Australian Socceroos’ new coach Holger Osieck. AAP Image/Dean Lewins
We knew it was coming, but when Tommy Oar wasn’t named in the Socceroos squad for the Asian Cup, it didn’t make it any less annoying. Instead, while the Aussies are in camp in Qatar next month, Oar will be in the middle of the Eredevisie’s winter break.
FC Utrecht’s last game was a Europa League group stage tie, on December 15, against Liverpool at Anfield. They’re not back in action until the 19th of January.
His absence is both entirely necessary and completely avoidable.
When Qatar won the right to host the 2011 Asian Cup it took full advantage of a FIFA ruling allowing confederation events to be hosted in either January or July. January was predictably chosen due to the fact that your thongs stick to the sidewalk in Qatar in July (unless the sidewalk is air-conditioned).
Add that to the long list of things FIFA need to change immediately.
What sense does it make for a confederation event to be staged in the middle of the season for the majority of the leagues in the world?
This isn’t a continuance of the anti-Qatar campaign.
Half of Chelsea’s squad goes missing when the Africa Cup of Nations is held. It’s ridiculous.
Oar has fallen victim to poor scheduling.
The left-winger has produced some impressive displays for Utrecht and he has a bright future in Europe ahead of him. But leaving in the middle of their season is career suicide, and Socceroos coach Holger Osieck has done the right thing by leaving him out.
Tim Cahill can afford to leave Everton in the lurch because manager David Moyes would get the sack if he ever tried to transfer him. The Toffees faithful would riot in Stanley Park.
But the 19-year-old Oar is fighting for first team football and isn’t as fortunate as his compatriot.
If Oar left for a month or more, his manager Ton du Chatinier would no doubt find another youngster and focus on him. It’s harsh, but that is the way the football world works.
We haven’t seen enough of the former Brisbane Roar star in the green and gold. He should’ve played at the World Cup, but that was one of many mistakes Pim Verbeek made while in charge.
Sooner or later the cotton wool will have to come off and Oar will have to deal with the Harry Kewell-like hype.
Now, unfortunately, is not that time.
Tom
Guest
I can't believe I have to explain this, but when I said 'make the 23' I meant make the final squad. Not quite sure what you thought I meant or why he would be 'player 673456' in my eyes. All things being equal, Oar would have been doubtful at best. It doesn't matter how unique your skill set is if you're not playing for your club.
Twatter
Guest
Interesting observation Luke. My initial thought when i didn't see Oar's name was he cant get away from his club and Osieck new it if he did it could possibly be all over for Tommy in (Europe) thats Football. This is the unfortunate element to global football can you imagine the Asian Cup, The African Cup Of Nations, summer euroe's all being played at the one time sounds sensible but a nightmare for T.V.broadcasters and supporters of the game the world plays.
El Gee
Guest
Can I get some more soccer with my sidewalk?
Roarchild
Roar Guru
That's a pretty fair point as Oar (crossing and dribbling) and Ruka (pace) are good impact players.
nordster
Guest
sorry i don't get it either Luke... Why is January the wrong time for the Asia Cup? The main leagues in Asia are on a break, its our off-season in the AFC for most leagues. This isn't a UEFA tournament. Playing it in July would be wrong for the leagues in Asia. very sloppy piece agree with that.
Stu
Guest
The timing will hurt the Aussies during contract negations. Clubs will prefer European, South American or African reserves unlikely to see cup game time than Socceroos who will be missing for a month (hopefully more) from the season. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Luke, Where the heck do you think those players earn their spurs ?
Moonface
Roar Guru
The Asian Cup and the African Cup of Nations are FIFA sanctioned so clubs cannot hold on to players and its up to the player to decide. I think Oar's minders have convinced him its best to stay in Holland to get some more game time and some more zeros on his transfer price. If he stayed at Brisbane, he would be one of the first picked, make a big splash at the Asian Cup and get offered a better deal than he is on now in a better team. Who's noticing him sitting on the bench at Utrecht?
Luke Doherty
Roar Guru
I'm dead against tournaments during the major seasons so we're not going to agree. It's just avoidable so why do it? If a country can't host a tournament during the off-season window then that's unfortunate, but such is life (as ben cousins would say). This isn't anti-Qatar - it's anti fixture clashing. It wouldn't matter if it was Japan, India, Mars, Pluto or whatever. If you can't hold a tournament in the window available well that's just the way it is. But of of course this is just my opinion. I'm looking forward to a Qatari world cup. It will be first class and a chance to experience a different culture but I would also like to have seen then fulfill a promise to air condition stadiums etc. Would've been amazing.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Luke I honestly don't think most astute football managers would be turned away from signing an Asian or African footballer b/c he will be unavailable for a maximum of 30 days every 4 years (or every 2 years for players involved in the African Cup of Nations). 30 days "lost labour" every 4 years amounts to 2% of a 4 year playing contract ... perhaps, the Asian & African players already trade at a "2% discount"? I'm sure most forward-thinking European clubs also realise the millions of dollars extra revenue that international players - particularly, players from Asia - generate in international merchandise sales.
