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Socceroos' Craig Moore, right, and teammate Tommy Oar model the new team jerseys in Sydney, Australia, Tuesday, April 27, 2010. Team officials say the new uniforms are the most environmentally friendly and technologically advanced in soccer's history. (AP Photo/Rob Griffith)
With the Melbourne Storm saga and other winter footy codes’ news stories dominating the headlines, the round ball game emerged from the shadows yesterday with the announcement of Robbie Fowler’s move to Perth, the latest twist in Adelaide United’s Asian adventure, and the unveiling of the Socceroos’ ugly new home strip.
Let’s start at the beginning and tackle each story in chronological order.
First up, with the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge as the backdrop, Craig Moore and Tommy Oar, two Socceroos at opposite ends of the career spectrum, unveiled the new home strip that our national team will be wearing in South Africa and beyond.
Two months ago, following the launch of the Socceroos’ new away strip, we agreed that the two-toned design, and the away colours, simply didn’t work and represent a step backwards from what they wore in Germany and in the subsequent four years.
As I wrote at the time of the away strip launch: “The two-tone design, with the unusual horizontal stripe across the chest, is a disappointing move away from the elegance and simplicity of the design, home and away, that we have become accustomed to seeing since Germany 2006.
“The new Nike design fails to inspire. It looks artificial, bland and tacky. It looks like a generic shirt you’d find at your local sporting store on sale for $19.95, worn by an over-35’s team in a social competition.
“When it comes to football shirts, particularly national ones, simplicity and tradition are best.”
The home strip is less offensive, with the traditional green and gold easier on the eye than the sky blue of the away strip, but the design itself just doesn’t work – particularly with that white horizontal stripe across the chest.
As I heard from a fan yesterday, it looks like a primary school PE uniform.
Give me the classy gold Socceroos design any day.
What is encouraging, however, is how the excitement for South Africa 2010 is building, with the Socceroos brand getting significant traction in the print, online and television media.
From Tim Cahill starring in national advertising campaigns to a noticeable increase in Socceroos related news stories appearing in the mainstream press, the momentum is building.
Also encouraging for the growing pulling power of the Socceroos was the ease in which SBS sold its advertising packages for its World Cup coverage, despite the awful times the matches will be beamed into Australia.
Despite the financial strain being experienced at the domestic level of the game, the Socceroos remain a powerful brand four years on from their heroics in Germany, despite being stuck on Fox Sports.
Following the Socceroos unveiling was the news out west that Robbie ‘God’ Fowler will continue in the A-League having signed with Perth Glory.
While it was a disappointment for Sydney fans (the other bidders for Fowler) and a bitter pill to swallow for North Queensland fans, the news should be welcomed around the competition for it keeps Fowler in Australia.
The Liverpool legend increased crowds everywhere he went around the A-League last season (apart from the Gold Coast, which had its own issues going on), and is a good match for the bigger market of Perth and will be wildly popular with the Shed and the large number of English ex-pats out west.
Fowler’s signing is an early vindication of the FFA’s new marquee rules, with Perth able to sign Fowler as their international marquee and keep Mile Sterjovski as their Australian marquee.
Their partnership up front, combined with the increasingly improving Glory squad from last season, should see Perth continue their progression to hopefully reach the level of interest and excitement experienced in their halcyon NSL days.
No excuses now for Dave Mitchell and Iain Ferguson’s men – it’s time for Perth to deliver in the A-League.
One team that didn’t deliver in the A-League in the season just past was Adelaide United.
Yet crowds remained supportive as the club rebuilt for their Asian Champions League campaign.
At Hindmarsh Stadium last night, Adelaide may have gone down fighting against Chinese side Shandong Luneng, but they progressed to the Round of 16 and sealed a home final following Sanfrecce Hiroshima victory over Pohang Steelers.
As news filtered through from Japan, the crowd at Hindmarsh went wild, despite the disappointment of the loss and signs that Adelaide is regressing back to it’s A-League form and its impotency in front of goal.
Their finishing was at times comical, and despite the addition of Sergio Van Dijk, Adelaide lacks the quality to provide him with the service he needs, with the exception of Cassio’s brilliant efforts last night.
Resorting back to their A-League long balls lobbed forward aimlessly tactic doesn’t bode well for their knockout stage hopes.
But in a season in which Melbourne Victory flagrantly showed a lack of respect to the ACL, Adelaide’s progression (for the second time) shows that Australian clubs can be competitive in Asia, and the competition can garner the interest of local supporters.
Over 10,000 fans turned out at Hindmarsh on a cold Tuesday night despite very little promotion of the game and significantly less media coverage in the build up to the match (the AFL rules in Adelaide and has stolen the limelight the Reds enjoyed over the summer).
In Adelaide, at least, the ACL matters.
It was a good day all round for the game…..bar one ugly shirt.