It may have only been a pre-season friendly, but Wellington Phoenix’s 2-1 victory over English Premier League side West Ham provided an impressive sign of how far the A-League has come since its inception in 2005.
Many foreign football fans are quick to dismiss the Australian domestic competition, while some are surprised to hear we even have a professional league.
The arrival of Alessandro Del Piero pricked the ears of committed football fans in Europe, but other high-profile additions to the A-League, such as Robbie Fowler, William Gallas and Emile Heskey, were either overlooked or derided.
The Socceroos impressed a lot of fans, who had expected the team to be steamrolled at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Many didn’t give the boys in green and gold a chance of even scoring a goal.
Perception of the Socceroos overseas, particularly in South America, has since altered as a result, as much as it did back in 2006. But now, it’s time for Australia’s club sides to continue to impress, and Wellington kick-started that challenge brilliantly on Wednesday night.
West Ham, by all accounts, looked typically English. They were sluggish, predictable and launched long balls forward throughout the match, disappointing fans who had woken up on the other side of the world to see how their team’s pre-season preparations were going.
The Hammers improved in the second half, led by winger Matt Jarvis, but struggled to break down a side that supposedly wouldn’t look out of place in League Two.
That the A-League is only on par with England’s third or fourth division is not only an idea perpetuated by foreign fans, it’s a myth that is often held by Australian sports fans. Without ever actually viewing the lower tiers of English football, many are quick to put forward their opinion that A-League clubs would struggle to compete in the lower echelons of European football.
Pim Verbeek was one such detractor, asserting it was better to train in Europe than to play in Australia, and we all know how his tenure in charge of the national side turned out.
Having been to League Two and League One club games, it must be said that the football isn’t at all inspiring, but still costs a rough 20 quid to get through the gates.
Clubs such as Charlton, Millwall and Coventry City occupy the Championship, and when I last saw them play they weren’t anything special to look at for 90 minutes. In fact the main drawcard is the undying fanatical support that lower league football manages to attract, despite the extortionate entry fees.
So what does Wellington’s victory say about the standard of the A-League? Not much, one game is nothing to base an argument on, but it’s a promising start to proving that the A-League is on the rise.
West Ham are hardly the pinnacle of English football, and are a borderline Championship-level outfit. They play some dire and uninspiring football under manager Sam Allardyce, but are still a top-flight club.
Wellington deserved their win, from all reports, with Ernie Merrick’s men holding out after taking a 2-0 lead within the first 26 minutes. It was the first time a British club had lost on New Zealand soil in almost 40 years.
Club captain Andrew Durante put the Phoenix in front after just 12 minutes, latching onto a Alex Rodriguez-Gorrin corner. New signing Rodriguez then opened his account, following two full-blooded and committed challenges from Nathan Burns and Louis Fenton on James Collins.
The Hammers came back in the second half, introducing fresh blood, but they could only claw back one goal, which came from new signing and substitute Mauro Zárate with a tidy effort from outside the box.
It was a friendly, granted, and results are not everything in pre-season, but the victory was a significant one for Wellington and Australian football. It shouldn’t be overblown, but it’s still an indicator of where we sit as a football nation.
West Ham named a strong side, with stalwarts such as Jussi Jääskeläinen, Mark Noble, Kevin Nolan boasting more than 1200 first division caps between them.
Wellington were also behind in the fitness stakes, with West Ham well into their pre-season preparations, with their first EPL fixture coming in mid-August.
The Phoenix face their next challenge against EPL side Newcastle United on Saturday night at Westpac Stadium. The Magpies humbled Sydney FC 4-0 on Tuesday, and will provide a tougher challenge for the Wellington outfit.
Sydney take their turn facing West Ham on the same night in a double-header, and hopefully the foundation club can build on Wellington’s performance and grab a result.
A-League fans should watch with interest, as well as Friday’s fixture between Adelaide and Spanish outfit Málaga, because despite being meaningless pre-season friendlies, these fixtures give us a small idea of how we’re progressing as an emerging football nation.
According to Merrick, Wellington’s victory had them trending on Twitter, another small win for Australian football. Two wins on Saturday would not mean we’re at EPL level, but it would expose us further to world football and provide another promising indication of where we stand.
One thing is for sure, the A-League no longer deserves to be held up against League One and League Two club sides. The players and managers deserve better than that, and warrant more respect.
Fans should take heart from Wellington’s disposal of West Ham, and look forward to future promising results.
Arto
Guest
@ Fussball ist unser leben: Not sure if you're refering to my post on Roar.com.au a week or so ago, but I'm not afraid to say I am one of those who has tipped PG to be down the bottom of the table and only time will tell if that tip's correct or not. However, I made the tip based upon what had happened last season and the (IMO) uninspiring changes to their squad so far. I also added the caveat that there is still another 2+mths to go before the season kicks off and that injuries & other transfers could change my tips (as I tipped the whole table) prior to the season starting. You could argue it was silly to make such tips, but IMO that's a part of these forums, where we discuss and speculate and have an outlet for our views on the game. Ps. Well played to PG for putting on such a good performance - maybe I'll have to start eating humble pie a lot sooner than I realise!!! ;-)
Aethelbert
Guest
So, where was that "Thrashing?"
RBBAnonymous
Guest
Its been a long time Bondy. If you asked me 10 years ago I would have said Perth Glory was one of the leading clubs in Australia. They just need to get on with things and play good football and most things will take care of themselves. You know I was surprised when they pulled out of the Sydney Olympic match. I thought the reasons they gave were very vague and when you dig a little deeper it seems as if Perth Glory were acting a little precious. In any case they have put that negative aspect aside and put on a good performance against a GOOD Malaga side. Lets see how they go this season because the fans of Perth Glory have been suffering for a good while. They seem to have assembled a decent enough side, I still am a little unsure of their coach though who I don't rate at all. Maybe he can prove me wrong. Lets see.
