Australia’s Tim Cahill wins the ball against Abe Yuki of Japan. AAP Image/Joe Castro
The same day New Zealand international Shane Smeltz was turning his back on Chinese side Shandong Luneng, Socceroos striker Josh Kennedy was doing what he does best – scoring for Japanese outfit Nagoya Grampus in the J. League.
Kennedy stooped to head home a superb cross from Japan international Marcus Tulio Tanaka with just under a quarter of an hour remaining in Nagoya’s 1-0 win over Omiya Ardija at a packed Omiya Park, as the lanky target man once again proved the difference for his side.
Kennedy is clearly enjoying his football in Nagoya, and why wouldn’t he, if the capacity crowds and constant adulation are anything to go by?
Of the nine games played in the Japanese top flight last weekend, four drew capacity attendances while the other five fixtures all saw healthy crowds pile through the turnstiles on a stiflingly hot summer weekend.
After a near-catastrophic drop in crowd figures during the mid-nineties, J. League officials have worked hard on marketing to ensure that local games are well attended, and Japan’s disappointing penalty shoot-out exit at the 2010 World Cup doesn’t appear to have quashed support for the domestic game.
Foreign stars like Kennedy and Shimizu S-Pulse defender Eddy Bosnar play their part, and how wonderful it would be to see more Australians ply their trade in Asia’s premier domestic competition.
The myth that the J. League is somehow an inherently inferior league is just that – a myth – and it seems to me that Kennedy’s team-mates at club level play to his strengths far more than his colleagues in the Socceroos ever have.
Both Kennedy and his in-form compatriot Bosnar – whose Shimizu S-Pulse side were held to a scoreless draw by Jubilo Iwata in the Shizuoka derby – have proved that it takes a battle-harded exterior to succeed in Japan.
Just ask Matthew Spiranovic, who wasn’t even in the squad as Urawa Reds went down to their hated foes Gamba Osaka in a typically frenetic clash that featured two red cards, an own goal and a Yasuhito Endo winner four minutes into stoppage-time – which arrived just seconds after Edmilson had equalised for the Reds!
Even J2 can prove a hard slog, with Mark Milligan’s JEF United thrashed 3-0 at home by northern outfit Consadole Sapporo in front of just under 16,000 fans at Fukuda Denshi Arena in Chiba.
Milligan’s dream of leading JEF United straight back to the top flight is already looking shaky, with local rivals Kashiwa Reysol streaking away in the division, leaving a promotion dogfight ahead of Milligan and his popular club.
It’s just a shame that access to Japanese football is so limited in Australia, although last weekend Setanta screened Kashima Antlers’ enthralling 2-1 win over Kawasaki Frontale, and will broadcast another fascinating clash between Yokohama F. Marinos and a fired up Gamba Osaka next time around.
Maybe it will simply take more Australians joining J. League clubs to convince fans both here and in Japan that there is a market for increased exposure to the Japanese game.
I’ll almost certainly be back in Japan before the end of the season, and I’m looking forward to watching some of the most technically adept and skillful teams in the region strut their stuff.
I regularly hear from fans that it will take “10 to 15 years for Australia to reach the level of the J. League,” but such a simplistic viewpoint fails to take into account the aspects of Japanese culture which make the league so unique.
The fanatical dedication to training, the emphasis on technical skills and the sheer loyalty of fans towards their clubs are all aspects that we can learn from in Australia.
What better way to learn than by a few more Australians heading over to Japan and experiencing it for themselves.
clayton
Guest
I know this thread is old news ... but I have a question ... Which of our players would the J-league want? Or what kind of players would they want? Considering the regeneration that has happened with the Japanese National Team, and thinking about some of the players who didn't make the cut, I figure there is some pretty good talent coming up through the ranks over here in japan, and some quality veterans have come back to japan before finishing their careers (guys like Nakamura and Inamoto and Ono), so I am wondering what kind of Aussie player they would want? Bosnar, a former Eredivisie centreback, and Kennedy, a former Bundesliga Centreforward are the current Aussies getting game time ... it could be really hard for someone to go from the A-league to the J-league (not in terms of talent, but because they don't seem that interested in players from lower leagues).
chocolatecoatedballs
Guest
you have a lot of international support, a lot of aussies though are very passionate about the politics there, i am sure you will rebuild pride and country alike, looking forward to go there later this year.
AndyRoo
Roar Guru
I didn't go into it but if the J league was to match it with say the Portugese league or dare to dream perhaps Holland I think it would be a good thing for the Aussies. It would be a destination closer to home for a top level career which would definitely have a lot of benefits.
Mike Tuckerman
Expert
I think the role that nationalism plays in the debate is also an interesting one. Virtually every response on here has (understandably) questioned the impact that Australian players moving to the J. League might have on the A-League and the Socceroos. But no one has mentioned the potential benefit that Australians moving to Japan might have on the J. League itself. That's fair enough, but don't we all watch the English Premier League? What do Australians say to a player like David Silva moving from La Liga to Manchester City? Or even a youngster like Danny Wilson joining Liverpool from Rangers? Not much, because we take it for granted that the best players are going to move to the best leagues, even if it weakens the league they've just departed. Much of the debate about Australians moving to Asian leagues focuses on what effect that will have on the Socceroos. But not a lot of it centres on what effect those moves might have on the Asian leagues themselves. I'm not saying that's right or wrong, or that we should think one way or the other - I just think it's quite interesting to see the effect that 'national interests' have on our ways of thinking.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Guest
cheers, CCB. It is indeed a marvelous country and I've had a little bit to do with the local football scene here though not as much input as I'd like. They have some significant structural issues that need to be addressed through longer term planning however things are slowly, oh so slowly, getting better.
chocolatecoatedballs
Guest
hey ben, i loved going to Cambodia, a great country, hope you can stop the anchor wat defilers! i remember going to a monastery inside a mountain it was truly beautiful and an image that will stay with me for ever. i appreciate your love of aust football and in return hope that Cambodia can regain their pride in theirs, as they used to be great footballers.
chocolatecoatedballs
Guest
spot on clayton. we have to wait for the kids playing in the small sided games to progress, as it has been a proven skill developing tool, see brazil, dutch. As hal teams need to keep a certain number of youth in a team, each hal side needs to sell players as the young always get older and a healthy cycle needs to keep going and generally i detest the big brother idea as it stifles individuality and identity for club and player.
