Welcome to January, the month any player with a semblance of European pedigree now struggling for game time in the latter stage of their career is linked with a move to the A-League.
The news cycle during the January transfer window can be a monotonous one, often filled with false hope.
Already, Ronaldinho and Peter Crouch have reentered the frame and slipped out the other side, while Georgios Samaras looms as the most realistic of the household names being shopped around.
While we all pine for an encore of the Holy Trinity that graced the league in 2012-13, the thirst to attract a celebrity of the football world is crippling.
Precedent clearly shows the impact a proven international player can have both on and off the pitch in Australia, but until a player of the Alessandro Del Piero, Emile Heskey or Shinji Ono ilk is attracted, the focus should remain on emphasising the quality the A-League already possesses.
The idea that a recognisable name is the only way to grow the competition is flawed, and ignores the many other ways to get bums on seats.
Yesterday, Central Coast made what will hopefully be recognised in years to come as one of the window’s best signings, when 17-year-old Trent Buhagiar was handed a senior contract.
Local product Buhagiar knows the club and coach Tony Walmsley well, having played under the Englishman for the Central Coast Mariners Academy in 2014.
He scored four goals in the first grade that season – at the age of 15 – and 10 for Central Coast FC last season, just three less than the league’s top scorer.
Perhaps last year’s January window has fans buzzing for excitement. Kerem Bulut’s move to Western Sydney, Josh Kennedy’s switch to Melbourne City and Sydney FC’s signing of Jacques Faty were the highlights, along with Mickael Tavares (Sydney) and Dragan Paljic (Perth).
A number of clubs, particularly those at the bottom, could do with a busy month behind the scenes. Glory are working to fast-track the return of striker Andy Keogh, while Adelaide United are in the frame for some attacking reinforcements.
But there shouldn’t be any disappointment if Ronaldinho, Nicolas Anelka or Niko Kranjcar aren’t snapped up. For another six months at least, the A-League can make do without the PR exercise.
Defending champions Melbourne Victory sit in fifth, though Besart Berisha continues to be one of the league’s great entertainers with eight goals and unbridled passion. His teammate Fahid Ben Khalfallah isn’t too bad either, scoring the winner against Newcastle at the weekend courtesy of a top-class Kosta Barbarouses assist.
Melbourne City have recovered from their anti-football days and play some enterprising football. They are led by Aaron Mooy, a crowd attraction in his own right, and the prolific Bruno Fornaroli.
John Aloisi has Brisbane high on confidence at the top of the table following a fourth consecutive win against Perth on Saturday, as Henrique continues to cement his status as a fan favourite.
Add to that the resurgence of Western Sydney, and it’s clear there are plenty of tools available to attract a wider audience to the A-League.
It may also provide an opportunity to start setting the wheels in motion on promotion and relegation. Perhaps it’s underestimated how many supporters during the NSL days weren’t coerced by the bright lights and selectively cleansing nature of the A-League’s revolution.
There are still obstacles to pass before promotion and relegation is viable, but an acknowledgement that wider inclusion is part of the league’s vision may bring more fans than expected in from the rain.
Attracting a superstar marquee isn’t a gimmick, it’s proven to be incredibly alluring. But for the moment, there is plenty of reason to embrace the A-League and other ways to help it flourish.
Brick Tamland of the pants party
Guest
Looks like the fast-tracking of Keogh into the Glory side is taking place, Fernandez has had his contract terminated by mutual consent now it's down to our best buddies at the FFA to ok the paper work.
Punter
Guest
These younger generations are in their 30s already. I enjoy Test cricket, but have little time for T20, yes Warner not just a mainstay, just scored his 16th century, getting up to legend status. Yes he was once pigeon holed as a T20 player.
Dok
Roar Rookie
And as the current younger generation matures you will find that they may start to enjoy test cricket more. Lets not forget that Warner now a mainstay in the test team was discovered playing 20/20. It is all still cricket, you must learn to bat, bowl and field playing 20/20
Punter
Guest
RF, I think you will find that that T20 cricket has already taken over. My Indian colleagues in India tells me only the older generation watches Test Cricket, all the younger generations watches the T20 & lesser extent one dayers. Only England & Australia (when England & India visits) still get crowds for Test matches. The IPL is huge in India & BBL going the same way here. The unfortunate thing is some cricket fans think it's still just a hit & giggle.
Punter
Guest
I think you will find that CCM has increased their attendances this year!!!!
FIUL
Guest
"It’s possible that Lowy Jnr and Gallop have come round to your way of looking at things." Let's hope so. The benchmark for success should be: Getting 75% of football-loving Aussies to watch 1 ALeague match/week - on TV, or in the stands.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
It's possible that Lowy Jnr and Gallop have come round to your way of looking at things.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
That's good news for the Mariners. In a period of declining attendances, they can make some decent coin selling players to big clubs.
Realfootball
Guest
I am certainly not among those dismissing the BBL as a fad... I think what we are seeing is a permanent cultural shift in the cricket world. BBL is window into the future of cricket. Perhaps the only surprise is that it has taken this long to arrive.
