In a week in which we farewelled the talented trio of Holland, Jedinak and Rukyvtsya, as they followed the temptations of greener pastures abroad, A-League fans were stunned that arguably our most valuable Socceroo was turning his back on the riches of Europe to return to the local league at the peak of his powers.
As a devoted fan of the fledgling League, hoping to see the standard prosper and talent flourish, Jason Culina’s return home is the injection of energy the A-League needs.
After a slight plateau in the standard of the competition this season, Miron Bleiberg and Clive Palmer’s modus operandi focusing on glamour, pizzazz and limelight, is turning the Gold Coast into the Real Madrid of the A-League.
And with the North Queensland Fury cobbling together what seems to be a Sydney FC retirement village (Santalab, Middleby, Timpano, Busch and Pasfield have all signed up north), thank goodness for the Coast’s bravado and shrewdness as they inject new, fresh blood, rather than focusing singularly on pillaging from the stocks of the rest of the clubs.
It’s something Sydney FC might have considered last season before watching Adelaide, Queensland and Melbourne stride away under the influence of the Cassio’s, Hernandez’s and Miller’s of the league.
Nevertheless, with one eye on 2010, there’s a part of me that also choked on my weet-bix when I first read of the ‘Palmer raid’ to snare Culina.
With my A-League cap off and Socceroo top on, I shuddered at the prospect of the heart of our engine room eye-balling the likes of Michael Ferrante, Jamie Coyne or Terry McFlynnn in preparation for a World Cup.
One of our assets in 2006 was a side who feared no one because they’d faced the cream of international footballers, week-in, week-out in their domestic leagues, while other Asian, African and North American nations crumbled against the aura of their opponents who they idolised on television.
It’s six of one, half a dozen of the other. We want the league to prosper, but not at the expense of the Socceroos.
Well, Culina said enough was enough in Europe and has become a pioneer. Good luck to him for sticking to what he believes him.
His dream, like others, is for Australia to create a league that can become a benchmark players aspire to. Rather than dreaming from his European abode, he’s swallowed his pride to walk the walk and the league will be blessed by his presence.
So what of the other youngsters looking at the great yonder, jumping at the bright lights of Europe?
Good luck to them too. At the status quo, the league is not professional enough nor technical enough for the best young talent to reach their potential back home.
Like the Emerton’s, Bresciano’s and Grella’s, this crop have used the domestic league to graduate to the bigger stage to take them to the next level. It will be interesting to see how they cope, though, as only Jedinak has truly dominated the League on such a consistent basis before heading abroad.
His experience should mean he won’t suffer like Nick Ward, David Carney, Mark Milligan and Adrian Leijer before him, a crop of Olyroos who read their own headlines and begun to believe it – their careers temporarily crashing into a cul-de-sac as a result.
In the meantime, the new National Youth League means one star’s departure opens the door for another starlet to learn his trade. It’s certainly a work in progress, but provides a segue to the A-League that currently provides an eagerly contested competition for locals to aspire to.
Some of these kids might be no-names, but there’s nothing like energy and fearless enthusiasm. What about Kofi Danning on the weekend, or the breathless Tommy Oar for the Roar?
The league is not facing an exodus, nor losing disgruntled youngsters. Rather, Holland, Jedinak and Rukyvtsya have graduated, hopefully equipped, ready to tackle Europe.
If European scouts are scouring our shores, and European players are browsing Gold Coast real estate agents, then despite all the analysis, this league ain’t going too badly.
Here’s a team for the future.
VELAPHI
MULLEN (Adelaide) DeVERE (Qld) GOLEC (Syd) JAMIESON (Adl)
BARBIERO (Adl) KANTAROVSKI (Newc)
JESIC (Newc) GAN (Syd) OAR (Qld)
ROONEY (Newc)
Who has impressed you this year?
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