Tim Cahill was never going to step down from the English Premier League to the A-League. Not just yet, anyway.
His move from Everton to the New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer in the United States of America is possibly an intermediary step to the A-League, or more likely a total snub of a return home.
Read more: Cahill set to leave EPL for New York Red Bulls in MLS
In theory now was the time for Cahill, 32 years of age, to head home considering his recent struggle to find the back of the net for Everton, in a bid to play in a less-competitive and strenuous league to prolong his club and international career. But in practice while the A-League could greatly benefited from his presence, he clearly wasn’t prepared to take that step yet.
Harry Kewell and Brett Emerton may have taken the direct path into the A-League from Europe, but theirs are unique cases and against the trend of Australian players moving to more lucrative clubs in Asia and the Middle East in particular, rather than the A-League.
The concern is they may be too old and too broken down when they do get to the A-League, and therefore of little true worth.
Why the avoidance of the A-League? This is a time when the A-League marquee system is failing to deliver its stated mission of freeing up clubs to dig deep and attract the star names that will put bums on seats. The financial reality, however, is that most clubs cannot afford to do so and aren’t prepared to take the risk of banking such a high stake on one player.
The likes of Cahill, Lucas Neill, Marco Bresciano and co, still regulars for the Socceroos, are seemingly preferring that more comfortable and higher-paying step into more remote leagues, where the standard may not differ too greatly from the A-League but the pressure of performing for club to justify an international spot is far less for far more pay.
What some Socceroos seem to fear is the immense pressure of returning home and carrying clubs, the type of pressure that dogged the likes of Kewell and John Aloisi amongst others.
Remember Mark Schwarzer infamous quotes to the Football+ magazine?
“I have seen too many players go back home and it has not worked out,” he said.
“The biggest example is John Aloisi, and how he was treated so badly by people.
“You are up there to be shot down very, very quickly.
“I don’t want to give anyone the opportunity to do that to me.”
That could very well explain current Socceroos players’ avoidance of the A-League, in addition to the financial limitations.
Imagine, for example, the prospect of Cahill linking up with the new A-League franchise, the Western Sydney Wanderers – a product of the region’s strong football culture coming home to lead the new club on and off the field.
The burden on him would be immense, and in many ways the fate of the franchise would rest on his shoulders. Then there’s the problem of the governing body owning the new club; forced to dig deep into its pockets to fund one player while, on the other hand, robbing the wider league, other clubs and the grassroots of the game of funding it would otherwise have had and desperately needs.
But it’s not all doom and gloom for the A-League. Cahill’s new home, the MLS, represents what the A-League could be one day. The MLS has faced the same growing pains as the A-League not to mention the challenges of being down the pecking order in terms of sporting codes in most major markets it occupies.
But the MLS is riding high. And the backing of individuals such as Austrian billionaire and Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz, who is better known for his exploits in motorsports and extreme sports but nevertheless has two football clubs in the USA and Austria in which he has invested heavily, helps add the financial clout to sign star names such as Cahill.
The A-League, its clubs and governing body, is no position to compete with its American counterpart. Any talk that Cahill should have come home ignores the economic reality of the A-League’s place in the world game’s pecking order.
Perhaps one day the future Cahills will bypass an intermediary stint in the Middle East, Asia or the USA for a direct return home. But that day isn’t here just yet.
Bondy.
Guest
Your into the big money sports Mac are you.
