IN the run-up to the new Hyundai A-League season, Simon Hill has conducted individual chats with the 10 coaches who will be aiming for the big prize come next May.

In today’s instalment, he talks to Melbourne City’s Warren Joyce

Simon Hill: Warren, you are now twelve months into the job — what has the Australian experience been like for you — any pleasant surprises and/or unexpected frustrations?

Warren Joyce: Football is football around the world — there’s nothing new or different. For me it was about learning the league, the teams, the players, the styles. I’ve done it before in Belgium so I kind of knew what to expect. You continue learning all the time, but I have a better handle on it than I did last year. The travel is different, but you can still travel four hours to a game in England, or two hours in Belgium. The top teams in Europe do it too in the Champions League. The fact it is a flight and not a train ride, it’s still travel. In some ways it’s easier. The heat is the main difference — that’s a big thing.

Warren Joyce says he has a better handle on the A-League this season. Source: AAP

SH: Is it fair to say you brought a change in emphasis to the club — a more disciplined approach, based around structures? And did you find it difficult to impose that philosophy?

WJ: You want people to know their jobs. For players to sacrifice themselves for the team, and work hard every day to improve. We want them to be humble, self-motivated, and prepare off the pitch like top pros, to be ready to go again the next day. People who are fit, and desperate for success — if you have those things in place, then you tend to win more than you lose. That’s the environment you want. I think it’s different now to this time last year.

SH: Last season, you started well and finished well — the bit in the middle was more problematic — how do you avoid something similar this season?

WJ: Yes, we had a good start and then dipped, but we also had some good results. There were three distinct periods really, and that was because we almost had three distinct teams. We played one way, then brought new players in — then after Christmas, we played a different way. We have to try and build from that going into this season.

Melbourne City lost to the Newcastle Jets in last season’s semi-final. Source: AAP

SH: The club now appears to have adopted a “no big-name marquees” policy — does that sit OK with you?

WJ: We have a very good scouting network, but we have a way of how we want to build it. From the start, I talked about getting the best young Aussie players — having an Aussie spine to the team. To get them playing a brand of football that is exciting. That is what we are working towards. We don’t look at anyone else — they have their own culture and remit. I want our players to be hungry for success. That’s the market we look at. Those who have a point to prove, and players who want to win things and get better, even if they are 27 or 28 — they are our type of people.

SH: Let’s have a look at one or two of your new signings — Michael O’Halloran for instance — is he going to provide competition for Bruno Fornaroli?

WJ: He can play anywhere along the front line really — he has pace, he has a trick, there are goals in him. It’s not easy to come from the other side of the world, but he is working hard to integrate himself — he arrived a little late. I think he will be used more in wider areas.

Joyce says Florin Berenguer is similar to Sydney FC’s Milos Ninkovic. Source: Getty Images

SH: Florin Berenguer is an interesting one — tell us a little about him?

WJ: Well if the Mariners have Usain Bolt, then we have Flo-Jo! (Laughs) Again, he’s a good pro and wants to be successful. He has a good technique, was keen to come and get involved in the Aussie culture. He is a creative type of midfield player — clever & technical. He’s a (Milos) Ninkovic type player.

SH: Your latest signing is ex-Manchester United defender, Ritchie de Laet, presumably to form part of a reworked defence along with Mark Birighitti in goal. Is that where you intend him to play?

WJ: The beauty with Ritchie is he can play anywhere on the pitch — centre half, either full back, anywhere in midfield. He once scored a hat-trick for United that won us the (reserve) league at Bolton. He has great experience of the Premier League and winning things. In a salary capped league, the fact he is a utility player is a big help. As for him coming to Australia — I think Ross (McCormack) has done a lot to help that last year. He made people sit up and take notice of the A-League. Word spreads, and there’s been plenty of interest from agents — they don’t always understand the rules with foreign players, but they are pushing. It’s live on television in England every week, so more people are watching it. Players talk to each other about the experiences they have had — it helps grow the league. It opens peoples eyes.

SH: Were you interested in getting Ross (McCormack) back this season?

