Is the A-League up to the same standard as the J. League? The answer, quite clearly, is no. But even after Japan downed the Socceroos 3-2 overnight, it was still a good week for Australian football.
Despite Samurai Blue coach Alberto Zaccheroni changing his entire starting XI from the side which drew 3-3 with China in its East Asian Cup opener, it was always Japan which looked the more comfortable side against an unchanged Socceroos outfit in front of a virtually empty stadium in Hwaeseong.
An impudent strike from the latest to carry the “Asian Lionel Messi tag,” tricky Yokohama F. Marinos winger Manabu Saito, and a second from Kashima Antlers front man Yuya Osako had the Japanese in the box seat.
However, goals from Mitch Duke and an equaliser from substitute Tomi Juric saw the Socceroos come roaring back, only for Osako to break Australian hearts with his second to register the winner late on.
All in all, it was a valiant performance from a makeshift Australian side, which might reasonably have been expected to struggle against a team comprised entirely of players from the strongest domestic league in the region.
And despite the defeat, the Socceroos’ performance signalled the end of what was a curiously positive week for football in Australia.
It started, oddly enough, with Manchester United’s 5-1 thumping of the A-League All Stars at ANZ Stadium in Sydney last Saturday night.
The All Stars didn’t quite live up to their name, however United proved their worth by not only turning in an impressive display on the park, but also by winning over many new fans off it.
However, it was Liverpool’s 2-0 defeat of Melbourne Victory in front of more than 95,000 fans at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in midweek which really turned heads.
For an observer like me with only a passing interest in the game, the sight of virtually the entire stadium swathed in red was an eye-catching one.
Just as memorable was the astonishing rendition of “You’ll Never Walk Alone” which welcomed the two teams onto the pitch.
It may have been a mere friendly, but it was clearly an event which meant much to the record crowd which squeezed into the MCG on the night.
Not for the first time, Ange Postecoglou hinted that he is by far and away the best tactician in the country as his team turned in a dogged display in their impressively narrow 2-0 loss.
Indeed, perhaps the most surreal experience was finding myself cheering for the big, bad Melbourne Victory at the expense of the English giants!
And that, at least in part, surely suggests that an A-League side playing a friendly against an English Premier League outfit was a worthwhile experience.
The diehard English football fans, of which there are clearly tens of thousands in Australia, were always going to turn up to these fixtures.
To some extent, it was difficult to imagine how that might benefit the A-League going into these games, however the chance for the competition to gain this level of exposure was too good an opportunity to pass up.
For what it’s worth, I can empathise with those who suggest Australia has “no football culture” upon witnessing 95,000 fans sing the unofficial anthem of a club based on the other side of the world.
However, we can’t even begin to develop a football culture without a starting point, and suggesting as much conveniently ignores the Victory fans who turned out at the MCG and the Socceroos supporters who tuned in to watch the national team in action last night.
All things considered, it’s hard to see how the past week was anything but a positive one for a code which received a sizeable boost in mainstream coverage.
And that’s not a bad place for football to be, in the midst of what it is a lengthy domestic off-season.
Kasey
Guest
Juric looks to have a real goal-poachers instinct.. I was really disappointed AU didn't make more of an effort to re-sign him at the end of last season. He will star for WSW which is where he seemed to want to go. I thought McGowan has had a good tournament in the backlines, which is helpful considering the creaking nature/age of our current defenders.
Stevo
Guest
Great background info jb. Watching Matt play I was always left with the impression that he knows what to do on the field and that he is not afraid of hanging on to the ball and in turn making the play. In contrast to watching many people play, both socially and professionally, who almost get scared of the ball and find themselves hoofing forward in hope. Getting the correct guidance that maximises your football success means not being too hasty when making decisions and not over-rating yourself.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
I've read that he's played for the Joeys (u17) team. Of course, that doesn't mean he can't also play for another nation at senior level - if he satisfies the eligibility requirements.
Midfielder
Guest
BREAKING NEWS.... Please be right... from Ray Gatt.. Ray Gatt @Gatty54 3m All going well Graham Arnold should extend contract to end of 2015-16 season
Midfielder
Guest
How you do AZ_RBB
AZ_RBB
Guest
with Weidenfeller suspended. i'm pretty sure Mitch Langerak will start tomorrow morning's Germany Supercup against Bayern at Westfalenstadion. match kicks off in 6hrs so i might catch some sleep before kick off!
Robbie
Roar Pro
How are you meant to compare the A-League and J-League when the J-Leauge is in the middle of their season and our boys haven't played in a couple of months???
Robbie
Roar Pro
Has he played for any Socceroos or Greek youth teams yet?
Jukes
Guest
Belgium is a great starting point for any ambitious Australian player. You get good development and is a great place to test yourself in a good league. If your good enough you will get noticed and get picked up by a bigger club. The national team for Belgium is also going great guns, a dark horse to go deep in the WC tournament and could cause a few headaches for some teams.
