Since the A-League kicked off in 2005 opinions have varied from person to person about the quality of footballers coming through the ranks and the quality of international footballers coming from overseas to ply their trade in the A-League.
Many have labelled the league boring, unsustainable and lacking any true professionalism.
Once news reached that Tim Cahill, our most formidable attacker had signed for the New York Red Bulls many fans of the A-League questioned why he opted from coming home.
His response was clear, saying “moving to the A-League would have been a step backwards and that’s no disrespect”.
Instead of attacking an icon of our national team, alarm bells should of have started ringing in the FFA head offices.
Why is our league a step back when compared to the MLS? Questions such as those should have been asked and answered.
The hierarchy at the FFA, to develop the A-League must be looking over at the MLS on ways to improve the A-League instead of focusing on the good aspects of NRL, AFL and Super Rugby and shaping the A-League on those foundations.
Many fans will ask why look overseas. The answer is brief yet simple, football is different to any other code in Australia and the reach of football is worldwide.
Here I am, a person who had never watched a game of the MLS who was sitting on his laptop at 4am and watching highlights of the MLS.
Yes the quality of the MLS is nowhere near that of the English Premier League, the Bundesliga or the Serie A but the quality of ‘American soccer’ as Americans call it, has without question, drastically improved.
Over the decade many football specific stadiums in America have been built, many high profile players have been signed and the number of teams has sky-rocketed without impeding the quality offered by the MLS.
How has all this been done in a decade or so? The answer is, investment. Investments into the MLS have been much bigger than that of the A-League and I will briefly outline some of the key points that the hierarchy at the FFA must look into for the current professional competition to improve.
Facility investment
Investments into stadium and training infrastructure must be made for the A-League to improve and for A-League teams to have actual opportunities into making strides into Asia.
Most teams in the A-League do, however have adequate stadium infrastructure, however teams such as Brisbane Roar and Sydney FC (going on from last season’s figures) are playing in stadiums that are overly rather too large for their perspective fan-bases.
Sometime in the near future, football-specific stadiums must be on the agenda, and I do realise that securing the funding for stadiums will be the hardest part.
However within the next few seasons, teams competing in the A-League should at least be looking at owning their own professional training facilities.
Central Coast Mariners are the only current A-League teams to possess their own training facility which in terms of professionalism is close to laughable.
I think going on from reports, they might be the only team is Australia across all codes to own their own training ground which further reiterates the fact that the foundations of League, AFL and Union should not be implemented into the A-League.
At the end of the day it’s the training that any young player does throughout his child hood, teenage years and professional football life which determines how good of a footballer one becomes.
If we don’t start investing in training facilities, the quality of footballers within this country will continue to remain subtle.
Salary cap
The salary cap is a double edged sword which can work both ways and if your an avid football fan you’ll know that most clubs in the EPL are in debt.
The current salary cap in place is another part of the A-League that was copied from the NRL and AFL which needs to be rectified.
The Bundesliga have a very effective ‘spending cap’ in place which allows clubs to only spend as much as they have earned to avoid teams from going broke and the A-League should implement a similar system.
The salary cap was initially introduced to keep the playing field and to keep clubs sustainable but has proved to be very ironic of that.
Clubs within the A-League at the moment are allowed two marquee players and an under-21 marquee player, with all three wages totally excluded from the salary cap.
If I’m not mistaken a system which was initially introduced to keep the A-League sustainable and on an even playing field has done a 360 degree u-turn and allowed clubs to spend as much as possible on up to three players.
If this doesn’t ring music to your ears, this will. The only club to fill all the available marquee positions in season 2012/13 was Sydney FC who finished sixth.
If the A-League does expand to 16 teams one day, for the A-League not to limit its quality a system will need to be introduced to accommodate smaller and bigger clubs.
How could a club for example based in Wollongong in the future compete with a club such as Melbourne Victory to remain sustainable when the demographics are totally different in both areas.
Wollongong currently has a population of around 250,000 compared to Melbourne’s population of over four million.
Having mentioned the populations let’s presume for this argument that Melbourne Victory are averaging 25,000 fans a season while Wollongong FC are attracting 12,000 fans but the club in Wollongong is required to spend as much as Melbourne Victory on their roster.
To add a bit of mathematics to support the argument we’ll say that the Victory have managed to turnover a profit of around $3 million at season’s end (having two marquee’s signed) while Wollongong have managed to just ‘break even’ by offloading a few players to overseas teams and not having a single marquee.
The current salary cap, if anything has hindered the clubs located in the bigger cities in Australia while allowed the smaller clubs such as Central Coast, Newcastle and Adelaide to compete at the discretion of the likes of Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory.
No matter how much effort and whatever system is introduced an even playing field across all A-League clubs will never exist as there are way too many variables.
Expansion
The A-League is currently at ten clubs and expansion is vital for the future of football in this country.
There are a number of key ‘hot spots’ throughout Australia based on their populations that should possess a professional football club.
Two cities stick out. Wollongong and Canberra and these two cities should be the next two cities to secure an A-League club if the right people are found to secure them financially.
