With the new European season already underway, its sad to see that there are very few Australians starting for big clubs across the top leagues around the world, which is alarming for football in this country going forward.
We have to face reality and accept that the youth systems in academies across the country are not well run compared to previous eras.
The era that I am particularly referring to is our 2006 ‘golden generation’, which comprised many stars that were playing at the highest level for some of the biggest clubs across Europe’s top five leagues.
It’s actually quite unbelievable to compare that generation to the current one we have at our disposal.
The likes of Harry Kewell winning the Champions League with Liverpool, Tim Cahill playing an important role at Everton, Mark Viduka steamrolling the Premier League with Leeds and Newcastle, Mark Schwarzer maintaining a starting spot at Middlesborough, and Lucas Neill and Craig Moore playing key roles for Blackburn and Newcastle were all playing regular football in England.
Scott Chipperfield was starring for FC Basel, John Aloisi played in Spain, midfielders Vince Grella and Mark Bresciano made names for themselves in Italy and Jason Culina was instrumental in Holland for PSV Eindhoven.
They all gave the Socceroos hope of achieving the impossible.
These players are not just names that were added to club team sheets to fill the numbers; they all played consistent football and performed at their best with the help of great coaching.
Interestingly, only three players out of the 23-man shortlist in 2006 were playing in the A-League. If we compare that to the upcoming World Cup, around 8 tot 10 A-League players have a chance of making the squad.
This is the main problem I have with this current group of players. The A-League should be a stepping stone to develop young players, giving them some experience to then challenge themselves at some of the world’s biggest clubs. There are too many players who are staying in Australia for too long, which is harming their growth.
(Image: AAP Image/Paul Miller)
To be fair to some players, they are putting themselves out there and wanting to test themselves among the best – the only problem is that they aren’t playing football on a regular basis. Brad Smith, Mitchell Langerak, Trent Sainsbury, Chris Ikonomidis and Terry Antonis are examples of this.
The two players who can be compared to the ‘golden generation’ are Tom Rogic and Aaron Mooy. Rogic has performed exceptionally well under Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic and has cemented a starting spot. Going forward he is going to be playing Champions League football. The latter will carry Huddersfield Town in England’s top flight, as he was their best player on their way to promotion.
Australia needs to produce more players like this, but on the other side of the coin they must be careful how they nurture them – as Daniel De Silva will tell you, that development takes time and patience.
In 2010, before World cup selection, former coach Pim Verbeek put a rule in place that meant no player would be selected unless they played football overseas rather than in the A-League. Although I disagreed with it to a degree, I understood his thought process in trying to get players to the level of the likes of Kewell and Cahill.
It would make them only stronger as players – but that doesn’t mean I think the A-League isn’t important for developing the younger players.
I should add that the explosion of money in China is not helping the development of Australians. Players like as Robbie Kruse, Ryan McGowan and Trent Sainsbury might be doing more for their bank accounts than their football, which is also a big concern.
If Australia wants to win a World Cup down the line, producing top players and moving them on to the best leagues in Europe is the main priority. This will only happen through strong investments in grassroots programs and coaches in the A-League giving youth a chance.
This country is capable of so much success, but the time is now to create our new golden generation.
Christian Montegan
Roar Pro
"Australian kids are not outside everyday kicking a ball" Totally agree. It's the biggest problem we have for football to progress in Australia but good coaching and academies obviously has a part to play also
Christian Montegan
Roar Pro
Iran were in the easiest group out of the two for Asia... They aren't bad but nothing special so when they play in the World Cup next year don't expect them to get past the group stages. Japan used to be the best team in Asia even with our golden generation in the mix in Asia after they switched from Oceania. They will qualify for the World Cup but they're just not the same team as they used to be
sennr
Guest
It's a big illusion to think that training twice a week and a match on the weekend is enough to develop the technical skills. European, South American and African kids spend more hours playing Football in their spare time than in the club. All those hours playing in their spare time are very, very important. That's not happening in Australia. That is the biggest problem of all. Australian kids are not outside every day kicking a ball. You think Maradona had a great academy? No, he spent a few hours every day outside kicking and juggling a ball.
Evan Askew
Guest
We'll see in the Bundesliga this coming season. It will be very likely that both Leckie and Langaeraak will be starting for their clubs in the bundesliga.
Evan Askew
Guest
If I recall Correctly the Olyroos after Barcelona 92 had to qualify through Oceania whereas the current generation of Olyroos have to qualify through a much tougher Asian confederation. The 92 Olyroos also had to qualify through Oceania before playing a 2 legged qualifier against Holland which we won on away goals. So to start with the qualification path, 92 aside, was much easier. And football has become way more competitive with European clubs drawing their talent from around the world. Go On Wikipedia and look at the clubs that Australians played for in that era, particularly in the late 80s and early 90s. I would guarantee you that most of those clubs side had players predominantly from their own country with anywhere from 3 players to maybe 1/3 of the squad from different coutnries.
