Lawrie McKinna: Inaugural Manager.

Yeah, tactically I'm not sure he's the right fit. Last thing WS needs is long-ball garbage football.

I'd agree Mack ... quite honestly, the type of game I want to see from our boys is more akin to what Brisbane are about.

RT.

cant rely judge him as i dont know what he has done in china, or how his team has played.

he has a good record at establishing a new club.

if we do get him i wouldnt be disapointed.

i would still perfer milicic as head coach, and genc as assistant.

Bozza let it slip the other night at Mounties that he already had an individual pencilled in for an assistant coaching role.

One may suspect that Bozza has been brought by FFA as a consultant on the issue of coaching appointments and ultimately to fill the CEO's role.

In regard to the playing style of the team, I've recently completed the Senior Coaching Course and coaches at all levels are being instructed by FFA to develop the 1 - 4 - 3 - 3 style amongst their playing groups.

Lawrie McKinna is set to become the inaugural manager of the Western Sydney team according to a report from Fox Sports.

This is despite McKinna not being one of the dozen or more coaches named at the first West Sydney Fan Forum, and not mentioned by anyone from the FFA at the meeting itself.

Reactions are mixed. While many praise his ability to sell the game to local fans while setting up the culture of a club as he did at the start of his tenure at the Central Coast Mariners, others believe his style of play will not suit the region or the desires of the supporters to play attractive football.

It appears to be a foreboding start to the decision making process by the FFA, who repeatedly claimed that the supporters would play a part in these vital decisions. If McKinna is appointed it would go against the entire mood set by the first supporter forum which was for playing attractive football and for staff to be local.

Mark Jones (former assistant coach from Newcastle Jets) is set to be the assistant coach. Ken Schembri (former general manager at Blacktown City Demons) is the football manager and Lyall Gorman will be installed as CEO.

Click here to view the article

Good news, the guy is a genius, a brilliant football brain, a keen eye for youth, has plenty of industry contacts, etc.

Obviously some won't be happy, but this isn't Barcelona...

He has two major things going for him.1) Knows the area very well having played and managed here for a number of years 2) He has great experience in dealing with starting up a new club, and was very successful at it.

While #1 is a plus, if this happens I think it'll be #2 that'll be the main driving force behind the appointment.

I'll be fine with it if this is a done deal ... different clubs and players may well bring out a different mindset in the Coach ... the fans will certainly make it known what we want from the team in terms of style of play too.

At least it's not frank farina.

At least it's not frank farina.

*Shudder*

Lawrie himself just told me that he hasn't been offered the job.

Of course this could mean he's going to be offered the job tomorrow and will accept so for now who knows.

Something to definitely ask tomorrow night.

Poor choice. McKinna is boring.

All that Australian article says is that he's left China and is back to Australia and is in the running for the WS job. Looks to me like a case of them getting 2 and 2 and making 5.

All that Australian article says is that he's left China and is back to Australia and is in the running for the WS job. Looks to me like a case of them getting 2 and 2 and making 5.

You should read some of the English rags sports sections like the Daily Mail ... they take a frog and the number five and come up with massive transfer news.

Hypothetically if the report is true, whilst it goes against everyones idea of having an ex NSL player as coach (Okons, Milicic etc etc). The fact the guy knows how to reach the community is very crucial. It would not suprise me if he then turns into some form of technical director of somesort at a later date.

Either or..it could of been worst...they could of signed Miron Bleiberg

Bozza asked the attendees at Mounties whether they considered Paul Okon should be a possible candidate.

Paul Wade has just appeared on Sportsline (Sky News) and suggested that any muppet could be coaching the West Sydney A-League in year 1.

An interview with LM was aired and he indicated a willingness to play a role in the club.

Did he use the specific term "muppet"? I just hope we don't get Gonzo ...

Bring in Swedish chef, he'll get some Continental style short passing going.

Did he use the specific term "muppet"? I just hope we don't get Gonzo ...

Affirmative!

His fellow panelists (NRL & AFL) were flabbergastered.

Live TV, don't you just love it.

Did he use the specific term "muppet"? I just hope we don't get Gonzo ...

Affirmative! His fellow panelists (NRL & AFL) were flabbergastered. Live TV, don't you just love it.

Ah ok ... wow.

even if we have Guardiola or mourinho.. it's upto the players to follow instructions correctly, we'll need some players with hunger to win

Bring in Swedish chef, he'll get some Continental style short passing going.

He'd be a great defensive coach... chop chop chop

the McKinna rumour was squashed today at the forum

I feel like he might be involved somehow anyway.

Yeah some were saying in a football/technical director role.

I could totally live with that, not as coach though, from the cheer at the forum tonight, most people agree.

Yeah, Gorman specifically said "He will not be the coach of this club", meaning the door is open for a TD role or similar.

Nice to get some clarification on the the rumour though.

Erebus - asking the hard questions :coolio:

I feel like he might be involved somehow anyway.

An announcement on the Inaugural Manager of WSF is expected 2nd week in May.

Football Federation Australia (FFA) announced today the appointment of two former Socceroos as coaches of Australian Men’s Youth Teams leading up to major championships in 2012, 2013 and 2014.

Aurelio Vidmar has been appointed the Head Coach of the new Qantas Australian U-22 Men’s National Team leading up to the inaugural AFC U-22 Championships which has a qualifying tournament to be played in late June 2012 and finals to be held in January 2014.

This new event will be held every two years. The second edition in January 2016 will constitute the qualification tournament for the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil.

Vidmar will also continue in his role as the Assistant Coach of the Qantas Socceroos for the upcoming 2014 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.

Paul Okon has been appointed as the Head Coach of the Qantas Young Socceroos (Australian U-20 Men’). This team will compete in the AFC U-19 Championships in the UAE in November of this year, which will also serve as the qualifiers for the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup which will be held in Turkey in June/ July 2013.

Okon will also be Aurelio Vidmar’s Assistant Coach for the Qantas Australian U-22 Men’s National team, the same position he held for the recent Olympic Qualifiers. This appointment will ensure continuity in the elite player development pathway.

FFA’s National Technical Director, Han Berger, said that these two coaches have been developing throughout the coaching pathway and are coaches of the highest quality. Both are currently completing their Pro Licenses, and have now had considerable experience in our national teams.

“We have been intent on not only developing a growing pool of talented players, but also the pool of talented coaches. It’s very satisfying to see Paul and Aurelio taking responsibility for our national teams.â€

“The group of players who will be involved in the Qantas Young Socceroos are players born in 1993 or later.

“These players will graduate from the Qantas Young Socceroos of 2012 and 2013, to the Qantas Australian U-22’s of 2014 and 2015, and on to the 2016 Olympic Games. So there is a consistent pathway there for them.

“We will be selecting this Qantas Young Socceroos group to play in the AFC U-22 Qualification Tournament which will be held in Indonesia in June /July of this year.

“Even though they will be 2 years below the Under 22 age group at that time, we think this group of players will be competitive, and the experience will be invaluable for the AFC U-19 Championships which they will compete in in November. Being a qualification tournament for the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup, this is a major priority for us.

This sequence of events gives us the opportunity to develop this group of players from June 2012 through until the Olympic Games of 2016 and beyond. They are a talented group and it is an exceptional opportunity to develop this generation,†concluded Berger.