Refuting the media
In a recent AFP news, there were many points raised that I like to refute.
The article mentions:
When Gabriel Calderon was axed soon after guiding the Saudis to their fourth consecutive World Cup finals, he became the 15th manager to find himself axed in the past 12 years.
My respone:
I like to take your attention that he was sacked for two reasons: first, he let down the team during the West Asian Games, where Saudi Arabia lost to Iraq 5-1. I mean losing 2-1 is ok but 5-1 needs further looking into. Second, he lacked experience in coaching as before he came into coaching Saudi Arabia he had a failed coaching with a club in Switzerland. Don’t any team in the world want a better coach and most experienced coach. Look what Paqueta has done with the tean – so many friendly games.
It adds;
While Calderon’s successor, Marcos Paqueta, might be safe, just, until the World Cup, the chances of him being given the bullet before the tournament is out are strong if recent history is anything to go by.
My response;
Marcus Paueta has been working closely with various people – president of the Saudi Football Federation, Nasser Al Johar and assistant coaches. Everyone respects Paqueta in Saudi Arabia and really believes that he can make the change to the image of Saudi Arabia.
Also, Saudi Arabia wants to give a good image. So if the team doesn’t win, but performs well, then the coach is not getting fired at all. I mean Nasser Al Johar turned around the team in 2002 against Cameroon, but he didn’t get fired during the World Cup.
It also says;
That al-Johar retained his post, though, probably had something to do with the fact that the Saudis had no-one else left to turn to.
My response:
If you are a manager, you should know that a person who commits a mistake is worth retaining as he will not commit that mistake again!
Nasser Al Johar is a coach with experience and what he learned in Japan/South Korea 2002 is worth gold to the national team.
There are other coaches in Saudi Arabia – lots of them!
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Comments


I’m sorry but the truth is, Saudi did much much much better with Calderon. Beating Korea twice is pretty good, but having bad results in all these friendlies just means the improvement is gone with Paqueta now in charge. How is there going to be a balance in the team when constantly changing coaches? I dont understand how people dont see that.. you need balance for a long term with a coach THEENN decide after a while if hes not worth keeping.. i hope Saudi shows the world the skills they have..
Posted from
Canada




I have to agree, the team seemed more balanced and motivated under Calderon. Despite his lack of experience, he didn’t really under perform to be sacked IMO. As for the West Asian Games, the squad was made-up of mostly second stringers as most of the starters didn’t participate.
Posted from
Saudi Arabia




I agree with saudi fan I understood that Calderon was experimenting with a second string side in the West Asian games- mainly to see who else he could use in the squad at the World Cup. A ‘plan B’ so to speak. (England recently lost to bleeding BELARUS recently in a similar situation)
But then again, Leo Beenhakker was fired on the eve of USA ‘94 (something about disharmony in the team?) and also I think Carlos Alberto Perreira was fired during 98 (or maybe Nasser al-Johar in 02) but the pundits here were making a big deal that it was the first manager to lose his job during the world cup finals. Someone correct me if I’m wrong.
I do have faith in Paqueta though…
Posted from
United Kingdom


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