Socceroos youngsters shine in draw against Serbia. AAP Images
Hyperbole and Australian football seem to go hand-in-hand together these days. Usually it’s self-defeatism or pessimism reigning supreme, but this week, with Holger Osieck calling a two-day camp for domestic based potential Socceroos and Olyroos, all of a sudden the A-League has become a hot bed of national team talent.
The discussion has gone from the reasonable query of which A-League player could contribute to the national team, to the stratospheric question of who will be the next domestically based Socceroo star. At best, this is a misguided approach.
On Tuesday the hyperbole seemed to reach new heights when comparisons began to be drawn between Brisbane Roar midfielder Eric Paartalu and one of the finest midfielders in world footballer, Spanish puppet master Xavi Hernandez.
I’m all for championing the local competition, especially as it continues to reach such promising levels, but it remains a young and naïve competition.
We should be looking to the A-League for the next generation of potential Socceroos and those with the ability to play above their station as part-time contributors to the Socceroos. I’d list Terry Antonis and Joshua Rose as examples of these two categories.
Even Osieck admitted as much last week when he announced the list of players he’d invited to his Socceroos camp.
“With such a long campaign, we are always looking for more depth to our squad and it’s logical to see if these players from the Hyundai A-League can provide that depth,” the German tactician said.
This is the essence of what the A-League can offer the Socceroos.
Even the hunt for the next Matt McKay, who rose from a consistent A-League performer to regular international player, is a fool’s errand.
While McKay’s run for the national team has both empowered Australian based players to raise their game, it has also inflated expectations. It is high unlikely that the next A-League player to get a Socceroos cap will have as much success as the former Brisbane Roar captain did.
Yes, a player can come out of the A-League and contribute to the Socceroos but the best litmus test of an Australian footballer’s ability to perform at international level is still European football.
In other words, Europe still remains the best place for Socceroos to call home.
Delta
Guest
not when u have to play in world cup, Europe n south America still ahead of Asia . So to be able to play football in any club in Europe it a dream for our Boys.
Evan Askew
Guest
So i guess the domestically based Brazillian, Argentinian and Uruguyan teams that won the world cup don't count? Never mind the fact that significant portions of the Argentinan team in 1986 and the Brazillian team in 94 were also domestic based.
Adrian
Guest
I live in europe...and i got to say the A-League is better then most European leagues..and I think you only have to see the crowed attendance figures to understand this Bundesliga 42,101 (12,882,906) Premier League 35,283 (13,407,540) La Liga 29,128 (11,039,808) Serie A 24,031 (9,131,780) Ligue 1 Fra 19,650 (7,467,000) Eredivisie Hol 19,116 (5,849,496) League Cham Eng 17,388 (9,598,336) Bundesliga 2 14,539 (4,448,934) Turkish S League 14,058 (4,301,748) Scottish PL 13,677 (3,118,356) Russian PL 12,322 (3,118,356) Belgian Pro Leag 11,676 (3,478,914) Swiss SL 11,365 (2,045,700) Portuguese Liga 10,081 (2,419,683) Ukrainian PL 9,228 (2,214,720) Segunda Spa 9,089 (3,747,744) A-League 8,752 (1,512,479) Ekstraklasa Pol 8,406 (1,975,422) Norwegian PL 8,117 (1,948,080) Austrian Bunds 8,077 (1,453,860) League One Eng 7,526 (4,154,862) Danish Superliga 6,999 (1,385,717) Ligue 2 Fra 6,848 (2,602,112) Allsvenskan Swe 6,513 (1,563,011) Greece SL 6,462 (1,550,826) 3rd Liga Gem 5,617 (2,122,025) Serie B 5,247 (2,424,114) Liga I Rom 5,034 ( 1,535,390) It's very likely that 2011-12 A-League has bigger average attendance then Scottish Premier League.... also..lets look at it another way..Scotland national football team is sh!t, and has been for 15 years...they are well below Socceroos no matter what ranking you look at ..but yet the Scottish Premier League is full of Scottish players :) ..Matt McKay Ranger team is full of Scottish players :) yet we worry that Matt McKay will not be good enought to play :)))
Jupiter53
Guest
Yep, well put.
Jupiter53
Guest
+ another
pete4
Guest
I agree to a point Europe is the financial centre of the game. No one can match the wages on offer over there and that'll be the magnet to get the best players always On another point players from Japan especially tend to go their for the experience more than anything because they can get big wages playing in the J-League and that's the difference between us and them. Emerging countries like China and Russia are beginning to offer huge contracts to certain players now but we'll never be able to offer this. Players in the Middle East have little incentive to go anywhere because they earn good coin The "litmus test" for us here is building the infrastructure of A-League clubs up so we can bridge the gap in terms of training facilities/structures to compete like many South American clubs do. Because players who have an opportunity to earn big $$ will always go
Qantas supports Australian Football
Guest
Good post Mid and I can see the HAL slotting in somewhere in, or, about the 15th spot.
