Can the A-League survive as a selling league?
Columnist By Mike Tuckerman, 18 Jul 2011 Mike Tuckerman is a Roar Expert
- Tagged:
- A-League, Alania Vladikavaz, Brisbane Roar, football, Kosta Barbarouses
Good luck to Kosta Barbarouses. The 21-year-old New Zealand international has joined Russian side Alania Vladikavkaz from A-League champions Brisbane Roar, reportedly signing a three-year deal with the second-tier outfit.
Upon hearing the news, my first thought was to ponder whether Barbarouses knows exactly where Vladikavkaz is.
The city is the capital of the mountainous republic of North Ossetia, a war-torn region at the foothills of the Caucasus mountains perhaps best known as the scene of the brutal Beslan massacre in 2004.
While the Second Chechen War supposedly ended with the withdrawal of Russian troops in April 2009, a low-level insurgency is still in effect, with the North Caucasus region a tinderbox of separatist resentment and simmering nationalist sentiment.
I hope Barbarouses is handsomely remunerated because even if the creative talent walks straight into the Alania line-up, he may find the move to Vladikavkaz a jarring experience.
The city was bombed in 2008 and again in 2010, while two successive mayors were assassinated in a particularly bloody period of recent history.
On the pitch the North Ossetian club were crowned Russian champions in 1995, and this season they’ll play in the Europa League after losing a recent Russian Cup final to CSKA Moscow.
But when Barbarouses says he feels like the club are “one big family,” one wonders just how much information they really included in the brochure.
At any rate, the departure of the New Zealand international is significant from an A-League point of view because it represents the fact talented youngsters are willing to move pretty much anywhere if it means securing a European contract.
Even, it seems, to Vladikavkaz.
And with another A-League campaign still almost three months from kicking off, we can hardly blame those in the prime of their careers from wanting to get on with the business of playing football.
But if the A-League is losing players of the calibre of Barbarouses – to the Russian second division, no less – can Australia’s premier competition perpetually survive as a selling league?
Or does Barbarouses’ departure simply open the door for someone else to step up and fill the void?
Over in Japan, the J. League is also experiencing an exodus of talent.
Versatile Japan international Masahiko Inoha recently joined Australian duo Steven Lustica and Ljubo Milicevic at Croatian giants Hajduk Split, and Lustica’s story is surely the flipside of being a talented young player in the A-League.
Despite being one of the most highly rated young players in the country, the 20-year-old attacking talent simply couldn’t break into Miron Bleiberg’s starting eleven, with the controversial Gold Coast United coach telling reporters Lustica wasn’t “physical enough” to play a role in his squad next season.
It seems a case of “damned if you do and damned if you don’t” for certain young players sticking around in Australia, with the likes of Nick Tsattalios and Panny Nikas struggling to make an impact in their home country.
And with so much talk surrounding the future of established stars such as Harry Kewell, it’s little wonder so many young Australian players still head off to Europe with stars in their eyes.
In the case of Barbarouses though, I wonder if the volatile streets of Vladikavkaz are really a significant step up from the relative warmth of windy Wellington and balmy Brisbane.
And while I wish the New Zealand international all the best, I can’t help but hope to see the days when the A-League is viewed as a better environment in which to prosper than the bloody surrounds of a second division Russian club.
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- Explore:
- A-League, Alania Vladikavaz, Brisbane Roar, football, Kosta Barbarouses
July 18th 2011 @ 8:20am
Futbanous said | July 18th 2011 @ 8:20am | Report comment
Going to take more than 6 years of an underdeveloped A-League to change the “Starry eyed mindset” of some our younger players,but many are coming back so the signs are that the pendelum is swinging somewhat to the A-League.
Plenty of clubs around the world survive as ‘Selling clubs’ & personally as a Roar fan I’m glad to see we have recognised this facet of football through Ange.
Develop sell ,our clubs will never have the cash to be a big player on the world stage so we have to recognise our spot in world football & if we can ever match the second tier leagues of Europe I’d be more than happy.
Remember this when Kosta came to the Roar words such as “calibre” would not apply.
He only has calibre because he developed under Ange. Mitch Nicholls also has developed “calibre” under Ange ,but he has so far not got on the plane. So its not entirely a one way street.
