The Asia trap. It sounds like a bad movie, but it is actually the title of a Les Murray blog posted yesterday, and I would love to know what evidence he used to base his assertion A-League players are unlikely to improve by moving to Asia.
Surely it’s not the form of Alex Brosque – recently a key man for the Socceroos whilst plying his club trade at Japanese side Shimizu S-Pulse.
Or Sasa Ognenovski?
The defender who lifted the 2010 AFC Champions League as captain of South Korean side Seongnam, was named Player of the Tournament and Asian Footballer of the Year.
How about Joel Griffiths? He’s one of the biggest stars in China and recently joined Shanghai Shenhua in a big-money move from Beijing Guoan, despite being continually snubbed by the Socceroos.
All three moved to Asian clubs from the A-League and have improved as a result.
Yet, Mr Murray insists Australian players would be better served going to Europe, despite the fact the likes of Nicky Carle and new Busan I’Park signing Matt McKay struggled to make an impact on said continent.
So how does being released by Crystal Palace or sitting on the bench at Rangers result in a better Australian player?
“The J-League apart, it is probable that all of the leagues in Asia to which these players gravitate are inferior not superio Murray writes.
Probable? Is it? How much Asian football has Murray actually watched?
Because in my opinion, saying Australian players regress by moving to Asia is a statement strong enough to warrant some evidence.
Last year I completed a Masters degree in Journalism with a 10,000-word research article on “Asian football coverage in the Australian media landscape.”
I’m happy enough (or conceited enough) to admit my project earned a perfect grade, and one of my key points was that the Australian football media is fundamentally Eurocentric.
Time and again my attempts to connect with fellow journalists on matters of Asian football were stonewalled – presumably because said journalists knew nothing about the Asian game and didn’t want to admit as much.
And I’m sorry to say Murray’s casual denigration of Asian leagues smacks of the old soccer/new football divide.
So what if some these leagues actually are inferior, as Murray claims?
If Matt Simon can’t crack the Socceroos squad as a Central Coast player, what difference does it make if he plays for Chunnam Dragons instead?
Should he have followed in the footsteps of his erstwhile Mariners team-mate Pedj Bojic and joined Northampton Town instead, to “improve the credibility and stature of the A-League?”
I just don’t understand the logic.
Seoul-based journalist John Duerden is widely regarded as the most authoritative voice on Asian football, but when even the taciturn Lancastrian starts grumbling about the Australian media’s ignorance of Asian football, it’s a sign our stubborn refusal to engage with Asia has been noted.
Duerden quite rightly points out we never see headlines about “cashed up” Scottish or Belgian clubs signing A-League players.
The blatant double-standard doesn’t say much for Australian participation in the so-called “Asian Century.”
Ironically, on the same day Murray was making sweeping generalisations about Asian football, Football Federation Australia was providing a submission to the Federal Government as part of its “Australia in the Asian Century” White Paper.
It’s a laudable attempt to put Australia’s involvement in Asian football into context, and if nothing else suggests the FFA is more switched on to the potential of Asia than certain employees of our supposed multicultural broadcaster.
It’s time we take the blinkers off and start trying to analyse Asian football.
Because we’re being left behind on a technical level by Asian sides, as our media pines for the nostalgic days of yore when any half-decent Australian player had no other choice but to move to Europe.
I Dont LIke Eurosnobs
Guest
I am probably going to offend some hardcore fans here but as a lifetime football fan, I have to say that Les is past it. Not only are his views outdated, but he shows an obvious bias towards European football. Craig Foster's article in the Sunday Herald (NSW) carries the same message that this article carries, and Craig is Les' colleague. Asian football proved its worth when the Japanese carved the Spanish up at the Olympics. I am so proud to say that Asian football is very quickly coming of age. We are not Europe yet, but I cannot wait to see what the football landscape looks like in 5-10 years. Did Les not watch the last Asian Cup even though SBS are the football channel? The standard of play was excellent and it's only going to get better. The more out lads are exposed to Sth Korean, Japanese, and Middle Eastern football, the results can only be positive.
Ryuichi
Guest
The goalkeepers for Japan where there so they could have a try the ones thet usually get called up are Eiji Kawashima (Lierse SK[probably Asia's best goalkeeper]) and Shusaku Nishikawa (Sanfreece Hiroshima).
Ryuichi
Guest
Al Saad won because of money so they are not a good example but I agree with you on the rest of it.
