Three months ago many of us would have scoffed at the idea of Alessandro Del Piero playing in the A-League. But the move happened and the prospect of adding David Beckham has the competition buzzing again.
Beckham’s decision to leave Los Angeles Galaxy has added another layer of intrigue to reports he could move to Australia.
Last week he reacted with apparent bemusement to questions he could be headed Down Under, but that was before he announced he was set to leave Los Angeles after five years at the club.
So what would an A-League club get bringing ‘Goldenballs’ into their midst?
For one thing, a lot of publicity.
A case in point has been the frenzied media clamour surrounding a proposed move to the A-League.
It’s not often the A-League makes mainstream headline news in Australia but the simple fact is Beckham is the type of player who commands widespread media attention.
Which is odd from a purist point of view because he’s not exactly the most talented footballer in the world.
Aside from an ability to whip in some decent crosses from the right and curl home the odd free-kick, Beckham’s profile is largely based on the fact he’s a photogenic player with a high-profile wife.
That’s not necessarily a major problem for the A-League – watching a vastly superior Del Piero run rings around his own team-mates has been cringe-worthy at times – but it does raise the question of whether the A-League is gambling with short-term gimmickry over long-term growth.
There’s an argument that any money spent on signing Beckham would be better directed towards developing youth football.
But then the companies and corporations willing to put their money into bringing a player like Beckham to Australia aren’t doing it merely for the good of the game.
And if Football Federation Australia does end up playing a role in helping bring marquee players to our shores, is that necessarily a good thing for the rest of the league?
If FFA helps Melbourne Heart sign Beckham, for example, how is that fair on city rivals Melbourne Victory?
It seems that Heart would be the most likely fit for Beckham, for no other reason than they desperately need something to help boost their crowds.
They’ve already initiated a scheme to give away hundreds of free tickets to this weekend’s clash with the Newcastle Jets and sadly for Melbourne’s second side, they’re having trouble attracting fans through the gates of AAMI Park.
Beckham would help change that in an instant but as we’ve seen with the Del Piero effect of bringing in thousands of extra fans both home and away, the trick is to try and get these supporters to stick around.
Perth Glory and the Central Coast Mariners are the other names being bandied about as potential Beckham suitors, but it’s questionable whether one club with a stadium in the midst of a rebuild and another with one of the smallest grounds in the league would benefit more than the Heart.
But the overall question is what Beckham would actually bring to the league.
On the pitch he started 23 games for the Galaxy during the 2012 campaign, scoring seven goals and contributing nine assists in the process – suggesting that the former England star isn’t necessarily a spent force.
But it’s obviously off the pitch where he would make the biggest difference.
The international media exposure he brings with him is like nothing the A-League has ever witnessed before – the Del Piero coup included – and his ability to attract fans through the gates and potentially better players to the league is worth serious consideration.
But so is the question of whether signing Beckham could damage the integrity of the league.
Is it a short-term move at the cost of a clear long-term strategy?
That’s the debate we should be having.
mahonjt
Guest
Red Bulls have ruled it out.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Spot on, dasilva. And, let's not forget the NY Cosmos are not even part of the MLS. They're re-entering the league at the NASL level and the NASL commences the 2013 season in April - a month after the MLS. Perfect opportunity for the most recognisable sportsman on the planet to choose Melbourne as his home for the next few months.
dasilva
Guest
However there is still a gap between now and the next MLS season He could still fit in a stint as a guest player before joining New York next season (similar to how he join AC Milan before rejoining LA galaxy during hte out of season break There was no question whether Beckham would join A-league on a permanent basis
TC
Guest
I put up a post way above about how my wife had advised me that Posh's fashion business will dictate where they will go next, and in her expert opinion, that meant New York. Well, my wife might be an expert afterall. Just read this: http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1239600/david-beckham-interested-in-new-york-cosmos-role---report?cc=3436 The cosmos have offered a stint to him as both player and co-owner, with the invite coming from his former team mate, Eric Cantona. TC
Joe
Guest
Well it appears as though only official bids for Beckham have come from the A league, China, psg, west ham etc have all distanced themselves from him....so i dont think he really has a choice lol....Galaxy have offloaded him at the right time.
Michael
Guest
!
Droppa
Guest
the wife & kids!
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
A reasonably reliable source on Twitter - he/she seems to be correct more times than wrong ... but, he/sh is still wrong on many occasions - has just said that the Beckham deal is all but done - he's coming to Melbourne Heart! Let the week-end speculation begin!
nordster
Guest
Its a reflex Reynoldinski...we equate all cynicism with clueless eggballism...pls forgive their defensive attitudes, it comes from having spent too long around folks who know the game even less then those of us who indeed have often come to the game late.
nordster
Guest
Mahonjt...ive found a "comrade" on here haha, brilliant...shame the political rhetoric in Oz is so blindingly unionist despite most folks rejecting it re their own lack of membership of them. Goes hand in hand with anti-competitive (and economically illiterate) practices. Also interesting u point to the measures in american and Oz sport being not just about equalisation...also protection of existing clubs...locking out potential new entrants and regions. Hopefully they should be able to get the chance to challenge should we ever get a second div here. Closed shop...lets hope not forever.
Martin
Guest
Now that I have converted to the round ball game, I suppose I should be ecstatic about the possibility of Beckham coming to Australia. To be honest, I am not quite there yet; I suppose it is going to take a bit while longer before am able to appreciate what a big name he is.
whiskeymac
Guest
preferred cantona to mr step-over. bergkamp to both. of course not all seagulls follow my trawler in this respect but ....
whiskeymac
Guest
My melancholy Real, much ado? Why, all the worlds a stage and all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances. (Becks is on the wing).
Bondy.
Guest
I think Fussballs right about Ifill i've never recalled (heard of) him to be a marquee. Fred has been dissapointing for that money regardless ,he's rarely outhere.
TC
Guest
No, I don't remember that one. When Ernie recruited the trio from Rio (with Fred being a raging success in his one and only season with MV), over seasons 3 and 4 there was a mad rush to sign anyone who looked even slightly latin, and it's during this period that we ended up with some of the biggest failures to ever grace an A-League pitch. However, I think it's fair to say that the hit rate has been quite good since that frantic period. I vaguely recall a guy called Patrick with SFC. I'm sure there were a few others over this period that sit comfortably alongside Leandro Love, Drovandi and Cleberson. TC
Reynoldsinski
Guest
Fussball - you're the epitome of the clueless Australian football fan. The type that gets all their information from google searches, because they have no natural feel for the game. The type that gets excited about the Futsal World Cup, when the rest of the serious football world wouldn't give it a second thought.
Midfielder
Guest
Some big names ... MacMaureadhaigh .. Whistlebottom....
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
@ Reynoldsinski Nothing you've posted about Football issues - on-field or off-field - suggests you have the slightest interest or knowledge about the Game. Either you hide your football knowledge very well, or you're a fraud.
fadida
Guest
The best of all the imports was a Bleiberg coup. Not even sure of his name, such was his blinding brilliance .... Jefferson?? He came with the other Brazilians in GCU's first season. Miron claimed he'd be the best import the Leage had ever seen..... Played a few half games Anyone else remember this footballing genius?
Reynoldsinski
Guest
You're either a total muppet or you have me confused with someone else. I've spent half my life in England and have only ever been to one AFL game. I've seen more football matches than you've had hot dinners though.