Wollongong is the preferred option and would be a goldmine as there are no professional sports teams (besides St George Dragons who play six games a season at Wollongong).
With the right people behind it, a club located on the south coast could become a powerhouse within the A-League.
However I do believe that the FFA should implement (if they haven’t already) a very strict requirement for cities that securing an A-League club in terms of stadia.
The current stadium at Wollongong is not very appealing and there should be strict stadium requirements for all clubs within the A-League to maintain a certain ‘professionalism’ across the league.
A club playing out of Wollongong would be a massive boost but a stadium must be built to accommodate any bid from Wollongong.
What the FFA have done with Wanderers has been outstanding but I do believe that a football fan-base and culture has always existed in the west and the FFA did get very lucky with the way the club was performing on the field to attract that many supporters in their first season.
The FFA should look at the MLS and how they handle expansion.
Manchester City have recently been linked with securing the 20th club in the MLS and there are already talks of building a football specific stadium for a club who yet don’t exist.
Surely the next expansion that occurs in the A-League will involve people who are truly interested and eager to see the growth of Australian football and who are willing to throw $100 million around to start a club and build them a stadium.
The sooner the FFA realise that a true market exists in Asia and the growth of the A-League heavily depends on A-League clubs been successful in Asia the sooner the A-League will improve as an entire competition.
The current A-League module has failed to attract investments (mostly due to the salary cap), failed to make most clubs sustainable and has most importantly failed to reward clubs that have been doing everything right on and off the field.
Tom
Guest
However if you don't Like the USSF rout, you can try the Mexican way, whichis seeing talent all throughout their youth levels.
Tom
Guest
Dempsey plays for spurs, Brek Shea was sold to stoke, Jozy plays in Holland and was second in scoring in the Dutch league, Najar chose Honduras to play for, however was sold to Anderlecht this year. Bradley plays for Roma, not to mention the four or 6 players in Germany. Many of these players first started in MLS, before moving to Europe. Mexico has few players in Europe, however Liga MX is grown so much, they are producing players at an incredible rate. MLS clubs and USSF are now taking steps, to improve US soccer. The first thing US soccer set out to do, was to create an grading system and curriculum for Player Develpment. Coaches in the USSF youth levels are judge on playing and from the back, while using attacking formations, and less on winning. By during this, it would lead to better players with the ball at their feet. The also implemented key concepts of the new curriculum designed to improve development of players in ... conditioning work into their technical and tactical training programs. The second thing USSF set out to achieve, was to increase their schedule to 10 months season, then reach down into younger and younger age levels, to develop players. The MLS and USL Pro came to an agreement this year, with this year being the test run, that will see players getting playing time in meaningful games. In the future, MLS clubs,will be able to have a B team play in USL Pro.
Tom
Guest
J-league clubs never play there Starters and neither do any CSL club, when they play Thai clubs in group stages. Burirham are a horrible, team, and wouldn't last against quality clubs and gave Brisbane trouble without four of their best players. The CSL has now past the A-League, and not because of money, but the developing of their domestic players.
Tom
Guest
The Brazilian side in the Olympics was better then the Japanese or any Asian first team. Honduras gave Brazil a fight, and Mexico beat them. Jamaica have a number of players in MLS and players in the premier league, and so does Honduars. Liga MX teams would destroy Asian teams, Tijuana took a Brazilian all the way in the Libertadores. It took a save penalty kick, to save the game for the Brazilian side. Try telling me an Asian side can beat Club America. MLS clubs are getting closer and closer to Liga MX clubs, and would destroy any Asian club. Obafemi Martins was killing it this year in La Liga, and he now plays for the Sounders. While Guangzhou Evergrande player, Muriqui,struggled to make it in Brazil, yet in China or against CCM he looks like a super star.Guangzhou has only for international players on their roster, their domestic Players did a lot of the damage, by opening up the filed for the International to work.. Guangzhou are not a great team, its just clubs in the A-league are of low standard. A team in Panama called,Sporting San Miguelito,is buying a number of players from Spain for the up coming CCL.
gumpy
Guest
KK, you'd never see Liverpool going to Honduras or indeed pretty much anywhere in Latin America b/c the EPL isn't considered the world benchmark over there. If it were a La Liga or a Serie A side they *might* bite, however. Besides EPL clubs usually tour the 'new-ish' territories of world football (eg. the Far East) to spread the football gospel to the natives/sell a bundle of replica kits as part of the bargain. No point in them going anywhere south of the Rio Grande to do that (except maybe Nicaragua where baseball is no. 1)
Kickass Koala
Guest
The FFA and CCM did develop better players, its why Rogic is over at Celtic right now and Amini in Germany, Ryan in Belgium, how m any Americans do we see picked up by those countries. Some but not heaps, which is even more sad when you consider the 300+ million population they have compared to ours.
