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Post by Blues on Nov 12, 2004 6:52:36 GMT 10
FORMER Rangers coach Walter Smith has emerged as the target of Sydney FC.
Smith, who guided Rangers to six straight Scottish league crowns from 1992, is being sought as the A-League club's technical director to work with a Sydney-based coach, most likely Englishman Ian Crook.
But Smith, 56, will only consider the job if he is overlooked for the vacant job as Scotland coach after the departure of German flop Berti Vogts.
Smith was most recently Alex Ferguson's sidekick at Manchester United and spent four years in charge of Everton, where his biggest feat was keeping them in the league.
He is the favourite for the Scotland job ahead of former Coventry City and Southampton boss Gordon Strachan and caretaker coach Tommy Burns.
If the Scottish FA overlooks him, Smith will listen to the overtures of Lou Sticca, the agent handed the role of talent spotter by Sydney chairman Walter Bugno.
"Smith is somebody everybody would love to get their hands on," Sticca said. "I spoke to him two weeks ago and it goes without saying he has a tremendous pedigree.
"I would imagine if the A-League is packaged in the right way it will attract several high-profile people.
"It's a short season here [only 21 regular-season rounds] and that might appeal to a man like Walter, not to mention the Sydney lifestyle. But it's well known he's been linked to the Scotland job."
Sydney part-owner Peter Turnbull refused to confirm Smith had been approached.
"There have been some discussions with various people. We're only interested in the best for the role as technical director," Turnbull said. "We want a man with connections in Europe to help us attract emerging players."
Any thoughts??
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Post by bay23=bobstand in disguise on Nov 12, 2004 7:52:21 GMT 10
If they can pull this off, it will be the biggest coup for the a-league thus far, even more so than the veneables contract with newcastle. This guy knows what he is doing. A solid track record. A big name.
James
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Post by CONVERSE on Nov 12, 2004 10:48:35 GMT 10
very interesting.
though, i dont understand why crook is even being considered. i heard rumour from soccerNSW that they were really impressed with Ian crook as he just finished his national coachiong lisence, and aced it. but god, please no crook. bring it someone like theo, who will play eye catching football!
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Post by marinermick on Nov 12, 2004 10:58:21 GMT 10
very interesting. though, i dont understand why crook is even being considered. i heard rumour from soccerNSW that they were really impressed with Ian crook as he just finished his national coachiong lisence, and aced it. but god, please no crook. bring it someone like theo, who will play eye catching football! Ian Crook is an awesome coach. He did wonders at Newcastle until the final year where all his best players were sold and other talent sustained long term injuries. He is one of four living legends at Norwich and comes from an excellent football pedigree - much more than Branko or Nick. You guys will be very lucky if you snare Crooky. |
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Post by SFC on Nov 12, 2004 13:04:32 GMT 10
I think Crook Would be good.....I hope we get smith also...I think its important to have an aussie coach (local knowledge) and a foreigner as technical advisor (contacts, experience, different styles)....This is the system that NUJFC will employ, i.e. foreign tech. advisor and local coach.
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Post by MattO on Nov 12, 2004 13:24:12 GMT 10
errr excuse my ignorance but what the heck is a technical director ??
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Post by ronaldinho21 on Nov 14, 2004 18:04:31 GMT 10
errr excuse my ignorance but what the heck is a technical director ?? Yeah, I was wondering that too? I figure that would be like the 'manager' in europe. Because most European clubs have a manager who run the team selection etc. with a number of coaches who actually conduct training sessions. Anyone care to confirm? |
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Post by Robbie on Nov 14, 2004 19:31:36 GMT 10
errr excuse my ignorance but what the heck is a technical director ?? My understanding is that the technical director overviews and advises what direction the club should be taknig mainly on the field but also off the field. Personally, a technical director for Sydney FC ? I don't know, the guys on Footall Fever say what's the point of a technical director for 20 players. Which is a valid point. It's not like we are a major european team. |
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Post by Macca on Nov 14, 2004 20:57:50 GMT 10
If they can pull this off, it will be the biggest coup for the a-league thus far, even more so than the veneables contract with newcastle. James How is Walter Smith bigger than Terry Venebles? Ex-England and Australia coach, as opposed to Rangers, FFS?? A team that, at the time had NO opposition, as compared to the usual SPL situation of having one (1) opposition of any note. I know who I'd rather have. |
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Post by silver10 on Nov 14, 2004 21:44:54 GMT 10
C'mon, ol' Wally Smith did a pretty good job at Everton  |
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Post by Aleko on Nov 14, 2004 22:04:29 GMT 10
I would be disappointed with either of them. Venables has a proven track record of failure, with his only real success coming in a couple of Cup runs over the years. He did some poor things in our world cup campaign, and then his time with leeds recently didnt exactly set the world on fire.
As for smith - hasnt coached at the top level for a while as far as i can remember, and had a pretty poor run with everton before he left the latest time.
No we need someone better
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Tommo
FULL MEMBER
Posts: 116
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Post by Tommo on Nov 14, 2004 22:22:23 GMT 10
Seriously, while I wouldn't mind seeing Walter Smith or Gerrard Houllier or Terry Venables or any other celebrity coach you can care to name running Sydney FC-don't you think it might be a little bit wiser to invest the extra money such a manager would cost into what the crowds will really come to see-THE PLAYERS. Seriously, although El Tel is quite well known among the Australian sporting public, the question begs; are they really going to come out to the A-League to see him standing on the sidelines shouting? I think not.
Personally i'd be much happier if they gave us someone like Nick Theodorakopoulis (apologies for the spelling), who is perfectly capable of running a squad of 20 players at A-League level if it meant we could buy better players with the money we saved.
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Post by swich on Nov 14, 2004 22:55:45 GMT 10
I agree. Surely on the strength of Parra last year, all a coach like Nick T. needs to knock out a well-performing club is decent players and a bit of freedom? We need to keep things in proportion. Culina and Nick. T are proven to be talented coaches who know the Australian landscape and know how to get local players to perform well. Why do we need to spend lots of money on a foreign coach who has his fare share of failures and will take time to find his feet in Australia? Does anyone seriously believe that just because Newcastle have Terry Vegetables that we can't beat them if we have a decent Aussie coach?
Nick. T gets my vote. And it may be corny, but it's because of what he said after the grand final last year. He was obviously sad to see Parra fold and said he hoped the new Sydney club used the nucleus of their squad to form the new one. I think he'd be passionate about the job and would do it as well as any foreign coach without costing as much money.
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[dM]
JUNIOR MEMBER
Posts: 55
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Post by [dM] on Nov 15, 2004 17:03:54 GMT 10
Theo for me too...... parra were really great to watch last year.... very exciting football, and i wanna see that at sydney  |
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