The rather fleeting and unsuccessful appearance of Massimo Maccarone in the A-League was a calculated gamble by Brisbane Roar.
It ultimately proved something of a failure, with the Italian never really providing the penetration or goals for which John Aloisi had hoped.
But that’s okay. Foreigners always arrive in Australia with a sense of the unknown and the league continues to be a little fluky in terms of pulling the right rein when it comes to imported players.
Sydney FC have nailed things over the last few years with Milos Ninkovic, Adrian Mierzejewski and Bobo proving their worth. Melbourne Victory and Adelaide United found peaches in Leroy George and Johan Absalonsen this season and the great Danes, Michael Jakobsen and Thomas Kristensen more than earnt their money.
If due diligence is undertaken, players such as these are on the market and if found, can be tempted to our shores.
Sadly, permanency and long term deals are not a feature of the A-League with Thomas Broich and Diego Castro proving something of exceptions when it comes to the international A-League stars.
The Roar defeated the Wanderers. (AAP Image/Dan Peled)
Only yesterday, the news of Michael Jakobsens’ farewell came through.
That lack of permanency creates some of the cynicism and scepticism from those on the periphery of Australian football.
Hard core A-League fans realise the limitations of a $2.928 million salary cap and the reality of the transient footballer; playing out much of his days as a journeyman.
Moving from league to league as father time ticks away and players look to secure a good pay day prior to retirement, lessens the chances of visitors spending long periods in Australia.
The image of the professional footballer with a small kit bag and two legs as his set of tools; shopping his way around the planet to play the game he loves, has always appealed to me. It is something that has been a historical reality in the A-League and will continue to be so until the clubs have access to and are permitted to spend, larger sums on players.
In the medium term, Alessandro Del Piero, Emile Heskey, Tim Cahill and Dwight York-style signings will remain as short sighted attempts to spike interest, attendance and exposure and will achieve varying levels of success.
Tim Cahill
Some will hit the proverbial nail on the head such as Del Piero in Sydney and others like Maccarone will be wide of the mark. In recent weeks, another name has loomed as a potential visitor to the A-League transit lounge.
Andres Iniesta is 34 and ripe for the picking when it comes to a season or two in Australia. Why wouldn’t he? Just as players like Roy O’Donovan, Daniel Adlung and Ninkovic have seen the climate, lifestyle and cultural benefits of life down under, so may Iniesta if the FFA can lure him to our shores.
With a reported Barcelona salary of around five million euro, to say he is a little out of our financial league is an understatement. Yet there are emotional and business considerations that may allow a little ‘massaging’ during the negotiations, with Iniesta’s love of wine lying at the heart of the FFA’s potential leverage.
It’s unlikely.
Keisuke Honda is three years younger, not happy in his current situation and would be a perfect Asian fit for the A-League. Our connection with Honda in international play would only add weight and depth to our competition.
If by some remarkable coup the FFA is able to announce both as signings for next season, the A-League might finally make the sort of waves it has failed to create in recent years.
The FFA’s suggestions that contingency plans to nab Honda might be called upon should the man from Barcelona decide to spend his next season or two elsewhere, tells us all we need to know.
However, an A-League competition with Diego Castro, Daniel Adlung, Bruno Fornaroli, Ronny Vargas, Johan Absalonsen, Eric Bautheac, the Sydney trio and Iniesta and Honda for good measure would well and truly whet the appetite of fans. It may also kill off some of the annual conjecture around the league.
As the long season battled through its middle third with the usual criticism levelled at depth, attendance and flat out quality, Australia’s biggest league faced the same headlines in 2018 that it has encountered for some time.
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The finals re-energised the coverage, with Newcastle to thank for much of the interest. It was such a shame that things went seriously pear shaped on grand final today.
However things play out over the next ten days or so, David Gallop will be sweating on another short term signing to fan the flames of A-League interest. No doubt, people would come from miles to watch the players in question. Whether it be Iniesta, Honda or a yet to be announced secret, the league does need an injection.
One of the key decisions would be where to put a new marquee superstar with the potential to garner such interest. Some might suggest the place of most need. Wellington? Highly unlikely.
The Melbourne and Sydney markets would provide the most obvious impact in terms of crowds yet that is the last thing the A-League needs right now.
Brisbane might be a cosy fit. Marco Kurz would be ecstatic with the services of Honda in Adelaide or perhaps we should give the people of the Central Coast the boost they need and set Iniesta and Honda up in a penthouse suite in Gosford?
Let’s hope a positive deal is eventually done for the A-League; one that forces itself onto the desk of free-to-air news producers. Whatever does unfold, it will be another period of growth for the A-League and hopefully the latest stars enjoy their stay.
If only we had the bucks to keep them here for a little longer.
