The past couple of months for Australian football have not been the prettiest. It started with a loss to Japan, which saw World Cup qualification slip further away, was followed with a pathetic effort against Thailand, then two dismal displays against Syria.
Loyal fans must be scratching their head and asking what are the causes?
The first issue is that our players are not being technically developed. For instance, we have a 38-year-old striker in Tim Cahill who is carrying the team. When Australia plays European teams, they are shown up because of a lack of goal-scoring skill.
If we look at a less technical position, we have two world-class goalkeepers in Mitch Langerak and Mat Ryan. This shows in the transfer market, when Ryan was transferred, he broke Mark Viduka’s transfer record to Leeds United in the early 2000s. This shows our players are not world class anymore.
The solution is to make A-League teams play three players in every side under the age of 23. This is what the NSL did to ensure development – they identified young talent and played them in the highest grade to develop their skills, strength and fitness. This approach will benefit the Socceroos, as we need to develop quality goal scorers to win games.
[latest_videos_strip category=”football” name=”Football”]
The second issue is the lack of opportunities in the A-League to develop young players and showcase their talent.
With only four teams in the two major cities, plenty of players are missing out on the chance to grow and develop. We should take a leaf out of Major League Soccer’s handbook and add two or three more teams, allowing teams to have larger and more diverse rosters and develop a larger number of players.
Once these teams are sustainable, we add more again, until we have enough for two divisions.
Football is the second most popular sport in Australia, which is a major advantage for the A-League, which needs to scout and develop players. This will only happen through expansion and more opportunities for younger players.
If the FFA want the A-League to be in the top 15 leagues in the world then it must develop and increase the standard of play.
The final issue is coaching and coach development, which underpins the first two issues. If we want to develop our players’ technical skill and be world class in what we do, the FFA must hire the best coaches for the junior representative and national teams.
Take the Socceroos in 2006, when they hired Guus Hiddink – a world-class manager who had world-class experience when compared with Ange Postecoglou. The difference is glaringly obvious, with the consequence seeing Australia struggling to make the World Cup.
For the FFA to win the Asian Cup against Japan and South Korea, it has to hire coaches that will meet their targets. Further, the FFA must identify quality coaches coming through the ranks and spend time and money developing them to one day take over from these quality overseas coaches.
The A-League and the FFA need to look at other leagues, such as the MLS, for expansion and other systems like Spain and Italy, where they develop their players technically.
To date, we have only seen a glimpse of the great heights Australian football can reach – it’s the FFA’s duty to make sure every game, player, and coach gets there.
Alessandro Vari
Roar Pro
This article is far too simplistic and ignores the fact that we've never, in the grand scheme of things, really been any good on the national stage. We had one World Cup where we won one game, couldn't win against ten men in the second round and fans spent the next 11 years saying we were "cheated". Then you have to consider that, even by our standards, this current generation is lacking in quality and experience, big time. And yet, Ange has provided a continental trophy and a decent enough performance in the Confederations Cup. The sooner fans stop swanning around thinking we're entitled to qualification every four years (let alone the bs about us having to beat 'no name' countries 10-0) the better we'll be.
chris
Guest
Oh ok so its possession that you have an issue with? Why not watch the game v Syria and look at who retains possession more. Yes we gave up the early goal through trying to play the ball out. I've seen way better teams than Australia do worse than that.
Grobbelaar
Roar Guru
But maybe the issues are not all that serious, merely run-of-the-mill matters any sport comes across day to day.
Nemesis
Guest
"Australian football has a history of sugarcoating the current problems running around in the game" How funny is this comment given that, nearly every day of the year, someone on this forum will write a 500 word essay on the problems in AUS football. And, even when there are positive articles, there will be some Crash & Bash poser who will diminish or demean the positive message. Yeah. We're really sugarcoating the problems in Australian football.
Will
Guest
Australian football has a history of sugarcoating the current problems running around in the game, i don't the see the game improving anytime soon. Too much short-term interest and agendas.
Grobbelaar
Roar Guru
It's the quality of the football on the park which matters most.
Gavin R
Guest
What's China's vision for developing players? The CSL is as promising as our World Cup bid..
mattq
Roar Rookie
i'd say the Monster Jam at Olympic Park would definitely have had an impact. Westie bogans love that stuff (p.s. I went too)
saul
Guest
Chris, I have an idea how football is played overseas, you know keep possession for more than three touches.