WJ: We were interested — but it’s about timing isn’t it? We can’t actually afford to sign him unless the (selling) club wants to do a lot to help you. It’s not easy, as we found out at Christmas last year. You ring up about a player, and you can’t get anywhere near (his wages). The clubs in Europe have to help out.

Ross McCormack has joined the Central Coast Mariners after his stint at City last season. Source: Getty Images

SH: One of the features of your season last time around was the emergence of younger players such as Nathaniel Atkinson and Daniel Arzani — is there more to come this season?

WJ: Lachlan Wales and Riley McGree will be there of course — they’ve done well. Dylan Pierias has done very well too. But we’re the victim of our own success, because there’s been two or three Aussie junior camps, and we have had I think twenty-odd players in total going away. Seven have been away with both the under-19’s and under-20s. So they have missed time and chances they could have had with us already. Then there are tournaments coming up too. It wasn’t until after Christmas last season that we got the kids ready to play. Obviously, kids want to play for their country, and the league wants the country to be successful. But as with Daniel (Arzani) last year — he would have played a lot more games for us had he been involved at the start of the season. Maybe he would have even started at the World Cup. Graham Arnold has been trying to build relationships to improve it though since taking over the national team job, which is really good for all concerned.

SH: On the subject of Daniel Arzani — he has now gone to Celtic via Manchester City. Would you have preferred him to stay for another year?

WJ: You want to see players develop. You put demands on them, and he reached some of those targets last season. There’s still plenty of work for him to do, and you would like to be involved in that, but the World Cup opens up the football world to him on a different level. The way the rules are here too with contracts — it doesn’t make it easy to sign young players on long term deals because of the salary cap.

Daniel Arzani has left Melbourne City after an impressive World Cup. Source: AAP

SH: Would you like to see those rules amended?

WJ: Well, most lads come through on minimum wage, so if you want to improve a young lads contract, and sign him on a three-year deal for example, you physically can’t, because you don’t have the money in the cap. I imagine other clubs might have lost out too. Perhaps Central Coast Mariners might have wanted to give Lachlan Wales a longer deal? So you see, players in this league have a good year, and then they go at the end of the season — even though the clubs might want to keep them. If the dream is developing young Aussies and growing the league, then you can’t do that with this constant turnover. All the clubs are changing all the time — there’s not many young players that are tied down to thee or four year deals.

SH: Back to the upcoming season, and across town, (Melbourne) Victory have signed Keisuke Honda, Ola Toivonen — are they going to be title favourites?

WJ: It is a level playing field at the start of the season — everyone is ambitious. Every coach will think the same. I don’t believe there are real favourites. Sydney for instance, haven’t got the same team, everyone has made changes. It depends on who settles in well.

SH: City play Victory in the opening round — you played in a few derby matches during your playing career, so how do you enjoy the Melbourne version?

WJ: Yeah, there’s always a really good atmosphere at the games — and obviously we won the first one last year, so I enjoyed that. You feel going into the stadium that there’s an extra edge on those matches, and that’s what you want — you want all the games to be like that. The Sydney & Newcastle games were big too because of what was at stake.

SH: What is success for Melbourne City this year — the championship? Asian Champions League? Bigger crowds?

WJ: You want all of those things — finish as high as you can, play attractive football, you want crowds to improve, and for them to enjoy coming to watch us. You should never be happy — you always want to do better than last year. Even if it’s just small gains.

SH: How do you relax away from football?

WJ: I actually enjoy watching other sports — Rugby, Aussie Rules, Cricket, Tennis, Surfing — I like all sports. I like watching the big events, and studying them — you can learn a lot from watching. I probably watch Melbourne Storm more than anyone else, because I know a bit more about that sport. They find a way to win, which I like.

SH: Finally, what is your long-term plan — do you intend staying in Australia for a long time?

WJ: Well I suppose the club decides that! There’s a lot of good people at this club with a vision of how they want to move forward, and how they want Australian football to be. If I can keep playing my part in helping it develop — then I’ll be delighted to try. It’s an exciting time for the game here, and the club — and you are in this job for those challenges. You want to build something.