Effecting Change at NZF

I have the exact same reservation but he is doing a fantastic job with AFF and to be fair, the last lot have not exactly being shining lights (Glading was ok) He could not do any worse than McKavangh....

They've got a decent coach for starters. He knows his formation and style of play, it's drilled into the players and they stick with it.
In comparison, the Men's team have Ricki who is one month away from a world cup playoff and doesn't even know what formation he's going to play.

The Women's team play more frequently than the men's (not sure of the exact numbers). Regular tournaments together and matches gel the team and perfect the tactics.
In comparison, the men have played like 4 or 5 internationals this year in which the formation and players were experimental.

Series of articles in NZ Herald this week - one every day - on state of football in NZ:

(1) Soccer's state of play: Critical days for sport's maturity

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/soccer-football/news/article.cfm?c_id=86&objectid=11155311

"Five years ago, Sport New Zealand decided it could not be all things to all sports. It targeted a group of sports to ensure they were on the right path to give youth the opportunity to succeed. Put more formally, the aim was to drive behavioural approaches around delivery pathways to provide the best way for talented young people to reach the top.

Netball, rugby, league, hockey and cricket were identified, discussions held, plans laid out, and the outcomes have impressed the Government funding agency. The result may surprise those who take a dim view of NZF's management of the game.

"The others are catching up, but football [soccer] is a leader in the approach of adaptation of their game," Geoff Barry, general manager of sport and recreation for SNZ, said.

"They were all suffering declining numbers in certain segments of ages. Football very much led the pack, but the others, because they've got good intellectual property and grunt in their organisations, are catching up very quickly.

"But without doubt [NZF] had, and still have, leaders in adapting opportunities for kids to learn and play football."

This is not about the All Whites or the ASB Premiership. That's for the next couple of days. It's also not Barry's specific focus area. But within the zone he oversees, he likes what he's seen from NZF..."

(2) SOCCER'S STATE OF PLAY: PROFESSIONAL PATHWAYS - THREE WAYS TO GO

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/soccer-football/news/article.cfm?c_id=86&objectid=11155312

(3) SOCCER'S STATE OF PLAY: ONE TRACK MIND HELPS YOUNG STAR

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/soccer-football/news/article.cfm?c_id=86&objectid=11155313

The series

Tomorrow
We take an in-depth look at the ASB Premiership which kicked off its 10th year last weekend. Is it meeting its initial objectives? We canvas opinions from those in the know. Plus a look at the women's game through the eyes of a current Football Fern.

Thursday
Over the next week New Zealand Football could pocket the biggest windfall in its history. But what has it done with the $10 million nest egg it got in 2009 for qualifying for the last World Cup?

And what, we live qualifying period to qualifying period banking on TV deals? False economy.

Oh it was not a crack at you at all.

 

I get that a lot of sports rely on TV funding and usually that is perpetual (like Sky and NZRFU). Without the TV deal with Mexico, we would be poked i.e. its not perpetual for football.

Do all the people raging about needing change at NZF in the Mexico match thread actually understand that:

a) Ricki Herbert is quitting. There will definitely be a new All Whites coach.

b) There is due to be an announcement about a new CE any day now.

That's quite a bit of change already. How much more do we want? Go after the Board?

I know the Board have made some unpopular decisions recently but I'm not convinced their performance is as bad as some make out, especially when you look across the whole game. The women's game is going gangbusters, the whole of football plan is doing a lot of good at the grassroots, ASB Prem not so much, but the overall finances are OK (yes, they got lucky with the Mexico TV deal but they all count right?). So unless you're a sexist and elitist (who believes the senior national teams are all that matters) then the current Board is probably doing an OK job. Maybe needs to do better, and some specific decisions are debatable, but calling for people to be sacked seems extreme to me.

Frank van Hattum also seems to be in the firing line for the specific reason that he is too focused on climbing the FIFA ladder. Another couple of points:

1) It could be argued that this is actually a good thing and NZ needs to represented at the highest possible levels within FIFA.

2) Van Hattum is an elected member of the Board. He will be gone in 2015 unless he gets voted back on (or gets appointed, I'll come back to that at a later date). If people really want him gone then it can easily be done and that's what a lot of this thread has been about. NZF members (us) and our representatives on Federation Boards need to actually give a shit about the process though, and also put forward candidates who will do a better job.

Read RHs interview ...fine mix of arrogance and ignorance...." if theres someone better "...FFS....

From the 2012 NZF accounts

Total budget about $9m.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure he was just being overly emotional in that interview and his comments were more to do with bitter feelings about the persistent rumours around the 2010 World Cup, rather than any real intention to stay on. To be honest that interview kind of illustrates why he should move on. His emotional detachment has always been one of his strengths, but he seems to be losing it. I like Ricki enough, and respect what he's done enough, to not want to see him became a bitter old man who's a candidate for a heart attack.

He probably shouldn't have given that interview in the heat of the moment, that's for sure.

Anything's possible though I suppose.

Possibly under 'Grants'