The unfortunate result of giving people the same title means that be they good or bad they are all lumped in together, be they politicians, managers or coaches.
The good ones will ultimately survive the longest, that is as long as they do not become demoralised by employers accepting and rewarding mediocrity. As discussed on Podcast #107 this is why it is vital that employers do background checks. As we all know just because someone held a certain position, it does not guarantee that they were any good in it.
In an era where equality is the buzz word one wonders if there is equality in sport when it comes to how coaches are treated if they fail. It would appear that in Women’s football there is more latitude given if a coach is failing to succeed as opposed to the men’s game.
For many years there were men within the women’s game masquerading as coaches, as some were quite simply hopeless. They cared not about the women’s game, or advancing the sport, or the players, and were there because it was a ‘safe job’ in coaching.
Times have changed and most of those conmen have been weeded out as the Women’s game has advanced.
Swede Tony Gustavsson was appointed the head coach of the Australian women’s national team, the ‘Matildas’ in September 2020. He was heralded as being a great appointment, one that would keep the Australian side amongst the top teams in the World, which would be crucial with Australia being joint host with New Zealand of the FIFA Women’s World cup in 2023.
When one looks at his resume one has to wonder what all the fuss was about as his biggest claim to fame was that he had been an assistant coach to compatriot Pia Sundhage for the USA Women’s National Team during a period in which they dominated Women’s international football. He had not yet cut his teeth as a head coach at international level.
To say that Gustavsson has failed to live up to the hype would be an understatement. The recent mauling in Spain 7-0 a year out from the World Cup would see an outcry and calls for the coach’s head in the men’s game, even if it is only a year out from the World Cup.
Gustavsson had stated that he intended to give opportunities to domestic stars for the Spain friendly, and he was good to his word with eight changes made to the side that defeated New Zealand 3-1 in Canberra in April. Why would a coach look to be bringing in new blood at this stage in the preparations for a World Cup that you are hosting? Surely helping the team find its rhythm and confidence is more important and settling on the nucleus of the side that will play in the World Cup and having them gain time playing together?
Had the Matildas played well and been unlucky at the Olympic Games or even progressed in the Asia Cup beyond the quarter final, – which was expected, – one could understand the desire to rest some of the more established players. Fans would also no doubt be more forgiving of the Spain result, but once again the fans have witnessed a team that could match it with the best in the world, now being totally outclassed.
The blame does not lie totally with the individual players, but with the coach. As it would appear that he is failing to communicate how he wants the team to play, or if he is communicating successfully that style and formation is not suiting the players he selected. There has to be questions asked as to whether he is even picking the best players in key positions. From the outside looking in it looks a shambles. A leader with no plan, who is rolling the dice with every game.
The Olympic Games performances were hard to watch. Australia won just two of their six games. Frequently it looked as if the only hope was that Sam Kerr could create a little magic to conjure up a victory, which she did in the quarter final against Great Britain to give the girls the chance of a medal. It wasn’t to be, as they went down to Gustavsson’s home nation Sweden in the semi-final. The score in the bronze medal match flattered Australia, 3-4 to the USA as again the side was completely outclassed.
The positive was that they had at least made the Bronze medal match, and given themselves a chance to win an Olympic medal.
Japan was the only other Asian team to make the quarter finals in Tokyo, so come The Asian Cup expectations were high, and within reason. In the previous five tournaments Australia had made the final four times, and won it once. They had lost the bronze medal game on the other occasion. They had also lost one final on penalties.
In 2022 the team did not make it past the Quarter Finals bowing out to South Korea. There were calls for Gustavsson’s head after this, but they soon died down as Football Australia gave him a vote of confidence.
The 7-0 defeat at the weekend and the manner of it was distressing. This was only the fourth time that Australia had conceded seven or more goals in a game. The first coming in 1988 against China, and twice in 1997 when they lost 9-1 to the USA and 7-1 to Norway.