Luke10
Guest
I must admit I did have to have a 2nd look at the replay to pick out Kennedy sporting his new short crop. Its an interesting observation Mike. Funny how its the opposite here in the J League. Japanese players are so reluctant to join overseas leagues to such an extent that in the entire history of the J League only a hand-full of Japanese players have played overseas. In Australia we are worried with all our good players travelling to play with foreign clubs, while in Japan you would have to prod local players with a red hot iron to get them to play overseas. Interesting that after the WC there are more Japanese players like Kawashima and Nagamoto now trying out in Europe. There will always people calling out for our players to remain in HAL. When a players professional career can be so short, why restrict their career to just HAL, why restrict them from expanding their horizons internationally as a player and as a person? For all these years the J-League has been able to keep their players in local clubs, while many of Australia's talent decide to apply their trade overseas. With contrasting issues, maybe there is something that FFA and JFA administrators can learn a lot from each other.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Guest
You are correct Clayton, we generally have supply side constraints that are a natural result of underinvestment over a prolonged period. This is being addressed however cannot be done all at once.
The word police
Guest
It's "Samurai Blue". That is all.
clayton
Guest
I know it could be better, but I was pretty happy with a lot of the A-league footy I watched last season. So I am not sure how much better the league would be with an infusion of Aussie players who are currently in minor leagues overseas. What if one of those older, more established players had kept Matthew Leckie out of a starting spot? I think that would be a pity. My feeling is that the A league`s problems are more about ticket pricing, active supporter relations, community relations, pitch quality, the quality of officiating, overly cautious coaching and a hesitancy in bringing through younger players. Talent level isn't one of the big issues for the A-league IMHO. I do like how the A-league gives players a chance to try to get their careers back on track at home if Europe doesn't work out for them, like with David Williams, Adrian Leijer, even the older guys who came back from Romania and Scandinavia.
Gibbo
Guest
"i certainly make some good points..." and you dont mind if you say so yourself!
Davstar
Guest
Fair point Art ill take that one still think you're wrong but ur last comment made a fair point even tho i couldnt find the reply button to put this under it.
Art Sapphire
Guest
davstar - You used some examples to critique my points and I in point form defended my position. I never stated that "all" players have to follow the same path. Football's a game of opinions. I like your passion for the game, but you write before you think. Football teaches you that you are never ever always correct. If you can't take that on board then stick with 442.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Guest
there is also this misconception that such a thing as 'Asian Football' exists in terms of style. South Korea and Japan are separated by a narrow stretch of water yet their football styles are very different indeed.
Davstar
Guest
It was a dumb comment no offense you’re clutching at straws to say players at the age of 21+ should go overseas because Honda found success is stupid and the fact you don’t have a structured argument to defend it other than you think it’s a idea proves it. Players develop at different speeds if you’re old enough your good enough. It’s not my fault you can’t acknowledge you’re wrong. You have to understand you can learn how to play anywhere but learning how to read the game and understand complex play can only really be learnt at top level football, because it is where you are forced to make decisions in a fraction of a second. Thus is why not many HAL exports have managed to succeed in europe because they cant adapt to the speed thinking required.
dasilva
Guest
That's not really fair on Asian Football Pim was a failure in Japan as he only coached a second division club and never got them promoted and he was a failure for South Korea because there was a player revolt in that side. He I think the performance of the two coaches from Japan and South Korea at the world cup was a pretty good advertisement on Asian football.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Guest
I thought of Eddie and it is a tough one as his formative years in football were in Scotland however his coaching career started, and predominantly stayed, in Australia (Sydney City was it?). It would be interesting to see if Vidmar would be able to land a J1 or J2 gig following his ACL adventures and his past association with Hiroshima (via the aforementioned Eddie). The same may be said for GA if he has a successful stint in Gosford.
jimbo
Roar Guru
Sorry Mike, I'd like to see them stay in the A-League for the good of the the game and its growth here. We already have 100 of our best young players warming benches or getting a few minutes of game time the whole season, even if they earn more money overseas. Its ruining their playing careers actually, to get so little game time and its ruining the A-League. If we had all the players who ever played in the A-League return here to play, what a tremendous boost that would be for the A-League and football in this country.
andy g
Guest
i cant say i agree with the article. i just dont think japan can offer enough for young players to go there rather than staying here. there are 2 reasons. the first is that we're just starting to get junior development right over the past couple of years - we need some of our best here. the second is that we dont want our players becomming experts in asian football. why? because asian teams dont win anything. we saw what happened when pim verbeek was national manager after a career in asian football - if thats the way we want to play football, the game will never reach its potential here. once we figure out our style, we need to keep players here as long as we can to learn it. success breeds success in terms of the a league. better players equals better football equals better crowds equals better money equals better players... and so on. we arent there yet - frankly, we're still at least a generation away - but the aim has to be for players not in top flight football in italy, england, spain, germany, france or holland to be at home. they shouldnt be in scotland or belgium or turkey or russia or japan, because our league needs to become the equivalent of those leagues