Here is a sobering thought for fans of the Socceroos: Tom Rogic is not good enough to play in the Scottish Premier League.
It’s not a sentiment we’ve heard much since Scottish giants Celtic said they’d let the former Central Coast Mariners youngster leave Parkhead on loan this month, but it’s probably a discussion worth having.
The popular consensus has been to blame Celtic coach Neil Lennon for failing to appreciate Rogic’s singular talents.
But given that he only played 24 games in total over two seasons for the Mariners, perhaps it’s not hard to see why Rogic was viewed predominantly as a squad member by the Glaswegian giants.
That Celtic have seen fit to bring over Jubilo Iwata’s attacking talent Hiroki Yamada for a trial is instructive.
Not only has the 25-year-old rattled home more than 20 J. League goals and earned a couple of caps for Japan in the process, he’s also more than capable of fulfilling Rogic’s role.
If Celtic are so anti-possession football, as the critics would have you believe, why would they run the rule over a slightly-built attacking midfielder from Japan?
Perhaps it’s because for all his undoubted talent, Rogic is yet to prove himself at any level.
And it could be argued that when the chance came for him to do so in Glasgow, he failed to take it.
The fact Vegalta Sendai’s head honchos weren’t interested in bringing in the eight-times capped Socceroo on loan says much about the type of player available elsewhere.
Vegalta’s number-crunchers evidently weren’t too keen on signing Rogic for only half-a-season, not that it stopped the Australian media – the ever-reliable Scott McIntyre being the one notable exception – from reporting it as a done deal.
And while the A-League community enthuses about Mitch Nichols’ impending move to Cerezo Osaka, the Osakans are actively pursuing Uruguayan hotshot Diego Forlan as well.
Nichols is effectively set to replace a Brazilian, Simplicio, who played more than 300 games in Italy’s Serie A.
In other words, there’s no shortage of talent available around the world.
So why is it that players like Rogic – or before him Michael Zullo, New Zealand international Kosta Barbarouses, Eli Babalj and others – have headed overseas with high hopes, only to struggle to make the grade?
Could it not be that many of our A-League youngsters are overhyped, over-eager and ultimately, overrated?
That seems to particularly be the case when it comes to player agents spruiking their clients to overseas clubs.
Has there ever been a more baffling transfer than the aforementioned Barbarouses’ move to Russian Premier League outfit Alania Vladikavkaz?
Did no one seriously inform the Kiwi flyer that moving to a club in the middle of a warzone might not be the best for his career development?
Or what about Rogic’s decision to sign for Celtic? If the Glaswegians are apparently hell-bent on playing long-ball football, why did a playmaker like Rogic choose to move there in the first place?
Perhaps only he and his agent Andy Bernal will know.
But the fact is that had Rogic chosen to develop his undoubted talents in the A-League for a little longer, he could well have assured himself a spot on the plane to Brazil and the chance to play in a World Cup.
Instead, the fleet-footed youngster has essentially wasted his time on the fringes of a disinterested Scottish club, only to be forced to return to the A-League as a last-ditch stop-gap measure.
Hopefully one of Melbourne Victory, Sydney FC or his former club Central Coast can help salvage Rogic’s World Cup dreams.
The former futsal international is a game-breaker and the sort of player the Socceroos may well need in Brazil.
But he’ll need to start performing – and soon – if there’s any chance of that happening.
And he probably needs to start soliciting some better advice, because the past 12 months have been anything but plain sailing in the curious career of Tom Rogic.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
Because he has been injured! Geeze wait til he is fully fit and he will tear up.
Daniel Hackett
Roar Rookie
In hindsight it has been a bad move because he has fallen just short of playing time meaning he has been left to linger on the bench. But at the time Rogic made the decision (to the head to Celtic) it was a good one. A massive club playing in the champions league and deep into cup comps. The problem is Rogic has been injured for half the season to date and the guy who is ahead of him is rated by Lennon as being in the form of his life. The biggest question for mine then is - why didn't he go on loan to another Euro club like a French, Belgian or Dutch club?
Passionate_Aussie
Roar Rookie
Spot on Stu! Good question as well, one I'm sure FFA are scratching their useless heads over.
Passionate_Aussie
Roar Rookie
Holly, if another coach in the SPL sees it differently then I hope they speak out and get him loaned out. Then Lennon can see how much he has to offer in his competition.
