Gold Coast players react after Jason Culina scored in the 59th minute to put the Coast 2-0 up during the 1st round A-League football match between Brisbane Roar and Gold Coast United at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)
“Not again.” Two words I’ve muttered twice today thanks to a couple different articles. The first was in regards to a blog on The World Game from Jesse Fink. As well as being a fellow columnist on The Roar, Fink regularly gave me his time on my former SBS Radio program and is a writer I have a lot of respect for.
While I disagree with his stance on Richard Porta, I suspect we might have had a similar reaction to the second of those articles.
You see, I was left feeling rather empty by some comments made by A-League chief Archie Fraser this week.
When asked about the Professional Footballers Association idea of an ‘Asian Marquee’ by The World Game, Fraser was quite dismissive.
“Another marquee player is not on the agenda,” explained the A-League supremo. “There have been some discussions on the issue but our feeling is it would create a gap between those that could afford it and those who couldn’t at a time when we are still building and developing the league.”
Fraser adding that “the bottom line is the league is in its fifth year and clubs are looking to build sponsorships and attendances and financially this just isn’t the right or most prudent time to be taking such measures.”
Cue the disappointment I know is being felt right across the Australian football community.
In truth, Fraser makes a reasonable argument but A-League clubs aren’t building on sponsorships and attendances. The clubs are barely struggling to hold on to what they’ve got.
Despite this season’s expansion and some high profile signings, for many, excitement is being dampened. Why? Because when club’s can’t even hold onto a squad player like Anton Kovacic you know something’s wrong.
Unlike Fraser and Football Federation Australia, I don’t believe a second Marquee spot will make the league one sided.
The A-League doesn’t have the reputation to even come close to drawing in world-class players. Not to mention that the A-League clubs that might be able to afford a second marquee can’t offer the salaries required to get them here.
For those reasons the quality of player a second marquee would bring in would be higher then your average A-League player, but they wont single headedly ruin the competition’s competitiveness.
There’s another side to this, as well.
The beauty of an Asian Marquee player isn’t just that it would enable us to sign Asian players who would be otherwise out of the A-League’s salary constraints.
The rule, which could also be used to sign an Australian player, would also work as a defence against the continued player drain out of the A-League to Asia.
If a high quality player is being tempted by big money overseas, the A-League club in question would have an avenue to fend off the interest.
Tell me it wouldn’t be worth Gold Coast United backer Clive Palmer’s money to go as close as he can to matching an offer from Saudi Arabia for Shane Smeltz?
Beyond that, an Asian Marquee spot could help clubs sign more ‘returning Socceroos’.
While it’s still unknown if Mark Viduka ever wants to play football again, he would be a better chance of playing for a Melbourne based A-League club if they weren’t restrained by the salary cap. It would be just what Melbourne Victory need right now both on the pitch and in the stands.
In the story on The World Game Fraser also mentioned that “Right now (FFA) are more concerned with managing expansion, and making sure that’s done in the most sustainable fashion.”
Well, what’s the point of expanding a league’s size if you can’t sustain its quality as it is?
Last year, with expansion looming on the horizon, concerns were already rife about the depth of playing stocks before the 3+1 rule was introduced. Now the player pool clubs can draw from has shrunk and is continuing to do so.
In protecting expansion and not the quality of players we have in the A-League at the moment, Football Federation Australian has got its priorities wrong.
I would rather a high quality ten team competition then what we’ll see dished out next year if the player drain continues.
ajb
Guest
I honestly think a ten team league is the best number so long as the FFA have the money to prop up the 2 or so teams that are in trouble to prevent them folding. I think clubs/FFA need not just survive, but have the finances to STRONGLY engage their local market to grind out a share of community interest. Sadly with GCU this hasn't really happened this season and there are a few other clubs that are struggling i.e. the roar. What they should have done is set higher standards (in terms of $$ and quality (see hearts)) and let the 4 or 5 prospective expansion teams battle it out rather than just granting licences pretty much the first teams that wanted them. That way they'd have good demand to back asking bidders for larger financial guarantees. Whatever the case we should be learning from the MLS.
Saji
Guest
I think there should be a Socceroo/returning Socceroo marquee in addition to the main marquee player and youth marquee. A Brett Emerton or Vince Grella would put extra bums on seats (although not as many as Robbie Fowler). I think the Asian marquee would promote the A-League in Asia and be good for attracting Asian sponsors but wouldn't improve the league's standard much (we just can't afford the best Asian players). Nor would it put more bums on seats because the average football punter here doesn't even know that Yasuhito Endo is Asian player of the year. Furthermore, all marquee players should be subject to the FFA approval (similar to what they do in the MLS). The FFA should publish a set of criteria that each category of marquee player must meet. This would prevent clubs just putting their highest paid player and highest paid Under 23 player on marquee status just to exclude them from the salary cap. Also, I think the FFA should pay part of the marquee player's salary just like the MLS pays part of David Beckham's salary. This way all clubs can get a Robbie Fowler or Dwight Yorke and it rewards the club for courting a player that meets the outlined criteria.
Realfootball
Guest
The television landscape is changing fast, with the FTA networks adding digital channels right left and centre. The word is that Ten's ONE is very interested in football. Yes, at the moment Fox are the only operation with the airtime to screen the games, but that situation is not set in stone.
