Recently I wrote about five things we learnt from the 2010-11 A-League season. This week some crystal ball gazing; a look at five things hopefully in the future for football in Australia over the next 12 months.
Holger Osieck and kaizen
Improve on the performance at the 2007 Asian Cup? Check.
Win over the fans and journalists through an attractive style of football? Check.
Reignite the hope of A-League players that they can play for the national team? Check.
Avenge the loss to Germany by beating them in their own backyard? Check.
Any way you look at it, it’s an impressive list of achievements, and probably more than most fans would have hoped for in the immediate aftermath of the World Cup.
While there are concerns around the running of the A-League, things at the top of the pyramid seem to be going swimmingly.
But this does not mean Osieck and the Socceroos should rest on their laurels. The next few years are an important transition period for the national team and it requires balancing the need to get results with the need to blood the new generation.
The Japanese have a term for the process of continuous improvement – kaizen. While it has been applied mainly to business and government, it can equally be applied to what the national coach should be aiming to achieve with the Socceroos.
Recently Paul Wilson wrote about Osieck’s challenge in the Observer.
“Holger Osieck was Franz Beckenbauer’s assistant at the 1990 World Cup. The Sydney Morning Herald credits Osieck with reviving a golden generation, no less. That is quite a feat, though not as reassuring as an ability to identify the next generation.”
This is said not to put down the achievements of Osieck, but to restore a sense of perspective.
The journey to Brazil 2014 will be a long one and we need our Aussie Osieck to continue his process of kaizen.
Big managers and the A-League
In recent weeks, rumours have been circulating that former Manchester United captain Roy Keane may be seeking to continue his managerial career with a stint in the A-League.
It would be a massive coup for Melbourne to secure the services of Keane. It suits the A-League’s need that overseas managers should contribute to the tactical and technical advancement of the game in this country, and it would also provide a boost for the league’s profile.
The administrators of the game have admitted the A-League’s marketing needs to be addressed, and while high-profile managers and players won’t be the solution to all ills, it can’t hurt to have them as part of the package.
The women’s time to shine
2011 is a World Cup year for the women’s national team (as well as for the under-17 and under-20 male teams).
The Matildas, ranked 11 in the world, have been drawn with Brazil, Norway and Equatorial Guinea ranked 3, 9 and 61 in the world respectively. The campaign kicks off against the South American powerhouse in Moenchengladbach.
Quarterfinalists at the 2007 World Cup, the Matildas will be looking to build on their win at the last Asian Cup with a strong performance in Germany.
While the Matildas aren’t in the group of death (that honour probably belongs to Group C), they will face a tough test to get out of the group.
With the games due to be broadcast live on SBS, here’s hoping that Australia’s other national football team gets the support it undoubtedly deserves.
On-field standards to improve
Ange Postecoglou and the Brisbane Roar have shown the other A-League teams that it is possible to play entertaining and skilful football. If not for the exploits of the team in orange, the Central Coast Mariners would be receiving many of the plaudits being directed towards the Queensland capital.
The lesson that hopefully has been taken away by the other A-League clubs is that in order to be competitive, they will have to lift their standards, not wait for the top teams to drop theirs.
Good football played on the pitch has many benefits off it through increased media coverage, increased TV audiences, and increased attendances at grounds.
Every fan would want next season’s standard of play to take another leap forward, so that while there may be less quantity of games, the quality gets better and better.
Building bridges
There is a segment of the football family that feels it has been wronged, left out in the cold and not invited to take part in ‘new football’. And this group places the blame squarely at the feet of the FFA.
Whether these wrongs are real or merely perceived, it’s a division that needs to be addressed by both sides.
Football in Australia is going through a particularly interesting period of time at the moment. To paraphrase Philip Adams (in probably the first time he and football have been mentioned in the same sentence), we are standing on a historic hilltop with quite spectacular views.
We can see a long way into the past, how the game has developed in this country, and some distance into the future, a future which hopefully has a united community behind an ever expanding game.
The next 12 months may not be enough time for all the rifts to be mended, but it may be enough time for the process to get underway.
***
The above wish list for the next 12 months is ambitious, but while the domestic competition is in recess, football should be aiming to keep growing the game in this country on field, off field, and in the international arena.
To the passing observer, it may seem that football in Australia goes into hibernation over the long winter dominated by other codes.
But football never really sleeps. That’s the beauty of the game.
No matter the time of the day, its always kick-off time somewhere.
CCMFCpara vida
Guest
Its not Real Madrid v Barcelona. Its Real Mariners v Roarcelona
asanchez
Roar Guru
Good constructive article. All valid points. 1. Holger really is the man, I was skeptical at his appointment, but his managerial style and his down to earth nature have won me over. Has a tough job ahead of him now, to rebuild the squad, but I'm confident he's the right man for the job. 2. I agree with this point. It's not the most important thing to be a big-name manager, but a good one. If we can get a few into the league that bring both to the table, I'm all for it. But for the budgets of our clubs, I'd rather get no-name coaches for less money. Big-name players bring more people through the gates in the long term. 3. The women's game has come along in leaps and bounds, and our national team has improved greatly in the last few years, they are also benefiting from now being in Asia, just as the socceroos are. They don't get the credit or the media spotlight they deserve. I'm expecting a good world cup from our gals. 4. This is great to see, but also it's about natural progression. This is what happens when you set up a professional league. It has taken us a few years for us to get to this point, but the standard is now the best it has ever been. We all know the league and the FFA has it's issues, and hopefully they get sorted, but nobody should be complaining about the standard these days. And it'll get much better. It's all natural progression. 5. This is the tough one, the clubs and the FFA should be doing things everyday to improve this. You just can't make everybody happy all of the time, that's a fact. No doubt FFA have made mistakes. The A-League type setup was the best way to go. The Cup competition will help close the divide. But if we don't all band together now, for the good of the game in Australia, and this league fails, we will all be poorer for it in the log run. I don't want to have to go back to watching part time state leaguers to get my live football fix. I love the VPL, but it would be a shame to see the A-League die. No professionalism, no TV coverage, I don't want to see that again! I don't think it'll happen, but we all need to do our bit. Get a membership and/or get to the games!
