A few rants from football's underbelly

glass is half empty as usual J

Football is too big to be taken over by anyone. That's the advantage of having 204 nations playing your sport. If you've only got 10 ex-Empire countries then one big nation with money can run and control the game. I just think FIFA are a bit blinkered when it comes to International Leagues. The best way to bring the EPL down a notch or two is to sanction cross country leagues. Instead of just having 3 or 4 big leagues in Europe you could have 6 or 7, spread the money and players out a bit more evenly and clubs like Ajax, Benfica, Celtic etc will be a force again.

Ok, lets talk numbers with teen prodigies in the Premier League. If we look at some of the teenage players who made impacts when they were 18ish, the stats prove what I say is correct. Taken from the first six full years in the PL. (Includes all competitions as well: FA Cup and UEFA/CL) Steven Gerrard averaged 45 games per season (270 games) Michael Owen Averaged 42.8 games per season (257 games) Wayne Rooney Averaged 43.6 games per season (262 games) Harry Kewell averaged 39.8 games per season (239 games) And bear in mind, in Kewells first two seasons at Leeds (95/96 and 96/97) he played a grand total on 3 senior games. Wayne Rooney has in fact played more games in a year than Harry Kewell. Harry's record is 53 in 99/00, while Rooney played 55 in 05/06. For all the talk of Moyes "protecting" Rooney in his teenage years, he still played a heap of games, and at a younger age.

No problem, Harry, will just move next door to Everton and have a fantastic 09/10 season... ~~~~~~~ KB

Pity Harry Kewell was not a contemporary of Nathan Burns. In todays football climate in Australia he would not have left so early.Yes he loved playing football,but he would not have found himself in the dog eat dog world of English Football at such a tender age. Harry is a splendid example for any young Aussie to not jump the A-League football ship as a cabin lad. If he had started his career now, I've also no doubt his appearances for the Socceroos would be far greater than his actual tally. Best player this country has produced by far. Lets hope there's enough football left in him that we see more than glimpses of his real capabilities in the green & gold. I will remember Harry when his career is over as one a wonderful talent ,but two a reminder of what particular evolutionary stage football was at when he was blossoming. Not quite as embryonic as Craig Johnstons heyday,perhaps when he made his famous statement on Sixty Minutes, but not yet at the stage where players(overseas) or coaches were at the" Blood on the Wattle" stage to quote Arnie.

Sledgeross Rooney never played anywhere near the matches in a year that Harry did. He was a gifted 17 / 18 / 19 year old kid, who needed someone in charge who would not burn him out to young. I have seen it in all sports , a bloke in league by the name of Terry Parker was IMO the equal of fulton but the then coach of Balmain played him to much and after two years he never returned. There are also examples of coaches who have installed rest periods for their special young players, Man U , Arnsel, Real to name but a few. No O'Leary had a "Duty of Care" but sport winning and lack of player depth and building a club are all good reasons.

And lets not forget the paltry fee Liverpool paid for H in the first place. If anyone should be complaining, it should be the Whites! Also, Harry cant help if he is not picked. I would suggest he maybe could have played another 20-30 games if he was required to. Midfielder, I dont think OLeary flogged him to death as much as people make out. Remember he was an 18 year old prodigy who loved to play footy (much like Wayne Rooney). Yes, it does make them susceptible to injury later on, but remember these young blokes want to play.

Sorry Jesse, just one point. I believe the Kewell figure was arrived at by only calculating the matches he DID play. It removed the games he was injured for (a bad case of dandruff etc). Hence the enormous figure. It was one of those annoying tactics used by the British press to underline just what an enormous waste of cash Kewell was. But let's face it when you are looking at Liverpool and wastes of money, it's a Melbourne Cup field.

Nice hatchet job on Kewell.

So J, are you all for a squad of Brasilians to be naturalised and playing for India in the very near future. Perhaps the next ACL?? I'm with some of these other posters on this one.... interested to hear more of your angle, tho ; )