Grobbelaar
Roar Guru
It's true that Jones is not old by goalkeeping standards, and is currently playing at a very good level, but it might be academic because I'm pretty sure he has publicly stated that he doesn't want to play international football.
platypusFC
Roar Rookie
Christian running away from the hard questions haha.
Nemesis
Guest
See, this comment about Brad Jones is the sort of immature comment that makes me dismiss you. You love all things Italian football. Your National Team GK and the GK of the team that wins the title every year is 4 years older than Jones. Only immature football analysts will dismiss a player based on his birth date.
Gavin R
Guest
I've read pundits questioning how he will play against teams sitting very deep against United, particularly at Old Trafford, but i see him as a red Drogba, particularly will Mourinho at the helm. I am excited to watch the season unfold. Why do you expect he will fail?
Nemesis
Guest
Christian, for me, your input on this forum is nothing more than mindless chatter. I like the fact you're young & keen on the game; I find your analysis extremely childish, which is unsurprising since you are still a child. I wish you'd read & learn more, rather than pretending you know it all when your knowledge of football is that of a child..
Christian Montegan
Roar Pro
Brad Jones is about 50 years old and has no chance of beating Ryan and Langerak to a starting place Aziz Behich makes too many mistakes and is not Socceroos material Craig Goodwin yes I'm sorry I didn't mention him
Christian Montegan
Roar Pro
He's crossed one average team off the list. United paid £78m for him so you'd hope he would score against team like west ham... Have a go at me if Lukaku delivers against the big teams, which I doubt he will
Redondo
Guest
Oops - That should be August 2005
Redondo
Guest
Swampy - in August 1985 there were less than 50 under 25 Aussies playing overseas. They were mostly playing in lower divs in England or tier 2 leagues (e.g. Scotland, Switzerland, or Asian leagues).
Ruudolfson
Guest
Many get too offended if someone criticises something, they get too personal about it. Put it this way if the apologists pretend it's all good and thinks the youth development is top class and don't want people to question it then we have a serious problem because it's clear there are many gaping holes in the development system it's alarming. A tinkered glasses mentality doesn't solve anything for Australia going forward, tough and honest questions are needed to be asked if we want to improve our position in world football.
greenbridge1930
Roar Rookie
- Iran are one of the most successful national teams in Asian football. - They were the first country to secure qualification to Russia with two games to spare They have 3 in Eredivisie, 2 in Russia, 1 in Jupiler (Belgian) and 1 in Greece. Not much to boast in terms of clubs but guess what? They aren't doing too badly on the international stage. You refer to Japan's golden generation of players (Nakamura, Endo etc) But did you know during this period of time Japan actually had BARELY ANY players forging a successful career in Europe. Yep that's right. Everyone else flopped or stayed in the J-League like Yasuhito Endo.
platypusFC
Roar Rookie
Christian Montegan says: Our country’s footballers are terrible BECAUSE we have no one playing at big clubs in Europe Christian Montegan says: Japan and rest of Asia are terrible. BUT have a look at the Japanese players in Europe. They are at big clubs in big leagues. They play big minutes. Two are captains. Look at their weekend playing times. So does that mean Christian the number of players at big European clubs is irrelevant to that country's playing stocks??? Please clarify.
jonnysnow
Guest
Author is casually forgetting Craig Goodwin and Brad Jones play regular football in the Dutch league. Aziz Behich also playing every week in Turkey which is fast improving league. Gersbach?
alexandriablues
Roar Rookie
Christian, can you please stop dismissing other posters with sarcasm. Lukaku scored 2 goals in his first ever league game for United against West Ham. How can anyone have a rational argument when you adopt an immature approach. You clearly never address anyone's rational arguments as you deliberately choose not to reply to anyone showing how flawed your arguments are. The fact you did not know many of the Japanese players playing big minutes in the top European leagues shows how much you know about Asian football and also European football to a large degree.
alexandriablues
Roar Rookie
Also over the weekend, Maya Yoshida (Southampton) 90 minutes, clean sheet Shinji Okazaki (Leicester City) 72 minutes, 1 goal Yoshinori Muto (Mainz), 72 minutes, 2 goals Gotoku Sakai (Hamburg) 90 minutes Takuma Asano (Stuttgart) 55 minutes Daichi Kamada (Frankfurt) 75 minutes Makoto Hasebe (Frankfurt) 90 minutes Yuki Kobayashi (Heereven) 90 minutes Hiroki Sakai (Marseilles) 90 minutes, clean sheet Yuya Kubo (Gent), 79 minutes Ryota Morioka (Waasland) 90 minutes, 2 assists Takumi Minamino (RB Salzburg) 79 minutes Gaku Shibasaki (Getafe), 90 minutes in preseason friendly