Mind games in football can often be a minefield. And like defusing hidden explosives, unless you’re a highly-trained expert, you’re probably better placed steering clear of the practice.
Sir Alex Ferguson was famed as a skilled practitioner. But far more memorable than the marginal advantages his side may have gained through digs at referees, stop-watch keepers or opposing managers were the remarkable self-immolations from opponents who attempted, and failed, to match the master.
Kevin Keegan’s outburst has gone into folklore, as has Rafa Benitez’s bizarre “shopping list” press conference. But the common thread behind these perceived failures? Poor results on the pitch.
If you can walk the walk, you can talk the talk. But don’t forget United fans were originally forthright in their condemnation of the outspoken Scot, who won few over with his perceived constant moaning during his first three years in the job.
And whereas José Mourinho may have temporarily fancied himself a mind games master during his ongoing ill-tempered countretemps with rival Arsène Wenger, as results desert the “special one” so too did his reputation with wit and barb.
Looking at the spite-fest that was Saturday night’s Melbourne City v Brisbane Roar encounter it’s hard not to conclude that nobody came out of this looking good. Both coaches went at it, pre-game, mid-game, and even post-game. And rather than departing with enhanced reputations, both emerged looking distinctly more petty.
After the rightly-condemned debacle that was Neil Kilkenny’s play-acting against Adelaide, the league now has a new low-water mark, in the form of Jade North’s 53rd minute coming-together with Bruno Fornaroli.
John Aloisi defended his player post-match, but conceded the veteran centre-half may have overdone it. “He obviously got hit but was it hard enough to go down? I don’t think so,” said Aloisi. “I don’t think Jado was trying to get anyone sent off. Jado’s not that type of person.”
For somebody who railed midweek against instances of simulation by players at the club that sacked him, it’s a strikingly weak condemnation.
Those that have watched North’s career closely would suggest that Aloisi’s assessment of his character is accurate – across a career forged in the NSL and A-League the experienced Socceroo has never really been “that type of person”.
So why the sudden departure from character?
As the adage goes the fish rots from the head; when Michael Theo (who at times can be “that type of person”) clashes with Fornaroli in the tunnel at half-time, when Luke DeVere comes together in front of the City bench with the Uruguayan, and then North attempts simulation against the City skipper, it begins to suggest an orchestrated, or at least pre-discussed, tactic to get at the brilliant but combustible forward.
That’s a tone set by the head coach – who don’t forget sought to direct the referee’s attention pre-game to what he perceived as Fornaroli’s history of “diving”.
A player who absolutely was “that type of person” was Ross Aloisi – and he deserves censure if indeed as Van ‘t Schip alleges the Roar assistant during one particular sideline fracas needlessly threw a ball at City’s full-back Josh Rose.
As a head coach the elder Aloisi’s brand of aggression brought improvement to Adelaide’s struggling W-League side. As an assistant coach at the 2015 Women’s World Cup however some within the playing group considered Aloisi’s rugged style damaging to group harmony. Have the brothers Aloisi got the balance of aggression right?
Whether Dean Bouzanis’s ridiculously over-the-top and provocative goal celebration was directed at Ross or John Aloisi, or whether unnamed players on the City bench’s motions to quieten down were for Ross, John or both – only those involved will truly know.
But when you dish it out, you have to be able to take it too. And hence John’s post-game comments regarding Bouzanis’s action – arguably fair or sensible in any other context – come across a tad precious.
“It was a bit poor [by Bouzanis] to run all that way to have a go at me,” said Aloisi. “If my players sledged the opposition coach, I’d be disappointed. It’s a lack of respect. I would never allow my players to abuse the other coach, especially when the coach hasn’t abused them.”
Close up footage of a head coach angrily pointing the finger and mouthing what we can only presume was “vamos” at an opposition bench doesn’t sit comfortably with such high-minded musings on the essence of “respect”. But nor were City’s backroom staff angels throughout the evening.
The sad fact behind all of this is that four rounds ago City went to Brisbane and were tactically outclassed by the brothers Aloisi.
For all the midweek mouthing off, the attempts to influence referee or opponent, during the 1-1 draw the Roar backroom staff failed to walk the walk.
If Jade North had focused on defending instead of gamesmanship, City may not have scored their equaliser. If John Aloisi hadn’t re-lit a long-smouldering personal animosity from the Melbourne Heart days, could Roar have caught a City side that was flat, playing just 72 hours after their emotional and taxing FFA Cup final?
Of course all this is great entertainment for broadcasters and headline writers, and perhaps too for fans. But if amid all the aggro a Fornaroli or a Thomas Broich was seriously injured then the league as a whole would be substantially poorer.
For Johns Aloisi and Van ‘t Schip neither emerge with an enhanced reputation. The public airing of private grievances is a path beset with endless pitfalls. Perhaps it’s best for all concerned to holster their guns.
