A marquee attitude, if not quite a marquee player

Columnist

By Tony Tannous, 15 Dec 2009 Tony Tannous is a Roar Expert

Tagged:: A-League, Fabio Vignaroli, football, Newcastle Jets

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Newcastle Jets' Fabio Vignaroli (right) congratulates Jin Hyung Song. July 26, 2009. Sydney FC and the Newcastle Jets drew 1-1. AAP Image/Paul Miller

The confirmation yesterday that the Newcastle Jets’ marquee, Fabio Vignaroli, has torn his ACL and may well have played his last game in Australia is a hammer blow to not only the player and the his club, but to the A-League.

In a season that has been notable for the quality of the imports, right across the league, Vignaroli has demonstrated an on-field professionalism and attitude that should be used as a benchmark for all signings.

Even on Sunday, before he twisted his knee in an innocuous incident against the Gold Coast (he had jarred it in a challenge with Steve Panteldis ten minutes earlier), he was at his disruptive best, buzzing around the midfield in the manner of man possessed.

It has been his way throughout the season.

Even when the Jets were down in the dumps a few weeks ago, struggling to get off the foot of the table, it was the Italian who was setting the team’s tempo with his immense workrate, and simple and efficient passing game.

Said to be a creative playmaker upon his arrival, it has been his work as a deep-lying holding midfielder that has caught the eye.

In round 17, in the Jets’ 2-0 win in Adelaide, Vignaroli threatened to become that number ten with a couple of delightful final balls, but in the main it has been his ball-winning and simple use of it that has helped the Jets to play some decent stuff this season.

Indeed, in his 14 A-League games before Sunday, Vignaroli had made 74 effective tackles, over five a game. Impressive figures.

Little doubt some of his defensive work was on the edge, evidenced by his five yellow cards, but he was always in the opposition’s face, looking to disrupt their rhythm and get the ball flowing for the Jets.

There has been a fair bit of debate about whether the Italian fits the billing of a marquee player.

My view is that a marquee player should not only come with Vignaroli’s excellent on-field attitude, but with an extra quality to consistently influence a team in the attacking third and put bums on seats.

But the Italian, along with another excellent import in Michael Bridges, has played a big part in lifting the Jets into its current fourth place.

By setting the right example throughout, Vignaroli and Bridges have demanded this from the rest of the squad, and the result has been a purposeful and upbeat Jets team, building neat momentum ahead of the finals.

Witness the work of Lubjo Milicevic, who has been noticeably quiet, going about his work effectively on the pitch. Witness also the work of the skipper Matt Thompson, who, since signing for the Melbourne Heart, has even increased his output.

What about the work of the two young guns in attack, Labinot Haliti and Sean Rooney, who have been combining beautifully with Bridges and the midfield, and developing all the time.

What about the ongoing attitude of future leader Tarek Elrich, who touched so many with this heartfelt story in the Newcastle Herald last month?

Indeed, everywhere you look there have been massive gains across the Jets roster; Nikolai Topor-Stanley, Jobe Wheelhouse, Jin-Hyung Song, Ben Kantarovski, Adam D’Apuzzo, Neil Young. Even Kaz Patafta has been playing his part.

Undoubtedly Branko Culina and his coaching staff have played a big part in demanding high standards, but there is also little doubt about the influence of the two senior imports.

While Vignaroli won’t be on the field to see out the season, the Jets can still heed his example, with the likes of Wheelhouse and Thompson showing signs they can maintain the standard. The key will be to do it every week.

For a club that has failed on so many occasions to get its marquee option right, Newcastle should at least take comfort in the fact it signed a winner in Vignaroli. Undoubtedly a step in the right direction.

Even if he never again dons the gold of Newcastle, or any other A-League strip, he has done his bit for Australian football, and for that we should all be grateful.

Follow Tony on Twitter @TonyTannousTRBA

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The Crowd Says (20) | Page 1 of Comments

Mick of Newie said | December 15th 2009 @ 7:27am | Report comment

Tony, nice article. Mosts Jets fans I spoke to were underwhelmed when told that our next marquee was a 33 year old Italian unknown (to all but Serie A tragics). I agree with your comments on his marquee status but if you have to pay a bloke $350,000 to show young Australian players what it means to be a professional footballer then it might be money well spent. We will find out this Sunday against the Fury if those lessons have been learnt or if the players only learnt anything when Fabio was showing the way.

ACL injuries are career ending for most 33 year olds. I hope against hope that the club and fabio can come to some arrangement that could see him playing here if he can regain fitness. Otherwise despite his limited english his professionalism and attitude would make a coach that players would immediately respect.

Good luck to him.

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Il Duce said | December 15th 2009 @ 8:14am | Report comment

Having met Fabio after the Adelaide V Newcastle game that finished 1-1 earlier in the season he seem to carry himself very professionaly and even ask me to speak to him in English as he wanted to learn the language more also I agree with article in referance to his play on the field, hopefully he can recover and the jets keep him on it would be good for all of us.

