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Last week, when the Socceroos traveled to Brazil for their friendly match, Melbourne Victory’s Archie Thompson made a tongue in cheek comment in regards to Brazil’s Neymar, stating that he didn’t know “what all the fuss is about.”
When Neymar was questioned about these comments, he responded by saying, “Archie who?”.
These comments, much to the amusement of many, sparked a string of text messages. Messages received read like “hahah proves A-League is so bad” and “why watch Thompson when you can watch Neymar?”.
So the question that rises from the dust is “Why watch the A-League when I can watch European football?
It’s a very valid point. The leagues in Europe are the best in the world, with the world’s biggest stars plying their trade week in-week out. They have a world wide appeal. Those Leagues are vested with years and years of tradition, history and rivalry.
The A-League, on the other hand, is young, and one wouldn’t find the cream of the world’s players, at the top of their games, playing in Australia.
As revealed by Neymar’s comments, no one in Europe knows a thing about the A-League, at least not many.
Who cares? While it may not be the world’s best league, it’s Australia’s league. It is football being played on our shores, in our backyard and on our prime time.
What’s more important is that we get everyone on board here, and help grow the league’s popularity in our region, the Asia Pacific.
Asia is our territory and we should do all we can to capture it. Most of the A-League matches are already broadcast in Asia, while our teams play in the AFC Champions League, therefore, Asia is the continent we should aim for.
Let’s not worry about Europe, we are not going to catch them and they will always be miles ahead. But Asia is our region, and realistically, we can become the best league in Asia.
The next thing I would like to say, to all those who have not given the league a chance, is to give it a chance. This is the season to give it a chance. This year, A-League hits free-to-air on Friday nights, opening up the game to many who were deprived of it.
Football is returning home to SBS. This year is arguably the best ever in terms of player quality, and every single team has a genuinely realistic chance of making it to the finals.
There are, probably, six or seven teams who have a genuine chance at the title. Not too many leagues across the world can boast of this diversity.
The people who give it a chance, should also give it time. It will take teams a few weeks to get going and to string together their best play.
Also, do not judge on the basis of one match. Start by watching your Friday night games, the derbies or big fixtures. You can’t just judge the entire league in five minutes of one match in isolation and completely disregard it.
The more you watch, the more players you recognise, the more interesting it becomes.
The league possesses some real quality players, and the teams get better every year. Tactically and technically, it has evolved since day one. Teams, for the most part, play attractive attacking football, and for the most part, there isn’t diving or carrying on.
A-League has that physical element, which many of the Australian sports fans want. Oh, and the atmosphere is unreal at the ground.
It might not be as good as Europe, but it is not half as bad. The league is definitely watchable and there are some brilliant goals and pieces of play produced.
If everyone jumps on board, we will definitely grow as a league and therefore, will be able to attract better players and rise up the ranks in world football.
As a football fan in Australia, isn’t that what you would want?
A-League was ranked in World’s Top 20 leagues by FIFA at number 20 after eight years of its existence. This wasn’t based on technical standards alone, but rather a cross section of factors such as crowds, stadiums, facilities etc. If in eight years A-League can achieve that, imagine what the next eight will bring if everyone gets on board.
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