If Brisbane Roar fans are so upset about the sudden exit of Thomas Broich, they should pack Suncorp Stadium tonight to show it.
Broich’s impending departure after seven trophy-laden seasons in the Queensland capital is certainly worth reflecting on.
The German playmaker is by far the best foreign import to have ever graced the A-League.
And it’s not just the trophies – three championships, two Johnny Warren medals among them – that made Broich the most important A-League signing to date.
It’s the fact he gave fans in Australia something we all crave – a genuine glimpse of the beautiful game.
But for all Broich’s undoubted impact – and the outpouring of emotion following Tuesday’s shock announcement underscores just how beloved the German is – he’s not bigger than the club.
Brisbane Roar may have felt blindsided by Broich’s decision to reveal his plans to The Courier Mail’s resident football journo Marco Monteverde, but they still have a business to run.
And a key part of that business is ensuring they boast a competitive squad that fits under the salary cap next season.
If a 36-year-old with limited minutes left in his legs no longer fits into those plans, so be it.
Yet so much of the emotion around Broich’s decision is misplaced.
Instead of complaining about the club’s handling of events, petitioning for statues to be unveiled or calling for the salary cap to be scrapped, Brisbane Roar fans would be better off rallying the troops and turning out en masse tonight.
Want to honour Broich? Get 50,000 to his final A-League game in Brisbane.
That won’t happen, though, because to do so would require more effort than sitting behind a computer and simply venting one’s spleen.
More’s the pity, because both of this weekend’s elimination finals should be cracking games.
Football Federation Australia may be hoping for a couple of derbies in the semi-finals, but if John Aloisi and Kenny Lowe are worth their salt, they’ll be using that very idea as extra motivation.
There’s no real reason why the Roar shouldn’t beat Western Sydney Wanderers at home – they beat them once and drew once at Suncorp Stadium during the regular season – and they’ve got as much finals experience as any club.
You can’t quite say the same for Perth Glory – who are yet to add to their two National Soccer League titles – but the Western Australian outfit should be equally determined to see off Melbourne City at AAMI Park on Sunday evening.
Many thought City would be a legitimate title contender this season, but things haven’t quite clicked for Michael Valkanis’ star-studded side.
And if Perth Glory have any sense – and this is a club that wears its ‘West versus the rest’ mentality on its sleeve – they’ll relish going into Sunday’s clash as underdogs.
Glory could well upset the applecart against a City side already smarting from its inability to finish the league campaign in the top three.
You can watch delayed coverage of the game on SBS’ Viceland from 7.30pm on Sunday night – and judging by media reports, we’ll be watching more A-League on a public broadcaster for the foreseeable future.
According to the Australian Financial Review, not one of the nation’s three commercial networks put in a bid for free-to-air broadcast rights.
That’s a remarkable statistic, given that for months it has been whispered around the game that the A-League would end up on Channel Ten.
No doubt it was football’s wasted potential that prompted the Sydney Morning Herald’s resident sporting snob Peter FitzSimons to pen a satirical take on Sydney FC this week.
It was nice of FitzSimons to take some time out from his Old Boys’ reunions to proffer his thoughts on our humble little league, but he’s right to suggest the A-League should be getting bigger crowds.
We should start tonight. After all, if anyone deserves a decent send-off, it’s Broich.
Martyn50
Roar Rookie
Channel 10 have been on the verge of financial closer for over 10 years, so not an excuse at all. What needs to be looked at is, " Does the product, or A League, in this case have something that FTA stations can make a dollar from?' Hard to sell a product to advertisers with grounds that are only 20% full for the regular season in 95% of games. The final on Friday evening, 33% full. Only 9,000 at the other semi final today.
Martyn50
Roar Rookie
9000 at other semi final. Not good enough.
Cameron
Roar Guru
Hey Nemesis.
TK
Guest
Well 17500 at the game Mike so hard to tell if ppl took your advice.. Very close to my forecast of 18K mid week. Broich played a full game plus extra time a champion. Holman our future marque subbed off (injured again??) Sitting on the train at 11.44pm. I'll be home about 12.30ish and i live about 30kms from cbd. Glad its the weekend and theres nothing planned for tomorrow. Sleeping in tomorrow happy to have won after a tough battle.
RBBAnonymous
Guest
And if he didn't announce anything. You wouldn't have had a chance to give him a send off. Thomas knows he isn't coming back, was never going to be offered a contract.
cambrai
Guest
Mr Tuckerman, I also read the piece in the SMH. This journalist has been demeaning football for years whilst at the same time promoting his preferred sport all year long. To ridicule the achievements of Arnold and his team should not be left unchallenged. Why don't you defend our sport against this sort of dreadful journalism by writing your own satire.