Ryuichi
Guest
To bad Australia did not qualify to the Olympics. The J. League and K. League are the only good leagues in Asia which actually have good players from their own country. It is good to for Australians to go to Japan or South Korea but most will not start.
Alex
Guest
Of course.. I am from south America, football was perfect there until the big teams dedicated to form and sale players instead of giving us a very beautiful game.
gibsonite
Guest
If Australia is to be a regularly successful qualifier for World Cups etc, through the Asian Confederation, surely having players educated in the "Asian" game, with potential knowledge of strategies and game styles can only be a good thing. Brisbane showed it last week, Kings of the Oz game, outplayed by the Japanese. And they're not the only ones. My beloved Victory proved inept against the Asian teams as well, teams who aren't even the Champions in their own nations. I won't begrude Adelaide their stellar run to the final some seasons ago, but even they haven't performed near that level since. European football is just a different culture, very different kettle of fish to the Australian and Asian game. Playing the game, constantly training and playing as part of a competitive, techincally sound football system and style surely is preferable to warming the bench in Europe's league. It's great if you can make it, but the current crop don't seem to be making it to Europe. Many of the previous post name the numerous young Australian players forging ahead in the Asian leagues, players gaining valuable matchtime with all the associated benefits. It's players learning to walk before they can run with the European big boys, so to speak. Once we develop our own players, a higher level of technical competency (something which sadly lacks in the current domestic game) we can rule our own backyard, then Australia can set about making its mark on the football world.
Clayton
Guest
What level does a guy have to be playing at to contribute to the national team? Chippers was an important contributor despite not playing in a big league. Matt McKay made a huge contribution to the team last year - even though he was an a-leaguer. Having a group of players in top leagues would be great, but doesn't guarantee success - look at the Cote D'voire team that didn't win the African cup.
JohnL
Guest
Thanks Stevo
PeterK
Guest
I agree, "Trust Me". There was nothing on the Asian Champions' League -- because I was looking for it (with my tongue hanging out and salivating)! For me that was primarily because I don't have Fox (and don't intend to pay a fortune for stuff I don't want -- all I want is football, and nothing else, but they don't have a package for that!) I guess Mick is right when he essentially says that it was because the Asian Champions' League rights belong to Fox, and not at all to FTA (let alone SBS).
Clayton
Guest
The more players we have overseas (whether it is in Europe or Asia), the larger our total player base. That means more opportunity in total for Aussie players. More players to select from for the Socceroos. Its all good. Asia adds to our players options. As long as the A-league keeps on improving (and I think it is), our players will continue to attract interest from Europe and Asia.
Paul
Guest
I couldn't believe Les' article as I read it. Ironically, it came out the day after FC Tokyo humbled the so-called "Roarcelona" at Lang Park. The J-League, K-League and Chinese Super League are all superior, our A-League sides seem hardly a match for their sides. Watching Alex Brosque get his brace against the Saudis, you could see a marked improvement compared to when he wore the green and gold whilst employed by Sydney FC. First team football in the top tier of East Asian competition is not a bad place to be. Going to Europe to end up warming a bench or having to play in Eastern European leagues of the bowels of English football is hardly going to help develop technically gifted players who can get us further at both the Asian and World Cups. Unless players are being chased by top-flight European clubs, and it is evident that these players are being sought specifically to replace prominent first-team players rather than just to boost the stocks, they should not take the bait and consider nearer shores.
Axelv
Guest
Michael Lynch, Your writing in The Age of late has been very pessimistic and over critical of Melbourne Victory, meanwhile focusing on the positives of Melbourne Heart. While I don't subscribe to conspiracy theories that you have been paid by Heart to do this, I can't help but wonder why you are so over negative towards Melbourne Victory and so rosy about Melbourne Heart. The majority of the Melbourne Football community no longer read your columns and those that did are no longer fans of your writing. I wish you could perhaps provide a more balanced view in the future, and focus on both the positives and the negative issues of both clubs, and not just drill the negatives about one. You have put a lot of Victory fans, which make up 70% of the Melbourne A-League community offside. Provide a non bias viewpoint and perhaps you could win back some readers slowly over time. Good luck
Ben of Phnom Penh
Guest
I still can't understand how Les can be so disparaging of Asia after several year's of A-League sides meeting them at club level in the ACL. Surely by now he must realise that you cannot take any of the top Asian clubs lightly regardless of their country of origin. Al Sadd won the ACL and they hail from Qatar! As many have noted that we would far prefer our best playing regularly in Bundesliga or EPL. However for the vast majority playing week in week out in Korea or UAE far outstrips warming the pine in Scotland or League One. A great article, Mike. I fear that Les may be coming less relevant as time goes on.
