Money robbing the A-League of local talent
Columnist By Davidde Corran, 15 Mar 2010 Davidde Corran is a Roar Expert
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- A-League, FFA, football, michael theoklitos, sasa ognenovski
Socceroos Michael Theoklitos team training in Canberra, Tuesday, March 3, 2009. The Socceroos will play Kuwait in the Asian Cup qualifying match at Canberra Stadium on Thursday. (AAP Image/Alan Porritt)
I doubt many were surprised when news broke last week that Michael Theoklitos had finally parted company with Norwich City after a nightmare stint.
The former Melbourne Victory goalkeeper, who has since decided to return to Australia by signing on with Brisbane Roar, had been out of favour with the Canaries since his horror debut at the start of the season ended in a 7-1 loss.
Nice guy ‘Theo’ was a reliable player for the Victory, but his trouble in England’s third division begs the question: how good of a player is he?
Despite genuine interest last year from Everton and two A-League Goalkeeper of the Year awards, Theoklitos was never head and shoulders above any of his fellow Australian number ones.
He went to England with the desire to try his hand at European football as well as dreaming of richer pastures. In the end, Theoklitos seems to have come up short on both counts.
Theo’s story got me thinking again about the masses of medium quality Australians who are playing in domestic competitions overseas and why they are there.
It’s a question that is even more pertinent in light of the fluttering eyes from Australian football fans, pundits and Feyenord following Tommy Oar’s performance for the Socceroos last week.
Of course there are the top tier of Australian footballers who need to be playing overseas as well as the more talented youngsters who head to Europe (and slowly Asia) to develop their game. Beyond them however is a large amount of ordinary players in ordinary leagues.
The inconsistent performances from the likes of Rostyn Griffiths, Adam Hughes and even Mile Sterjovski since they’ve returned to the A-League prove that these players aren’t beyond A-League quality. So is it because they don’t want to live and play in Australia? Every single one of them will tell you the answers to that question is no.
Then why aren’t they coming back?
Recently I got to spend a few weeks in South Korea and caught up with Sasa Ognenovski for an interview that will air on The World Game in the coming days.
When I broached the topic of why South Korea’s K-League manages to keep most of its local talent when there is a constant stream out the door of Australia, Sasa was forthright.
“A lot has to do with what their managers say to them,” Ognenovski explained.
“In Korea when an older person tells you something that’s pretty much how it’s going to be.
“They’re happy to live at home, earn decent money and if the opportunity comes where they can move on to a bigger and better league then they go.
“But they don’t just go out and find a team in Romania or Bulgaria or wherever it might be just for the sake of playing in Europe.
“For them they’re earning decent money here and I don’t think any Aussie would leave Australia if he was earning the amount of money he’d be earning anywhere else in the world.”
Excuse the pun but Sasa was right on the money. At the end of the day, while the A-League can’t come close to competing financially, players will still leave and not come back until another life factor other then money draws them home.
All of which makes Football Federation Australia’s continued refusal to accept the “3+1” rule or an Asian marquee system all the more saddening.
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- Explore:
- A-League, FFA, football, michael theoklitos, sasa ognenovski
March 15th 2010 @ 3:32pm
Realfootball said | March 15th 2010 @ 3:32pm | Report comment
Towser, Rob Baan was in charge of the Olyroos for most of the qualifying campaign, and the team’s performances dipped as soon as Arnold took over.
All the evidence is that Arnold is, if not incompetent, irretrievably mediocre. He was the wrong choice for the Mariners, who badly need a bit of sparkle. Arnold’s refusal to face the press after the Olympics said nothing good about his character. Gutless is the only word that applies.
March 15th 2010 @ 3:59pm
Punter said | March 15th 2010 @ 3:59pm | Report comment
There is no doubt that Arnold is not an international class coach, but if after years of being under Guus & Pim at the national level, we cannot get a very good A-League coach, then either the system is wrong or Arnold is totally useless.
I for one am glad to see Arnold given a chance. He may fail, but this needs to be the transition positions.
