Comments on: Nicky Carle should join the J. League

By: Mike Tuckerman

Mike Tuckerman — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 02:39:34 +0000

I think “Brisbane” Roar midfielder Matt McKay (obviously now on loan at Changchun Yatai) and Newcastle Jets’ utility man Matt Thompson are two under-rated players who combine a decent technique with a tenacious work ethic, so I think those two could make a good fist of life in Japan.

But there’s plenty of pressure on foreign players to act as “match-winners” in the J. League, and the ten-month season and obvious language barrier make it a pretty big step to move over straight from the A-League.

By: Cruser

Cruser — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 22:49:06 +0000

oh haha makes sense!

Which other Aussies would you like to see or you think would make it in the J-league? Anyone currently plying their trade in the A-League?

By: Mike Tuckerman

Mike Tuckerman — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 09:01:04 +0000

I don’t doubt for a second that he probably would struggle, Cruser.

My schtick was a bit of tongue-in-cheek wishful thinking that it’d be nice to see a few more Aussies gracing the J. League.

I think you’re right in that Nicky Carle has done well where he has felt comfortable – we all remember how effective he was at Newcastle Jets – but he’s been struggling for a little while now to make an impact at both Bristol City and now Crystal Palace. Maybe he will turn things around in south London, but it’s certainly been a while since we’ve seen the best of Nicky Carle.

By: Cruser

Cruser — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 08:15:46 +0000

Mike, considering Nicky has struggled to adapt to the cultures of France & Turkey (I read in a FFT article a year or two ago about his struggles in France, and also read that he struggled without his family in Turkey), do you think moving to another non-english speaking country at this stage of his life will do him any favours? I’m not saying that he doesn’t have to leave the Championship for the betterment of his career (even Nicky must surely know this!), but on the evidence of his career, Nicky has played his best football where he has been comfortable.

By: clayton

clayton — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 04:15:23 +0000

dumb question time – how do the two leagues compare in terms of $$$?

By: Slippery Jim

Slippery Jim — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 23:40:50 +0000

Why is everyone suggesting he go back to Turkey? He was an abject failure there, and reports indicate he couldn’t handle the culture either.

I would suggest a return to the A-League, which is my opinion the level of technical and tactical quality he is comfortable with.

By: Viscount Crouchback

Viscount Crouchback — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 13:36:55 +0000

It’s worth asking why Carle was let go by Bristol City after just six months. I wonder if his attitude is all it could be.

By: Midfielder

Midfielder — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 10:30:27 +0000

Nicky

IMO France / Holland … he will never make an EPL top side … reason most EPL sides today have some of the best players in the world and NC would be better off in a slightly slower league … even Turkey follow Kool / Troisis / Jedi .. he needs to get out of England …

By: Art Sapphire

Art Sapphire — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 10:12:01 +0000

Don’t listen to Koala Bear, Nicky!

Why stay in miserable, gloomy Ingerland when Art Sapphire’s offer of wild pig hunting on the Greek Albanian border and the chance to represent the Ajax of Epirus in the Greek Super League is much too good to knock back.

Pas Giannina will be back in the big league next season and the team has a glorious Argentine heritage.
Don’t worry about having Chilean blood, the town will love you and the return to the glory days awaits.

And unlike the other skippy in Greece, Nathan Burns, who went to a big Athenian club, you will be guaranteed a starting place in every game.

Nicky if you don’t believe me, then get your agent to do some homework. Please refer to the link below.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PAS_Giannina

I will be waiting for you with my hunting buddies. Yiassou Nicky!