If the club can pocket some moolah from development I see no downside if we keep producing a more refined finished player from the raw talent around.
In the case of Kosta I expect Kofi Danning to replace him & show why he was rated highly at SFC a couple of years ago.
Russia who knows ,it could be his making everybody responds differently to alien circumstances.
July 18th 2011 @ 2:42pm
Mike Tuckerman said | July 18th 2011 @ 2:42pm | Report comment
Some good points Futbanous but having watched Kosta’s improvement last season, I can’t help but wonder if he might not have been better served (development-wise, if not financially) sticking around for at least one more season in the A-League. As you say, perhaps Russia will be his making… but he’ll be thrown in at the deep end at a club chasing immediate promotion.
July 18th 2011 @ 3:42pm
Futbanous said | July 18th 2011 @ 3:42pm | Report comment
In an ideal world Mike I would agree with you.
In reality for me his performance wasnt consistent enough,thats one side of his development that needed some work,before he headed off.
But you cant stop em if they want to go,so I wish him all the best.
Some make it in Europe some dont as we know.
July 18th 2011 @ 8:21am
midfield general said | July 18th 2011 @ 8:21am | Report comment
Wow I wonder who is advising Kosta. I don’t know the full story but I have the picture of a naive young man being led astray by an agent with dollar signs in his eyes…otherwise why would you go and live in North Ossetia. I hardly think this will be a stepping stone to bigger leagues in Europe either.
Maybe a lot of footballer have anxieties about their financial status if they stayed in the A league, considering their short careers.
July 18th 2011 @ 8:27am
Futbanous said | July 18th 2011 @ 8:27am | Report comment
If his club gets promoted he will be playing in the 6th rated European League,so IMO even if he doesnt get any further he will still be doing well.
July 18th 2011 @ 8:36am
Boman said | July 18th 2011 @ 8:36am | Report comment
We need a longer drain,it’s as simple as that.
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July 18th 2011 @ 8:41am
Curtis said | July 18th 2011 @ 8:41am | Report comment
It’s a good move for kosta, his team is currently 2nd and heading towards promotion. Plus, he gets to play Europa league football.
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July 18th 2011 @ 8:50am
JAJI said | July 18th 2011 @ 8:50am | Report comment
Of course it can and it needs to do
Most leagues around the world financially survive on selling players to greener pastures. Lets face it – if the French, Dutch, Portuguese, Brazilian and Ukrainian leagues are surviving on mammoth transfers to the big clubs in Spain, England, Germany and Italy, with all their pedigree and rich history in the game then of course we will as well
What needs to happen is that the transfers need to be smart and we need to ensure the clubs get fairly compensated AND a percentage of future transfers for the player. Does anyone remember Mark Bresciano who went from Empoli to Parma many years ago in Australia’s highest value transfer of all time? Carlton back here, who ironically were broke, pocketed part of the transfer and it went to a Melbourne businessman
If players leaving Brazil at 18-19 for the “bright lights and big cities” of Europe then of course they will leave here as well. Whilst alot of the deals have been kept confidential I understand the money received for the sale of Langerak, the Roar trio of Zullo, Sarota and Kruse, the Amini deal and some of the sales to the Middle East have been solid financially – yet deals done by Sydney FC for Carney, Brosque have been a shambles
The one big advantge we have over the other codes is that the clubs can tap into these funds by selling players to a host of countries around as well which adds to revenue – something the other codes cant do. HOPEFULLY the owners of the clubs are ensuring decent money is being paid for our bright prospects
For example Luke De Vere – a great talent – leaves the Roar half way during the season for Korea – I hope given the club allowed him to take off before the end of the season the money received was ADEQUATE compensation?
July 18th 2011 @ 9:02am
Jones said | July 18th 2011 @ 9:02am | Report comment
No way. The A-League will continue to lose it’s best players to Europe (where the money is) and who can blame them.
July 18th 2011 @ 9:15am
cruyff turn said | July 18th 2011 @ 9:15am | Report comment
“Can Australia’s premier competition perpetually survive as a selling league?”
Well, it will have to find a way to do so, because I don’t see the current situation changing. On the flip side, the onus will then be on clubs to develop more young talent, and to look at how that talent is developed – which we hope will ultimately be good for the national team.
