Ernie Merrick, gone?

[LostDoggy]

Plenty of different sources claiming that he is all but gone, Melbourne Victory staying silent.

Apparently they will be chasing Ange to replace him.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Ernie Merrick, gone?

Its a bit strange alright. The most sucessful a-league coach there is. Failure in the Asian Champions League is the key here.
His tactics/lineup in the first ACL game a week or so back were horrible, tells you he has no grasp of the game outside Australia.

[Missing Dog]

Re: Ernie Merrick, gone?

Press conference this afternoon

[Remi Moses]

Re: Ernie Merrick, gone?

Disgraceful decision! Knee jerk reaction to failure in the ACL, obviously
Someone tell me how Australian teams are meant to perform well against the best sides in Asia when they have star studded sides with no salary cap!
Adelaide got through playing an ultra defensive style a couple of years back but Aussie sides are playing with an arm tied behind our backs! The most successful coach in the league gets the chop

[Missing Dog]

Re: Ernie Merrick, gone?

It's official, he's gone.

I have never seen a coach of any sporting team be able to keep his emotions in check as well as Ernie. Whether they were winning or losing, he was as calm as anything.

I don't think he was ever respected enough by the fans. Set the club up well, had a good eye for recruits and did enough to win 2 Premierships and miss out on a 3rd on penalties.

[anfo27]

Re: Ernie Merrick, gone?

I have to say I like the decision as I have never been a Merrick fan as I've never really liked the style of soccer his teams have played. If whats been reported is true that the Victory are after Ang then that would be a great get IMO. I know he has had a few knockers in the past but his sides have always played an attractive brand of soccer.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Ernie Merrick, gone?

Disgraceful decision! Knee jerk reaction to failure in the ACL, obviously
Someone tell me how Australian teams are meant to perform well against the best sides in Asia when they have star studded sides with no salary cap!
Adelaide got through playing an ultra defensive style a couple of years back but Aussie sides are playing with an arm tied behind our backs! The most successful coach in the league gets the chop

Salary cap or not.
You don't play 3 strikers away from home in Japan when a draw is a great result. 1 is enough. You also don't add an old man in Muscat to an already slow defence and push his best central defender out wide. His starting midfield consisted of an attacking Angulo and the wide Pondeljak. He calls himself a professional coach? No wonder they lost 1-5. Excusable if its the first ACL campaign but this is the 3rd and he learnt nothing.

[chef]

Re: Ernie Merrick, gone?

Go get him Heart.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Ernie Merrick, gone?

Been coming for a while. We need some excitment in a league that is only just holding on. Ernie has done well but he was a stone in terms of emotion. His decision to extend the contract of Pondeljak and Celeski to a certain extent, along with the humiliation of the Gamba game were the final straws.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Ernie Merrick, gone?

Been coming for a while. We need some excitment in a league that is only just holding on. Ernie has done well but he was a stone in terms of emotion. His decision to extend the contract of Pondeljak and Celeski to a certain extent, along with the humiliation of the Gamba game were the final straws.

Pondeljak has been around a while and well in his 30s but Celeski mid /early 20s and coming off a bad knee injury.

[ledge]

Re: Ernie Merrick, gone?

Been coming for a while. We need some excitment in a league that is only just holding on. Ernie has done well but he was a stone in terms of emotion. His decision to extend the contract of Pondeljak and Celeski to a certain extent, along with the humiliation of the Gamba game were the final straws.

Wouldnt that be a board agreement as well?
Cant see players being given contracts without other people at the club being involved.

[The Coon Dog]

Re: Ernie Merrick, gone?

Roy Keane?

Link

[LostDoggy]

Re: Ernie Merrick, gone?

This is so funny, the rumor was actually started on a friends facebook & circulated through twitter.

Now the club is contacting him.

[Remi Moses]

Re: Ernie Merrick, gone?

Can't see it personally .
Might be a wage issue I'd imagine