Bryan
Guest
"What some Socceroos seem to fear is the immense pressure of returning home and carrying clubs, the type of pressure that dogged the likes of Kewell and John Aloisi amongst others." Well,the poor little pampered darlings! Ask Matty Pavlich of the Dockers,or Nick Riewoldt of St Kilda,or any of a dozen leading players in AFL NRL or Basketball about that kind of pressure. The fact is,they face it week after week,for the big bucks,certainly,but also because that's what they do for a living! OK,the AFL guys don't really have anywhere else to go,except for those few who go & play NFL at a senior level,after their AFL career is over,but the NRL,Rugby Union,& Basketballers can,& many of them either stay here,or return after a few years. Back in the day,the guys from the local clubs like Tricolore,Croatia & the like used to finish a full day at work in a real job,go to training most nights during the week,& play on Sunday. They played for the love of the game! As I see it,players of International status need to figure out if they are still Australians. If not,why not do a "Rupert Murdoch" & become a citizen of whatever country pays them the most money.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
God I haven't been there since I was a kid - must go back some day :)
MV Dave
Guest
Absolutely correct Mushi...having spent time in NY a couple of years ago it was wonderful. Amazing to walk around Central Park with all the football games going on. Even in the sports retailers football gear was prominent everywhere. NY has a great love for top class football...the Red Bulls haven't quite tapped into that yet but maybe the Cosmos in a few years time?
mushi
Guest
In the immortal words of the scholar known only as Wesley Snipes "The sun shines on a dogs a$$ somedays"
Bakkies
Guest
Switch on one of your ESPN channels or Setanta and you should be able to watch it in Australia. As for global coverage google is your friend. A League coverage is random in the UK.
pete4
Guest
Tim will wear no.17 over there too New signing Cahill practices for first time with Red Bulls http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2012/07/26/new-signing-cahill-practices-first-time-red-bulls
Bondy
Guest
Does anyone know how many nations recieve the MLS coverage globally.
Brick Tamlin of the Pants Party
Guest
Nice homage to Cahill has been put up on the official Everton website
Brick Tamlin of the Pants Party
Guest
Insightful
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
For those who suggest Asian Football is not of a high standard, in the opening match of the London 2012 Football tournament ... Full time score at Hampden Park, Glasgow ... ESP 0:1 JPN So, the European Champions, the World Champions, the u19 European Champions have just been beaten by Japan, from the Asian Football Confederation. In other matches involving AFC teams: MEX 0 - 0 KOR UAE 1 - 2 URU
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Tim Cahill arrives at NY Red Bulls training http://www.newyorkredbulls.com/video/2012/07/26/tim-cahill-arrives
al
Guest
Very true. You need 20 teams for a proper comp and no stupid finals. Then you need lower divisions like a B-League, C-League etc.. The bottom clubs in the A-League at the end of the season must fall down to the next lower division and the top performers of the B-League must come into the A-Leage. That is how Football is run properly in Europe. Loads of divisions and teams are always competing to reach the next higher division. In Australia Football is run like the NRL + AFL. Stupid franchise system. Totally stupid and boring.
Droppa
Guest
A league is crap.
Bakkies
Guest
Of course you would move to NYC playing in the same team as Thierry Henry if you were offered the chance. Cahill would be more anonymous in the US and be able to walk around freely unlike living in Australia or England with his profile. Get more for your image rights in a bigger market and keep his hard earned away from the ATO. Cahill would pay a truck load of tax in Australia if he moved back. That's another reason why players go to the Middle East before they retire. Playing in the MLS gives him a chance to get a get loan deal in Europe prior to the World Cup. Robbie Keane and Henry did this before the Euros. The season runs from March to October so he can get a loan in Europe or travel back to Australia in the off season to work with the Socceroos.
Worlds biggest
Guest
Jason Cullina returned with plenty of good football left in him for substantially less wedge but landed in two sh$t storms in the GC United and Jets. This will serve as a reminder to other Australians thinking about a return given the somewhat volatile nature of some Clubs. It's a given most veterans looking for one last good contract will choose the Middle East, Asia and possibly America over the A-League. It would be brilliant to have more returning but the money just isn't there. The only advantage Australia has is lifestyle which is important for those with families.
MV Dave
Guest
The Championship is one of the toughest and biggest leagues around...Millwall usually play in that league...so they are one of the top football clubs in London, obviously not at the level of Arsenal or Chelski. However they did make the FA Cup Final durings Tim's era there, he scored the semi final winner.
Titus
Guest
Are you calling Millwall a top level team in London?
mushi
Guest
A few AFL guys could probably say that! I imagine ti doesn't take much to crack the top leagues though...
mushi
Guest
Yes but in NY where spending some time is one of the best experiences in the world