Bondy
Guest
RBBAnonymous I hope Perth Glory do well this season somewhere near top four finish football in Perth and the HAL in general needs it ..
RBBAnonymous
Guest
I watched the first half Fuss and they surprised me. I thought defensively they were very sound. Malaga was unlucky not to score as a speculative shot hit the post and an great save by Danny Vukovic from a Santa Cruz header. For those expert lounge room pundits who claim that the A-league is not up to an acceptable standard need to get themselves out to a few A-league games, the gap is obviously getting smaller and smaller. I am not claiming we are better than the EPL but when people spout rubbish that our league is not up to Third tier or Fourth tier football in England then you have to sit back and laugh. Pre season or not the games are showing that there is a growing tactical awareness of A-league clubs, that our players on the ball are improving and that its not all one way traffic when European teams come out here for a worthwhile hit out. I am sure Malaga, West Ham and Newcastle have all benefitted from the experience as have the football clubs of Australia and the fans of football in Australia. We need more of this, not less. Are you listening FFA?
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
I thought Perth were superb today. They were much better - smarter with their movement, more efficient with their passing - than AUFC were against Malaga. In recent days, I've read people suggesting Perth would struggle next season & finish bottom ... 2 months before the season & without seeing the team play. I'm always amazed to read such analysis. It's almost as if people know nothing about sport.
RBBAnonymous
Guest
Well there you go.........Perth 1 Malaga 1. Never thought I would see that. A good effort considering how well Malaga played against Adelaide the other night.
AZ_RBB
Guest
He put in a terrible challenge in the first half which in an competitive would have had him sent off and had some questionable challenges after that as well. I think the way Villa are playing generally is more detrimental to him than anything else at the moment. Nevertheless, would love to see him improve but it'll be hard to compete with Vlaar, Senderos and Clark for spots. But with Vlaar possibly on his way out, Herd might get a shot at the first team.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
What do you mean by "shocking"? I didn't watch this match, but the team won 1-0 .. what did he do that was so bad? I'd have thought starting the game & playing 90' is a terrific sign, given the way his career - and, apparently, his life - spiraled downward last season.
AZ_RBB
Guest
In slightly unrelated and less pleasing news, Chris Herd had a shocking 90mins v Houston last night. Don't think we'll see him in the NT any time soon.
AZ_RBB
Guest
Some of the local press after the game "Brillante is a gem. It has good picture, plays loose with personality....It's amazing that cost so little money. The scout of Fiorentina deserves a bonus for discovered him....Fiorentina found in Brillante a player for five or six years. If that did not sell in a fortune before" Brillante was named MOTM by many.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Great to hear! Would silence a lot of the critics if he went straight from playing with a low-ranked A-League team last season; to getting game time at a Serie A club. I distinctly recall someone on The Roar immediately trying to demean Brillante's transfer by saying: he'll be loaned out to a Serie B or C club.
AZ_RBB
Guest
Brillante did well for Fiorentina in his first run for the club. Wouldn't be surprised if he becomes a permanent match day squad member very soon.
asanchez
Roar Guru
Good read Janek. To me this isn't about pumping up Oz Football's tyres, it's all about respect. Yes it's preseason, and you're gonna see some ridiculous score lines go either way sometimes, because both teams are not only of different qualities, but they're also both in different stages of preparation for their seasons. But there's one point that can't be denied, and that is that our football, our domestic competition and our clubs are improving out of sight, hence the reason why we see clubs like Malaga, West Ham, Newcastle United, Liverpool, Man United and Juventus are all now coming here. It's not all about money, these clubs wouldn't want to come here for their preseason, have to fly 24 hours, if they were consistently smashing our clubs 6-0 and then going back home. They can see both our improvement and our potential domestically, and this is why we'll continue to get good clubs come here. They want the competition. And long may it continue. They are paying our clubs and the A-league respect, and that's more than many in our local media and many sceptics can say. You may not like the sport, and that's ok, but at least know/recognise that it is growing and it is improving. Because that's a fact.
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
Fair point brick. Personally I always think ignoring the doubters or people who bag a comp is better than trying to justify yourself and be defensive, thats why I often feel taken aback by some roarers' ultra sensitivity/defensiveness. Imo it does more harm and disservice to the cause than ignoring them and trying to look at things for what they are and not try to interpret them too much to suit ' the cause'.
Brick Tamland of the pants party
Guest
At the end of the day even though its pre season it is crucial for A-League teams to perform well and get results because the knockers are plenty and it keeps them quite for abit. Remember Rebecca Wilsons article basically saying there was no point to the the A-League because Adelaide United were well beaten in the Final...I repeat THE FINAL of the Asian Champions League a few years back?,our clubs get whacked 5 nil across the board you wouldn't hear the end of it, would be no "oh its only pre season" then. Over the four games against top flight English opposition the A-League performed very well,Sydney redeemed themselves against West Ham and Wellington were fantastic in both games,i thought I was watching a Premier League match against Newcastle.Malaga have shown us what top top club football is all about and I am looking forward to going to the game today even though im worried about what they are going to do to the Glory.
brisvegas
Guest
Newcastle lost to Oldham as well, a couple of weeks back. I agree that it's all pre-season and you can glean nothing at all from the results.
ciudadmarron
Guest
They play west ham as well.
ciudadmarron
Guest
I have seen the Allardyce effect.
Daveski
Guest
Hush... Don't say anything negative about Oz soccer on this guy's watch...