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Cahill’s scepticism concerning for the FFA and A-League

18th February, 2016
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What is Australia's football identity? (Image: AP)
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18th February, 2016
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The next move for Socceroo Tim Cahill has been hot on the lips of every Australian football fan, with a move to the A-League still a possibility as the 36-year-old searches for his next contract.

While Cahill’s agent poured cold water on any talk of a move Down Under, the man himself kept fans dreaming after speaking with The Daily Telegraph on Thursday.

Yet among the comforting words that an A-League move was always on his mind, Cahill’s outlook on the game in Australia did not exude confidence.

He spoke about the “destruction” A-League stints have had on players’ careers, possibly with former Socceroos such as Harry Kewell and John Aloisi in mind.

He mentioned that every time he returns home with the Socceroos it’s “mayhem” and questioned the FFA’s failure to attract a major sponsor for the national team for three years.

His most damning statement was claiming Australian football was “in a bit of a rut where it’s caught in a crossroads” and that there was a “problem” with grassroots football.

Regardless of whether you agree with Cahill or not, those words, coming from the country’s highest profile footballer, are not want any fan wants to hear. His following comments were a brutal indictment on the FFA and their A-League baby.

“A guest stint for anyone can only harm you and coming back without any sort of plan and substance is always a recipe for disaster,” Cahill said.

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“Del Piero was one of the biggest things to ever happen to the game, but also the worst because it wasn’t capitalised on.

“Then to have all these players that have been linked with the A-League – Andrea Pirlo, Frank Lampard – I don’t think the talks even get to the table because there’s no vision behind the talks.”

It is a damning criticism from Cahill, but also a valid one.

Del Piero’s stint in the A-League was a short-gap fix in terms of piquing interest and attracting fans. His time on the field failed to lead Sydney FC to any success, but off the it there were a lot of positives.

However, that good work has all but disappeared, with next to no legacy left over from the Italian maestro’s stint. It is a similar story with almost all the high-profile marquees to have called Australia, however briefly, home.

The David Villa saga was an embarrassment that must not be forgotten. Not enough questions have been asked as to why the Spaniard felt so disillusioned with life in the A-League that he packed his bags and departed early.

“We have the lifestyle, the great schools, great cities and multiculturalism. The only thing we don’t have is investment in the game,” Cahill continued.

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“What do we want to be? Do we want to be the biggest code in Australia and attract the biggest players to Australia?

“It’s not about me, it’s about where they want to be. It’s about whether the owners and the federation want to see the bigger picture, or if we’re happy where it is.”

Of course there is a degree of fanaticism in Cahill’s statements, the A-League will never attract the biggest stars to the league through finances alone. The MLS and Chinese Super League is way ahead in that aspect. On the money front there is likely a long way to go before Cahill’s lofty ambitions are matched.

Yet the goal machine is spot on with his assertion that Australian football needs to dream bigger.

We have the lifestyle, the weather, the fantastic education and health systems. We should be selling that alongside an ambitious vision – one that will interest former English Premier League stars such as Cahill.

You have to be in the race to even hope of pulling off a coup, yet how many discussions have occurred between the FFA and top european stars?

The clubs have the final say on bringing in marquees, but there has to be a degree of collaboration between the governing body and every franchise owner to identify targets that will push the league to a new level.

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I’ve knocked down the hysterical calls that the A-League needs marquees to survive, because Australian football will continue its growth without the glitz. Players such as Bruno Fornaroli reinforce the belief that low-profile but high-quality signings are just as crucial to the competition’s future.

Yet for the A-League to truly reach its potential and dominate the Australian sporting landscape, big-name players are a necessity.

Tim Cahill would be a perfect signing coming up to the next broadcast deal.

He has the skills to perform in the right environment, while his professionalism and commitment would give clubs and players a benchmark to aim for. He is a rolling PR machine and that would be invaluable for a league that will be coming off the most competitive season fans have seen in 11 years.

Cahill cannot be signed this season but the aim has to be for 2016-17, depending of course on what kind of deal he manages to secure in China or elsewhere.

However, the FFA’s long-term plan has not been swallowed up by Cahill.

If the FFA are incapable of convincing a dedicated Socceroo to the A-League then what hope is there for attracting any future stars?

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“I just need vision, I’ve never asked for anything but that,” Cahill said.

“The only thing is, some people’s vision is not as big as mine and it’s tough, because it depends where they want to be. Where does the A-League want to be?

“For some people short term is better, a quick highlight, but it’s never been that. I’ve always wanted long term and it’s never come into fruition at all.”

Does Cahill have unrealistic expectations? Perhaps. But it is better to be overambitious and fall short than aim low and accept mediocrity.

At the moment, Cahill is not buying what the FFA are selling, and it has to be questioned why that is.

At the very least, David Gallop and Steve Lowy should be having conversations with Cahill to find out how they can improve in order to attract stars of his quality.

Because if those in charge fail to listen, as we saw prior to the fan boycotts last season, then there is no hope for a brighter future.

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