By Ben Somerford
July 31st 2009 @ 1:11am
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Five great reasons to watch the A-League
Liverpool's Robbie Fowler celebrates scoring the third goal against 1. FC Kosice during the UEFA Cup, first round, second match at Liverpool's Anfield stadium Tuesday Sept. 29, 1998. AP Photo/Adam Butle
After arguably the most exciting winter of A-League recruiting, and with the new season kick-off less than ten days away, I thought I’d compile a list of the Top Five most interesting new signings.
True Aussie football fans aren’t foolish enough to expect the A-League to be the best league in the world. Instead, things like the exciting youngsters or foreign personalities and characters make us content enough to hand over our admission fees.
And with plenty of interesting new names on A-League rosters this season, heaps of Australian football fans will be curious to find out more down at their local stadium
5. Mile Sterjovski
Whilst never really reaching any dizzying heights during his European career, Mile Sterjovski is high-profile in Australia. He’s a regular Socceroo, who seems to pop up and score the occasional handy goal for the national team, and that’s why his return home has been greeted with such fanfare.
There’s no doubt either that Sterjovski is very good and his quality will shine in the A-League, so the Perth public, who’ve been starved of decent football for years, will enjoy a marquee player like him.
In saying all that, he’ll probably have to do most of his talking on the field, as he’s not a massively marketable player off-the-field.
But with the Glory building a decent squad, the club will surely improve and you suspect Sterjovski, as the marquee, will be the face of the new Glory.
4. Surat Sukha
To be honest, I don’t know a lot about Melbourne Victory’s new Thai international defender Surat Sukha. But that adds to the interest of him. He will be, of course, the first South East Asian footballer to play in the A-League, and in the context of Australia’s move into the Asian Football Confederation, the success of Sukha will be closely monitored.
His move to the Victory in May was big news back in Thailand, and should he succeed in Australia, there’s no doubt it will encourage others from the region to follow in his footsteps.
Also, should Sukha prove a hit, A-League clubs will be more inclined to scout the region, thus forging a new context for the Australian competition in our part of the world.
3. Karol Kisel
Slovakian midfielder Karol Kisel arrives at Sydney FC with a good reputation, having forged a decent career in the Czech Republic with top clubs like Sparta Praha and Slovan Liberec, whilst also having appeared plenty of times for his national team.
There’s no doubt the right-winger is expected to bring some real technical quality.
But Kisel’s arrival also provokes interest as part of Sydney FC’s new ‘East European’ revolution, generated by the arrival of Russian owner David Traktovenko and Czech coach Vítězslav Lavička.
Gone is the bling tag and in it’s place is an emphasis on discipline and professionalism.
Lavička’s regime has changed things dramatically at Sydney, and in some ways, you could say Kisel is the on-field part of this new wave. Technical, pragmatic and effective.
I know I’m curious to see more.
2. Jason Culina
Many claim Culina’s signing by Gold Coast United is the best in the history of the A-League. Culina, as a regular starting Socceroo who is only 28, is certain to provide some real quality for Gold Coast for years to come, whilst also offering a good professional image as the face of the club.
And with the number 10 on his back, he’ll be expected to provide a few goals as well.
No Australian football fan could forget the amazing long-range goal he scored for FC Twente in the Netherlands a few years back. If he does that again, I dare say Gold Coast might enjoy some big crowds up at Robina.
1. Robbie Fowler
Anyone who is nicknamed God is going to attract interest. North Queensland’s signing of Robbie Fowler, the man dubbed God by the Liverpool faithful, is one which will, and already has, caught plenty of people’s interest.
For starters, he has already appeared on NRL’s Footy Show.
Fowler is a household name and for him to be playing on Australian pitches in an Australian league is exciting and interesting.
And a scenario never imaginable five or ten years ago.
But after several injury interrupted years with various clubs, Fowler is obviously not what he once was. Many football pundits are expecting him to struggle for fitness. But nobody knows for sure, especially following a pre-season where there were few opportunities to witness him first-hand.
It all adds to the intrigue of what has become a bit of a saga. “Will Robbie Fowler succeed or not?” is what everyone’s asking.
And while he may not have the quality he once did, he’ll definitely create some entertainment and drama, and for the pundits, that’s worth paying your admission fee for.