Luke Doherty
Roar Guru
It is sad that Ruka isn't in the squad and yes a mention of him wouldn't have gone astray. Like one of my posts above - he's someone who possesses a different skill set to the other strikers in terms of his pace. Holger needs options to respond to different situations and i believe Oar has an X-factor. He's not ready to start for the Roos but he's a great option at the 70 minute mark at this point.
Luke Doherty
Roar Guru
You're right. When players leave or should leave for Europe is an interesting question and one I don't believe has a hard and fast answer. It very much depends on the individual. Oar will receive better training in Holland - to think otherwise is blind patriotism. If it works he'll be a genius and if not then he comes back and starts again. Going to Holland is not the same as moving to Turkey. If he was swapping the A-League for just any overseas club then that's dangerous. But he's playing (or aiming to) in a respectable league.
Luke Doherty
Roar Guru
So those African and Asian players are now hindered in the transfer market just because they're commanded to turn up for international duty at a silly time every couple of years. Is that fair?
Luke Doherty
Roar Guru
Art - players would no doubt prefer to have their break in tact, but it lakes sense. I know that someone like Fernando Torres had a crazy 'off' season spell where he went from euro's to confed cup to world cup and so didn't get a break. But when a logical window exists for tournaments why not make that the only window over one that clashes with plenty of fixtures? I guess it depends what your definition of impressive is.
Luke Doherty
Roar Guru
I think it's less about whether Oar is in the top 23 and more about what his unique skill set can bring to the squad. He may be player 673456 in your eyes, but the ability to take defenders on and more often than not beat them is rare for the Socceroos. Holger needs people with different skill sets he can turn to. Not just 7 other midfielders who may be the same.
Anne Tenna
Guest
And when we hold the Asian Cup in 2015 in Australia it will also be in January which will be by far the best time to attract crowds and event volunteers...
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Moyes actually re-signed Timmy, with a new 4-year contract, just prior to the 2010 FIFA WC (May 2010). Timmy has been representing Australia in the Asian Confederation - for FIFA WC Qualifiers and Asian Cup Qualifiers - for the past 4 years, so I would have expected a senior professional football manager - even someone with David Moyes's limited football brain - to have realised what this means!
davelee
Guest
I'm sorry but IMO this is a very sloppy piece, building on that anti-Qatar sentiment at the moment. If you're having a go at the AFC for deciding to host an event in January then that's nonsense. The reason the event is in January is because it's being hosting in Qatar, where it's too hot for football in June-July. You've established that Luke, so you know that. So it's a sensible decision to switch the event to January. So what you're saying is the AFC screwed us over by picking Qatar as host? Therefore you're also saying Qatar or anywhere with this climate shouldn't be considered to host football events... that's what you're saying and I think that's quite ludicrous. It's more of this anti-Qatar nonsense. Also, Tommy Oar didn't warrant a spot in the 23, Dario Vidosic would've been a completely more suitable example.
Ben
Guest
Moyes has actually made the point before, that when he signed Cahill there was no Asian Cup. And he also signed Cahill from the 2nd division before he'd fully arrived on the international scene.
Roarchild
Roar Guru
I would agree it's not a strict 4-3-3 but I don't want to use 4 digits lest I forget my pin number by having two significant 4 digit numbers in my life. It's a back 4 for sure and then Partaluu is the anchor but he's allowed to go forward (take that Pim!) , I have no problems grouping him with Mckay and Massimo/Nichols as one of our 3 central midfielders so i'm sticking to my guns on the 4-3 part. The attack is more varied and if using the 4th digit I would say it's the Xmas tree 4-3-2-1 in that Broich and Kosta play as attacking mids but they move arround so much and go wide a lot I don't think it's misleading to say it's a 4-3-3, I mean it's 2010 people don't really play with 3 strikers but calling it a 4-5-1 doesn't do it justice :) 4-1-4-1 sounds pretty good but I think that's a bit generous putting Massimo/Mckay in the same line as Broich/Kosta but not Partaluu