I would love to see the likes of Van Egmond, Okon or Tony Vidmar given the chance to work under the new int’l socceroos manager for the next 3-4 years & hopefully we will introduce more Aussie coaches into the A-League.
It’s Mitchell, Mckinna (great for CCM though) & Ferguson who are poor choices for the A-League.
March 16th 2010 @ 7:45am
Realfootball said | March 16th 2010 @ 7:45am | Report comment
That is harsh on Ferguson, who has a top class playing pedigree and did well in his first year with a very limited squad at Nth Queensland. Agree on Mitchell, though. He has had plenty of time now and Sage needs to to move on to another coach who can get the squad performing as its talent indicates it should.
I hope Arnold succeeds at CCM, but after McKinna he was the wrong man for a club that needs a fresh direction.
March 15th 2010 @ 4:23pm
Towser said | March 15th 2010 @ 4:23pm | Report comment
For the record Arnie took over the second phase of qualifying from Baan.
So Baan 8 matches Arnold 6 matches.
Heres the results:-
Team Opponent Score Time/Date
(Local) Time/Date
(AEST) Venue Links
Qantas Under 23s DPR Korea 1 – 1 5.00pm / 21.11.2007 3.00am / 22.11.2007 Pyongyang (DPR)
Qantas Under 23s Iraq 2 – 0 7.00pm / 17.11.2007 5.00am / 18.11.2007 Bluetongue Stadium, Central Coast
Qantas Under 23s Lebanon 0 – 0 1.00am / 18.10.2007 11.00am / 18.10.2007 Beirut (LEB)
Qantas Under 23s Lebanon 3 – 0 7.00pm / 12.09.2007 5.00am / 13.09.2007 Bluetongue Stadium, Central Coast
Qantas Under 23s DPR Korea 1 – 0 7.00pm / 08.09.2007 7.00pm / 08.09.2007 EnergyAustralia Stadium, Newcastle
Qantas Under 23s Iraq 0 – 0 2.00am / 23.08.2007 9.00am / 23.08.2007 Doha (QAT)
Qantas Under 23s Jordan 4 – 0 8.00pm / 06.06.2007 6.00am / 07.06.2007 Amman (JOR)
Qantas Under 23s Iran 3 – 1 12.00am / 16.05.2007 10.00am / 16.05.2007 Adelaide
Qantas Under 23s Saudi Arabia 1 – 2 12.00am / 18.04.2007 10.00am / 18.04.2007 Damman (KSA)
Qantas Under 23s Saudi Arabia 2 – 0 7.00pm / 28.03.2007 5.00am / 29.03.2007 Adelaide
Qantas Under 23s Jordan 1 – 1 7.00pm / 14.03.2007 5.00am / 15.03.2007 Adelaide
Qantas Under 23s Iran 0 – 0 3.00pm / 28.02.2007 1.00am / 01.03.2007 Tehran (IRN)
Qantas Under 23s China Taipei 1 – 0 12.00am / 14.02.2007 10.00am / 14.02.2007 Taipei (TPE)
Qantas Under 23s China Taipei 11 – 0 12.00am / 07.02.2007 12.30am / 07.02.2007 Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide
So Arnie took charge from Iraq 23/8/07. Cant see any difference in results to Baans. Maybe you could argue style,but results no difference.
March 16th 2010 @ 7:50am
Realfootball said | March 16th 2010 @ 7:50am | Report comment
Agree that my comment was a qualitative perception, rather than results focussed. Certainly the football under Baan was, in my view, more fluid and assertive than under Arnold, where there was a general tendency to play deep defence then hoof it long. The Olyroos looked a much better football team under Baan.
I still can’t forgive Arnold for not facing the press after the Olympics. Well, there’ll be no hiding if CCM go belly up again this season.
March 16th 2010 @ 9:40am
clayton said | March 16th 2010 @ 9:40am | Report comment
I don`t think clubs should spend money they don`t have.
I`d like to see the “Aussies overseas” list grow even further tbh. Be nice if they weren`t playing non-league football or the greek 4th division or whatever …