Socceroos coach Holger Osieck led the Socceroos to the Asian cup final where they lost in extra time to Japan. He then navigated the team thorough the World Cup qualifiers; a team many said would not qualify for the 2014 World Cup Finals. However, he then lost two games against Brazil and France by the same scoreline 6-0, and was sacked.
Both France and Brazil would be defeated by eventual winners Germany in the quarter finals and semi finals. Brazil losing famously 7-1.
So has Gustavsson been put under the same scrutiny as Osieck was? Has he avoided that by shuffling the pack of players and saying that all will be good in the end, thus buying more time? Certainly one feels that he has been given more than enough time, and a defeat against Portugal this week may well force the powers that be to make a tough call and do what is best for the Matildas team and their brand, which must be protected as hosts of the World Cup, and replace the coach.
If it is the brand that Football Australia are thinking about, as the Matildas are currently the best loved women’s sporting team in the country they will have hopefully learned lessons from the Socceroos. When the “Golden generation” were in in their prime around the 2006 World Cup the FFA as they were then tended to promote the Socceroos brand with one player, Harry Kewell. When Kewell retired it became Tim Cahill. They even built a sponsorship campaign with Caltex around the player for the 2016 FIFA World Cup, The 38 year old who had made ten appearances for Millwall to try and be fit for the tournament was named in the World Cup squad by coach Bert van Marwijk and made a single appearance in the tournament, coming off the bench in the 63rd minute of the 2–0 loss against Peru. Many believing that van Marwijk was forced to select Cahill and made to give him some game times as part of that sponsorship agreement. (Brand Alignment A Plus Or Minus When It Comes to Australian Football )
With the Matildas the hype is understandably around Sam Kerr, who with her English team Chelsea swept the awards in 2022. Yet football is a team game, there are others who should be promoting the game and the brand. Continually pushing the same player forward can in a competitive environment build resentment. Equally when the team crosses that white line it is not all about one player. No matter how good any one player is they need the other players around them to do their job well in order for them to do theirs. Has there been too much reliance on one player under Gustavsson?
The honeymoon is well and truly over and unless there is a vast improvement tomorrow night against Portugal, which will be evidence as to whether the man at the helm has the wherewithal to coach a team to play competitively and cohesively, then those in power need to make a tough call, or the brand, the World Cup dream and so much more could be lost in a flash.
Yes, the 12th edition of the AFF Women’s Championship is coming up in a week’s time where Australia will play the likes of the Phillipines, Indonesia,.Thailand and Singapore, but a new coach or an interim coach should be able to guide the team through this tournament before the focus well and truly shifts onto World Cup preparation, and matches against the Olympic Champions Canada in September.
Gustavsson has coached 23 games won eight, drawn four, and lost eleven and has a winning percentage of just 34.78 You have to go back to the 1980’s to find a Matildas’ coach with a marginally worse record in terms of winning percentages (JIm Selby and Fred Robins with 33.33). That may have been acceptable 40 years ago, but most fans will tell you today it is not
So we ask again, would a coach of a Men’s team be given so much time and leeway? Where is the equality? Surely the players and the fans deserve more?
Thank you All White.
I have to agree in terms of the defence and to be honest I am not convinced that he is a good coach.
YOU raise an interesting point in terms of if he stays and who makes that decision, should they lose their job if the Matildas fail to progress from the group stage? With the amount of money being thrown at the tournament for Australia to host it one feels that they should, but how will we ever know who made that decision?
Another great article.
Based on last night, and a 1-1 draw it is clear that Gustavsson is a bad choice. Yes if he was a coach of a men’s team he would have been sacked.
The FA need to move him on, if they don’t when Australia fails to get out of the group stage when they host the world cup all who backed him should be shown the door.
The way the team is playing the draw is going to have to be rigged for them to progress out of the pools.
Please move this clown on! He is an actor not a coach. He learns his lines and says what he thinks people want to hear. He waves his arms on the sidelines as if the team has misunderstood him. In truth he is the one with no idea. Defensively we are terrible.