Mr Celery
Guest
And the less said about my perennial end of season collapsers - Forest - the better!
Brendo51
Guest
Football Participation is NOT declining, it is just not expanding as quickly as Aussie Rules. As Androo has pointed out above the main reason in the slow down is a lack of infrastructure. Too many teams now have reached their capacity and new grounds are just not there. The sport is reaching capacity (especially in the more establish cities and suburbs. The sport needs to find some new solutions in terms of pitches.
nordster
Guest
+1 ... i'd have a beer with u at Bluetongue anyday, Mr Celery :D The Mariners are making me almost forget about my still-born Rovers lol
Mr Celery
Guest
The old ' Ethnic NSL' fans who wish for the demise of the A-League and return to the Croatian, Greek, Italian, Maltese, Dutch teams of the past are dreaming. All these fans have done is miss out on six years of quality football in magnificent venues. The NSL was good for it's time, as a forerunner of national competition (for all codes). But it is long gone. We're in a new century. They should stop moaning and get over it. If the 'old' fans brought their passion to the A-league and joined together with the new fans that have been attracted to the A-League (those that would not have been seen anywhere near an old NSL Club) the code would be far healthier. I was a fanatical fan of the Newcastle KB United\Breakers, but with the start of the A-League found a new home at the Central Coast Mariners. It felt a bit odd at first, but that passion returned at Bluetongue after one season. The NSL days are fondly remembered, but there is no doubt that the A-League is a far better product, and deserving of passionate support. And the beauty of Aussie football is that with the winter State Leagues and summer A-league, and true international competition in Asia and the World Cup, you can have it all. The alternative, watching the lesser egg ball codes, is simply not an option.
nordster
Guest
no, people can support whomever they like, just don't expect to see those clubs take up spots in the top flight. Or do we take it to its logical conclusion with a Euro nationalist Aussie super league catering to every ethnicity in Oz? Yeah kewl, lets replace the A-L with that lol ... a world cup every weekend, lets not forget the South Americans now too ...
Realfootball
Guest
Temporarily. Another big tax bill to come. The prospects aren't' good, still.
BSG
Guest
So you kick out the nsl clubs and automatically those supporters who have supported those clubs for years are told they should start supporting a different team because frank lowy tells them, that doesn't make sense and im pretty sure that hasn't happened anywhere else in the world
nordster
Guest
everyone is welcome in the a-league, the teams are set along Australian geography and identities. Not plastic versions of Euro national teams, ala Syd/Melb teams of the NSL ...
BSG
Guest
In the nsl days the anglo-celtic australians whinged how they couldnt support the league, now in the a-league you have a majority of the nsl supporters saying they will never support the a-league, seems to me that the best outcome is to include everyone, not sections of people
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
John, what's your interest in Australian Football? Are your opinions based on deep knowledge of the HAL - if so, can you kindly share your deep knowledge and insights. Or, are you just another non-football person, who has never been to an A-League match, but feels qualified to offer an opinion on a subject that you have ZERO background knowledge?
John
Guest
I couldn't agree more BSG. What the soccer community needs to plan for is post A-League. Does it have some kind of FA cup comp involving the state teams or does it re-introduce another national comp 10 years down the track?
punter
Guest
I think that is the ultimate number for the A-League, but agree before we go expanding we need to ensure the current ones are financially safe.
Nathan
Guest
Regather the disillusioned and, in my opinion, find a way to connect the states leagues to the top flight. I don't care what people say about costs or what Australia can support, people need to be able to look from their juniors in state comps and see the ladder up to the top of the pile, one unified footballing structure. Will be beneficial for both ends of the spectrum.
Nathan
Guest
I don't know about participation declining; Football West's main problem at the moment is finding pitches for all the kids who want to play association football. And there are some good kids coming through, too :)
Qantas supports Australian Football
Guest
Serepesios and Phoenix saved according to this article... http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/201864,phoenix-saved-by-secret-cash-boost.aspx
Qantas supports Australian Football
Guest
It's true!!! The problem is that the main stream media have been very slow to realise the potential what Football has and what it could bring to Australian or multi national companies. It is potentially the most marketable code of the four codes in Australia. If the main stream media gave Football as much attention as as it does for ARF, there would be no stopping its growth; that's what is holding it back, the ignorance of the Australian mainstream media. The millions of dollars that could be made from football would be three time the amount of any other. The media should be pushing football exposure for their own benefit. One day they will come to realise this, then there will be no stopping Australian Football. The world is waiting for Australian Football to be the number one code in Australia. Then watch the foreign investment stream in.
whiskeymac
Guest
cockerill's article in the Sydney Morn Herald suggests West Sydney team is the go to spice up things in Sydney - interestingly BB appears to be engaging "old soccer" to do so. and why not. FFA still wants 14 teams - will they get there or bust the whole thing trying? anyone heard re: Serepesios and Phoenix?
Futbanous
Guest
Thats the bottom line Con. To make the most of our market ALL football fans have to be engaged.