Was it really a surprise to read that Western Australian Brad Jones is in line for a recall to the Socceroos now that Bert Van Marwijk has been appointed coach?
What people should be asking is why has he been in the wilderness for the past four years?
Jones as many will know served his apprenticeship under arguably Australia’s greatest goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer at Middlesborough. He was loaned out to lower division clubs, which is the norm to gain experience. Unfortunately for Jones he was in goal for most of the season that saw Middlesborough relegated from the Premier League. He was also in goal as they looked for an immediate return to the top flight, which did not happen.
Jones then moved to Liverpool in what was a huge move for him. He was 28 years old and about to enter his prime, but unfortunately it was not the start he dreamed of at Anfield. He injured his shoulder and was out for over a month. He then had to rue the timing of that injury as he found himself relegated to the number two ‘keeper position for most of the season.
He went on loan to Derby County and then returned Liverpool and was given a renewed contract, which expired in 2015.
Jones debut in a friendly against Uruguay was not the start to International football you would wish upon anyone. he dropped a cross, and Alvaro Recoba was on hand to tap the ball home for the only goal of the game. Since that day in 2007 he has been restricted to just four international appearances. He was selected for Australia’s World Cup squad for South Africa 2010, but sadly had to leave the squad when his six year old son was diagnosed with Leukemia.
After a disappointing time at Bradford City Jones headed to the Netherlands where his career has been revitalised. He did well at NAC Nijmegen who wanted to re-sign him but instead he headed to Feyenoord. He kept a clean sheet on debut and that was something he would go on to keep 17 clean sheets in the season as Feyenoord won their first Eredivisie for 18 years. Those 17 clean sheets eclipsed the record of 14 clean sheets by Ed de Goey twenty years earlier.
At the end of such a fantastic season it made it hard for Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou to ignore Jones. He had played him for 30 minutes as second half substitute in one match against Ecuador in all his time as coach, and it appeared that he did not want Jones in his squad. A story broke in May of 2017 claiming that Postecoglou had approached Jones to be a part of the squad for the World Cup Qualifier against Saudi Arabia, a friendly against Brazil and the Confederations Cup. It was claimed that Jones had wanted assurances that “he would be the first-choice goalkeeper before making himself available.” The story only ran in one media outlet. Postecoglou nor Jones confirmed or denied that such a conversation had taken place.
It would appear to be a very unlikely scenario, and one has to wonder whether the “Sources” that suggested “Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou did not provide any such assurance,” was not in fact someone feeding a line to the media.
Not surprisingly Mark Schwarzer, who would know Jones well from working with him at Middlesborough has supported him being recalled, stating that Jones is “in the best form of his career and has just got better with age, he deserves a call up because his form clearly warrants it. I am not sure why Ange Postecoglou didn’t select him but that was his prerogative.”
Bert van Marwijk has stated that when it comes to coaching the Socceroos he will do it his way. He will pick players who he believes can do the job he wants them to do, just as Guys Hiddink said and did. Hiddink only used a core group of 15 players at the World Cup, with Kalac and Popovic the only other players to get on the park, both for just one game.
The new coach also has had spells as coach of Feyenoord so would be able to gain information on Jones attitude and suitability from sources that he would trust.
As Luke Wilkshire stated in a recent article on the Player’s Voice, and he would know as Hiddink lifted his career to another level, Hiddink cared about his players and took a genuine interest in them as footballers and people. This was according to Wilkshire the key to him getting the best out of the players.
He said that he believed this was the key to van Marwijk achieving success with the Socceroos. He wrote “he still must prove he cares about them as people, as well as players.”
It would appear to be a sentiment echoed by Mark Schwarzer who told SBS, “Ange (had) a specific way of playing and mangers throughout your career have a certain view of you as a player, some like you and some don’t.”
“None of that will have affected Brad, who has shown great mental strength and determination to get to where he is now.” Schwarzer was quoted as saying. “He’s been very unlucky to miss out in the last four years for Australia and should a recall come now, he’d be an excellent addition to the World Cup squad. I can visualise him playing for another four or five years at a top level because he’s looked after himself very well, and the desire is still clearly there.”
They say goalkeepers are in their prime in the 30’s. Schwarzer certainly was. Dino Zoff won the World cup aged 40. Gianluigi Buffon was voted UEFA European goalkeeper of the year in 2017 aged 39.
Jones has the pedigree. He played for the Australia national under-20 football team and the under-23 side at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. He has played at some big clubs, had success and also suffered the lows of being a professional athlete. He was selected for a World Cup, but as stated put his family before his career. Who knows how different his career could have been had he stayed and played in South Africa?
The truth is Jones would no doubt tell you he has matured not only as a player, but also as a man. The loss of his son must have given hime a different perspective on life, as only those who have lost a child can understand. In the Netherlands it is as if his career has been reborn. He is finally fulfilling the promise everyone knew he had. However more importantly he is enjoying his football. He appears to have rediscovered his passion for the game and no longer is it a job. IT is something he enjoys and takes pride in. Could it be that the appointment of Bert van Marwijk, a Dutchman, will see Jones replicate his rebirth in the Netherlands at international level?
It would certainly be a fairytale end if it happened.
Thank you Philip for commenting. I too felt there was a clear bias towards Ryan. TO me Australia needs to give as many of our young goalkeepers experience at the highest level as if Ryan gets injured… Jones maturity may definitely be a benefit at the back in such big games.
Great article. I am afraid that Ange was biased towards Matt Ryan, who would not know a clean sheet if he had to sleep on one at a hotel. He in fact cost us points at the last World Cup where we came back with no points due to his allowing easy goals to be scored against us towards two of the games. Brad Jones is a contender and i will be very happy if he gets to be the 1st choice keeper for Australia in the World Cup. More importantly, Australia will have a much better chance of a win or a draw with Brad Jones between the posts than Ange’s incumbent, that’s for sure! All the best, PJ 🙂