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On October 8, Harry Kewell should play Brett Emerton, 40,000 people should be inside Etihad Stadium watching, and the A-League should start off with a bang.
But maybe it won’t happen because on October 7 the Socceroos play in Canberra against Malaysia in a match that will pull 20,000 at most.
This problem has been reverberating around the league for a few weeks now, but it brings up a bigger question all together: what is more important to Australian football over the next four weeks, the Socceroos or the A-League?
The answer should be a simple one.
The A-League is not dead and it is not dying. It is merely struggling. The quality is improving from year to year, and should dramatically increase this season. Brett Emerton and Harry Kewell will, however, provide a huge boost for the league in general and Emerton versus Kewell will provide a massive spectacle for the Australian people.
What is not a huge event is a game against Malaysia. They are ranked 146th in the world and only 25th in Asia.
They are an Asian lightweight even by Fiji’s standards. Surely these two superstars will not be required. It is the responsibility of Holger Osieck to ensure that neither is needed.
Surely the A-League’s needs are greater than that of the Socceroos in this circumstance. Surely the Socceroos could survive without these two big names. In fact, it even opens up a greater opportunity to the Socceroos. Are friendlies not meant to be considered prospects to experiment with younger or different players?
The likes of Alex Brosque, James Troisi and Chris Herd are crying out for a starting sport or even a solid spot in the squad. Holger, you delivered the master-stroke of leaving Tim Cahill out of the starting line-up against Saudi Arabia. Could you not do it again?
These players are surely great enough to see off the ‘threat’ posed by Malaysia. Also, didn’t Pim Verbeek’s downfall occur because of his reluctance to pick players based on form and playing time deciding, instead to pick them on their name alone?
In four weeks time, Emerton would have had two months off without any substantial game time, whereas Kewell would have at least four months on the sidelines. Surely they do not even deserve to be picked. Surely you can see this, Holger.
So, on behalf of the league and Australian interests, please, Holger, do not pick Kewell or Emerton. You owe it to us not to. We would love to see 50,000 at beautiful Etihad Stadium in four weeks.
We would not like to see two potential A-League superstars at run-down Canberra stadium plying their trade in front of 20,000 supporters.
You have been great to us, Holger. Please, do not let us down now.
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