Midfielder
Guest
Sorta back on topic ...re KOP .... just have a listen to this and tell me Asian football is not on the rise our friends in other codes think YNWA is a English thing ... they have no idea what is headed their way... We Are Diamonds - Urawa reds Supporters ... to the tune of """ We are sailing""" spine chilling if I am honest.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xe8vYjy589s
Midfielder
Guest
AZ_RBB Sainsbury could have gone ....Arnold felt he needed to stay a bit to get a tad more experience and to find the right club with the right coach where he had a chance of first team play... As for Matty ... excellent move ..
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Middy More good news in today for AUS football. 17 year old Chris Ikonomidis, has signed a 3 year deal with Serie A giants, Lazio. Slowly, AUS players are starting to appear on the lists of major teams in Europe ... same as we had during the "golden generation". The production line has only just started ... no reason we won't see 2-3 players join major Euro teams every season.
Midfielder
Guest
Good for him .. his play has improved under AP .... IMO should be a starting Socceroo ...
AZ_RBB
Guest
WSW officially announced 14 000 members. nearly 3 months before Parra Stadium even hosts a Season 13/14 game! Sold out sign should be up soon. Next goal should be to maintain a home crowd average of over 17 000.
Midfielder
Guest
JB There is a fourth member of Arnold's overseas advise team... Robbie Slatter ... I understand but from no real knowledge but from sources I believe... Rayn had a number of offers and stayed at the Mariners for abit to get the right team and chance to get a spot ... same for Rogic he has a excellent chance of getting in the first team... and why Sainsbury is still with us ... the right club needs to be found for him... Sainsbury had offers ...
Brick Tamlin of the Pants Party
Guest
I read Palace were looking at Shane Lowry as well.
j binnie
Guest
Mid - An interesting path on advice. Farina & Okon both played in Belgium & Arnold "next door" so combined, they should have a fair amount of knowledge about the game there & how it is set up. Just remember one thing,we are talking about a goalkeeper,a specialist position, with normally only 2 or 3 competitors for the 1 spot. Good luck to youmg Matt he has the talent & has proved it, so with a bit of normal luck should establish himself,perhaps even "slingshot" to a bigger league. Now to your earlier reference to Matt McKay. This does need investigation for behind the lad is a story that has to be held up to every young player in Australia.At the age of 12/13 Matt was probably one of the finest talents I have seen in junior football.He had all the makings,good ball skills,fitness,non-stop work rate & most importantly an almost pathological desire to get and keep the ball. At the time I first saw him (around 1995) he was being coached by an ex Socceroo so I thought his development would continue along the nomal paths. Wrong Wrong Wrong.The next time I saw Matt he was playing,still as an attacking midfielder with the Roar (everyone knows how he is thought of at that club). However I was a tad disappointed, for in many ways he had not developed skills that should have been mandatory in his coaching programs over those intermittent years. Let me explain that in a bit more detail so you can understand. Matt,now 30,has played 300 games at a reasonably high standard & has only, despite his undoubted industry,found the net on 23 occasions. This is a punishing statistic to an attacking midfielder & points unerringly to a shortfall in his football education despite having attended the QAS for 2 years, the AIS for 1 year &,had several different club coaches in his formative years. Getting back to your "advice" train of thought.Matt decided to try the 'big time" & started with Glasgow Rangers, a terrible choice, a club in dire financial trouble,a brand new untried manager, a board constantly looking for ways to get out & yet by going into this shambles we must assume Matt thought he was doing the right thing.Another thing his advisors forgot to tell him that in the history of Rangers they have never endeared themselve to "small" mid- field players.I can only think of 2,McMillan & Baxter both of whom were consummate professionals with other clubs when Rangers purchased them. As you know Matt's stay at Ibrox was not long in ending,3 appearances later. He moved to the Far East to 2 clubs & after 43 games (& 1 goal) now finds himself a free agent. Back to your advice statement.I feel heart sorry that our system has played a "crook hand " to Matt Mackay. In any well structured football country Matt would have been a world class player by now but somewhere along his development line Matt has not recieved the help or advice he required & now I feel he should come back & play out his football life in the HAL. Can we learn from this lad's experience?. We had better. Your mate jb
Realfootbal
Guest
Glad its worked out for Milligan. Back in J League 2 it really did look like bad decisions had killed his career. But from the ashes he rises...
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
BREAKING NEWS.... Yes, it's been confirmed by a very reliable football source (the lads at SoccerStoppageTime) that Mark Milligan will join EPL club, Crystal Palace. "@SocStoppageTime: Breaking News - I can reveal Mark Milligan has agreed personal term with Crystal Palace for 3 years. Now it's up to Melb and Palace for fee." So, he's gone & now just a matter of the fee for MVFC - would assume it will be $1-2m, which should be perfect opportunity to grab a good marquee. Sad to see him leave, but that's football.
AZ_RBB
Guest
also while we're on the topic of Aussie Abroad. very strong rumours Mark Milligan will be joining Jedinak had Crystal Palace in the EPL next season.