Aloisi, Western United reaping rewards for faith in Botic
After four goals in six games, Western United boss John Aloisi is thrilled to see Noah Botic rewarding the faith placed in him -- even if that form means he's resigned to losing the striker in Apil.
Somewhat ironically, given that one of their major challenges is often breaking down parked ones, goals for strikers can be like a bus; you spend ages waiting for one, and then several all appear at once. After his fourth goal in his last six games lifted his side to a 1-0 win over Perth Glory on Saturday afternoon, Western United striker Noah Botic and his coach John Aloisi can attest to this.
Latching onto a ball threaded behind the Glory defensive line by skipper Josh Risdon in the 53rd minute of the contest, 22-year-old Botic kept his cool as he was closed down by Darryl Lachman and Oliver Sail and buried a first-time, left-footed effort into the bottom corner of the net with what would ultimately prove the decisive blow.
It followed on from the former Rockdale Ilinden prospect coming off the bench and scoring against Brisbane Roar the week prior, which followed strikes against Newcastle in round 17 and Sydney FC in round 15 – United picking up two wins and two draws across this run.
Botic had scored just once across the United’s 14 fixtures before that point, a stretch of games in which the side lost ten times and sunk to the foot of the A-League Men's table. Hardly ideal. But with his club, as several have around the A-League Men instituting a policy of getting younger on longer-term deals, Aloisi had continued to back him with significant minutes, saying that’s what youngsters such as Botic needed to find their way.
And now, with the goals beginning to come and a slow trickle of points beginning to flow with them, the coach was pleased to see this investment of time and trust rewarded.
“As a club, we put faith into a lot of our younger players and in particular Noah,” he said.
“We said at the start of the season, Noah needs to play regular football, he has to be playing on a consistent basis. And even though we haven't got experienced players up top around him, he needs to find a way to get through difficult situations and it's been difficult, it has, for him and for us as a team because we haven't been winning games, creating chances and not putting them away and as a striker that pressure can build on you.
“But Noah never shied away, kept on working on his game in training, always looking to improve. And that's why I had believed that he would turn it around. He was excellent today. Not only his goal, he could have had another goal, but also just in general play against two experienced central defenders. He was able to hold up the ball, able to bring others into play, his movement in the box.”
Key amongst all this, or at least it feels like it should be, is that Botic is working under the auspices of one of that rather unusual breed of player-turned-coach in his efforts to improve as a nine - that of the striker turned gaffer.
Across a long career in Europe, Aloisi experienced plenty of highs - the first Australian to score in La Liga, Serie A, and the Premier League - but also some lows - just three goals as he experienced relegation with Coventry in 2021 - ostensibly providing not only insights into the Xs and Os of being a striker but also the mentality saved approach required to succeed at the brutal upper echelons of the game.
“You always want to help every player, not just the strikers!” He laughed. “But I can talk a little bit more at a personal level from experiences as a player. With other players, it's more as my coaching career has developed that you can go off personal experiences from coaching different sorts of players.
“But for a striker, I can let him know what I went through, how I felt, how you can get through it, then when you get that goal, how it can change very quickly for you. And it's pleasing to see him now, lead the line really well.”
Alas for Aloisi and United, Botic’s return to form has brought him back into the focus of Tony Vidmar and the Olyroos staff; the coach resigned to losing him for an extended period as the A-League Men season winds down to international duty.
The attacker is almost certain to be called up for next month’s WAFF U23 Championships in Saudi Arabia during this month’s FIFA break - in which the Olyroos have been invited as guests - and then April’s AFC U23 Championship in Qatar — the latter occurring outside an international window but A-Leagues clubs unable to prevent their players from being called up under the terms of the unbundling deal with Football Australia.
Of course, while Aloisi the United coach may feel a bit put out, Aloisi the Socceroos legend and 2004 Olympian knows the importance of the coming months for the national teams. Further, both he and the United brass are well aware of the potential bounty to be claimed if the Olyroos qualify for Paris and Botic subsequently catches the eye of talent evaluators while there.
“Unfortunate for us but good for Noah,” said Aloisi. “I know they've got a few games coming up in the international break now. So we might miss him for one game because I think they get back late. And then in April, we'll probably miss him.
“But you know, that's part of his journey, our journey to help the younger players and they represent us as well, as a club, on the global stage. So hopefully they get to qualify for the Olympics because we really want to see our players going to the Olympics and showing the world what they can do.”