Kickass Koala
Guest
How can you on one hand rate Honduras Jamacia and Mexico and then turn around and say playing China is weak or that teams in asia are not that great until they are at the level or Japanese teams.I dont see Liverpool FC heading of to Honduras to play a club side ?Or the "Premier club team in the Jamacian Capital" A chinese superleague team just played Central Coast and they looked great. Id challenge you to find a central american club side that would match it with Asia.Even North American teams too, i highly fancy "Seattle Sounders" getting the points against Urawa Reds.
Gezza
Guest
Oh course Evergrande have mostly domestic players. Given their massive budget, they've also horded the best Chinese talent, and crucially, not many Chinese players head overseas, so you're seeing a bigger concentration of domestic talent than what we've seen in the AL. I've watched every ACL since Australian clubs have been involved since 2007, and CSL teams in general haven't been much better than AL clubs - I'd argue at least their equal. Guangzhou Evergrande are the exception; they're on another planet and dare I say better than most J-League teams. Yes, I do remember CCM losing against Guizhou, when they fielded virtually a B team during the climax of the AL finals. The Mariners also beat them at home 2-1 the previous week. You're also being extremely disrespectful towards Buriram United, who've reached the final 8 of the ACL, getting through the group stage ahead of a CSL and J-League team. Based on your reasoning, we'll need to question the strength of the J-League and CSL now? I think AL teams are doing a reasonable job given the disparities in budgets, but of course we have a lot of improvement to make. No-one's denying this.
Tom
Guest
Also the fourth place team in Concacaf, will be facing the winner of Oceania, NZ.
Tom
Guest
Did you read your comment?"Mexico are last because they have hardly anyone to compete against"? that makes no sense.Mexico is last because the level of Concacaf has risen, teams like Honduras, Panama & Jamaica, have players in MLS, Spain and England. The Mexican youth teams have won u-17 trophies, and finished third in the last U-20 world cup. Did you see what Mexico did at the Olympics? or what about Honduras? Mexico would destroy both Oman and North Korea, you must be smoking to make such a claim.
Kickass Koala
Guest
Mexico are last because they have hardly anyone to compete against. To be honest i think even Oman or North Korea would balance well with Mexico. To give you an idea of where Concaf averages, the play off place from Asia would have more of a shot of a world cup birth than the play off country from Concaf .... Which is exactly what we will see when the winner of the 3rd place teams in each Asian group play each other, after which they play some Concaf team ...
Tom
Guest
Asia is easy to qualify, Mexico is better then both Japan and Australia, and are last in WCQ standings.
Kickass Koala
Guest
Asia is way harder to qualify from. Every 4 years i watch the USA walk into a world cup!
Kickass Koala
Guest
The game is played differently in each country, to be honest i find the MLS stretched out, meaning they thin the quality out over more teams, so you can see someone do something amazing for a MLS team but the other 10 on the park would be average. If im honest tho id say the MLS is elevated above A-League based on American exposure, that being a massive population. We cant answer the question on which league is better at the moment, tho take all 10 A-League teams and 10 selected MLS teams in a cup tournament and then maybe we will know. or even better, A-League All Stars vs MLS All Stars
Tom
Guest
The CCM lost to another Chinese club this year, Guizhou Renhe remember that? Wait, what about Brisbane struggling to beat Burirham United, do you remember that? Again, the Guangzhou Evergrande roster is made up of mostly domestic players, and while they have a few expensive players, it was the domestic players that open up the pitch for Guangzhou Evergrande to attack.
Tom
Guest
Its called youtube, anyone can use it.
Tom
Guest
Money had nothing to do with why the Mariners lost, the failure of the FFA and the A-league in developing better players is why the Mariners lost. Guangzhou Evergrande has few foreigners of their squad, most of the damage came from their domestic players. The play from Guangzhou Evergrande domestic players, opened up the pitch for the foreigner players to operate. Also Australia is not second in Asia, that title belongs to South Korea, we can not even beat Oman.
DGKramer
Guest
A League does not need to look at MLS other than to observe the growth. World futball is expanding and the market will only grow as the world gets more populated and "smaller". The 2014 Cup is accelerating the attention paid to this beautiful sport. One thing I have never liked is copying a business model just because it appears to work for someone else. Do your own thing and grow the A League down under style. Then again who am I? Former third division player and small time author, just another voice. By the way - MLS highlight reels at 4AM? Please tell me you were having a bad night!
Gezza
Guest
Geez, hate is a strong word. Time to lie on the leather couch methinks, or invest in Chinese stress balls. Besides, CCM eliminated one Chinese club on the way to the round of 16 before they met a very expensively assembled squad and coaching staff. What a surprise they lost. Getting back to the article, I'm slightly confused with the inference that we should look to the MLS for change, which I agree with incidentally, yet we should also scrap the salary cap? I'm all for your points about expansion and infrastructure, but if you're arguing that we follow the MLS, then shouldn't we be retaining the salary cap? MLS has had a salary cap since inception!
Amir
Roar Rookie
You're an idiot mate. At international level we are 2nd best to Japan. Chinese teams are only good because of their over paying to international players. Lippi is on like $13M a year in China LOL.