Vidmar's brinkmanship?
AFTER all the riveting drama of the past few days, thought it was great to see the subject front up for a couple of interviews on SBS's Extra Time and Fox's Fox Sports FC this evening.
Not dismissing the notion that his outburst may have been pre-conceived, essentially Vidmar said things have been cleared up and that the major issue appeared to be the lack of clarity from the senior club management (ie. the owners) about the strategy for the club.
Likely this applied to the lack of explanation for some of the decisions around players contracts over the past few months, when a succession of senior and key players had either been let go, or where rumoured to be leaving.
Reading between the lines, it appears these decisions have been made at a level well above Vidmar and that those below him (the players) have obviously been scratching their heads trying to gain an understanding on why such decisions have been made. Seemingly, there has been a lack of explanation, or, at least, mixed messages, causing angst.
Vidmar, it appears, has been left in an unenviable position of having to serve his masters (ie. toe the party line) and still try to get the best out of those disgruntled by these decisions. All the while, he is no doubt feeling whatever control he exercised slipping away, and quickly.
Of course, in any organisation, this lack of clarity from above causes discontent, and Vidmar now claims this has been smoothed over through honest and open communication. Interestingly, after Monday's two-hour "crisis meeting", the word was that the owners did most of the talking, with Vidmar adding his bit at the end.
Evidently the playing group wanted to hear from management, and, having done so, they might just be satisfied enough to offer a response on the weekend.
Perhaps this was Vidmar's objective all along. As the two Mike's, Cockerill and Lynch, noted on The Club, perhaps there was no better time for Vidmar to push the button, whatever the outcome; the season seemingly gone, two weeks after being named coach of the year, a few days after being given the keys to the city, with clubs in Asia sounding-out his services.
If Saturday night was in any way calculated, it may yet prove to be a very clever piece of brinkmanship, one that might just save the Reds' season.
Not dismissing the notion that his outburst may have been pre-conceived, essentially Vidmar said things have been cleared up and that the major issue appeared to be the lack of clarity from the senior club management (ie. the owners) about the strategy for the club.
Likely this applied to the lack of explanation for some of the decisions around players contracts over the past few months, when a succession of senior and key players had either been let go, or where rumoured to be leaving.
Reading between the lines, it appears these decisions have been made at a level well above Vidmar and that those below him (the players) have obviously been scratching their heads trying to gain an understanding on why such decisions have been made. Seemingly, there has been a lack of explanation, or, at least, mixed messages, causing angst.
Vidmar, it appears, has been left in an unenviable position of having to serve his masters (ie. toe the party line) and still try to get the best out of those disgruntled by these decisions. All the while, he is no doubt feeling whatever control he exercised slipping away, and quickly.
Of course, in any organisation, this lack of clarity from above causes discontent, and Vidmar now claims this has been smoothed over through honest and open communication. Interestingly, after Monday's two-hour "crisis meeting", the word was that the owners did most of the talking, with Vidmar adding his bit at the end.
Evidently the playing group wanted to hear from management, and, having done so, they might just be satisfied enough to offer a response on the weekend.
Perhaps this was Vidmar's objective all along. As the two Mike's, Cockerill and Lynch, noted on The Club, perhaps there was no better time for Vidmar to push the button, whatever the outcome; the season seemingly gone, two weeks after being named coach of the year, a few days after being given the keys to the city, with clubs in Asia sounding-out his services.
If Saturday night was in any way calculated, it may yet prove to be a very clever piece of brinkmanship, one that might just save the Reds' season.
posted by The Round Ball Analyst at 17.2.09
13 Comments:
Or cop them a big fine from the FFA and turn many people off the A-League.
Vidmar had an offer from an Japanese club he should have taken it.
Adelaide United are behaving like the A-League is about them. They are looking like a ruthless team that has little interest in the development of the sport in Australia. Very sad.
It a team can't lose 0-4 to a better team and take it, then it is very very sad.
Great read - thanks Tony
BC
Have always enjoyed your blogs - and glad you are back regularly online too.
Now, as for the Vidmar issue.... on the one hand good on him. it was a lot less hot headed than a Joe Kinnear or Kevin Keegan or Domenech session but still made for good news stories. Made more sense than Cantonas seagulls too.
i think that the bigger story is not his rant but the implosion of a club - selling it's players, losing the plot - for a second time in 4 years and despite all the success (or is it because of it?) and plaudits.
Vidmar has done such a good job there and the team was going so well. to see it all unravel off and then on the pitch wld drive any coach to distraction.
My take on the matter is this, with the global financial crisis and other factors. The adelaide management are making decisions to safeguard the club. They will probably make a profit from the last season but next season looks to be skinny (no ACL reduced crowd numbers/membership).
The problem is that Vidmar needs to be in on those decisions or at least informed of where the club is headed and why.
If management communicated things better then they could all be pulling in the same direction.
Adelaide to win this week then loose to Melbourne at the GF.
John - 'turn many people off the A-League'? I doubt it, this week has been great publicity-wise! I'm also a bit concerned that you think Adelaide lacks humility. Vidmar specifically blamed political problems at his own club (unlike, say, Farina recently when claiming the FFA had it in for Danny Tiatto).
Am not an adelaide supporter but really got behind them in the ACl and also enjoyed their games, and particularly their tactical nous compared to say... my team the CCM.
So it's a shame this is all coming about, however in saying that any publicity s good and spicy and hopefully things are sorted out and they challenge again and AV's star continues to rise.
Speaking of clarity, one of the best blogs I've read, on this matter and any. It makes much more sense now.
thanks all for your comments, some thought provoking stuff...
....i think that the bigger story is not his rant but the implosion of a club - selling it's players, losing the plot - for a second time in 4 years and despite all the success (or is it because of it?) and plaudits.
Vidmar has done such a good job there and the team was going so well. to see it all unravel off and then on the pitch wld drive any coach to distraction....
spot on.
....The problem is that Vidmar needs to be in on those decisions or at least informed of where the club is headed and why.
If management communicated things better then they could all be pulling in the same direction....
Spot on carlo, it's like any organisation, the 'end-game' needs to be communicated for everyone to be on the same page..
there's every chance vidmar knew bits and pieces, maybe the whole picture, but the question must be whether he was ever allowed to communicate that with the players.
....and AV's star continues to rise...
who knows, if he manages to negotiate the next couple of weeks successfully, his stocks will undoubtedly rise.
doesnt help viddie looks like gareth southgate.
Unfortunately - according to today's news - Adelaide is for sale. That explains managements actions - ie letting players go - and Vidmar's reaction.
yeh john, bianco used the monday's crisis meeting to put the 'for sale' sign up, but he did emphasise 'for the right price'...maybe vidmar dropped him a hint.
Vidmar's comments were brilliant in that they exposed the backroom dealings of the club and forced Adelaide to deal with the issues immediately.
Aurelio is nothing short of a genius in what he achieved by the outburst, intentionally or not.
The obvious question is why is Adelaide up for sale and why now. All of Vidmar's problems stem from an owner planning to sell. Given that, all that the team bonding has done is gee everyone up for tomorrow night's game. A win makes Adelaide worth substantially more to a buyer than a loss.
It is interesting that Nike are reported to have put up $A300m to 'save' the Chinese super league. Plus we are hearing the about conditions in the EPL particularly West Ham.
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