FIUL
Guest
Why bitterness? Why would you expect A-League to appeal to the Aussie public at large? The majority of Aussies aren't interested in watching sport. Of the ones who do watch sport, a group of them don't like football (just like I don't like many sports). Of the sports watchers who like football, there'll be a group who only want to watch big names. So, the reality is A-League will only appeal to Aussies who a) Like football b) Are happy to watch football, regardless of the name on the back of the shirt
AR
Guest
"ALeague is not, and never will be, a product for the Aussie public at large." What a dismal, and frankly ridiculous, way to look at the national soccer competition. So much bitterness...
FIUL
Guest
Our crap, low-quality, no celebrities football league that Aussies don't want to watch continues to be on the radar of people who understand football & talent. Tom Smithies from The Daily Telegraph confirms that ManCity is in advanced transfer talks to buy CCM's Anthony Cacares & the deal could be completed today. No love for CCM from many HAL fans or media, yet they're more successful at churning out players that foreign clubs want to buy, than any other Aleague team.
FIUL
Guest
Huge popularity of Big Brother has initiated a massive fundamental shift in the way TV is produced & viewed in Australia. ALeague is not, and never will be, a product for the Aussie public at large. ALeague must focus purely on being a product for the Aussies who are football-literate - i.e. people who understand The Laws, embrace the culture, accept the negatives (governance, simulation, time-wasting) and love watching The Game at any level - from grassroots State Division 4, to Fifa World Cup finals. If you're a sports fan whose only focus during matches is "how big is this crowd" and "wonder what the TV rating will be"... I strongly urge you to stay away from ALeague & leave us in peace to enjoy our small, low-quality, crap football competition.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Interestingly, I came across an article the other day, may even have been written by Michael Lynch of The Age, how Cricket Australia spent $5 million (of annual TV rights of $20 million) promoting the BBL this season. Not only is the BBL rating around 1 million per game, but their attendance figures are truly extraordinary. I'm not just talking about the 80,000 who went to the MCG, but across the board, most games have been attracting upwards of 25k. This comp is only four years old or so. And yes, while cricket has always been Australia's number one summer sport (and some would even say our national game), at no point in cricketing history has there ever been a lot of attention directed at club competitions. This is the massive fundamental shift which has happened in the last four years - Australians following cricket clubs in extremely large numbers.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
I had to think about that one! :)
RBBAnonymous
Guest
@JB No else on this forum asked me for an explanation. Do you still not understand the context of my original post? If you do understand, why cant you let this go already? Do you need further clarification?
jbinnie
Guest
RBB - "High horse".????I asked you to explain your comment (which you did while still using genearalisms ) and then I get accused of not knowing the meaning of words,an accusation I defend myself by citing meanings straight from the Oxford Dictionary.You attempt to defend yourself by using words like "context and "everyone else" (another generalism) when in fact I had passed comment that you had an opinion and were entitled to that opinion. You then accuse me of being "argumentive" a strong word but a word not wholly out of place on a blog site that has it's basis in debate. You had intimated in an earlier comment that "you couldn't be bothered" so I will finish this discussion by wishing you all the best for the New Year and promising you I wil not attempt to dissect your comments in the future for fear I may offend. Ok??? Cheers jb
RBBAnonymous
Guest
Get of your high horse JB seriously. I gave you a detailed explanation. What more do you want. Everyone else understood the context of my comments including Marron who also gave you an explanation. Sorry for you bringing you into this Marron. Why are you now being argumentative? I am now replying to an inane and rubbish comment. Just let it go already. Geez
jbinnie
Guest
Fadida. Read your comment again. You ostracise the SPL even going so far as saying it is not as good as the HAL though what criteria you use to form that opinion I cannot imagine.(Matt Mackay and David Mooy have both dipped their toes into that league and came away with burnt toes and are both current Socceroos). You then redeem yourself by "excepting" Celtic from your overall statement and yet Celtic are the only team in Scotland with whom Samaras has played, playing an average of 26 games per season and scoring 48 goals in that time. You've got me puzzled there. Since leaving Celtic (a year ago) his career has apparentkly dived for whatever reason I don't know, but at 30 could hardly be described as finished (he is the same age as Berisha) and has won 80 caps for Greece being picked as recently in the 2014 World Cup squad. Now while mentioning Berisha you are aware the before joining Brisbane Roar in 2011 he had played at 7 different clubs in 6 seasons and had not played for his country for over 2 years.Was he a bad buy????? The rest of your comment re "Greek fans" I have addressed elswhere. You see it is my opiinion that iif a "Greek player" were to get 1000 "extra" fans to turn up to a game it is not then his responsibility to keep them there . If only 500 are lured back by their experience then the game overall has made a gain. You get the logic???? If a 'new" fan is brought to the game it is a step forward. Cheers jb
jbinnie
Guest
RBB "Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit etc etc etc". I always thought you were above that sort of comment. "Awesome"- Reverantial fear or wonder. (to describe a game of football?????) "Balanced" - in equilibrium (when used with "perfectly" means just that "perfect all round") "Steady" - Firmly fixed (crowds DOWN by 16% at game 65)?????? You see I too have a dictionary and am not afraid to use it when picking my words. Now let's get back to comment that is helpful and debatable not such inane rubbish. Cheers jb ps I think an apology of sorts is due for I did assume (wrongly it seems) that from your "nom-de-plume" you had some sort of affinity with WSW,hence my using that team in another comment to you.Sorry again Cheers jb