Mike, it’s interesting you mention Lustica, how he was considered by Bleiberg to be “not physical enough” for the A-League. I think Miron is using that as an excuse, because any player who is good technically (and Lustica is better than average) should somehow be accommodated. I wonder whether any other A-League clubs showed interest in signing Lustica, before he decided on Hajduk?
July 18th 2011 @ 3:48pm
Realfootball said | July 18th 2011 @ 3:48pm | Report comment
I saw Lustica play on several occasions. To be frank, he didn’t look anything special. I would be surprised if we becomes a full international for either Aus or Croatia. Whether or not Bleiberg was the issue is another question.
July 18th 2011 @ 9:18am
Kasey said | July 18th 2011 @ 9:18am | Report comment
Bruce Djite and Dario Vidosic(Just two off the top of my head) coming back to “get their careers back on track” is a sign we have a valuable tool here in Australia and the HAL is a viable alternative to those who “go too early” like perhaps Costa has.
July 18th 2011 @ 9:54am
cruyff turn said | July 18th 2011 @ 9:54am | Report comment
Very good point!
July 19th 2011 @ 9:56am
Kasey said | July 19th 2011 @ 9:56am | Report comment
This morning’s SMH has a Hassett article on Michael Beauchamp returning to SFC for exactly that reason:) To try to return to favour in the eyes of Holger Osieck…Take note Pim Verbeek:)
http://www.smh.com.au/sport/a-league/beauchamp-hopes-sydney-will-be-springboard-for-return-to-socceroos-20110718-1hlig.html
July 19th 2011 @ 1:03pm
whiskeymac said | July 19th 2011 @ 1:03pm | Report comment
mckain to adelaide
July 19th 2011 @ 1:49pm
Kasey said | July 19th 2011 @ 1:49pm | Report comment
Re: McKain to Adelaide…I haven’t seen anything official yet, but it would be a marvelous pickup if we did get him:)
I’ve been saying since Fyfey was sold to the K-League in January11 that our defence leaked too many goals and that’s what ultimately killed our chances of lifting the toilet seat…..We were all waiting for Rini to sign a CB or 2, so far we’ve signed Djite, Vidosic, Caravella and Dilevski, but McKain would slot in nicely to a CB pairing with Boogard IMO. That would also bringto 5 the number of recent internationals(**ed below) in the United first XI, withSergio ready to get a cap with Indonesia. I forsee a line up resembling this one:
—————Djite(*)———–van Dijk———
—-Slory——–Caravella———Vidosic(*)
——————–Usucar——————-
Cassio——Boogard—McKain(*)—–Dilevski
——————–Galekovic(*)—————-
Subs:
Birighitti(GK)
Mullen
Malik
Ramsay
Which for me appears to be a very strong squad and a team capable of tearing up the new season. Especially if Rini has been working withthem solidly for the last 2 months and next month ontactics and formation play prior to the October kick-off:) COYR
July 20th 2011 @ 6:45am
Kasey said | July 20th 2011 @ 6:45am | Report comment
And this is why I didn’t get OTT excited, you just can’t trust a news Ltd paper to get things right, Val here in ADL has a bad habit of jumping the gun to try to get the scoop, but has himself been scooped by the AUFC Fans at Wearethereds.com.au a number of times, most notably with the Coopers sponsorship:)
Stout Australian stopper signs (yesterday)becomes
Issues cloud McKain’s deal with Reds (today) but to make up for it he prints that AUFC are being linked with John Aloisi(the family is Adelaidean.
and a bonus new rumour that a so-called n Inter Milan Star( CALVIN Mbarga – who?) is interested in signing, but still Val name-drops Samuel Eto’o into the piece…rubbish the lot of it:( don’t read it, you’ll feel dumber as a result:(
Val reprints the Levchenko rumour…see what we have to put up with, tis why I never get OTT excited about a player until i see the obligatory coach & player photo holding a club scarfe or kit on the club website:)
July 20th 2011 @ 12:49pm
whiskeymac said | July 20th 2011 @ 12:49pm | Report comment
so there’s no strength to the story (also reported on SBS and a few other sites… http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/a-league/news/1065343/McKain-set-for-A-League-return) ?
if true, Adelaide wil have a reasonably good defence (if the all stay fit etc) to match its decent strikers/ mid. impressive goalies too – cld be a good year for the Reds.