Jes don't get me wrong in that I am a Blatter or FIFA fan .............. but compare to UN and it works well. FUIFA's goal projects are considered among the best aid programs to poorer conutries. FIFA withs its 204 odd nations, all religions and so on I think on balance does a reasonable job and Blatter like all people of his type just spends his days sorting out what bushfire to put out and how to keep control. I actually hope FIFA can stop some media company getting control. But the Indian cricket is not a reasonable cpmprassion as it is a totally new game replacing a game that was / is on its last legs anyway. Also in India it will work not to sure about the rest ofhe world just yet watched some games and it is very boreing just watching guys try to smash balls. As to H, IMO H is the best Australian football player of any code I have even seen in my 54 years to date. O'Leary at Leeds flogged him to death and he has been injuried much over recent years at the Knob. H regardless of injuries, poor form & whatever his attitude may be, H has been one of those players who can cause consternation in the opposition. This alone makes him practically worth his weight in gold & it is not only the fear & confusion he creates around himself but the knock-on effect that has in the defence & general play of any team he faces that makes him such an asset. H now needs to needs to put himself in the shop window as it were, becasue finally Benitez can no longer justify him hanging around, .............BUT,...................... remember that H is also the player who has been picked to start in Champions Lge finals ............after long term injuries / absences precisely because of the magic he brings. H's form does not always indicate what may happen next, thus we are in the opposite position that so many defenders have been, nor sure what he might do but we’re hoping it is great! Jes please don't join the SBS anti A-Laegue team ............... so its a small budget ............ help the league mate ...........

"For this writer, football is destined to go down the path of the showy, thrill-a-minute Indian Premier League, which in recent weeks has completely hijacked cricket and will go on to irrevocably dampen the appeal of the international game as we know it." Are we on different planets? IPL showy? Yes! Thrill a minute? Hardly. The cricket has been mainly uninspiring and insipid. You think people non-Indians are rushing out to get their Delhi Daredevils jerseys, or Kolkotta Knightriders caps? Hardly mate. All T20 does is draw ignorant people to the game. Hopefully, some will become fans of the proper game, but if not, at least they get a bit of razzle dazzle I guess. Do you think Futsal would ever supplant the World Cup? Unlikely. I think you overestimate the success of the IPL. Get out amongst the punters and you realise noone really gives a crap about it. Its like "Big Brother", sure its exciting the first time, but people lose interest after a while.

Jesse, Wouldn't restricting the number of overseas players benefit the A-League? With less spots available abroad, wouldn't less players be choosing Europe over the A-League? My hope is that Australia adopts a similar mentality to many of our Asian counterparts (such as Japan) whereby the bulk of the national team plays in the domestic comp and only the superstars head to Europe.

Jesse, comparing the IPL with the A-League is like comparing the Pure Cup with the EPL. If I was equally adept with a cricket bat as with a football, I'd have to be insane nowadays not to stick with football. In sheer numbers alone, football leaves other sports for dead when it comes to providing opportunities for a professional and rewarding careers in sport. Salary cap or not, if I was good enough to play in the A-League, then I'd have to consider the huge number of possibilities there to earn 6 figure salaries, compared to, say, Cricket's Pure Cup. And if I turned out to be better than that and later on managed to go overseas, then obviously the big bucks I could earn in Europe as a footballer would make the IPL earnings pale into insignificance.

Jesse Thanks for a fascinating article. Like Sheek, though, I don't see how limiting clubs to a small number of overseas players is bad for the global game. If the stars of Brazilian football or African football or whatever are automatically going into the European game, sooner or later, the local competitions will be weakened. We will get to the stage the English premiership league will become the world's league. This is already happening. I would guess that many (most) football supporters in Australia are really more interested in the English league than the A-League. I hope I'm wrong. Sepp Blatter is not a lovable person but it seems to me he is on the side of the angels on this one. If I'm wrong I'd be interested in the reasons why.

Jesse, You are right about globalisation & megacities, but is it good for the world? Or for sport? I'm a bit old fashined & I don't like a lot of what I see happening. Man U & Chelsea are playing in the final of the European Champions Club Cup, or whatever. But how many of the 28 players (including reserves) are actually English, or even British? Maybe half a dozen? Tops? Is this really a good thing? I'm not a fan of Sepp Blatter, he's a snake oil salesman, & speaks with forked tongue, but he might be right. When is enough, enough? As a rugby union fan, I'm concerned that leading Australian players will increasingly head to the cash rich northern hemisphere clubs. Good for Britain & France, not good for Australia & new Zealand. Not good for International test rugby union. Personally, I don't care about 'restraint of trade'. It's not as if sportsmen are hard done by. Generally, many of them earn a good salary & a good life, especially in football. For me, transfer fees, salary caps & drafts are necessary to retain a sense of balance & harmony. So for a change, I say, "good on you, Sepp Blatter'. But it might be too little, too late. And unfortunately, rugby union is heading the same way as football. Sorry Jesse, but I'm out of step with you. Just because we're seeing globalisation & megacities on a huge scale, doesn't make it either right or good or beneficial to the majority. In fact, it's all designed to benefit the minority with the megabucks. Broadcaster Alan Jones has a saying, "I'm not outspoken, others are silent". The world often goes to pot because not enough people care enough or are brave enough to stand up & say what most of us are thinking. We just roll over & accept the status quo like the apathetic cowards we are. Consequently, we often get what we deserve! (I despise the IPL, by the way - must be an age thing).