News filtered through this week that Danny Choi had finally picked up an A-League contract – the Blacktown City winger is moving to Adelaide as an injury replacement for Marcelo Carrusca.
Choi shot to prominence with his 70-yard goal against Sydney United 58 in the FFA Cup, and scored a wonderful goal against the same opposition in the NPL NSW grand final.
He’s also a lovely guy who deserves this opportunity.
But is an injury replacement gig really the best the A-League had to offer him?
The FFA Cup has put some of these clubs back on the map, and the players in the shop window. But shouldn’t they be there anyway?
If our A-League coaches and scouts aren’t looking at the local talent throughout the various state leagues, then where are they looking? (Click to Tweet)
The NSW NPL is littered with players who didn’t quite make it, or weren’t given a second chance.
Joe Gibbs made his A-League debut in the 2010 grand final for Sydney FC, while Chris Payne started that game, but neither has had a serious look in at A-League level, despite scoring goals at an alarming rate in the state-based competitions.
Blake Powell never got a fair crack of the whip as a youngster at Sydney FC, but 21 goals in 15 games for APIA Leichhardt in 2015 earned him a very rare thing indeed – a second chance at the top level.
Injuries opened the door at the Wellington Phoenix, and his stunning four-goal haul against Western Sydney Wanderers helped see him win the Nix’s golden boot award, netting nine for the season.
But opportunities like his are a rare beast.
Just ask Panni Nikas.
The Sydney United 58 midfielder won the National Youth League player of the season award in 2010 with the Central Coast Mariners, and was promptly released.
He earned another go with the ill-fated North Queensland Fury, playing 18 games before they folded. Since then, he scored 39 goals in three years at Sutherland, and another 26 in two years at Sydney United 58.
From midfield.
But the phone hasn’t rung.
In the last month alone, Nikas scored a hat-trick in the NPL quarter-final against Adelaide City, a brace in the semi-final against Brisbane Strikers, and a single goal in the final against Edgeworth Eagles.
But he can’t get a run.
There are similar hard-luck stories around the country.
In Victoria, Alastair Bray shot to prominence with the Bentleigh Greens in their original FFA Cup fairytale run. The goalkeeper had played in the NYL for Melbourne Victory and Melbourne Heart before playing the house down for Bentleigh.
He surfaced briefly at the Mariners last season, playing one game on the Paul Izzo, Tom Heward-Belle, Liam Reddy (remember him?) merry-go-round, before it was announced he wouldn’t be signing a contract.
The 23-year-old is now back at Victory, the door opened by Danny Vukovic’s move to Sydney, but his one-year contract offers little with Laurence Thomas standing in his way.
Meanwhile, 35-year-old Reddy is at his seventh (you read that correctly, seventh) A-League club, Perth Glory, after failing to earn the gloves at Western Sydney Wanderers last season, after he was kicked out the Mariners.
Up the M1, the Mariners, who let Bray go, have 36-year-old Ivan Necevski between the sticks – he of 47 appearances in 11 A-League seasons and without a national league game since 2012-13.
Why are clubs recycling instead of fostering and nurturing genuine talent?
Your guess is as good as mine.
Nemesis
Roar Guru
j binnie, I don't think it stands to reason at all. Football is a global game and foreign clubs could sign the best Australian talent directly without their ever having to play in the A-League.
j binnie
Guest
Nemesis -Surprised you got drawn into this topic ,as did that other regular blogger, Punter, below. The blunt truth is that if you take the average age of the Socceroos team at being around 24 to 26,and remembering that the HAL is now in it's 12 year it stands to reason that any young promising player would have participated in the HAL. After all ,that would put most of this present national team in an age bracket of 12-14 when the HAL began,in effect ,still playing junior or under age football. Cheers jb.
Arnold Krewanty
Guest
To answer the question of this OP - simple - the lack of quality in taking that next step. Take James Virgilli - I watched this kid absolutley destroy teams in the NYL - he was a shot duck at HAL level, and never consistent. He dropped his head when he lost the ball; went missing; didn't score enough - he's now playing in the Newcastle local comp murdering it again - that's the Chris Payne's/Pani Nikkas' of this competition - not consistent nor good enough. This is also a strong reason why we should not entertain the idea anytime soon of Promotion/relegation.
Nemesis
Guest
Today's starting XI for Australia's World Cup Qualifier in Jeddah Ryan: Started pro-career in A-League (CCM) Milligan: Started pro-career in A-League (Sydney FC), played semi-pro in the NSL Sainsbury: Started pro-career in A-League (CCM) Spiranovic: Played for Melbourne Victory in the pre-season competition in 2005/06 but Merrick felt he was too good to be playing A-League (in Season 1) and he eventually signed for Nurnberg (Bundesliga), Resurrected his pro career in A-League (WSW) Jedinak: Resurrected pro-career in A-League (CCM), played semi-pro in the NSL Rogic: Started pro-career in A-League (CCM) Mooy: Resurrected pro-career in A-League (WSW and Melbourne City) Juric: Started pro-career in A-League (WSW) Kruse: Started pro-career in A-League (Brisbane Roar) Leckie: Started pro-career in A-League (Adelaide Utd) Both the scorers this morning started pro-careers in A-League. But, apparently A-League isn't doing enough because a foreign player in the NPL who scored a good goal wasn't signed by and A-League club?
j binnie
Guest
Real -As you say ,you are entitled to an opinion,but when trying to discredit what someone else has written it is usual to put that opinion in full to the reader. This you omitted to do. Pity, that's what makes good "blogging" Cheers jb.
