Kristian Sarkies (left) and Billy Celeski in action during Hyundai A-League replay match between Melbourne Victory v Adelaide United at Telstra Dome, Melbourne, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2009. AAP Image/Raoul Wegat
As much as anyone I want to see Jason Culina and his fellow “Returning Roos” in the A-League, scrapping it out with home-brand players in what promises to be our most interesting domestic football season yet.
Their profiles are good for the game, good for exposure, good for advertisers, good for fans.
My issue, however, is that some time ago I came around to Pim Verbeek’s way of thinking: that it was in our nation’s World Cup interests to have as many national-team players as possible contracted with European clubs.
Now the Socceroos coach has done a complete U-turn – the A-League supposedly will do – yet hitherto I haven’t seen any compelling evidence for why.
Have you?
Have things really changed that much since Verbeek declared the Australian league was inferior to a Bundesliga training session?
Most of the coaches are the same or at least the same sort of quality. Australian clubs couldn’t get to the quarter-final stage of the Asian Champions League in this year’s competition. The salary cap, as I argued a couple of weeks ago, is still inadequate to compete with rival leagues in Asia and good local players are still taking the first opportunity to leave no matter who comes knocking.
Is the football more free flowing, European? Or is it the same, hoof-it-up-the-guts, hack-the bastard-down brand we’ve all come to know and loathe?
I’m not entirely sure what it is, but I’m hopeful if not certain we’ll see some better football in 2009/10.
Perth Glory showed glimpses of how good they can be late last season. Gold Coast has demonstrated it has a bit of flair. Sydney FC look like they have shed the straightjacket John Kosmina put on them. Branko Culina, a man who dresses like Miami Vice never went off air, will make an imprint on Newcastle and has already flagged his intentions by giving Kaz Patafta license to thrill. Melbourne and Brisbane can be exciting in spurts.
The others – Central Coast, Adelaide, North Queensland and Wellington – will likely underwhelm.
Perhaps, though, the A-League really has hit its straps with all these players coming back and Robbie Fowler playing for the Fisters. Perhaps Verbeek, who is rarely wrong, is right to have confidence in it.
Perhaps the Socceroos won’t be affected by having so many of its squad playing back home.
They are all topics that can be debated till the cows can home. The only thing that is damn near irrefutable is that the A-League is here to stay. In five seasons it’s established itself as a sporting competition that more and more Australians are starting to watch, follow, and, most importantly, care about.
I’ve been feeling the A-League’s absence in my life these past few months far more than the EPL or ACL and even missing the commentary team from Fox Sports, which is saying something. And if this scribe can get nostalgic about Ang Postecoglou, it has to be half alright.
Pippinu
Roar Guru
mid no - I wouldn't say we're there!
Pippinu
Roar Guru
I didn't mind the Fury v SFC game (and admit to being wrapped when Spagnuolo won the pen to tie it up at 2-2, but I'm not sure what the Fury keeper was thinking late in the game). The Fury left massive gaps at the back, but I liked the way they went about it. I thought their wide players were pretty good too (although they lost a bit of zing when Robinson replaced Spagnuolo). But if I were to be perfectly blunt - you really could't describe it as a quality game (but I certainly enjoyed watching it).
Midfielder
Guest
Just quietly (well, not really), Hal 5 is going to own all before it. The quality on display in the 4 games thus far has been superb.
Midfielder
Guest
Pip & M87 http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e328/MrCelery/NoOne.jpg
Midfielder
Guest
Pip Is it this bad ... is the league on ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOpErJWSIg0&feature=related
Midfielder
Guest
melbvictory87 Yep .. replace with Kiwi ones..
Midfielder
Guest
Luke You defense of the Mariners would look good reported on Newcastle forum...
melbvictory87
Guest
we really need to stop letting scottish coaches run our teams.
Pippinu
Roar Guru
Luke you oughtta be getting stuck in to them big time - they deserve it!!
Pippinu
Roar Guru
Chook I'm just a domestic engineer.
Luke W
Guest
Bit harsh. The Victory have the best support in the league by a country mile. Every other team would give their marquee away for the support the Victory get.
Luke W
Guest
At one point in the game (and probably numerous others I missed), Simon in the front line was actually about ten to fifteen metres in his own half. Now he could be forgiven for tracking back and helping out the midfield, but he was actually holding the front line ten to fifteen metres in his own half!
Luke W
Guest
Completely agree Pip. I'm actually a massive Jets fan, so I just gave myself an uppercut for defending the Mariners in the above post.
chook
Guest
Give it time lads the A- League has heaps of potential and with potential you have to let it grow and develop. Just keep supporting the A- League and it will develop, it a bit like long term investment it has it ups and downs but over 20 - 30 years the trend it up. Pippinu you sound bitter from the loss, yes it embarassing but build a bridge and work out a way to win they have the staff, the players and the money the only real draw back it the supporters
chook
Guest
I knew CCM where gay
MVDave
Guest
KB :) Our time will come! The Jackal will return...l bet he felt like he was playing in Scotland last night...a bit confused probably wondering who 'wee man' was?
Art Sapphire
Guest
Everyone had a bad game Pip. Lets put it to the in the dustbin of history and move on.
Pippinu
Roar Guru
Art don't you start with the long ball cliches!! (although there was a small period last night where it was quite endemic). To be honest, there were a few times when Carlos was free, and he showed uncharacteristically poor touch, so let's just hope it was an off night. But - there were a couple of times when blokes like Billy could have found him unmarked with a simple ball, but he went alone - we can do without that sort of bull shit.
Art Sapphire
Guest
KB - I am almost inclined to believe you but: El Zorro no a speaka da Portuguesa, he a speaka da Spanish. He also has a neck strain from looking at all the balls going over his head last night. :)
MyGeneration
Roar Guru
And a Spaniard got sent off for diving, as I recall. A very enjoyable game (the crowd atmosphere was great - I was sitting next to the Brazilians, yehah!)