Midfielder
Guest
Just on the strength of Europe it has always been a mute point with me I think it is way over rated aside from the top leagues... Listed below are the current ranking of the European sides. Where would you place the J-League, K-League & A-League… taking the Roar, mariners & Au of last year and the improvement’s in sides this year … I think the A-League fits in about 15… 1 England 2 Spain 3 Germany 4 Italy 5 Portugal 6 France 7 Russia 8 Ukraine 9 Netherlands 10 Greece 11 Turkey 12 Belgium 13 Denmark 14 Austria 15 Switzerland 16 Cyprus 17 Israel 18 Scotland 19 Czech Republic 20 Croatia 21 Belarus 22 Poland 23 Romania 24 Sweden 25 Slovakia 26 Norway 27 Serbia 28 Bulgaria 29 Hungary 30 Finland 31 Georgia 32 Bosnia and Herzegovina 33 Republic of Ireland 34 Slovenia 35 Lithuania 36 Moldova 37 Azerbaijan 38 Latvia 39 FYROM 40 Kazakhstan 41 Iceland 42 Montenegro 43 Liechtenstein 44 Albania 45 Malta 46 Wales 47 Estonia 48 Northern Ireland 49 Luxembourg 50 Armenia 51 Faroe Islands 52 Andorra 53 San Marino
Futbanous
Guest
Having watched Mckay from start to finish at the Roar,he was nothing specai,IMO until last season. Neither was Mitch Nichols. Hard to know Erik Paartalus previous form in Scotland,but even he improves each game at the Roar. Franjic was in the VPL not long ago. Matt Smith from BPL to A-League. All keep improving. Can only be coaching no other explanation. That all are potential Socceroos indicates that we have greater talent than previously thought it just needs better coaches & coaching to bring them on.
Axelv
Guest
I really don't get this article :/ very poor indeed. "We should be looking to the A-League for the next generation of potential Socceroos and those with the ability to play above their station as part-time contributors to the Socceroos. I’d list Terry Antonis and Joshua Rose as examples of these two categories.", What Antonis has played 3 games for Sydney FC and all of a sudden he should be getting a call up? And whats so good about Josh Rose? He is almost 30 years old and is hardly the next generation. "While McKay’s run for the national team has both empowered Australian based players to raise their game, it has also inflated expectations. It is high unlikely that the next A-League player to get a Socceroos cap will have as much success as the former Brisbane Roar captain did.", You say this yet you don't say why, why??? It is highly unlikely in your opinion therefore we shouldn't even give it a try? Paartalu over Jedinak or Grella anyday! MacKay was not that special for Brisbane Roar, he was one of their finest players last season but was no means head and shoulders above the rest, he has been an enormous success for the socceroo's and the chances he creates is such a contrast to Pim's team. It wouldn't hurt to give some other key, young Brisbane Roar players a try for the Socceroo's, what's the worst that could happen, we find solid talented players that will last us the next 10 years? Oh noes!
jmac
Guest
In Asia, we should've learned from the performances of certain lesser teams against us that it's possible to get results if you have a good manager playing the right tactics, motivating the players, creating discipline and teamwork etc, even if your players are not european standard. So, the reason the A-League looms as a "hotbed of national team talent" is because we finally have a coach good enough, and with enough time, to get what's required from the best A-League players within an overall system that is working, and that is certainly good enough for Asia. (Our hope is that in 2014 we'll get to see how this all measures up globally, as that is currently an unknown.) Matt McKay proves all this, and I've every reason to believe there are more McKay's lurking in the local league.
mahony
Guest
Yep - Agree totaly - bigger is not better. Better is better and there is a lot of football in Rurpoe, most of which is A-League standard or below.
Realfootball
Guest
+1
Realfootball
Guest
In other words, Davidde, what you have done here is a shameless beat up. Highly unprofessional and very disappointing.
Rangaraider
Guest
Please folks this is a nothing piece from a muppet, lets not give it anymore credence by commenting, really who cares where the socceroo's players come from if they're good enough. Sheesh
Rangaraider
Guest
I think it was the High Priest of Hyperbole A. Harper on foxsports FC who made the comparison. What David failed to point out is he was merely saying Paartalu played a similar role in Roars system to Xavi in Barcelona's and even qualified it say he was not comparing the skills of the players directly... But lets not let the facts get in the way of a good story hey Davidde...
whiskeymac
Guest
the HAL will breed talent, some of it will stay and some of it will be polished off in Europe. Langerak, Amini for example. Some of it will come back like Djite and Vidosic. and as it evolves it gets better to watch and better talent is drawn in and developed. am not aware of too many over enthusing about the HAL, but there are plenty who are rightly proud of it. High hopes for lots of players - Lustica, Oar, McGrath, Herd etc and locally Antonis, Kantarovski etc. Not heard of anyone calling Paartalu Xavi. Then again as others point out he is certainly a viable candidate for the roos.
Realfootball
Guest
Frankly, this is a mischievous and heavily slanted article that seems designed to illicit extreme comment and bring out all the A-League bashers. How else to explain the nonsensical and unreferenced comparison between Paartalu and Xavi? Thanks, Davidde. Just what we need, again. More A-League bashing.
Realfootball
Guest
If you think a comparison between Brisbane and Barcelona is laughable, you don't know much about football. The comparison is in style of play. As for a comparison of Paartalu to Xavi or Inesta - well, where? It would have been helpful Davidde, if you had cited your source for this. Frankly, it looks awfully like you made it up for effect. In any case, anyone who compares Paartalu to these players is woefully ignorant of the different roles that these players have.
Qantas supports Australian Football
Guest
+1