Realfootball
Guest
It was 37k and there is something notable about the first time a derby fails to sell out. As I said, that's 5000 people who have gone in previous years and didn't this time. Why? While you say "nothing wrong", it is certainly not a positive development.
saul
Guest
Wasn't Melbourne victory v Melbourne city and the big blue attendance down as well. Of course those games were broadcast on free to air this year which is a positive for the league. Still WSW only got 11500 at the last match and they're playing some good football
chris
Guest
You're splitting hairs with a few thousand here and there. My point was in direct response to your statement about "worrying times if the derby attracted less than last season". Nothing wrong with a 38k almost sell out crowd.
Redondo
Guest
Tell us more about sarcasm Saul - it sounds like fun.
Realfootball
Guest
37057 is the correct figure. One man's doomsday is another man's realism. The result is the same.
chris
Guest
The ABC were reporting a crowd of just over 38,000 which looked about right to me from within the ground. The only block of empty seats were where the members sit and I would imagine thats because the Wallabies were playing the AB's at the same time. If they had turned up, the numbers would be the same as last year give or take a few. So stop with all your doomsday outlook on it all.
chris
Guest
Kick and chase? You obviously have no idea about what is actually being taught to the kids and are just throwing around ridiculous statements
saul
Guest
Argentina finished bottom of their group scoring one goal and conceding eight. At that age i don't think it really matters if they win trophies or not but one thing that is evident is Australia has a problem developing and nurturing talent, 15 something we agreed on. Japan, China, Korea they have ambition to develop players and have a vision of winning trophies. The difference is when the FFA say's that's there ambition it's just empty words. It's good that the Matildas are doing well but it's important that they win a World cup and keep up with the other countries where the womens game has more people beginning to play and have increased government investment. And yes we are in Asia and one thing that is noticeable is how much faster other countries are improving than ourself's.
saul
Guest
Agree with what you say, when i saw your proposal for a Matt Simon slide tackle statue i couldn't stop laughing, I don't think the "Football Purists" get sarcasm . I felt the exact same way about expansion and did consider tearing up my membership when they announced they weren't expanding the league until the conclusion of their 2023 Reserve Bank of Australia Expansion Model, whereby they will restructure for another five years so they can expand the competition to 12 teams by 2028. On the eve of the competition i heard that Gallop said there won't be expansion for another two years surprised that wasn't a topic of discussion at the Roar. Gallop And Lowy Must go Gallowy Out
Nemesis
Guest
"lack of success of all our national teams ." What are you on about? AUS men are currently the Asian Champions. We've qualified for 3 consecutive FIFA WCs and 2 matches away from our 4th. AUS women are flying high - success in Asia, at World Cups, in the Olympics & now the pin-up team for all AUS sport. Our youth teams are struggling for success at the moment, but we aren't in Oceania any more. We are in Asia & it's tougher. Ok AUS missed the 2017 u17 WC but at the previous u17 WC in 2015, Australia beat Argentina in the Group stage & qualified for the knockout. They were eliminated by Nigeria who went on to be World Champions. There's no excuse for not knowing this basic information.
Realfootball
Guest
And here's the problem: 1. the money has to come from tv rights 2. Australians are voting with their remotes and demonstrating that very few, in terms of sporting relativity, want to watch the A League on tv. Give the game a billion dollar tv deal and everything changes. We won't get it and we never will. Which leaves us with an undercapitalised A League, crippled youth development and wildly unsatisfactory multi use stadiums. I was filled with such optimism about the A League until last season. Then FFA killed off the expansion discussion and focussed on shoring up their own jobs instead. Have I lost hope that the A League will become more than a nice competition for a small part of the Australian public? Not completely. There is a glimmer of hope in me, but it's fading with every week that Lowy and Gallop remain entrenched in their bunker. There is no hope, no hope at all, with the current model. By the way, the Sydney derby attendance has been upgraded. To 36,057. A lot of people who went last season didn't go this time. Why not is a very worrying question. And don't tell me that 5 or 6000 people decided to watch the game on tv instead. We need Gallop and Lowy out now. The fish rots at the head (thanks Mario Puzo), and our game is in trouble.