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Some of modern football’s biggest names are in Australia at the moment, but whether or not the A-League can capitalise on that pulling power remains to be seen.
While Real Madrid, Manchester City, AS Roma and Liverpool give their superstars some much needed pre-season game time Down Under, the domestic competition is arguably undergoing a player drain.
Out of have gone international names such as Marc Janko, Damien Duff and Milos Dimitrijevic, while Australians such as Mark Milligan, Matthew Spiranovic and Nathan Burns have also departed the scene. The contrast of this situation to having Cristiano Ronaldo, Yaya Toure and Francesco Totti running around has once again thrust the issue of marquee players into the spotlight.
Indeed, it now feels like quite a while since the A-League excited the Average Joe sports fan with a big-name signing. Since Alessandro Del Piero, Shinji Ono and Harry Kewell, there has been a growing sense that the competition is due a box office boost.
Of course, there will be those who say the competition does not need the big names to thrive. Which, from a certain perspective is true.
Sydney FC, led by their wily coach Graham Arnold appear to have a sensible strategy in picking up players such as Janko and Filip Holosko, who may not have the highest profiles but still have plenty to offer on the pitch.
However, in order to take the A-League to the next level in terms of attendances, commercial partnerships and, crucially, a lucrative TV rights deal, the competition needs cut through to a wider audience. Like it or not, nothing provides that more than player of renown.
So the football purist, or at least those who want to be seen as one, will disparage the idea as a marketing ploy. It undoubtedly is, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t help the overall health of the competition.
Just as importantly, it doesn’t take a swathe of international superstars earning Aussie dollars by the bucket load to make a difference. One or two spread across the league is sufficient – not to mention economically prudent.
Melbourne City clearly have such funds to spare on a well-known addition to their strike force, and Georgios Samaras – who has been linked with the club – would fit that bill. The same goes for Dimitar Berbatov, who remains without a club since being released by Monaco.
Either Melbourne outfit would benefit greatly by luring Socceroos legend Mark Brescanio back to his hometown. His contract with Qatari club Al-Gharafa winds up soon, and he would naturally be a hit with the fans of either club – both of whom have their Australian marquee position vacant.
Sadly Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers failed in their attempts to lure Didier Drogba to the A-League. For the Sky Blues, Tim Cahill’s agent should be on speed dial if ever an opportunity arises to sign him, but he appears certain to remain with Shanghai Shenhua for now after a brief rocky spell.
For the Wanderers, with their cavalier persona and loyal legion of energetic supporters, former Italy forward Antonio Cassano could be an ideal fit, if the deal is right.
However, if any of these clubs are to sign a star, it will have to be soon.
The A-League has already lost out on high-profile free agents Andrea Pirlo, Steven Gerrard, Xavi, Kaka, Ronaldinho, Robinho and Drogba recently. Most of these players have instead decided to take their ability to draw in a vast audience to North America and China.
This is the type of opportunity the A-League needs to seize at this particular point in its growth. Hopefully one day soon it will have outgrown that need, but as the MLS – now in its 22nd year – demonstrates, there is still much scope for development.
While it is encouraging to have 80,000 people in awe of Ronaldo’s infinite number of stepovers during a friendly at the MCG, it is so much more valuable to have players of repute lifting the profile of the game in Australia for a full season or two. That, in turn, opens up doors in the future; doors which were never previously accessible.
There are plenty of eyes on Australian football, whether they remain fixed in this direction remains a lingering question.
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