Goalkeeper Mat Ryan insists Graham Arnold best man to lead Socceroos despite Asian Cup blip

Socceroos goalkeeper Mat Ryan believes the appointment of Graham Arnold as the national coach will work out for the best, despite the team’s Asia Cup flop earlier this year.

Graham Arnold should not be judged on just one tournament, says Mat Ryan.

Socceroos goalkeeper Mat Ryan believes the appointment of Graham Arnold as the national coach will work out for the best, despite the team’s Asia Cup flop earlier this year.

Arnold’s first assignment in his second stint in charge was hugely disappointing with the team exiting 1-0 at the quarter-final stages to the UAE.

That game came after a moribund last-16 match where the Socceroos scraped past Uzbekistan on penalties with the scores level at 0-0 after extra time.

Graham Arnold should not be judged on just one tournament, says Mat Ryan.

But Brighton goalkeeper Ryan, whose side took a big step towards Premier League survival with a crucial point against Newcastle last weekend, said it would be unfair to judge his former Central Coast Mariners boss on one tournament.

“If you look at the players we had missing for the Asia Cup like Aaron Mooy, Martin Boyle and Daniel Arzani, plus Maty Leckie who had to sit out the first few games, it made things difficult for us,” Ryan said.

“We are a team very much in transition. Mile Jedinak and Tim Cahill have retired and young players are just making their way on the international stage.

“We were all hugely disappointed not to retain the Asia Cup, but when you see the impression made by young guys like Awer Mabil and Chris Ikonomidis and the emergence of Rhyan Grant, there is a lot to be encouraged by.”

The Socceroos bowed out to the UAE in the Asian Cup.

Ryan first played for Arnold at Central Coast Mariners in the team that won the A-League in the 2011-12 season and believes his former club boss is the perfect man to oversee the Socceroos rebuild.

“I have been around the Socceroos camp for a few years now and I can honestly say we were never treated better than we were at the Asia Cup,” Ryan said.

“No stone was left unturned, the set up was first class and that is down to Arnie. He is meticulous in his preparation and he makes sure that as a squad we are not wanting for anything.

“He is very passionate about Australian football and improving us as a football nation.

“You cannot expect success overnight, it is going to be a process and it is going to take time and patience.

“But all the players, coaches and management are on the same page and I believe we are on the right path forward.”