It’s been a steep learning curve, this move into Asia. Just ask the Central Coast Mariners, whose debut Champions League campaign has been a sobering experience. Former Socceroos coach Graham Arnold won’t have too many fond memories of our first foray into the Asian Cup either.

And the Newcastle Jets briefly looked set to do a Sharjah FC on us – threatening to pull out of their final Champions League game over unpaid bonuses.

But the news last week that Melbourne Victory have signed Thai defender Surat Sukha from Chonburi FC could mark a turning point for the Australian game.

When his twin brother Suree was giving the Socceroos a torrid time at the 2007 Asian Cup, I was high up in the press box at Rajamangala Stadium wondering how long it would take for Australians to appreciate the talent on display in Asia.

I think we’re on our way now.

Hopefully Melbourne’s signing of Surat works out for both club and player, with Australia representing the Thai international’s first overseas destination.

Should Surat prove a success, it will hopefully open doors – and minds – to the untapped reserves of South-East Asian football to the north.

On a different note, I was pleased to read this recent piece from resident J. League expert Jeremy Walker on how the Japanese can learn from Australia.

Too often I see J. League fans complain of Australian teams being overly physical – as if A-League sides should tone down the one clear advantage they hold simply because it inconveniences the Japanese.

As much as I’m a fan of Japanese football, I must admit that bone-crunching tackles are few and far between.

I’ve been lucky enough to experience the Japanese game in my capacity as Soccerphile’s J. League correspondent for three years now, but like all good things my time in Japan must come to an end.

Lured by the prospect of what should be the most enthralling A-League season to date, I’ve decided to pack my bags and come home.

I’ve seen everything Japanese football has to offer, from around seventy J. League games in J1 and J2, to three League Cup finals and an Emperor’s Cup final. Throw in an Asian Cup, two FIFA Club World Cup’s and numerous Asian Champions League fixtures and I’ve had a pretty good run.

I’ve even found time to attend the odd K-League game, while one of my most enduring memories is of Masaaki Sawanobori’s sold-out testimonial in 2007 – when another of Japan’s ageing dinosaurs in Kazu Miura got on the scoresheet.

I’ve seen some great players in Japan, none more so than Kashima Antlers’ brooding midfield maestro Mitsuo Ogasawara.

Ogasawara is hands down the best player I’ve seen in the J. League, and who knows what kind of difference the enigmatic talent would have made had he been able to run out against Adelaide United at Hindmarsh Stadium in 2008?

And while Akira Nishino has done a tremendous job in converting Gamba Osaka into one of the most exciting teams in Asian football, it’s hard to look past Kashima’s Oswaldo de Oliveira as the best coach in the country.

When he arrived from Brazilian club Cruzeiro in 2007, the likeable de Oliveira did so with Kashima having finished sixth the previous season – and not having lifted the title since 2001.

Despite not celebrating his first win as Kashima coach until Round 7, de Oliveira managed to steer Kashima to one of the most dramatic title wins in J. League history.

He lifted the Emperor’s Cup to boot, and Kashima backed that up by winning the J. League the following year for good measure.

If de Oliveira was Japan coach instead of the inert Takeshi Okada, I have no doubt that Japan would prove a far tougher opponent for the Socceroos at the MCG on June 17.

At any rate, I’ll be at that game – with a head that respects Japanese football, but with a heart that will always call Australia home.

Follow Mike on twitter @Mike_Tuckerman

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