July 20th 2011 @ 1:02pm
Kasey said | July 20th 2011 @ 1:02pm | Report comment
apparently its just a paperwork hold up between United and the Saudi club. He’s signed a pre-agreement for what thats worth. I hope he signs by the end of the week:) But I expect nothing in the odd world of football. As I said above, the addition of McKain would round out a very nice first XI. Rini Coolen being the dutchman that he is could likely use a bench defender like Mullen on the Right Back slot, moving Dilevski inboard in the event of injuries to our back 4. Osama Malik provides a very handy midfielder to come on in the last 20 odd minutes as n impact CAM. If McKain signs, I would say this is the best United squad assembled(in terms of overall quality) and one I look forward to watching in 2 months when the season finaly kicks off! that said, If McKain doesn’t sign, I’ll still be there, just hoping our paltry defence doesn’t sustain too many injuries:)
July 18th 2011 @ 10:06am
Titus said | July 18th 2011 @ 10:06am | Report comment
Yes, and we can make a lot of money on our investment doing so. Still early days though, need to start getting some million dollar trades and even multi-million.
July 18th 2011 @ 10:26am
Kasey said | July 18th 2011 @ 10:26am | Report comment
Imagine Djite has a stellar season for United this year and decides to try his luck again in Europe. That would mean Adelaide would potentially pocket 2 transfer fees for him. Langarak and Amini netted decent returns to both Victory and Mariners, I can’t see why if DJite nets 15+ goals in a red shirt this year we could pinch a cool million for him and even another good fee for Vidosic. United have already posted a modest profit, you’d have to think that big transfer fees would go further towards adding some cream on top of that. In the Melbourne Knight’s case, it only takes one player with a sell-on clause to build a whole home ground;)
July 18th 2011 @ 7:30pm
MelbCro said | July 18th 2011 @ 7:30pm | Report comment
The sell on clause did not build a home ground for Knights, where on earth did you get that from? We bought the land in North Sunshine in 1985 and the stadium itself opened in 1989.
July 19th 2011 @ 8:26am
Kasey said | July 19th 2011 @ 8:26am | Report comment
Geez, who’s a little touchy, no cigans to pick on to make you feel better? Croatia might well have bought the land, but who’s transfer fee to Dinamo Zagreb paid for the improvements to bring it up to NSL standard? For those playing along at home who might not have had he ‘pleasure’ of beeing an away fan at Somers St, the answer is written on the front of the main (only) Grand Stand. When ever I went to Knights away, I was always reminded of that great quote from Ben Kenobi as he and Luke Skywalker are looking downfrom the plateau towards the Mos Eisley (sp?) spaceport where they meet Han Solo. That and I knew I would get good cevapcici at HalfTime
July 19th 2011 @ 9:57am
MelbCro said | July 19th 2011 @ 9:57am | Report comment
Bring it up to NSL standard? We were playing at the Stadium for 10 years in the NSL before the viduka money came in from the Celtic deal. And the money from the Dinamo transfer did what exactly? Honestly what are you on about? Knights Satdium was built from the money out of the pockets of members of the Croatian community
July 18th 2011 @ 11:44am
Fussball ist unser leben said | July 18th 2011 @ 11:44am | Report comment
An interesting article appeared in The Age last week-end, with the observation that, Brasil, the country that exports the most footballers – and, the most successful international football nation – is now finding their talent drain is slowing and, in fact, some of their superstars are returning home to play in the domestic professional league.
In Australia, we seem to be experiencing the same pattern … i.e. football talent is still being exported, but the passage of talent is not one-way.
Brazilian players are still moving abroad, just not at the same exodus-like rates … many top Brazilians are returning home while still in the prime of their careers, where previously they’d milk every big European contract they could and then move back for a season or two in their mid-30s.
What’s more, they’re finding that – while they often earn less than across the pond – the gap is not as big as it was. And the non-financial benefits – no homesickness, the beach, the ladies, the culture – are pretty sweet, too.
With most European economies facing years of financial hardship, we may have seen the peak of the European football leagues and, perhaps, we will see the emerging football leagues in Asia, USA and Sth America start to flourish.
I see interesting times ahead in world football.
Source: http://www.theage.com.au/sport/soccer/a-league-of-their-own-20110715-1hi7a.html