Pippinu
Roar Guru
I agree that if the Socceroos are added to the anti-siphoning list, Fox would have the FFA by the short and curlies in regard to the A-League. But I think it's a bit far fetched to suggest that that will be because of the 3+1 rule. There are many factors at play here, before we even get down to examining the 3+1 rule.
Davidde Corran
Roar Guru
md by the time of the next TV rights deal it will be too late. In fact it's hardly going to be a negotiation. There's only one party who can afford the rights (both financially and with the air time to broadcast them live) and that's Fox Sports. What we'll see is Fox Sports saying we'll pay x amount of dollars and FFA being forced to tow the line. The current deal includes the Socceroos World Cup qualifiers and that may not be a possibility next time thanks to them being added to the anti-siphoning list. So why should that deal increase significantly? Yes the product is worth more then what Fox Sports is paying but who else will offer that sort of money? FFA aren't helping the matter by making access to players, coaches and officials from the A-League and Socceroos almost exclusive territory for Fox Sports. The game just doesn't get the kind of coverage it could otherwise. You need to spoon feed the media and, at times, FFA starve it. Ben Buckley and co need to act now. We need a product that is exciting and entertaining not just 'competitive'. Five nil-all draws a week is a sign of both a close competition and a bad one. A 4-3 victory which saw awful defending and sloppy goals is almost as bad. The standard must rise not drop and the 3+1 rule is making that a hard thing to muster.
Realfootball
Guest
Ah yes, the Roar's ticket prices. How to knacker a club in easy lesson. They haven't had the FFA bailout yet, though. Be a good thing, actually, given the fact that it would mean the idiots who put in place the current prices would no doubt be shown the door.
OzeToon
Guest
Fantastic story- the a league is in trouble with crowds IMHO up here in brissie that is mainly to do with ridiculous ticket prices. At the current crowd I have no idea how the roar could possibly spend more on players, especially after needing a bail out from the FFA last year.
Realfootball
Guest
The bright new dawn of the A-League is fading. I suspect that the FFA is going to have to be very proactive in keeping the competition alive and interesting - and that includes ideas like Asian marquees, which seems to me to be an absolute no brainer. The League needs it, and it would help us enormously in Asia.
md
Guest
I suspect the issue may be re-visited after the next TV rights negotiation. Organic growth won't provide the sort of funds necessary for all clubs to be able to afford this. Really, there's only 3 clubs using the marquee position properly (and one of them just admitted to a $50K per week loss) - until there is a majority of clubs actually attracting marquee status players, there is no point in allowing clubs to try to attract additional marquee status players.
AndyRoo
Roar Guru
But is that a product of their environment or what causes it. I think it's most likely because of the way the game is run (reading how players are treated in China and Malaysia) take a talented and hungry kid out of that environment and you might see a different result.
Robbos
Guest
Good post Andrew I agree, build it!!!!
AndrewM
Guest
This is a long term view.. It is like building a house.. You must get your foundations right first, expand as much as possible, ie 12 teams, then worry about the finishes to what you have just built, ie your player quality etc. Don't forget clubs are spending money on youth development, with the advent of yet another marquee player that money would be better spent in our youth.. look at the players that have come out of the youth system in such a short time?? Imagine what will come in the next few years? Danning or Zura? list can go on. Cmon I am sure you can see that spending more money on marquee players can WAIT, until the league can afford to do so.
David V.
Guest
And Singapore's Duric, Wilkinson and Bennett are as "Asian" as Smeltz and Culina ;) :P
dasilva
Guest
I think Smeltz does have australian citizenship and would have been able to play for australia if he wasn't already locked in for New Zealand. Although I'm not too sure the asian rule would be valid for players who are elegible for an asian national team or is it players who have citizenship for Asian countries.
David V.
Guest
No it means that Malaysia's players are unfit and poorly disciplined, and have a disgustingly lackadaisical attitude to playing the game. That's been part of the problem with Malaysian football for years.
FIsher Price
Guest
Does Smeltz even qualify as Asian? Culina, of course, would...
AndyRoo
Roar Guru
That's why I suggest the Visa rule rather than the Marquee change. I even said I understand why coaches go for players from traditional areas is becasue it's less of a risk on the field. That's why creating 2 spots that can only be Asian players makes it more worth the risk. Your then comparing what you can get in Asia for your money as opposed to what you can get in Australia. The fact that Malaysian football is poorly run is an oppurtunity. It means players may be relatively underpaid or more likely to move. So while we lose our best players to Japan we are also an attractive destiantion for those below us on the pecking order. Asia is our confederation now not oceania. There is much more upside off the park to attracting Asian talent here.
David V.
Guest
But are you ever guaranteed quality recruiting from Asia, and especially SE Asia? Mentioning Malaysia dampens credibility- that country is a football basket case and even Oceania nations might be a better bet. Proven players from Europe and South America are still the safest options.
cab711
Guest
Good point and look what happened to North, he followed the Won and has been found out as a mediocre player getting splinters in his arse on the bench. Fury dodged the bullet on that one and I feel Matheson got a little hard done by the Jets and North. I even heard he may come back for a guest stint with Fury.
cab711
Guest
In essence lets just call it what it is then, raising the salary cap. If all the second marquee spot will be used for is to keep an existing player on the roster by offering him more money shouldnt they just raise the salary cap then. Lets create some real debt.