Griffiths slams negative Pim

[the_gun]

Spurned fringe Australia striker Joel Griffiths has labelled former Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek a negative influence on Australian football and is delighted the Dutchman is no longer calling the shots.

The Beijing Guoan hitman, who missed the cut for the FIFA World Cup, believes Australia is well rid of Verbeek, whom he blames for instilling a mindset of caution which ultimately proved the undoing of the Socceroos who bowed out of the tournament at the group stage with four points from clashes against Germany, Ghana and Serbia.

Griffiths is hoping the national team rediscovers its freedom of expression after what he describes as the negativity of the Verbeek era.

"Australia are not a team to sit back. We're a team that plays its best football when it can relax and go forward and have a go at teams," Griffiths told The World Game.

"If we'd had different tactics and a different formation in the 4-0 thumping of Germany in our first match at the World Cup I think the score would have been very different and our goal difference wouldn't have been wrecked, which ultimately proved our downfall.

"Australian teams love to have a go. It's what we are all about. Sometimes it won't be good enough but for instance against Germany if we'd played that way we'd at least scored a couple of goals.

"And probably Tim Cahill wouldn't have been sent off because he was frustrated at seeing so little of the ball. Against Germany we played with no recognised striker, which is something I've never seen in my life. It was strange to see Harry Kewell and Josh Kennedy left in the bench, it was frightening.

"We all knew that Pim would be defensive. It was that way throughout his rein. We always played with two defensive midfielders, no matter who the opposition. Australia never played with flair under him and I just hope whoever takes over changes things around a bit and lets the team express themselves and go forward.’’

Thirty-year-old Griffiths, who is hoping to force his way into contention for January's Asian Cup finals in Qatar, believes Verbeek's legacy to Australian football is also deeply flawed on another level - his attitude towards the A-League.

"To say that training in the Bundesliga was better than playing the A-League is an insult to the game in Australia and I can't believe I was the only one who called him out on it," he added.

"He should have supported the game in Australia, not put it down. A lot of the players tip-toed around the subject, saying things like 'we need Pim, I wish he stayed on'.

"We don't need anybody who makes comments like that about Australian football. That's bullshit.

"It made the other codes laugh at us and I can't believe the FFA let it go. After he made those comments about the A-League, the competition seems to have gone backwards.

"I'm not saying it was simply down to him. But those sorts of remarks do affect the way sponsors perceive the game and it gives the other codes a lift. All the dirty laundry about his time in charge is coming out now. If he had his time again I like to think he'd do things differently but it seems he liked to pass the buck a bit.

"I just hope that whoever takes over from Pim has a great belief in Australian football and a passion for it. And not that the national team but also for the A-League."

The Chinese Super League season clicks back into gear on 7 July after the World Cup break, with Griffiths hoping for a rebirth with the national team, adding: "I don't think Pim liked me for some of the things I said about him. I am now going to try and do well for my club again and see what happens from there.

"If I score a few goals then I might get noticed by the new Socceroos coach."

[DOC]

LOL at fringe striker, one cap joel haha, stopped ready after that, i knew what was coming, wing winge i should be in the team slag off the coach, done yourself no favours mate for the asian cup

[seanason]

LOL at fringe striker, one cap joel haha, stopped ready after that, i knew what was coming, wing winge i should be in the team slag off the coach, done yourself no favours mate for the asian cup

[Con]

Onya, Joel. You would have shown as much dash as Jesus Christ Kennedy and better control on the ground. And more speed. And hunger.

The departed Verbeek chose 2 players and a crock for the squad's forward line.

Also Joel, I'll help your memory about Verbeek playing a formation without a single forward - he did that away in China when he deployed a 4-6-0 formation.

And you're right about Cahill frustrated as being the sole forward v. Germany. It didn't work v. Japan in Tokyo when Tim was up there by himself against the two Japanese centre-backs. It didn't work for Everton when Tim was deployed like that, and Moyes then abandoned it. Verbeek didn't learn from those mistakes.

[DOC]

Onya, Joel. You would have shown as much dash as Jesus Christ Kennedy and better control on the ground. And more speed. And hunger.

The departed Verbeek chose 2 players and a crock for the squad's forward line.

Also Joel, I'll help your memory about Verbeek playing a formation without a single forward - he did that away in China when he deployed a 4-6-0 formation.

And you're right about Cahill frustrated as being the sole forward v. Germany. It didn't work v. Japan in Tokyo when Tim was up there by himself against the two Japanese centre-backs. It didn't work for Everton when Tim was deployed like that, and Moyes then abandoned it. Verbeek didn't learn from those mistakes.

haha it did work for everton, he and afro scored a few goals when they played up front...

[Delete Your Account]

Onya, Joel. You would have shown as much dash as Jesus Christ Kennedy and better control on the ground. And more speed. And hunger.

The departed Verbeek chose 2 players and a crock for the squad's forward line.

Also Joel, I'll help your memory about Verbeek playing a formation without a single forward - he did that away in China when he deployed a 4-6-0 formation.

And you're right about Cahill frustrated as being the sole forward v. Germany. It didn't work v. Japan in Tokyo when Tim was up there by himself against the two Japanese centre-backs. It didn't work for Everton when Tim was deployed like that, and Moyes then abandoned it. Verbeek didn't learn from those mistakes.

haha it did work for everton, he and afro scored a few goals when they played up front...

