It may redefine the term “anti-climax” but an A-League season opener without Harry Kewell and Brett Emerton may not be such a bad thing, former long-serving Socceroos captain Paul Wade reckons.
National coach Holger Osieck on Tuesday will reveal his Socceroos squad for an international friendly against Malaysia (October 7) in Canberra and the October 11 qualifier against Oman in Sydney.
However, Kewell’s Melbourne Victory are scheduled to take on Emerton’s Sydney FC on October 8 – ensuring Socceroos selection for the Malaysia warm-up will rule the star duo out of a dream A-League opener.
Debate may have raged for weeks over what Osieck will do but Wade believed it may benefit the A-League if the much hyped Kewell-Emerton duel is postponed.
If the high profile pair miss the opening game, Victory won’t face Sydney FC again until January 26.
“It would appear to be a dream start to the season but it could fall flat on its face,” Wade told AAP.
“Kewell versus Emerton would probably pull a better crowd in a couple of months’ time.
“Once all the hullabaloo is over for the season-opening game, no one will care.
“The buzz would be great in the week leading up to the season opener but it would die days after the game I believe.
“If they played in January it would build up the hype for the league more.”
Another former Socceroos captain – Alex Tobin – said fans would be devastated if Kewell and Emerton did not contest the A-League opener, but believed they would forgive Osieck.
“It is a really tough one – timing is not always perfect in football and here is another example,” Tobin told AAP.
“If they can’t play (season opener) it would be unfortunate but I think most football fans would understand.”
Football Federation Australia have been criticised for not telling Osieck to make Kewell and Emerton available for the A-League opener.
But Tobin said the national coach must have the final say on his team – even if it meant risking the A-League opener becoming an anti-climax.
“Everyone realises two big names meeting at the start of the A-League season would provide a huge kick-on effect,” said Tobin, who this year had his record for most Socceroos games broken by Mark Schwarzer.
“But a national coach usually doesn’t think the same way.
“Holger’s priories are different and he has to have the final say.
“It may be tempting (to rest the players from Malaysian clash) but Holger will be making his own call.
“The Socceroos have to be his priority.”
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