Hughster
Guest
Agree Lionheart. Marquees are an important part of the equation but it is not a straight forward exercise as Stuart suggests. Balancing long term sustainability for the A-league and Australian football generally does not always sit well alongside the marketing immediacy and cost of short term marquee signings. One area where the FFA has been negligent in developing local talent has been in engagement with Indigenous communities. John Moriarty does a fantastic job (ably supported by Craig Foster) but the FFA could do so much more. Look at the impact that the Krakeour brothers had on AFL, the Ella Brothers on Rugby Union and the numeorus rugby league players who have added a level of skill and exuberance to their respective codes.
pacman
Guest
Waz,you can also refer to Maccarone's defensive contributions whilst playing for Roar. He was invariably in the penalty area mix when Roar was defending corners or free kicks. I am not a statistician, but from observation, he made more clearances than did many of his defender team mates. And after performing his defensive duties, the 38 year Maccarone was then expected to accelerate to his lone striker position. After regaining his striking position, he would often enjoy coping with sub standard passes. Little wonder Maccarone appeared somewhat non-plussed when Roar attacking moves resulted in - well, nothing. In the business world, an under or inappropriately utilised asset. Equally aplicable in the sporting world. Cheers.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Not terribly happy that he's leaving City tho'. However, in Wazza we trust (for now).
Churchman72
Guest
If you want to attract fans with a Japanese or Korean Player then Sydney and Brisbane are good destinations as that’s where the main diaspora from those nations live (Sydney and SEQ). Now Swansea are relegated, they should try and get Ki to Brisbane as he spent his high school years in the city and Brisbane almost signed him as a youth player only for a K League side to swoop in. He has previously indicated that he wants to play for Brisbane at some point and wants to settle there post football. If he came, he would probably stay until he retired and has a solid 5-6 years left.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
I was at the game and the atmosphere was fantastic. They love football and it showed. Daniel Arzani is their man and he plays for Melbourne City :)
Lionheart
Guest
yep, young exciting local players is a good start
Lionheart
Guest
yes indeed, wasn't it the year before that when we played the last round v MV in Melbourne. A win and we were premiers and we would have past MV in the number of times premier stakes, and K Muscat came out and said, not at our home ground will our record be broken, so they defended, and defended, and defended, and we each got a point 0-0, and AU won the premiership.
Waz
Roar Rookie
Two marquees are you blue mites on salary and benefits. I’m guessing we’ve experienced a fair bit of wage-inflation over the past few years; $750k used to get you a standout player but not anymore.
Mike Tuckerman
Expert
So call them Japanese then.
Onside
Guest
Thanks Waz. I had no idea. Are marquees earnings capped. How much could Brisbane Roar spend on marquees if they wanted to.
Kris
Guest
It isn't just cash. It is also the limited roster spots. In most cases if you want to bring-in a foreigner, you have to ship one out first. Particularly when you start fiddling about with the salary cap implications.
fadida
Guest
There is a larger Japanese population in Sydney I'm guessing than in Newcastle or Melbourne Mike?
reuster75
Roar Rookie
meant to say Iran v Bahrain match
reuster75
Guest
Engaging the Asian population could work if we picked the right Asian population - Iran. I'll never forget going to AAMI park to watch Iran against Kuwait in the Asian Cup and being astonished at the huge turn out from Iranian fans (having done my best to erase 1997 from my memory). Could there be a chance of maybe luring some Iranian players that are close to the end of their career to play in Australia? How many of those fans that turned out back in 2015 have we engaged with since then and do we know if they follow the a-league? Surely that's a growth area right there?
Waz
Roar Rookie
Shortly after ADP arrived he was asked what he thought of the HAL and he said something like “Australians run too much” ... so what we see as lazy, Italians see as pragmatic. To this day I’m still not sure what the rationale for signings was last season; the year before crowds were up big time, we’d finished third for the second year running, and this was the season to kick on ... something or someone just stuck Roar into reverse gear.
Waz
Roar Rookie
Not sure you’ve captured the commercial realities. Roar had two marquees earning $750k last season ... and we don’t pay the most. SFC, City and Wanderers pay seven figures for their marquees.
Griffo
Roar Guru
It might be now that 'bums on seats' marquees are out of the leagues price range, while the next tier, good but not star name for a well known club, might not be? Although when the J.League finishes with Iniesta a la Del Piero maybe...? Being Japanese I'm not sure Honda would fit in with the Ledman Group but I could be reading far too much into that and then some. McKinna indicated the Jets aren't rolling in it to get another marquee, and they certainly weren't considering Iniesta even with media speculation buzzing around the Jets. I'm just going to hope I'm wrong and Honda ends up in Newy #headinthesand
Cousin Claudio
Roar Guru
Cold hard cash and the realities of the world's hyperinflated football transfer market. I'd love to earn 750,000 Euros per game as a football player, like Neymar does, but which A-League club can match that. Football is a team sport, Maccarone was never going to carry Roar into a grand final on his back. Focus on the fans and making them happy and attracting more local support, than throwing money at ageing holidaymakers and attracting bandwagon onlookers. A-League clubs need to make fans for life.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Hi Mike, I read your excellent piece yesterday and realised when I wrote this on Sunday that we must have been thinking similar things.
Mike Tuckerman
Expert
Asian population? Can't see too many Koreans getting out to watch a Japanese player go around. Or do Aussie fans flock to AAMI Park just to watch Kosta Barbarouses?