Dutchy Comes Home Empty-handed But Italian Job Still A Success
Newcastle Herald
Friday May 9, 2008
WHEN Gary van Egmond had to hand over his passport before he was allowed into the AS Roma training base, the Newcastle Jets coach realised how big an opportunity he had been afforded.
Unlike in Australia, you are not allowed to simply turn up and watch the Serie A club train.Armed security guards patrol the perimeter, allowing players, club staff and a precious invited few to venture inside the hallowed walls of the Italian powerhouse.Van Egmond might not have returned from Italy on Wednesday with players' signatures, but he says the trip was beneficial just the same.The coach and Jets football director Remo Nogarotto were lucky enough to spend four days at Roma's headquarters at Trigoria, on the outskirts of Rome.Not only could they attend training sessions, the pair were given direct access to manager Luciano Spalletti."Remo and I sat down with him after every session for up to two hours," van Egmond said."Roma are three points off the lead [in Serie A], and for someone of his calibre to give me that much time was pretty amazing."It was a situation where I sat and listened mostly and he explained how he does things and his philosophy behind why he does certain things a certain way."It was a real eye-opener."He was very lively and chatty and was interested in what was happening in Australia."He said to me at one stage, 'Would you like some fruit?' and I replied, 'No, just information,' which he laughed at."He was very open and forthcoming."Spalletti, 49, is regarded as one of the leading managers in Europe.He joined Roma from Udinese in 2005 and guided them from 15th to fifth in his first season.They are the Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana holders and became the first Italian team to beat Real Madrid over two legs (2-1 in both ties in Rome and Madrid) in the European Champions League this season before losing to Manchester United in the quarter-finals."There was a real aura about him," van Egmond said."You could see the respect the players had for him. He was very much the man who ran the show."But he never overcoached. He tended to let the training sessions flow. If anything, he undercoached more than overcoached. He rarely stopped the session, only to move on to a different drill or for a drinks break."Roma's multimillion-dollar training facility included a players' dormitory, restaurant, two players' lounges, rehabilitation centre, an artificial pitch, four grass pitches and administration building.But while the Jets facilities pale in comparison, van Egmond said there were many similarities in the training sessions."The amount of money they spend is something we can only dream about," van Egmond said."But you can pick up things, particularly with their structure, and implement it here."In terms of drills it was not massively different."They did a few tactical sessions with regard to their formation, which was good to see."Spalletti has a strong emphasis on possession and playing attacking football."He plays one system 4-2-3-1 and does not change," van Egmond said."Possession was one thing he did not compromise. He incorporated a possession drill in each session."He was also very diligent on set pieces."Van Egmond also prefers to use a 4-2-3-1 formation."When you go there and see things that we do here, it reinforces your beliefs," he said.Though he gained knowledge, the recruitment side of the trip was not as fruitful.He has a shortlist of players he hopes to get out for a trial in the next month.
© 2008 Newcastle Herald