Now I know what you’re thinking, ootball and the USA, doesn’t seem the most appealing of combinations. But just hear me out guys…
Traditionally written off by the local populous as a boring, illogical code (sound familiar?), ‘soccer’ has developed from the rather mercenary days of the North American Soccer League (NASL).
This was where legends such as Pele, Gerd Muller, George Best and even Australia’s favourite son, Holger Osieck, went in search of a final paycheck – into the highly attractive and successful MLS.
Since its foundation in 1993, the MLS has been the breeding ground for talents such as Tim Howard, Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey, Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore.
In terms of attendances, the average sits at a healthy 18,843, which bodes well in comparison to their European counterparts, particularly given it is considered the country’s fourth most popular sport.
In terms of the national team, five continental triumphs are bettered only by Mexico.
World Cup qualification is no longer an achievement for the stars and stripes, it’s an expectation.
Having qualified for the past six World Cups, their passion and determination have been admirable, even when the results haven’t.
Think of the passion that was sparked after Donovan’s 94th minute equaliser against Algeria in 2010, or the sign of things to come that was provided by their quarter finals appearance in 2002. It’s hard to deny that the Americans are on the rise in world football, an astounding feat given the stereotypes that surround their take on the sport.
So what can the FFA learn from its American brothers? Is there a magic formula that leads to international credibility? Which international powerhouse must we parallel in order to succeed?
The answer, be like America.
What? How could you say such a thing!
Give it a minute’s thought. Look at the way that broadcasters have ‘americanised’ their game.
Look at the draft system, the east/west conferences, the crowds, their terrifically over-excitable commentators.
Words won’t do it justice, check out the highlights packages on YouTube every once in a while.
It’s football as you’ve never seen it. Heck, it’s hardly even football. Its soccer.
This is what Australia must do to progress as a football nation – just be Australian.
Forget the Dutch revolution, play the Aussie way, with a ‘heart on sleeve’ mentality, physicality and a nous for unsettling the opposition to boot.
This is what fuelled the national team when silky smooth, possession-based play was a far-fetched fairytale.
That being said, I’m aware that advocating such a style may lead to the upper echelons of dullness put forward by Tony Pulis’ Stoke City over the past few seasons, but who says physicality and an ‘in-your-face’ attitude can’t be combined with flair and creativity?
The development of players like Tommy Rogic, Robbie Kruse and Daniel De Silva and others will be paramount to ensuring that a strong backbone is supplemented adequately.
History dictates that we produce strong, hardened footballers. Why ignore that?
There’s a reason we all act like excitable school children when theres a punch-up in Origin.
And what other country would have a nationwide “Bring Back the Biff” campaign? Perhaps America, but that would only add to my case.
Bringing it back to home, remember how outraged you were by the diving antics of the Omani, Jordanian Iraqi teams when we played them? That’s your innate sense of integrity and dignity that justifies our equally innate desire to play tough.
So don’t be ashamed, Australia. Being able to relate to all this doesn’t make you brutish, it’s part and parcel of our sporting identity. Embrace it.
peeeko
Roar Guru
i am living in the US and that is not the case
Daryl Adair
Guest
I think they're all disrespectful.
Kasey
Guest
So "round ball" sport is okay here but "eggball" (ie not round ball riles you? odd position to adopt.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Kasey, And at the same time, the Glazers tapped into the other side of it with Man U ;)
Daryl Adair
Guest
Where is Eggball? It's as silly as Sokkah. Name calling is for children.
Stavros
Guest
Cheerio, cheerio, cheerio.........
Bob Anderson
Guest
Just a point, Americans call it sockurh (unless they are in New England or perhaps New Yoik City)
Bob Anderson
Guest
Big 4 major sports. NHL is a major sport nationally. In a few places (Minnesota for example) hockey is number two behind only American football.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
As usual, another Football discussion is hijacked & interrupted by people, who have ZERO knowledge of, or interest in, the future of AUS football. They regurgitate the same asinine commentary, every day. Great time for me to take a lengthy break from this Forum. Will enjoy watching the lads in Brasil 2014 &, hopefully, by the time I return from Rio the chronic naysayers have p**sed off to a place where they can engage in endless discussion about how SOCKAH is not an Aussie Game, the ALeague is rubbish, and how their Draft is super-important, who will make Top 8 in their insignificant sport & how Contiki Tours are spreading ARF around the world. To all the True Believers: Goodnight & Good Luck. To the non-Believers ... if you don't get it by now, you'll never get it.