So having afro next to him is playing a sole forward?

[TOPGUNJIMMYAUFC]

me got feeling vidi will be our next coach, not foriegn....omg.. hope he does well if so be true....

[DOC]

Onya, Joel. You would have shown as much dash as Jesus Christ Kennedy and better control on the ground. And more speed. And hunger.

The departed Verbeek chose 2 players and a crock for the squad's forward line.

Also Joel, I'll help your memory about Verbeek playing a formation without a single forward - he did that away in China when he deployed a 4-6-0 formation.

And you're right about Cahill frustrated as being the sole forward v. Germany. It didn't work v. Japan in Tokyo when Tim was up there by himself against the two Japanese centre-backs. It didn't work for Everton when Tim was deployed like that, and Moyes then abandoned it. Verbeek didn't learn from those mistakes.

haha it did work for everton, he and afro scored a few goals when they played up front...

So having afro next to him is playing a sole forward?

no fellaini was the midfeild player coming through, but cahill up front at evertonworked out well, they stopped it because they got their normal forwards back

[seanason]

How dare you ruin this forum with fact, intellect and logic without attacking a person's character. How Dare You.

[Hinderz]

Im no fan of Joel Griffiths but in retrospect I would have preferred Griffiths at the world cup, rather then Nikita Rukaystva just for his finishing

[Steelinho]

Im no fan of Joel Griffiths but in retrospect I would have preferred Griffiths at the world cup, rather then Nikita Rukaystva just for his finishing

Pro tip: If you want to score, you have to be able to get the ball somewhere near the goal.

Rukavystya can make that happen, Joel can't. Nikita was always a better choice. Joel is just sore that he didn't get selected.

[LUFC]

Joel > Rukavystya by miles.

[Outlaw 2.0]

Sorry to Break your heart DOC but Cahill never played the loan role up front for Everton the particular period was when Saha, Vaughn and Anichebe were out injured and against the Football board's recomendations Fellaini, Bilyaletdinov and Pienaar were rotated in the front role while Cahill held his attacking midfield spot.

[DOC]

Sorry to Break your heart DOC but Cahill never played the loan role up front for Everton the particular period was when Saha, Vaughn and Anichebe were out injured and against the Football board's recomendations Fellaini, Bilyaletdinov and Pienaar were rotated in the front role while Cahill held his attacking midfield spot.

i stand by what i said, i saw him play one up fromt for the toffees

[Steelinho]

Sorry to Break your heart DOC but Cahill never played the loan role up front for Everton the particular period was when Saha, Vaughn and Anichebe were out injured and against the Football board's recomendations Fellaini, Bilyaletdinov and Pienaar were rotated in the front role while Cahill held his attacking midfield spot.

i stand by what i said, i saw him play one up fromt for the toffees

It's true, he did.

[Mato]

more then one, 2008/9 season id say there was an entire month span he did it for everton

[Con]

The role up front on his lonesome in which "TV adverts Cahill" failed @ Everton and @ Tokyo...

[Steelinho]

The role up front on his lonesome in which "TV adverts Cahill" failed @ Everton and @ Tokyo...

Never played at Kokuritsu or Ajinomoto. I assume you mean Yokohama.



Joel would have been a terrible selection choice. He would bring a seriously bad vibe to the squad, and he's selfishly arrogant. He can go on all he likes about how he should have been selected, but his own opinion doesn't mean much in perspective.
Mers could even say he should have been selected over Schwarzer for that game. Doesn't mean he's right.

[Outlaw 2.0]

The role up front on his lonesome in which "TV adverts Cahill" failed @ Everton and @ Tokyo...

Never played at Kokuritsu or Ajinomoto. I assume you mean Yokohama.



Joel would have been a terrible selection choice. He would bring a seriously bad vibe to the squad, and he's selfishly arrogant. He can go on all he likes about how he should have been selected, but his own opinion doesn't mean much in perspective.
Mers could even say he should have been selected over Schwarzer for that game. Doesn't mean he's right.

Doesn't mean he is wrong either

[Steelinho]

The role up front on his lonesome in which "TV adverts Cahill" failed @ Everton and @ Tokyo...

Never played at Kokuritsu or Ajinomoto. I assume you mean Yokohama.



Joel would have been a terrible selection choice. He would bring a seriously bad vibe to the squad, and he's selfishly arrogant. He can go on all he likes about how he should have been selected, but his own opinion doesn't mean much in perspective.
Mers could even say he should have been selected over Schwarzer for that game. Doesn't mean he's right.

Doesn't mean he is wrong either

Mers could save any shot that was taken in any game of the World Cup. Ever.

[Outlaw 2.0]

Mers could save any shot that was taken in any game of the World Cup. Ever.

Next time I see him I shall let him know you hold him in high regard and that coles is better than woolies

[Echo & The Bunnymen]

Mers could save any shot that was taken in any game of the World Cup. Ever.

Next time I see him I shall let him know you hold him in high regard and that coles is better than woolies

And Baker's Delight is the bomb.

[Steelinho]

Mers could save any shot that was taken in any game of the World Cup. Ever.

Next time I see him I shall let him know you hold him in high regard and that coles is better than woolies

I guess that's better than me having to buy him the scotch I've owed him for almost a year.