There are two ways we can react to Guangzhou’s predictable pasting of the Mariners. We can grumble about money and then ignore it, or use it as a springboard to better understand how to compete in Asia.
A 5-1 aggregate defeat in their AFC Champions League Round of 16 tie doesn’t look great on paper, but the truth is Central Coast gave a decent account of themselves.
Like several A-League sides before them, the Mariners simply lacked the poise and polish of many of the continent’s big clubs and were subsequently punished for their mistakes.
We shouldn’t have expected any different, and it seems like a subtle shift in terms of the way Guangzhou were analysed means the misguided belief Australian teams will dominate Asia is not as pervasive as it once was.
Many media outlets described Guangzhou as the “Manchester United of Asia” – an odd description which lacked the caveat that Evergrande have only ever won two Chinese top-flight titles, rather than 20.
Of course, what that description is supposed to mean is that Guangzhou have bucket loads of cash, but to focus solely on the fact is counterproductive.
Firstly, for all the talk about Guangzhou’s much-vaunted foreign contingent, two of their best players over the two legs were Chinese.
The marauding Zhang Linpeng was a bit like a Chinese version of Scott Chipperfield, but an even more interesting player was Gao Lin.
The agile striker almost scored with a spectacular scissor kick in Gosford before settling affairs at a raucous Tianhe Stadium with a neatly-taken finish.
Like Zhang, the popular Gao made an early debut for the Chinese national team and his inauspicious start makes for instructive reading.
He was sent off five minutes into his debut against South Korea at the 2005 East Asian Football Championships by overzealous Japanese referee Yuichi Nishimura, in what was an obvious case of mistaken identity.
“I don’t know why I was sent off. Everyone could see it was Li Weifeng who pushed the other player, but he is too important to the team so I didn’t complain to the ref,” a bemused Gao said after his nightmare debut, which culminated in China finishing the game with just eight men on the pitch.
What has that got to do with Australian football? Well, for one thing the Socceroos take part in the East Asian Championships in July.
For another, we understand very little about some of the geopolitics which affect the way the game is played in our region.
Think that’s an overstatement? Wait until July when China and Japan kick seven shades out of each other in Seoul.
What else can we learn from Guangzhou Evergrande? That decent scouting works wonders.
Their best player by a country mile was not Dario Conca or Lucas Barrios – two of the highest-paid players in Asian football – but rather the elusive Muriqui.
The slender Brazilian struggled to make his mark in his homeland, yet he looked a world beater in Guangzhou colours.
No doubt it helps to run out in front of crowds of 40,000 – in midweek against a relatively unknown opponent, it must be said – and Guangzhou are proof that signing good players and playing attractive football generally draws in the punters.
Learning how to lure Asian fans through the gates will provide the steepest learning curve for Australian officials over the next couple of years, because this country will soon host the Asian Cup.
And for all the flowery talk about the Asian Century and forging links and building bridges, we’ve heard very little discussion on how Australian officials actually plan to make that happen.
Football has rightly made plenty of positive headlines of late.
But a bit of humility wouldn’t hurt our approach to Asian football, for there’s still plenty to learn if Australian sides are to become a force in the region.
Fred
Roar Rookie
its a good point given the current worries with the Socceroos we have to guard against further neglection
gumpy
Guest
The easy option would be to raise the salary cap/no. of marquees/imports but it would most likely result in the further neglection of improving our domestic juniors/players tactical and technical standard. I believe the National Curriculum under Han Berger has the right idea, and we only have to wait till roughly 2016-17 to see the first batch of players largely/solely produced by it roll out of the conveyor belt. By rights the best of these could well make even Tom Rogic look like Leigh Broxham!
Midfielder
Guest
Appreciate your thos as well
Junior
Guest
FRANK LOWY - Appoint THIS man as the next FFA High Performance Manager NOW.
my left foot
Guest
I must say Gallop has been a breath of fresh air though and is allready showing signs of a great leader, I am a lot more optemistic with him at the helm. But I do find it strange (even a little offensive) that development of our juniors are expected to come from 'semi profesional clubs who get little compensation. There is a reason why when Aussies go overseas they languish in the reserves for a year, they have not had a structured development, tailored to that clubs philosophy. It's niave to think a player just needs game time to develop, or that getting a NYL player in at the age of 18 - 19 you can develop them, the time for development is over at that age, they should be technically ready, tactically aware if not ready.
Junior
Guest
Finally someone has articulated exactly what the basic fundamental fault of the current structure of the A-League is. The FFA have allowed the club owners (all of them are nothing but low life clowns) to avoid setting up football academies to improve the youth structure - F**kwits without a clue every single one of them.
MikeD
Guest
In a city of like 10+million...wat was their attendance again..please! Drop those 2-3 foreigners in the CCM squad. Mariners would win the competition no problems!! Pleasing thing for me is how far the a-league clubs are progressing in terms of the football..fluid passing and movement. Few times the Mariners shifted the ball through the lines really easily, moved it from one side to the other. Few years back..a-league clubs could barely play out from the back in this competition..baby steps!!
philk
Guest
Therein lies the truth. Give it time and we will be as competitive in Asia as all the other major leagues in the Asian Federation.
Nelson
Guest
Lesson One: - Increase the salary Cap.
realfootball
Guest
What is this? A mutual admiration society?
my left foot
Guest
Many competitions in Europe have limits on foreign players, the Bundesliga being one.
BZ
Guest
I had that thought too....as ridiculous as De Jong's... straight red....
naknode
Guest
and what about the push by Sainsbury on Zheng Zhi in the box? Or maybe that nasty flying kick on Feng Junyang by McBreen? Seriously. Reminded me of Alonso in the final of 2012 WC. How was THAT not a red. Ugh.
Midfielder
Guest
Fuss Sorry Mike off topic but you may also be interested... Fuss you are an ideas man.... I understand you are MV ... but we just started a forum as to what could we do as fans to help next year... http://ccmfans.net/community/index.php?threads/what-can-we-do-for-the-mariners.5211/#post-179659 If you have any ideas go on and post...
Midfielder
Guest
Mike I saw the Japan / Korean WC as getting China into football as well and gave lots of hope to many other Asian nations about their ability to play at a global level... I can also see as the AFC improves a real push for extra WC spots ...
Nelson
Guest
As good as South Korea and Japan have become (and will be in the future), with people like Tom Byer now placed in charge of football development, China is going to improve markedly in the next 10-15 years.
Midfielder
Guest
Fred If you have to ask that question I don't think any answer would be acceptable... but if don't need to ask the question you would understand what effect that will have...
Fred
Roar Rookie
Japn to win WC in 2026 what magical thing will happen at that point?
Nelson
Guest
I agree with your points whole-heartedly, Mike, although I suggest not taking a lesson in humility from the likes of Evergrande, a team not only backed by masive wealth, but one that forced it's domestic league to change the rules for foreign players simply to suit it's own ACL aspirations.
Michael_Newcastle
Guest
Yes, you're right, in addition to the superior technical skills of Evergrande, their defence was astounding with CCM not really looking like they would break through much at all. Evergrande's transition to attack was far quicker than CCM, something that a world class coach might be teaching them. But he comes at a price. For the pricetag, CCM were excellent. There was absolutely no shame in their performances and I think quietly Evergrande would have been surprised that CCM weren't easier to beat. If McGlinchey's shot had gone in early on and the Evergrande player been sent off (as he should have been) for that hideous 2 footed tackle (also on McGlinchey), the game might have played out differently.