Holly
Guest
"....Tom Rogic is not good enough to play in the Scottish Premier League." only according to Neil Lennon. Another coach may see it differently.
stu
Guest
Mike.......Amen. The long standing issue has been from football fans here is that 'it's all the fault of Scottish Football', never has been. Understand this....we overinflate the tyres of our young players. The A-League, whilst travelling ok, needs to be larger and more competitive to product better prepared young players ready to make the next move overseas. The golden generation was an exception to that rule, which raises the question of what was done right back then that has not been repeated since??
jupiter53
Guest
Celtic win the J League?!? How do you figure that?
Bogga
Guest
He took a gamble going to a massive club and has only just fallen short. Now for the sake of his career, he needs to drop down a level and get some game time happening. I'm sure he's learnt a lot and hopefully it's fed his hunger. If not, he's just another case of lots of talent, not enough correct application.
Jack
Guest
Spot on a league equals league one. Back on topic though rogic will be ok
Jorji Costava
Guest
He ain't getting picked for a club in a 2nd tier club competition in Europe. Forget Celtic's history, they are not in a major league and he cannot even get a kick with them. I think he should earn his spot in Victory's first team before we carp on about him ever again.
AGO74
Guest
And Basel.
Squizz
Guest
Arnold and co have been very good at advising players where they should go. Players agents don't necessarily listen and young kids only hear what they want to hear. Maty Ryan was different because he had been with John Crawley for years and listened to him
AZ_RBB
Guest
Have to disagree with the first sentence. He could easily play for most of the other teams. Not that its much of a compliment. When an internationally renowned club comes asking for your services. I can imagine it would be hard to say no. Hope he has a great stint back home. The kid can play!
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
It wasn't a cash grab from Rogic or his agent Andy.
1860melbourne
Guest
You have to wonder what future Rogic has at celtic if he cant get on the park for a club that will win the SPL with half the season remaining. You can blame Rogic or his agent or CCM for their desperate grab for money. But there is no doubt that if Rogic had stayed a couple more seasons in the A league and with the shop window of the world cup coming up, much better clubs in much better leagues would be chasing him.
cliffclavin
Guest
Aljay - i for one would love to see Kanta head overseas. He looked so promising when a 16-18 year old but injury and junior national team obligations seemed to hinder him some what [perhaps uni as well] but i think he needs to shift teams to go to the next level - even within Australia- i.e get out from the home town comfort zone for a season or two before heading abroad.
cliffclavin
Guest
I think a year is about right for a young guy [under 24] to sit on the bench of a big club or a club in a big league before looking elsewhere for game time- preferably a loan. Whilst we want them to play every other week at least - i think sticking it out shows character to want to be there both to the player himself, the boss, the club fans and Aussie [insert other nations] fans. Rogic seems to be a in a position similar [not the same] to Langarak - too many better players in front of him but also very well liked by the manager to keep around. If the A-league is off the agenda - perhaps Edinburgh Hearts - cold pick him up - unless they cant take loan-players - least he'd be close to club officials....[even though I too would like to see him in Holland, or Bundesliga 2 - St Pauli anyone!!)
Andy
Guest
His constant refusal to come home is what destroyed him. He got too big for the A League, but wasn't wanted by Bunyodkor. Hmmmm what to do? I know, I'll go without a club rather than put myself back in the spotlight at home. Nothing wrong with not succeeding at first, but playing anywhere must beat traipsing the globe looking for anyone who will put you on. Play a few games, iron out the kinks and you'll find another suitor. Spend years without a club and you wind up like Fancis Jeffers, unwanted by even Newcastle Jets when you were once the next big thing in English football.
JonJax
Guest
I tend to point the finger at CCM who went for the cash and a quick and dirty, short term return-rather than pairing player attributes with the qualities of the importing league concerned. I'm thinking a loan spell in the J-league before being presented to leagues in Belgium or the Netherlands would have been in the interests of all parties. I've never felt particularly sanguine at the influence of Turnbull or McKinna at the Mariners.
Andy
Guest
Or a club like Dundee Utd who are starting 3 players under the age of 20, and as a consequence are attracting hefty transfer fees and a great deal of interest from south of the border.