1860melbourne
Guest
ACL final attracts record TV viewers http://www.china.org.cn/sports/2013-11/13/content_30596032.htm
Punter
Guest
Yes Tow, I agree, I wrote earlier that an American sporting publication had Neymar as the most marketable sportsman in the world & Ronaldo & Messi in the top 3. This is a big step up from 1994 when they got confused between Madonna & Maradonna. I met some US football fans in Germany in 2006 WC & they said the youth was much more in tune with football especially the superstars in Europe while the older folks were still very much NFL/NBA/Baseball fans.
Towser
Guest
Punter whilst I agree with most of what you say,I've read a number of articles recently about how Americans are becoming increasingly aware of football outside the USA. Do a bit of googling & I' m sure you'll come across them.
Punter
Guest
The US football may be better run than the FFA but then football in the US faces a far tougher opposition in the US than Football in Australia. For starters in the US, the big 3 are popular in all states, it is not regional like the AFL & NRL here. Also the US tends to also have little news outside of the US & most sports fans there would not really be aware of much sports outside of the US. We here in Australia are open to news from elsewhere & many sport fans AFL/NRL fans have O/S football clubs that they follow. So while the MLS would be more advanced than the A-League, I think football fans in Australia are in a better position than the US football fans. So we are in a better position to ride on any surge in popularity in our sport.
Alessandro Vari
Roar Pro
Dinoweb, My point wasn't to base our model on the American one. I was arguing (albeit in a convoluted way_ that we should embrace our take on football, as America did. You cant deny how successful its been for them in recent times. Was unaware of those stats but they are quite impressive!
Towser
Guest
Mid We need to do what's best for us,after all we(football) have a whole world of ideas to pick from,why restrict yourself to one system or one country of thought. Pick the eyes out of the best bits about football from everywhere & adapt them to football in Australia. The NPL for instance a practical example as you point out. A COE at the Mariners,a structure to improve coaching from the Dutch,the technique of the Japanese,German never say die,loads of football ideas. We already have in some ways done this merely by millions of people migrating here from various footbal countries & importing their knowledge. Let me add that this(football flexibility) is one massive advantage a nation like Australia has over established football nations like England where they are still shackled by their own football history.
dinoweb
Roar Guru
Sorry, but why do we need to model ourselves on any other league? The MLS started in 1994 with 17,424 average attendance. After 8 seasons their attendance was 14,898, or 85% of their first year. In their last season they had 18,594 or 107% of their starting attendance. They have 19 clubs for 317 million people at 1 person out of 1794 attending games on any given weekend. The J-League started in 1993 with an average attendance of 17,976. After 8 seasons their attendance had dwindled to 11,065. After 21 years, their attendance has climbed back to 16,659, or still only 93% of their first year. They have 18 clubs for 126 million people, so get 1 person out of 844 along to a game. The A-League started in 2005-06 with average attendance of 10,955. After 8 seasons we have 12,556 fans at every game, a 15% increase on start-up, and one person out of every 370 regularly attending a match. We have a far better growth rate than either competition, and almost 5 times the market penetration of the sport in the USA. Perhaps they should be looking to Australia rather than the other way around.
Midfielder
Guest
7 years away I understand ... however the next AFC media deal for national teams and the ACL will be mega... As mentioned by C in a post above even those football loving folk like Rebecca Wilson last night on sportsline stated that they were predicting that by 2020 there would be 200m people playing football in Asia ... that number is itself expected to double within 7 years so by 2027 400 million people in Asia will play football... the current number is somewhere between 80 & 100 million .... I guess I am saying we can use the MLS in some ways ... what I do like about the MLS and how it is like Australia is the size of the country and finding new teams... the MLS have three divisions and they have their owe method of P & R ... to be promoted to a higher level you need to show you can have a well managed club, have sponsors and an established fan base ... so its not based on the European system of last and first ... given the NPL me thinks that a good way ... so if say Blacktown Demons drew large crowds and had heaps of sponsors they could be the team to get promoted ... Our main focus should be on what is in front of us ... a massive growth in Football in Asia... Interesting even RW can see things in football.... O how times have changed...
Midfielder
Guest
+1 Tow
Midfielder
Guest
Ben Gotta join that club and get my membership badge ...
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
All names of any club in any code of any sport pale into insignificance when compared to the name of the football club in Swaziland "Eleven Men in Flight FC". Everyone else are mere pretenders.