I hate pies
Guest
That's all well and good, but they improved significantly when they went to Europe. Going to Europe is what made them good players, not their time in Australia. We have just as much talent as everywhere else, but the simple fact is the A League is of poor standard.
Boban Fett
Guest
Couldn't attract or retain foreign players? Ever heard of Milan Ivanovic?
asanchez
Roar Guru
Matt, This really is an easy answer to your questions, or an easy combination of answers. The reason why the clubs don't develop enough players is because unfortunately the coaches stick to the players they know, and they keep rehashing old rejects. It's a results orientated business, so clubs want/need instant success, and probably don't believe that they'll achieve that with players coming through. Also squad sizes are an issue, they're way too small, and all 23 players need to be labelled 'ready to go' by the coach. And lastly and probably most importantly, the A-league clubs don't have enough money to develop their own players just yet. Once all the clubs have their own academies, then I think we'll see heaps of quality young kids coming through, developed by every club, but the game just isn't at that stage yet. In another 5-10 years we should be there.
96er's
Guest
Both had dud coaches and CCM had a consolidation year, this year as well, just not as much, Newcastle have been basket cases after Palmergate. But there are players that do not get much game time and are ready, look at Mauk, hardly played for City and goes and plays for Adelaide and wins the thing being a regular, was he able to play the year earlier but not given the chance? Melling gone to WSW, Pain to CCM the same. Then you have players like Pasquali and Nigro ripping Juventus a new one and can't even get on as a sub. They could be loaned to a team, or be playing for a new one (especially if transfer fee's were allowed), they have shown they are capable. Also a bigger bench is needed, it should be a seven man bench by now, four is limiting and reduces opportunities. We don't even know how many gems are out there and the national U20's are looking the goods atm, that's not to say stack a team with young guns like CCM last season, but fill a spine with experienced journeymen and imports and they will be competitive. We don't need an even playing field, there are already bigger and lesser teams already, it would be more interesting with more teams and a mid table battle to get into finals between more clubs than we have now.
MelbCro
Guest
@ Rob Gremio "Ognenovski (he was plucked from VPL obscurity)" Ognenovski played in the NSL at Melbourne Knights and then he went to Greece for a season, it was then that he returned to the VPL at Preston.
punter
Guest
Don't worry Rick, I watched the AFL GF on TV this year & only knew our mate Buddy, didn't know any Bulldogs players. But then I did have the opportunity to flick channels during the boring bits.
MelbCro
Guest
What do you mean nothing even remotely similar during the NSL days? You get that NSL club gave significantly more opportunities to youngsters. The pathways were much clearer.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
I live during the week days in Hunters Hill and weekends the Blue Mountains. More likely to follow the WSW geographically I guess, but I don't know any of the players. Will have to learn them this year. I'm a sporting junkie basically, so I'll most likely start following the A-League at some stage — may as well be now.
punter
Guest
Rob, if it aint Serie A in the 70s & 80s, MF gets a little lost. All these players played as teenagers in the HAL Spiranovic Da Silva Kalik Vidosic Ammi Duke Ryan Rogic Mabil Antonis Careres Good Brillante Kruse Oar Nicohols Leckie Halloran Deng Goodwin Mauk Yaboah Holland Bozanic Rojas Blackwood O'neill and so many same stories as Kamau. But as usual MF chooses to only see Serie A 80s.
Sydneysider
Guest
Rick are you from Sydney? if so which part? That will help you pick a side.
Sydneysider
Guest
Come on anon. Go across to the cricket tab and discuss the coming summer of cricket. You can join your mate Mitchell Starc. To be fair I am actually looking forward to the cricket this summer for once, with South Africa and Pakistan both touring these shores (hopefully Pakistan don't throw any matches or spot fix whilst their out here but you never know....)
punter
Guest
Go as a neutral, enjoy the atmosphere the crowd will bring, watch the tenseness of the battle & maybe one side may sway you to barrack for them.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
True, but he's probably Australia's best and well known rugby player, which is the point I was trying to make. I do agree though that we sux at rugby union! Good thing I don't follow it. :)
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
So who should I follow? WSW or SFC? I might go to the derby on the weekend!
punter
Guest
Rick, What I'm saying is Real football in Australia starts tomorrow. I'm dusting my A-League jersey as we speak. Enjoy.