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whiskeymac said | December 15th 2009 @ 8:58am | Report comment

A good article. I am of the opinion that marquees need to make a deeper impact ona club than just glamour – the knowledge and experience they have needs to be passed on to the younger players. Hopefully his example will continue to influence the club and its players – and the jets will build on his input.

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Tony Tannous said | December 15th 2009 @ 9:33am | Report comment

Thanks for your comments and good to read there are others who have also valued Vignaroli’s work.

Mick of Newie, I think those reservations from Jets fans were fair enough , and it’s a great point you make about the money being well spent if he leaves a legacy for the young Australian players, of which there are quite a few at Newcastle; that legacy is about how you conduct yourself as a professional.

Speaking of professional and role model, here is the story regarding Tarek Elrich that I referred to in my piece, which was inadvertently not linked;

http://www.theherald.com.au/news/local/sport/football-soccer/the-tragedy-that-drives-jets-star-tarek-elrich/1679049.aspx

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- K B said | December 15th 2009 @ 10:15am | Report comment
  
  Tony,
  fist time I had sighted that story and my heart goes out to the Elrich family… I hope there will be better times ahead for the Elrich house hold… What tragic story to read..
  
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AndyRoo said | December 15th 2009 @ 9:58am | Report comment

It’s another plus about Robbie Fowler is that he seems to be having a lot of fun.

And comparing his shape from when he arrived to what he looks like now he has obviously been training hard.

Feel for Fabio and at 33 I think that’s curtains but he handled himself so well afterwards.

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- miliciicmajor said | December 15th 2009 @ 2:20pm | Report comment
  
  he’s the same weight now as when he first arrived…
  
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K B said | December 15th 2009 @ 10:04am | Report comment

Great article Tony,
I am not a Newcastle Jets supporter.. But congratulation to the Jets to bring out such a giant in the terms of football ability… I have always thought this is the type of player the HAL so desperately needs; players with great technique and ball splitting passes through pack defences with a high work rate… The HAL will be poorer without him…

~~~~~
KB

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Vicentin said | December 15th 2009 @ 10:11am | Report comment

Thanks for the article Tony. I remember seeing a profile on TWG when Vignaroli first started with the Jets and I looked at the training facilities etc and wondered how this guy would cope – quite a change one imagines from the life he would have had with Lazio or even with the more provincial clubs in Italy. He does seem to have given the impression that he wants to fit in and wants to give it a proper go etc – certainly not a mercenary, so it is very disappointing for all if this is a career-ending injury. I of course wish him all the best.

The concept of the marquee that you raise is an interesting one. I think when Culina was trying to get Philip Cocu to Sydney a lot of it was about bringing someone who was a great “professional” to the club who could teach the locals a lot (of course he was a great footballer too) though some complained that he wasn’t a big enough name.

Thanks for the link to the Elrich story, very sad but gives a great picture of the guy’s mental strength and generosity. Cheers.

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Tony Tannous said | December 15th 2009 @ 10:53am | Report comment

Vincentin, thanks for your comment, and it’s a great point about Philip Cocu. If you cast your mind back to the days of the NSL I’m sure you will have a hundred stories about Australian players who learnt a great deal from the many professional imports that came to our shores (I’m sure Viduka, Emerton and Tony Vidmar would attest to that)…attitude shouldn’t be underestimated, and I think A-League clubs across the board have made giant strides in this regard, this season.

Kudos to them all, even though many got it wrong in the first place.

I agree with whisky, it shouldn’t only be about the glamour, but about passing on knowledge/experience in a positive way.

I loved, for example, recently seeing Bridges offering advice to Rooney on how to and where to make runs. To me it was mentoring in practice.

As for Elrich, it’s little wonder the fans want him skipper next season. The Jets have a rule whereby they give the captains armband to the next man in line (who has been there the longest) and I think it’s Elrich’s turn.

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Tony Tannous said | December 15th 2009 @ 11:00am | Report comment

Thanks KB for your comments. It’s good to see the Jets at least bring in the right attitude after the failure that was Jardel.

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Griffo said | December 15th 2009 @ 12:52pm | Report comment

Want to add to the positive comments on this article Tony, and for Fabio. Earlier in the year I was lucky enough to meet someone who was training with Fabio: While no one had heard of him in Newie, the word was that his technique was unbelievable, and a nice guy as well. He has come across as a positive role model and has even stated that his desire after playing is to develop youth, in Australia if possible with the Jets. Lets hope that his delayed contract negotiations turn out positive, as he will be an asset to a region and country he loves far into the future if we show him that he is still needed even if his playing days are numbered. Another player the Jets could do well to look after is Tarek Elrich: as the next Captain-in-waiting, the club could do no better to gain player and community support than choosing a fine human being who is the first to stick his hand up for community engagement.

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