Waz
Guest
The Den have had a different fight on their hands this week - trying to get tickets with the FFAs imposed regulations has been a big issue. Getting a banner made and past the Suncorp fun police won't be easy either
Waz
Guest
It's all true though jb. You just don't like it.
Waz
Guest
Thomas Broich said that, words to the effect "the club asked me to wait until other things are sorted out in the winter but I decided not to wait". He then called Marco to tell him the news who published. Not sure what Broichs motives were but no one can tell me you announce that sort of news two days before an elimination final for the good of the team.
Mike Tuckerman
Expert
Strange one re: Eugene. I take it Sorensen is off if he signs for Melbourne City.
Lionheart
Guest
KJ read the CM article, January. Got to go.
KJ
Roar Rookie
Agree with everything you've written, except the previously agreed (between both parties) position on the future for Broich has always been that there will always be a non player role at Brisbane Roar and the decision of whether he would be a player or not would occur after the season's end.
KJ
Roar Rookie
Lionheart, they have been club statements throughout the year. I can search for them, however it hasn't been mentioned in the last week. If they did though, how many would see it as pouring negativity over Broich and blaming him (heck, some supporters already think the club is doing this). As I said, It's purely been bad PR at this stage and I have no reason to assume it's anything else. Everyone I know who support the Roar were keen to hear what would happen to Broich after the season as we were under the impression (as we had been told by the club earlier this year) not to worry about Broich as negotiations and talks would begin after the season. Reading between the lines, I assumed it would be a balance of fitness/injuries and ability to keep other players. If Maclaren decides to move elsewhere, how much does a decent striker cost? How much will Maclaren cost? This is just one of the permutations. Is it wise to lock in Broich before the make up of the team is locked in? I actually didn't think so and early this year, neither did the club or Broich.
Lionheart
Guest
KJ I don't know where you get those Club statements from. They've posted an email to members which says nil of that, but basically let's send him out a winner, move along. Aloisi did a press conference and avoided the issue, move along. Early on Craig Moore said a few words in an interview, I didn't hear it but excerpts indicate he said 'move along'. The MD tweeted a few rather strange comments that I think are best ignored. If there have been other releases I'd be keen to read them. The most I've read on the issue has been in the Courier Mail by Marco with Broich. I don't wish to be disruptive but I do expect better management from our club, of personnel and major issues. It's not as though it's difficult, just be transparent. I stuck by them through the Mulvey sacking and the unpaid wages and other crap. But I'm at the end of my tether on this one.
j binnie
Guest
KJ -You ask some very important questions in this comment. How would you handle a discussion between a player and yourself re. his income and his future.??? Think about it,not so easy is it ?,for surely both the manager and the player deserve some sort of privacy in a discussion of this personal nature. However in this case there has been a somewhat strange outcome from such a discussion for it appears the management have not given much thought into the future of one of their better known players except to use words like "we don't know" and "we cannot guarantee a contract for you next year". Now put yourself in the players' place.Faced with answers like that can you blame him for going "public" in his attempts to raise interest elsewhere, to anyone who can look at their budgets, "get to know" where they stand, and come up with an offer for the player. I cannot see much wrong with Broich's reaction, he wants to play next year and the Roar don't want him. End of story. Cheers jb.
Ian
Guest
Using Pepper as an example to keep is probably the wrong one IMO. How much would the fans think Broich was worth keeping for? What if he was willing to be paid $100k?
KJ
Roar Rookie
So you agree it would've been best to wait until all the contracts were sorted to then see what was available for Broich? By all accounts, this is exactly what BR were doing.
Ian
Guest
LH - you may as well write my comments for me ;-) Waz - if Thomas said old man syndrome.........you know his personality don't you? He has a sense of humour and is sarcastic. Thomas would have accepted far less money to play next year and nowhere near his marquee status wages. I don't think he would have taken up a fair chunk at all.
Ian
Guest
No, I don't think he ever confirmed he WAS retiring.
nick
Guest
What about Adelaide's treatment of Eugene Galekovic? i appreciate he isn't an import or marquee player but he has been Adelaide United's best player for 10 years and arguably the most consistent goalkeeper in the A League over the same period OK he may have signed with Melbourne City but only due to Adelaide's zero communication around a new contract or no contract at all. Deserves so much better and well done to the United fans last week for honouring Eugene's 10 years with the club