Nick Bendel
Arnie is every bit as confused as he looks
July 5th 2008 14:46
Arnold, who serves as both an assistant to Socceroos’ coach Pim Verbeek and Olympic team boss, has just announced his 18 man squad for Beijing. Oddly, although he managed to find room for Nikita Rukavytsya and Billy Celeski, he could not accommodate the talented young duo of Bruce Djite and Nathan Burns, both of whom are full internationals. Further surprises came with the omission of David Williams and James Holland, who recently received their first senior caps. One might be tempted to believe that Arnie had lost his marbles, if not for the fact that he probably never had them in the first place.
A Graham Arnold-coached team does not make an attractive sight, either on the field or off it. His game plans are simplistic and one-dimensional; his commentary inarticulate, defensive and self-serving. If he doesn’t make players worse, nobody can accuse him of making them better. “He’s a number two [assistant coach],” a wise man once said, “not a number one [head coach].” That’s Arnie in a nutshell.
There are those who believe that the importance of a coach is overstated. A bad coach, they reason, will drag a team down, while a good coach will simply stand out of the way and let the players take charge of what happens out on the field. But when you look at some of Australia’s leading trainers, it becomes clear just how vital their role can be- and just how out of his depth Arnold is.
Brian Goorjian is the perfect example. Goorjian’s teams- whether at club or international level- have several things in common. They are cohesive, they are well-drilled- and they always defend well. Goorjian’s players also have several things in common: they are disciplined, they are astute- and they do exactly what they’re told. That is why Brian Goorjian is the most successful coach in NBL history.
Robbie Deans, Australia’s new rugby union boss, is another standout. Like Goorjian, he combines an ability to read the game with superb man management skills. During his time at Canterbury, the Crusaders were renowned not simply for playing successful rugby, or even attractive rugby, but innovative rugby. Sound ideas were communicated to the players, who were then carefully instructed on how to execute them. That is why Robbie Deans is the most successful coach in Super 12/14 history.
It is no coincidence that those basketballers and footballers lavish those two men with respect. Athletes might be binge-drinking, scandal-raising dolts, but if there’s one thing they have a gift for, it’s recognising a good leader when they see it. There’s a reason why the Goorjians and Deanss of this world win that respect, and the Arnies don’t.
Over the coming months, the Olyroos, Boomers and Wallabies will be playing a series of tough international matches, in which the difference between winning and losing might very well come down to the quality of the coaching. Cheer for them with all your might, but should the Olyroos turn out to be the least impressive of the three, don’t be surprised.
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