Gary van Egmond’s attack on the AFC U-22 Championship during a recent post-match interview with SBS’s Lucy Zelic has caused debate in the A-League over the battle of club versus country.
Van Egmond labeled the competition “meaningless”, but coaches in the A-League should use the opportunity of these tournaments to perhaps give a few of the fringe players a run.
Why not promote some of the younger players from the National Youth League?
Tournaments like this provide an opportunity for the top youth team players in the club to experience first team football in the A-League, and perhaps they will hopefully make the leap into senior level in the near future.
No matter the significance of the tournament, we should always treat every international tournament with the utmost respect and take our strongest squads possible.
It even puts some of our young players in the shopping window for clubs from around the world. We want our young players to develop into the best player they can be, and playing in international tournaments only develops their game.
The AFC U-22 Championship in Oman will serve as a test for some of Australia’s up and coming talent. Players will benefit from the experience of being involved in an international tournament.
On top of that, the ones that are lucky enough to be selected for most games will gain more playing time in this tournament than what they would get if they stayed for their respective clubs in the A-League.
We have to understand that it is a privilege to play in the Asian confederation. If we can’t take tournaments like this one seriously then we might as well go back to playing in Oceania – and with no disrespect to them, we wouldn’t want that.
So A-League coaches should not use international tournaments as an excuse for their team’s result. Football is a team game and the squads that have the strength in depth to back it up will prosper.
Who knows? It may even unearth a gem from the youth league or give fringe players another chance to prove themselves.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
GVE's comments are in stark contrast to Gombau before facing Brisbane with an injury ravaged side and 3 players in Oman: “With all of the players that we have lost for this game we will have to take a lot of youth and less experienced players but in the end this is football, we can win there and the players can do very well.” It would be nice if GVE could show the same faith in his NYL players.
holly
Guest
are you suggesting our national teams should be selected not on merit but on a quota system instead ?
Mateo Corbo
Guest
GVE would have known when signing young players of quality that he would be losing them at various points because of international call-ups. It is a GVE whinge for whinge sake. he should be praising his own himself & club that so many Jets players have been selected.
Realfootball
Guest
Agree also that Vidmar is a problem. How he kept his job after the Olyroos debacle defies belief.
ego2k
Guest
they also only have 23 players (21 is minimum squad size, 26 max). Im not saying that they get it easy, but wouldnt the obvious solution be sign more australians? australian teams can only have what? 3 over age players play in youth league fixtures anyway.
ego2k
Guest
If you read his full statement, his main complaint isnt against releasing players, its that 2 teams, melb and newcastle lose 4 players each, while Sydney and Western Sydney contribute a grand total of 1 player between them. The clubs that have backed Aussie youth are losing players and arent receiving any concessions from FFA (they dont even pay their wages while away on national duty).Its hardly a level playing field. He makes a valid point (this week) although most will dismiss it simply because he has something to complain about every week.
ego2k
Guest
Squizz, go have a read of how the cap works, there are no separate budgets for youth and non youth players. 26 players max in the senior squad, 1 junior marquee spot (which not one single club has used). Young players playing senior football still get paid from the same cap as older guys. This isnt about poor squad selection, he Melb and Newcastle have included youth players in there senior squads not to save money, but because they are arguably the best players available, as evidenced by their selection in the senior Australian squad.
Holly
Guest
For many, many years we the football community in Australia, complained long and hard about European clubs not releasing players for our National Teams. It seems a bit rich for the likes of GVE and others to now complain about releasing players for national team duty. Frankly I expect better from a former Socceroo.
Squizz
Guest
It's true that clubs have limited money and squads. However, that's why good managers get paid good money. If GVE has filled his squad with youth his budget for 'non-youth' players should be greater and the quality he can get inside the cap should be better. If this isn't the case then he hasn't done his job of squad management correctly. The Jets if they disadvantaged it is because GVE has filled his 'non-youth' players with over-priced average players.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
'Nix are not allowed a NYL side so often are unable to field a team when the All Whites play. They very much have the short end of the stick in this regards.
fadida
Guest
Agree we need to respect the tournament and pull our weight. I just am very dubious as to the benefits of Taggart playing under age - with Vidmar! Different if Ange was coaching
AZ_RBB
Guest
Just saw that he injured his knee last week. Out for 10 weeks. A big set back in a season where he was really making good ground at BVB.
AZ_RBB
Guest
Mustafa Amini? He is 20. There are a number of players the same age or older than him in the tournament. Not sure what the situation is.
my left foot
Guest
This, you can also add Wenger too, he's a bit of a winer. How old is that young lad at Dortmund (his name escapes me, has something of an afro)?
ego2k
Guest
so shouldn't we also define "whinging". Remonstrating because 2 teams having 4 from 26 players unavailable with no financial recompense in a salary capped league, while another team (phoenix) has games re-scheduled and has access to more non-visa players is whinging? FFA are not even paying these players wages for the duration of the tournament and there is no salary cap exemption. Why shouldnt the coach, and the fans be annoyed?
my left foot
Guest
They will play, they just missed out this game. Three games in one week, i think you can garuantee strong squad rotation.
realfootball
Guest
Didn't realise it was so many games. Still doesn't change my view, however. If we are to be part of Asia, we have to pull our weight. Agree, though, that losing key players for 4 games is far from ideal. I just don't see the alternative.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
Ange is at the tournament checking out the best youth we have on offer. If any of the kids are to be a WC bolter then this is the opportunity to grab the interest of the coach.
fadida
Guest
Taggart will miss what, 3-4 league games, not just 1. I've no problem with Chapman going as he wasn't starting anyway, but Taggart potentially may squeeze into the senior WC squad had he continued his form. Sitting on the bench at the WC would be a much greater learning experience than an underage tournament, which are a world away from the real thing. I agree the NYL is to provide cover, but more for fringe players. Taggart is a starter, and a key player. Agree on GVE, terrible coach. Jets are clueless in the final third, and his failure to push his fullbacks higher up the pitch is driving me crazy. It all falls down because they can't support their wide attackers, therefore no overlaps, no 2v1's, no crosses from good areas. Drives me crazy!!!
realfootball
Guest
Part of the problem here is that no one has defined the terms. Just what does "learning" involve for a young footballer? Are we talking skills or technique? No, we aren't - these are all pretty much set in stone by this age, as we all know. The players have their skillset already. So what we are really talking about is "experience". I would venture that in terms of experience, young players like Taggart are better off being in camp with national squad overseas than playing in one A League game, whether or not they are on the bench. In any case, no player or coach can assume that any given player will be on the bench going into a tournament. Seen from the longer term view - and this is essential - tournaments like this prepare these players for playing life together in future representative squads. In an age where national team coaches have to pull players together from all over the globe, with minimal preparation time for games, this is crucial to the cohesion of our future senior Roos teams.