By: Koala Bear

Koala Bear — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 09:32:25 +0000

Nicky Carle will reach his full potential next season … A player of his technical skill will soon be discovered by a manager with a keen eye to give him the responsibility to be a play maker in his team .. The thing Nicky should do is not be so absorbed in trying to get on the score board and concentrate more on his natural ability to create things .. Then the goals will flow for him by making a good killer pass then moving forward to assist .. I see him more of a Paul Okon type midfielder who has the ability to get forward and score more goals then Okon did .. Stay in England Nicky and for fill your destiny, it will come..

~~~~~~~~
KB

By: Mike Tuckerman

Mike Tuckerman — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 07:55:29 +0000

Thanks Ben. You’re a generous man for not mentioning that Jungo Fujimoto was largely ineffective last weekend!

By: Ben of Phnom Penh

Ben of Phnom Penh — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 07:45:20 +0000

An interesting take on the whole Carle sage there, Mike.

By: midfield general

midfield general — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 06:48:03 +0000

Nick Carle has been talked about in terms of his potential for close to ten years, but he’s 26 now. It might be possible that he has found his level, which is at the bottom end of the championship, as it stands. Is it possible that he doesn’t quite have it, in the same way likes of Archie Thompson and Joel Griffith couldn’t cut it in Europe? I don’t know about the J league for Carle, there seem to be plenty of players of his type.

I was thinking about the same thing for Kaz Patafta for the Jets last night. Which is a shame.

By: Pippinu

Pippinu — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 06:15:09 +0000

Kaz
that’s ok – that’s big news!!

You’ve been coaching the UAE for a while now.

I ended up leaving the sanctuary of the A-League, and started a new game where I was privy to the big wide world.

I took on the Nix, but I also took on a 2nd role, inheriting the NEC in the Eredivisie, close to the bottom of the table, and then I took on a 3rd role, inheriting TOP Oss in the Eerstedivisie, who were rock bottom.

I saved both of them from relegation, and in the new season NEC are challenging Ajax for the championship (although we’ve dropped off the pace a bit in recent games).

TOP went so well that Livorno offered me a job in ther Serie B – and I took it.

I’m going places baby!!

By: Kazama

Kazama — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 06:06:43 +0000

Pippinu, NC played for Gençlerbirliği, a club now home to three Aussies. He then moved to Bristol City and then to Palace, where he is now.

P.S. After a hiatus from FM, I just led the UAE to an historic 4-1 aggregate win over Japan to move to a playoff with NZ… Sorry, had to tell someone…

By: Pippinu

Pippinu — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 05:50:31 +0000

Sam said: Yes, overlapping fullbacks…if only Pim would use this system. Nothing worse than Chipperfield and Kewell getting in each other’s way

The days of Chippers overlapping anything, even a broken down Kewell, are fast waning.

By: Pippinu

Pippinu — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 05:49:20 +0000

Brian Munich said: I’m a Palace supporter, and a big Nicky Carle fan, but he should leave Palace. If the WC boat hasn’t yet totally left him behind, I think he should try to get back into a lower European league which would appreciate his talents – such as Turkey.

Didn’t he come via Turkey in the first place?

By: Sam

Sam — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 04:46:41 +0000

Yes, overlapping fullbacks…if only Pim would use this system. Nothing worse than Chipperfield and Kewell getting in each other’s way.

By: Strikerx

Strikerx — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 04:39:30 +0000

As we have seen, the J-League clubs love to play with overlapping fullbacks. Their widemen are simply brilliant. Imagine Josh Kennedy on the end of that?? He really does have a gift in the air (I also rate his touch and distribution). He had no right to score that goal against Uzbekistan. He had nothing to aim for, the ball was delivered from behind and he was a long way out. It was lethal finish. And will live long in my memory.

By: Sam

Sam — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 04:20:14 +0000

I am not surprised they are fascinated by Josh Kennedy. So is Australia. Most Japanese players tend to have better technique than most our players (even our top stars). Kennedy is a different kettle of fish. I always feel a sense of anticipation when we are on the attack and he is on the field. If he doesn’t score he creates space for others.

By: Strikerx

Strikerx — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 04:15:14 +0000

I was in Japan for the Socceeroos’ recent World Cup qualifier. Surprisingly, I found that the Japanese media are utterly fascinated by Josh Kennedy (and would have been relieved not to see him start the match). It seems in Japan he is very much credited with turning the match in Germany in 2006 when he came on as a substitute. In my opinion, players of Carle’s skill are already found in abundance in the J-League. Whereas Kennedy, with his height advantage over the smaller Japanese players, offers them something completely different. Given his high profile in Japan and his woes at Karlsruhe, he could do a lot worse than head East, where I am sure he would be a “stand out” performer (excuse the pun).

By: Brian Munich

Brian Munich — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 03:34:41 +0000

I’m a Palace supporter, and a big Nicky Carle fan, but he should leave Palace. If the WC boat hasn’t yet totally left him behind, I think he should try to get back into a lower European league which would appreciate his talents – such as Turkey.

By: Art Sapphire

Art Sapphire — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 03:33:44 +0000

My advice to Nick Carle.

This has been forwarded to his agent.

Dear Nick,

Please consider playing for PAS Gianina in the Greek Super League next season.

The club is about to be promoted to the top flight and your legendary qualities will come in handy for PAS as they attempt to stay up next season.

