made so abruptly. The ac- that’s never been a dedicated left- messing about it. keeper, keeping the score at 6-0 in mercenary mode with their back either – to throw his hand tion might be, the decision Nor did they treat Australia with with several superb, reflex saves, The key will be the management past few coaches, if there’s to be up. For the sake of inches, the not. The timing is also right contempt by looking for guaran- and great positioning. While the of problems discovered. Wilk- a move towards giving younger ball would have hit his hand. for a local coach. teed chances. They only needed cynics will say it could have been shire, Carney, Bresciano – out. players experience, it makes just Second mistake, to strengthen a sniff. 10-0, “it could be” any number Schwarzer now surely is the as much sense as doing similar the right side that France’s of goals in any numbers games. reserve keeper given Langerak’s with a local coach. While Ange Franck Ribery notoriously Probably the only excuse for Osieck said post match that That’s the reason for goal-keepers performance. Why would you Postecoglou is the glamour exploits, Osieck threw James Osieck is the calibre of opponents nothing tried in training was and a low scoring sport. Had drop him? Jedinak needs a shake- choice, Graham Arnold could be Holland at right-back and pushed taken on so soon after qualifying. transferred to the pitch. That’s Langerak not saved most of those up. Something not mentally right more likely given his internation- Luke Wilkshire forward. Why? The team had so much time on damning against the coach, shots, they’d be classed as errors with him. Maybe elevated to a al experience as both interim and Holland is less of a right-back the ball against the Arab teams, suggesting the players wanted and his debut a failure. As it stood senior leadership role after the assistant coach, proven ability than Wilkshire is. Wilkshire’s could be lazy with passing, or remedial action with the coaching he was at no fault for any of the purging of several elder players at integrating new players and struggling to get a game for his even expect to win a pass if situation and possibly took it goals conceded and allowed the could do wonders. Anyone in the melding a team, and seemingly Russian club, so the call to persist tightly marked. Not here. Brazil upon themselves. With the first team to walk off with 0-0 draw Middle East like Holman, gone. been itching to jump from his with him at the expense of a new, and France stripped them easily, goal conceded so quickly, it was over 40 minutes. Archie Thompson gone. Harry A-League role if a better offer dedicated right-back, made even while any dallying on the ball easy for the team to become dis- Kewell needs to explode in the came elsewhere. Brazil 2014 less sense. Holland, normally a was open sesame to be dispos- heartened, with the famed Austra- In a way, Holger’s done Australia A-League to be even considered could be the making of both the central midfielder, was thrown to sessed. Lebeouf reiterated this lian “spirit” dormant. When asked a favour. We needed to find the a recall. new coach and the newer players. the wolves. He was all at sea, and point too, noting later in the game if the players were fully behind level of the team now, not at the Despite all the recent turmoil easily beaten for France’s sixth a missed opportunity to cross him, Holger’s response and body World Cup. While you can never As to a new coach, FFA Chair- and melodrama, it’s actually an goal. A better option would be to just “kills momentum”. Instead language was telling, citing that really pass up a glamour match man Frank Lowy wants a local. exciting time. play five at the back, three proper of immediately crossing, a few regardless of being behind the like Brazil in Brazil, France The “review” that was mentioned coach, national pride should keep might have been too much. The upon Osieck’s sacking has www.goalweekly.com FRIDAY 18TH OCTOBER 2013 GOAL! WEEKLY Soccer Hotlines 3 Vidmar: No comment Osieck Sacked Neill: ´My on Socceroos job Aurelio Vidmar has declined the words chance to express his interest in the Australia job after taking charge for a 3-0 win over Cana- were da. Vidmar stepped in following the dismissal of Holger Osieck on Fri- twisted´ day, with the German sacked just Lucas Neill has denied pitting hours after Australia were thrashed Australia’s young players 6-0 by France in Paris. against their senior team-mates Football Federation Australia and claims his ‘words were chairman Frank Lowy has indicat- Australia coach Holger Osieck conceded 12 goals in two matches. It leaves the Socceroos looking twisted’.