Nicky Carle must be desperate to get back into the Socceroos set-up or Sydney FC have lined up a big marquee signing, as news breaks that the playmaker is heading to the UAE.
The Sky Blues announced yesterday afternoon that they are loaning Carle to United Arab Emirates-based Baniyas Sports Club for the next 12 months.
This seems a very strange move to make on the eve of the A-League season.
Is Carle unhappy in the Harbour City? Or do Sydney FC and Ian Crook not see the 30-year old in their plans in the future?
Are they letting him leave on compassionate grounds, as surely the UAE club can offer Carle a bigger salary than what he receives in Australia? Or is the move about helping him break back into Holger Osieck’s team?
Nicholas Alberto Carle has been with Sydney FC for the past two seasons, racking up 42 A-League games and 8 goals. The former Johnny Warren medal winner really hit his straps last season, recapturing some of the form that he displayed at the Newcastle Jets from 2005-2007.
Carle’s signing for the Sky Blues back in 2010 was a big move, a returning Socceroo (with 13 caps) from the UK on reported three-year deal worth $1.9 million. Along with Brett Emerton, Carle took up one of the marquee spots.
His departure allows Sydney FC to jump back into the player market and sign an overseas star. Is there a big-name transfer in the wings? The Sky Blues supporters will certainly hope so.
The midfielder of Chilean descent will need to be replaced. Carle will certainly be a loss.
He is one of the few genuine Australian-born players who can play in that number 10 position, who can score and create goals, and artfully unlock defences. He has guile and smarts. Many football fans believe he is the kind of technically-gifted player the Socceroos need.
It is hard to begrudge Carle his move to the UAE. He will set himself up financially, probably for the rest of his career.
Carle clearly thinks the move will also put him higher up on Osieck’s radar. Lucas Neill has played in the Middle East, but is now without a club, while Bresciano, Spiranovic and Ognenovski also play in the region. But it’s very debatable that a transfer to the UAE will help his Socceroo’s chances more than a fantastic season in the A-League would. Sure, there is a lot more money in the UAE, but is the standard of football better than we have here?
I don’t think so. It’s not like he is heading to a much better competition.
Still, Australia has to contend with another Asian league snapping up our best and brightest. If it’s not the J or K-League, or the Chinese Super League, it’s now the cash-rich competitions of the Middle East.
The A-League is in need of a bigger rights deal, and the positive affects that come with it, more than ever.
Twitter: @johnnyddavidson
Punter
Guest
Camshaft, look at your comment above about being out of your depth (Del Potro), changing sporting landscape forever, don't remember anyone saying that about either player. We are excited about a player of Del Piero playing in our league, it's massive to us, nothing about changing your landscape. In my sporting landscape, football is tops & AFL nowhere to be seen.
Camshaft
Guest
Why am I out of my depth? What have I said that is plainly wrong? You don't know my background.
Punter
Guest
Listen, I'm not worried about other sports, I understand other people like other sports to me that is no issue. I don't seek the demise of any sport. It's just that I don't go to AFL tabs to bag out something that I'm so clearly out of my depth on. But the fact is you on the football tab is clearly out of your depth & you clearly want to see the demise of football & the question must be that you are worried about it.
Bondy.
Guest
The Cattery. Your a very strange person just going over your comments on Del Pierro ,you've mentioned in several different posts thet Del Piero is too old in one ,he's not known by the general public is another excuse,he wont recouperate monies outlayed,he want draw more people through the gate. Apart from that are there any negatives you can find with the deal. You appear to be just a severly jealous person who doesn't want other people enjoying sports and other peoples company here,it appears to me that you hate the fact thay we enjoy ourselves here,your a sad human being and I want everyone to know that.
Camshaft
Guest
Yes Punter, we are all worried that the signing of Del Potro will change the sporting landscape in Australia forever. Just like when Harry Kewell signed for MV, I'm looking forward to Paul Wade going on SEN to declare the imminent demise of the AFL.
Punter
Guest
When they take the effort to come on to say something, it must be something they are worried about!!!!
Stevo
Roar Rookie
They are all one and the same person!! ;)
Lux
Guest
Peter Wilson
Roar Guru
I can't believe the crap that comes out of people like The Cattery, Whiskeymac, Canshaft, Ian Whitchurch and BigAl. Sometimes they all sound like the same anti-sokka person.
Peter Wilson
Roar Guru
You've got no idea TC what you are talking about. You flip and flop back and forward but the negative crap is always the same.
Titus
Guest
Yeah, great footage Ian.....how did you even manage to find footage on Youtube of the 1952 Hungarian team with only 9 views? Here, try this, for anyone interested. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1HDNHXpzXU
Damiano
Guest
Perhaps someone could write an article on how the A-League is about to go belly up, and how Football is inherently inferior to your chosen code? Sounds original, fresh and compelling. Surely more than 200 comments in that... Perhaps the Roar mods could set up a "Code Wars" tab, so I'll be able to avoid all of that tedium ? No, not likely, carry on then...
Punter
Guest
I love these guys who love all the footy codes!!!!!
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Fussball, You forgot the discussion on which A-League teams will have their owners go broke and need to be reconstructed, or which will microwave their membership card and walk away in a huff and will maybe fold. But as you've started whining that other people have the temerity to like several sorts of football, clearly you need some cheering up, so as a footy fan, I think you need to see some classic footy. I give you the 1952 Hungarian side. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ge9begthcw
Punter
Guest
I learnt that the Swans got a big crowd on the weekend as it was not really discussed, maybe because they lost.
Camshaft
Guest
New and exciting you say. If only that was the case. Its generally about hooligans or which nobody will the foreign coach call up to the socceroos. The 208 nations sounds good as a stat but lets face it, you've got absolutely no interest in about 200 of them. Who is winning the American Somoa league this year? Will Peru qualify for the world cup? You don't know and don't care, so don't pretend any different.
Punter
Guest
I totally agree for once, I think we should all be allowed our opinions, every sport has it's merit, I'm a passionate football fan & love football both locally & abroad, I also loved the Olympics, enjoyed it immensely, love the Tour De France, have always had a spot sport for Test cricket, though both ODI & T20 leaves me flat, I still follow the dragons, though with not much passion these days, I watched int'l Rugby in Australia, Wales & England & loved it. The only sport I don't really enjoy is AFL.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Can't blame the ARFers, MV Dave ... they come to The Roar and, every day, 365 days of the year there's something new & exciting being discussed across the 208 Football nations on this planet. It could be EPL, or Serie A; maybe UCL or FIFA; international matches for men, women or juniors ... heck even during the Summer Olympics, we know Football is the most highly attended event! Thousands of clubs for football fans to discuss & diverse issues that are of global significance. By contrast, the poor ARFers .. all they have to discuss are 10 teams in Melbourne & a couple of teams in WA, SA, QLD & NSW every day it's the same discussion: which teams will make the8 & which rules should be changed.
Camshaft
Guest
Not the case at all MV Dave. It all kicks off when Fussball brings AFL into the conversation. He can't help himself and I doubt he could go for a week on Roar without making a comment about AFL.
MV Dave
Guest
Yep AFL finals around the corner, coaches getting sacked but the topic of conversation for our AFL friends is....football and little ol HAL. How times they are a changin!