The Greek way of football should suit your game. Not only is it slower, it also allows players to express themselves while also encouraging foul play, diving and all round petulance. You will find it tough to begin with as you learn how to avoid projectiles and ignore flares. But in the end you have the chance to become a hero when you score the winner against the evil empire that is Olympiakos.

PAS Gianina will be offering a generous salary package and with Art Sapphire’s generosity, you will be taken on an all expenses paid wild pig hunting expedition on the Greek/Albanian border.

Nick, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. The stuff that only dreams are made of…

By: Sam

Sam — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 03:26:48 +0000

Kazama

I didn’t say it is all about the imports, but they play a large role. Everything should have a balance. But I believe some big name players should be sought, even if they stay one year. Yes 16,000 Liverpool supporters might turn out for Robbie Fowler, but maybe 2,000 of those might turn out again for the next game against Central Coast as they enjoyed the atmosphere.

At the end of the day the smart clubs will do well.

By: Kazama

Kazama — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 03:17:17 +0000

Sam – but where do the fans go when the has beens move on? If it were keeping fans long term I’d be in favour of having guys like that running around for my club. What will win fans, and keep them, is if our teams start playing good football. Yorke was great for the league, but he wasn’t a has been, the guy went back to England and started playing EPL again. Other big name imports haven’t made an impact at all, and in fact have largely been an expensive waste of money. Fans don’t like clubs that waste money, and while Fowler will draw a crowd wherever he plays on the road, at home no one will care if he scores two goals all season and the Fury finish last.

You’ll have 16,000 Liverpool supporters here when Fowler plays at Hindmarsh, but the following home match we’ll probably get about 8,000 when we play the Mariners, which is a truer indication of the level of support we enjoy in this town. And Adelaide United is worse off, we’ve only got 16 players and are looking at the FFA taking control, which doesn’t bode well for us making any signings of note.

By: Dave

Dave — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 02:56:28 +0000

Nice one Tuck, couldn’t agree more. I also often wonder why Carle wouldn’t consider The Netherland’s Eredivisie for regular football, possible European football (see Holman’s case now) and a history in appreciating technical football which Australia currently lacks consistency of…

By: Sam

Sam — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 02:42:19 +0000

Kazama

You underestimate the drawing power of has beens. If Denilson is only 7 games with Perth, then it is probably not worth it. Look at this way if Robbie Fowler comes to Sydney I would go to the game to see the man in the flesh. Nicky Carle or Joel Griffiths doesn’t interest me in the slightest. Yorke was a freak as well.

Besides I think you are overstating the number of mid-range players that will move to Asia. There are a handful of Asian competitions worth going to. Agree that Dutch league ha smore quality, but they have a football culture which we are still implementing. I have looked at several a-league squads this season, and many are no worse than last season considering we have introduced two new teams.

By: Kazama

Kazama — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 02:33:21 +0000

The only trouble with that Sam is that they will cost a lot of money and won’t be around for much more than a season. Denilson I heard is only going to play seven games if he signs. Is the short-term gain really worth the investment compared to putting that money into giving our kids, our next generation, some decent coaching and facilities?

And while the overseas mid-range players may be replaceable, the Aussies are not, thanks to the limits on how many visa players each team can have. While I agree that we’ll be relying on our youth league (but not the pathetic transfer fees we get) to supplement these losses, we don’t really want to be watching a bunch of 17 year olds run around with a couple of imports and a has been from the EPL every week do we? Otherwise we might as well get rid of the A-League and just have the youth league.

And just because we are a feeder league doesn’t mean that the A-League has to suck and that we have to be resigned to lose each and every player than can play a decent through ball as soon as they turn 18. The Eredivisie may be a feeder competition but there are still loads of quality players in that league, many who will never move on to bigger and better things. It’s not just about quality, it is quantity of quality.

To get back to the original point I feel that we’d be better off with Nicky Carle in the A-League than the J. League for the reason that he’d be another sorely-needed quality, skillful player in our league. Like Jason Culina, he’s not suddenly going to turn into a talentless chopper simply because he’s moved back here, just as he’s not going to become Maradona overnight by moving to Japan. I’d have a season of Nicky Carle over 7 games of Denilson any time at Adelaide.

By: Sam

Sam — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 02:11:45 +0000

Perhaps a plan by the FFA to be able to draw top shelf players with unique talents to the a-league. Perhaps they can help out clubs, or the player in rewarding them for coming here. Lavicka has brough over a Slovak named Kisel for Sydney. It will be interesting to see how he goes. Perth look to be getting Denilson. That is a question mark, but it could work out…

By: Sam

Sam — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 02:06:18 +0000

There are many leagues currently in the world which are feeder leagues. More importantly we need to develop a football culture in this country with more analysis, discussion etc, which is something that countries such as Holland, Mexico etc have. These are also feeder leagues. The fact that Griffiths or Van Dijk leave for Asian countries is the football world at work. Something we need to accept. Club and country should aways come before individual players.

There is a reason why the likes of Yorke and Fowler will come to Australia. Lifestyle. These are the players we need more than anything else as the are real football personalities. Mid range players get forgotten and talented youngsters come through. It is the top shelf players which draw crowds. We need to target this area a bit more. We need more personalities and cult heroes imo.