We'll get a better look at Pim after tonights game, but I thought I'd give my initial impressions. He is very forthright, honest and tells it like it is. By telling stars like Kewell, to not worry, and by even telling players who have come from Europe that they are not required says much about the man. He is here to win, as that is the only thing that is going to save his job, and he doesnt need to make friends doing it. Here's some of his comments..... http://newtwg.sbs.com.au/home/index.php?pid=st&cid=105617
Well i like the blunt observations he makes, he obviously has no fear of hurting anyones feelings whether it be an individual or the FFA. We need somebody wit that kind of honesty. Doesn't mean he's a great coach though. I guess we'll all have more educated opinions after watching the match.
If you judge a coach on what he says.... Well Pim is the man. He has expressed himself like a true professional. As Epris has said there is more to coaching than talking. I like the players response to him. They seem to indicate that they are training really hard and that he is tactical and technical. Fozzie will be happy. All the best Pim. You have started admirably. I wasn't that keen on your appointment, but so far so good.
Well that was easier then he expected, I'm sure. We'll get to see the real Pim in the crunch games coming up. China & Iraq will pose stiffer opposition, but its looking good so far. He showed a bit of personality, but the advantage he has over Arnie is that the players don't know him yet, and so they want to play, and play well to impress. When they start to feel a bit more settled, he will have to step up again to prevent complacency.
Still in the honeymoon period and as someone said earlier, the players are trying to impress him. Bit disappointed with the way he treated the A-League and the results he got out of those players. But with the lack of time he has had he turned the Euro-roos into a well oiled machine. Maybe it was always there and their poor performance at AFC 2007 was their way of getting rid of Arnie????? Who knows? Has done what has been needed so far. Hope he and the Aussies continue to grow into a better unit with each game.
TBF if he had more than three two day sessions with the a-league players i.e. a proper month long camp and some friendlies he would be able to turn the a-league players into something resembling a decent side. If i recall correctly this was one of the sticking points with Troussier. The FFA was reluctant to suspend the a-league and give him the players for the months leading up to the matches. I also dont think the league is big enough to really accomodate a proper domestic side. There are only seven AUSTRALIAN teams in the competition so accounting for injuries and form you really only have 6 players per position to choose from and atleast 3 of those six players will be rubbish. Pim's opinion of the a-league has been somewhat vindicated by Carney. Say what you want about the coke championship and Bryan Robson but Carney looks a greatly improved player after his time in sheffield.
I liked the tactic where Pim wanted the roof to the dome opened regardless of what the weather was like. It shows he thinks outside the square. Graham Arnold would never have thought of that! I like Pim. He calls a spade a spade, he has a likeable personality, the players so far are responding well. The true tests are still to come but I have a feeling our future is in good hands.
I agree with everything you said there. I wonder what will happen after the A-League season? Will Pim take a heap of A-League players into camp to try & prepare them?
That is what I am hoping will happen, treat the up and coming a-leaguers to the European practice he has been praising. Just hope the clubs agree
First Impression was not the best but he has grown on me and on the 1 performance and he's honest and to the point, so for now Iam very impressed
Jesse Fink on Pim http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/no-risks---yet---for-singapore-bound-verbeek-107967/
I'm hoping when it comes to squad selection, he can draw from a wider pool, than his predecessors. This also includes some more open, broadminded thinking. We know how the likes of Farina and even Arnold inhereted, got locked into their perceptions and ideas and rarely changed from those squad selections for their times. I know, you go with proven performers, who you know. But atleast with Pim's A-League squads, he shows that he will give them a fair look. He's given them more of a look than the Euros for sure. Which is great for our league and the assessment of it's quality. Sure he was critical, but his behaviour suggests he's prepared to invest in the talent that this league provides. He knows he'll have to rely on them, in this campaign, at some points. Hopefully with more resources these days, experienced scouts in Europe like Henk Duut in Europe etc... Verbeek will be able to spread his reach wider and give some more boys a look in, who may not have even been considered by his predecessors. Sure a noted out figure Milicevic has continued to go downhill, so his chances have too. But others like Josh Kennedy, Scott McDonald, Nick Carle etc... have gone from out of the loop to regulars, thanks essentially to the influence of the Dutch mafia. I'm hopeful Verbeek will start to consider the likes of Eddy Bosnar in the J-League, and maybe even Dean Bouzanis, who's making great progress at Liverpool, for squad selections. If regular Reading bench sitter Adam Federici can be in the Olyroos and even Socceroos reckoning, then surely Bouzanis should be too. And whatever happened to Wayne Shroj? I know he's in Romania, but he's a Defensive Midfielder. He broke through into the NSL when he was only 17 or so with the Strikers and was a bit of a star then. Obviously his career has stagnated, but once again, for squad depth, we give guys like Thwaite a go and even McKain a go, way back. Why not give Shroj a look in? He was always a talent with decent technique, I think? There are probably a couple other players, either perenially overlooked for years, young players just breaking through for quality first team in Europe right now and even A-League boys, who may deserve more of a look in? Atleast a chance? It was great to see what Hiddink did for the team, just through his squad selections and faith in players. See Wilkshire, Kennedy, Milligan etc... It can take somebody from outside to really spot these things. I hope Verbeek can do the same, as he gets more settled in and becomes more familiar with the Australian talent that's out there.
Here's the FIFA look at "the Pim"...... http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/newsid=719790.html#verbeek+relishing+aussie+adventure
Thought he was pretty spot on with his tactics in the China game. Didn't give the Chinese a real chance on goal (partly their fault), kept it tight at the back and the players seem to be adapting more and more to his formations and desire to move the ball out from teh back rather than hoof it. Little surprised he didn't go for fresh legs in the last quarter of the game but maybe he didn't want to upset the balance he already had. We didn't attack much but we still had two very good chances to win the game but we didn't.........that's Bres and Carney fault though, not Pim's.
I wonder what Robbie Slater thinks of Pim now? I remember him being one of the main culprits critisizing his appointment.
Craig Foster also criticised his appointment...but thats probably expected given that hes negative about everything apart from Barcelona, Milan, Man Utd and Arsenal
There should have been more goals against Qatar and that China game should have been easily won. Pim should have use his A-league players because they have more training time leading up to the game rather than rely on european players coming only a few days before the game and being jet lagged. Absolute disgrace. -Robbie Slater. Is that what he will likely to say?
For me personally, while his results so far are good, the mini tournament we have in June will cement in my mind whether he's the real deal or not. If after those 4 games, we look like a great team, don't necessarily have to win all the games but qualify and look good doing so, I will have believe and faith that this man can successfully take us through games against Japan, Iran, Saudi etc