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(14)
albe said | July 31st 2009 @ 7:51am | Report comment
Mile will be great, and in general Perth will be my second fave team this year. Loved watching them after the addition of Sikora and Dadi last year. Their new signings shore things up with Coyne and Burns, plus Mile and the new striker Jelic add depth going forward. Really exciting season ahead for the Glory boys.
Ben W said | July 31st 2009 @ 9:37am | Report comment
Perth will surely play finals this season in the expanded set up, alot to like about their squad. Can’t wait for kick off next week, looking forward to seeing Robbie and the first GC game down in Melbourne. Hopefully it all comes down to a Victory v Sydney FC GF at Etihad.
Pippinu said | July 31st 2009 @ 10:01am | Report comment
Ben
good list – interestingly, you can add another five names to that list to come up with a pretty good top 10 – it’s probably the biggest pre-season ever in the A-League’s short history.
Tom said | July 31st 2009 @ 10:50am | Report comment
More interested in Jelic for the Glory, Henriques for the Roar and Robson at the Gold Coast to be honest. Apart from Sukha, most of the above are known quantities.
Ben of Phnom Penh said | July 31st 2009 @ 11:37am | Report comment
Shin for Adelaide. I’m keen to see what happens there.
Kazama said | July 31st 2009 @ 12:21pm | Report comment
Likewise. Hopefully he’ll get chances to show what he can do as we have a lot of midfield options.
Ghost said | July 31st 2009 @ 12:40pm | Report comment
How about these 5…
1. because its football
2. because its football
3. because its football
4. because its football
5. because its football
Kazama said | July 31st 2009 @ 2:16pm | Report comment
The five things I am most looking forward to seeing / hearing this season:
1) Miron’s interviews / press conferences – the best since Claudio Ranieri left Chelsea
2) Andy Harper’s wonderfully eccentric commentary (e.g. “Dodd up like a spawning salmon;” “The tenants are charged like wounded bulls;” “The ball fell onto the near post with a massive gift wrapping.”)
3) Watching Clive Palmer react to Gold Coast’s first defeat. I’m hoping it will come at home against someone like Wellington, with my best mate Matt Breeze giving the Nix two dodgy penalties in the last 3 minutes to win, after GCU have been up 1-0 since the 1st minute and completely dominated the match. Should make the Black Wednesday (“It’s a f**king disgrace”) aftermath look quite tame.
4) John Kosmina getting a gig somewhere and getting knocked on his arse at Docklands a third time.
5) Mel McLaughlin
Ghost said | July 31st 2009 @ 2:37pm | Report comment
Did anyone notice Sydney FC have locked in their final recruit, full-back and fringe Swiss international Stephan Keller.
Add him to the list, and watch out for a Sydney team which, on paper at least, is one hell of a balanced and formidable side.
Robbos said | July 31st 2009 @ 2:37pm | Report comment
Yes, looking forward to this season, already got my season tickets.
The season cannot come quick enough the off season is too long, dispite the ability of watching the world’s best in Europe March to May & watching the socceroos get to the WC during the off season.
But nothing beats watching your club side week after week.
Ghost said | July 31st 2009 @ 2:42pm | Report comment
Actually I remember a while back someone did an article about all the transfers in the A-League this off-season including who is from youth teams, who is from Asia, who is from continental Europe, who is from the UK, etc.
It was about 6 weeks back and already looked pretty good then but now it would look absolutely fabulous, and in particular due to a handful of signings from Asia where I seem to recall we were a bit short.
I think whether it takes a couple of years to translate into a further jump in profile or whether this will be a boom year for the A-League, this coming season (and of course part is the prod that the expansion has given the league) apart from anything will be seen as the turning point where our little Aussie ’socca’ league really started connecting with the world in terms of ideas, players, etc.
macavity said | July 31st 2009 @ 3:03pm | Report comment
you forgot Fabio Vignaroli….. hahaha
jimbo said | July 31st 2009 @ 11:10pm | Report comment
And in the next couple of weeks the FFA will announce the other A-League team for next season. Its nearly crunch time for A-League team number 12:
http://www.theworldgame.com.au/a-league/battle-intensifies-for-12th-a-league-spot-211607
The Bear said | August 1st 2009 @ 3:15pm | Report comment
yayyayayayy!!! football time again, and it looks to be the best season yet!