Mick
Guest
European champs league has pay tv & FTA coverage in Australia when none of the clubs do anything for Australia Asia champs league is only on fox & can not get any FTA coverage despite aussie clubs playing. Look at Adelaide in 2008 when they made the final, no public big screens so Asian football is put in the corner. Look at weekends, FTA tv have epl results & sometimes goals but no results on a-league. The players are going to Asia for money not to improve but if they do improve good
onside
Guest
A fundamental ignorance of another nationality plays it part. This is compounded by language differences. Japanese along with other Asian alphabets differ from English and most European alphabets that are based on Latin. For example it is easier to recognise an Italian, German, or French name, where countries use the same alphabet as English, even though the reader neither speaks the language, nor can pronounce the word correctly, than it is for some people to be comfortable with the seeming ‘hierogliphics’of our Asian neighbours. This problem covers pretty much every aspect of most Australians attitude to anything Asian. The J League has anglicised the club names in keeping with the huge international Japanese brands that support the teams .Likewise team players have adopted names using the English alphabet. The three goal keepers on in the Japanese national squad are, Takuto Hayashi, Shuichi Gonda and Masaaki Higasshiguchi.Thats just the goalies. If we cut back to A league problems that relate to lack of a broader recognition because of no free to air TV exposure, it is not difficult postulate one of the reasons some commentators prefer European football to Asia directly relates to the comfort zone of known history and language .Dean Brill is the goal keeper for Luton Town in the English Conference division. Masaaki Higasshiguchi is the goal keeper for Albirex Niigata in the first division of the Japanese J League. Chalk and cheese in style and standard, but which one is easiest to say , remember, or write about. Josh Kennedy plays for Nagoya Grampus in the J League and won last season’s ‘golden boot’. If Josh played anywhere in England, even with a far inferior team to Nagoya Grampus ,there would be much more said about him in the media. Comparative perception and reality of standards are meaningless if readers are ignorant of a nation’s football history and structure.All this will/can change with broader exposure on TV.
Axelv
Guest
Absolutely Correct Mike, I was honestly shocked after reading Les's article. My interest, knowledge and love for Asian Football is growing, I honestly have high respect of the J-League and K-Leagues, after watching them play against Australian teams in the ACL and seeing their national teams run rampant and completely out class the so called superior Europeans, Denmark and Greece at the 2010 World Cup. Ognovoski, Brosque, Kennedy and Joel Griffiths have really flourished in Asia, and they are getting a heap of game time, and are key players to their clubs, while they also translate that form to the national team, I can't say the same about too many of what's left of our European players. Asia is the way forward for Australia. If we have players in Europe playing first team football every week, fantastic, but a player like Brosque is far better off than a player like McKay. Funny enough McKay has now moved to the K-League, expect him to thrive now!
Qantas supports Australian Football
Guest
Yes Mike, I would love to see Asia as a destination for Australian Footballers. However, there is a source of information out there that Craig Foster and Les Murray reiterated on TWG the other week, which came out of Japan. Apparently, a spokesperson from the Japanese Football Association said they would like to have their best 11 national players, playing for the top clubs in the three strongest European leagues of Europe---so they can have a real shot at winning the World Cup. I would agree with that source of information coming from Japan.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Asian language instruction for Australians is a very frustrating and ongoing problem that has been confounding the commonwealth and thank tanks for a while now, alas.
Mike Tuckerman
Expert
You should be my agent.
Griffo
Roar Guru
I remember one of the reasons Song Jin-Hyung mentioned he wanted an A-League contract (eventually with Newcastle Jets) was as a stepping stone to Europe and to learn English. Scott McIntyre has written a piece on Asia as well where he mentions players and coaches mainly in eastern Asia. http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/scott-mcIntyre/blog/1096757/The-case-for-Asia I wonder how important it is knowing the native language to a players/coaches prospects? From Scott's list I don't know who knows the various Chinese dialects, Japanese or Korean, but not all , and certainly not holding them back in gaining contracts. For those young players without much experience: Would Mustafa Amini have been more likely to gain a contract with Borussia Dortmund if he knew German? Would knowing some conversational Japanese make a young player more appealing to a J-League club's eye? For that matter, would a quality coach be held back in coaching in the A-League if he did not know any english? Interesting to hear some experiences all around regarding this.