It had to happen -- Newcastle head coach Nick Theodorakopoulos has been sacked after failing to win a single match during his thirteen-game reign, which if my memory serves is the shortest tenure of any full-time A-League coach to date. (He joins Steve McMahon, John Adshead, Richard Money and Pierre Littbarski as the league's ex-head coach appointees. Alan Vest was caretaker when replaced by Ron Smith.)
The timing is probably spot on. With the Jets facing the Knights on Saturday, they run into the middle portion of the season with arguably the league's easiest opponents first up. A win would certainly sooth tension in the dressing room and give something back to the few diehard fans that actually bother to turn up (Newcastle's home attendance last week was its lowest in the history of the A-League).
Following the departures of Richard Money last season and now Nick Theo, Gary Van Egmond finds himself caretaker coach, yet again. He might even provide the perfect remedy: he knows the squad better than anyone, he's a local lad, he has enough playing and coaching experience to get by over the next few weeks, perhaps beyond. You have to imagine that the form and softly spoken leadership of Paul Okon will be especially important during this interim phase as well.
Of course, Frank Farina's name has been raised just about everywhere as the long-term replacement in the head coaching position. Does he even need to apply for these jobs anymore, given that the media pretty much lets every CEO and his dog know that Farina is willing and available? Somehow, though, you get the feeling that Jets Chairman Con Constantine, CEO George Liolio, and Director of Football Remo Nogarotto have a different agenda. For better or worse (you be the judge), they haven't often followed conventional wisdom. I don't think it would really surprise anyone if they appointed a "high profile" head coach from Austria or El Salvador, or even someone substantially less bizarre and ultimately sort of boring, like Gary Phillips.
Each circus needs its ringmasters, I suppose.
As for Nick T, perhaps if Wollongong gain an A-League team in the future he will stand a chance of getting another job outside of the SBS television studios. Nick Theo orchestrating an attacking set-up with Scott Chipperfield running the show in central midfield . . . sounds about right to me.
4 comments:
Did you see Frank Frania's column in the Brisbane Courier-Mail on Sept 29? I think he foreshadowed this for Nic
'Refs' Inconsistencies blot on the a-league'. That is sending Joel Groffiths off instead of awarding a penalty probably cost Nic his job. Thanks Mr Przydacz.
Anyway. It was interesting to listen to Nic and his supporters fight to get him into the a-league last season. I think I heard him critise the lack of local managers and even the socceroos performance managers lack of football. The SBS team are very vocally behind the players and managers they support.
Football needs vocal managers. Nic could have been one. But I guess you need to win. Milton Rodriguez looked like the answer. As Carbone did for Sydney. But one startling performance was not enough.
Firstly let me congratulate your blog. I am trying to figure out how to add you on mine as I am new to this.
I purely see, from experience as a former national youth league player, that football politics still unfortunately have a role on our shores and I can say Nick Theodorakopoulos plays a part in it.
He has contributed to NSL titles yet I feel he lacks the vision needed for guide the calibre of players including Carle, Rodriguez, Okon (who can still give it a shot) and young guns (former opponents of mine) Adam D'Appuzzo and Tolgay Ozbey.
He needs to step aside and as wise coaches do, step aside in glory and majesty, in other words, on a high.
Maybe he lacked support from the board.
AUSTRALIA NEEDS A NEW BREED OF COACHES FROM SOUTH AMERICA. ENOUGH OF THE KICK AND CHASE STYLE OF PLAY.
Cheers mate.
Still feeling very much the neophyte - this is the first high-level sacking I've sort of 'witnessed' - I'm a bit in shock about this decision.
When the tough decisions have to be made, they have to be made I guess. As I've noted along the way however, I didn't actually think Newcastle's football was that bad - certainly not as poor as the Knights, Mariners or even the Sydney of a few weeks ago. Impressions only, but Mike Salter's comments resonate for me. I can't help thinking Theo might have needed a little more time.
Thank Saint Johnny Warren the Roar management didn't get rid of Myron. My instinct is that a commitment to beautiful football is more of a long term project, but one that pays off in spades (aesthetically hence commercially as well as just victoriously) eventually (sorry for writing so adverbally).
I just hope the Newcastle people know what they're doing.
Good to see you back a-bloggin' James.
I believe the problem here lies partly with Nick, but also with the players. I feel especially that Nicky Carle has to take more responsibility in this team. He has been a better player this season and I have enjoyed watching him, however, his lack of scoring is a real problem. Time and time again this season Newcastle, or even Nicky himself, have put together a good move only to fail due to poor finishing. No doubt that he is not the only one not scoring-Thompson has also wated a few good chaces, while the backline has looked soft at times- but he has had the chance to score crucial goals at crucial times and has failed.
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