I keep having this dream – or perhaps it’s a recurring nightmare – of a bleach-blonde behemoth wheeling away to celebrate in front of a bunch of stunned away fans.
The A-League won’t quite know what has hit it once Keisuke Honda runs out at Marvel Stadium tomorrow night.
Whatever your expectations of the Japanese superstar, he’s likely to confound them.
We’ve seen it already in his interviews. There’s a myth that Asian players can’t speak English, but Honda has set about improving his language skills like he does everything else – with a stubborn single-mindedness bordering on obsession.
What else would you expect from a player whose travels have taken him to countries as disparate as the Netherlands, Russia, the heights of Serie A in Italy, then to Mexico?
Honda has always been different. A talented high school footballer who played with future Japan international Yohei Toyoda, he was overlooked by a Gamba Osaka youth team intent on pursuing his close friend Akihiro Ienaga instead.
It’s a snub that always seemed to fuel Honda.
And his first goal as a professional for Nagoya Grampus while still a fresh-faced 18-year-old was a precursor of things to come, as he skipped past a defender on the goal line before charging into the box and smashing a left-foot piledriver past a startled keeper.
It’s the sort of strike anyone who has followed Honda’s career has seen time and time again.
And it’s the sort of goal Aussie fans should get used to seeing this season, because Honda will take to the A-League like a proverbial duck to water.
This isn’t some timid, temperamental artist trembling in the face of a foreign culture.
Keisuke Honda is now a Melbourne Victory player. (Photo by Kaz Photography/Getty Images)
This is a battering ram of a player I once watched trample over the top of a smaller opponent who had earlier had the temerity to try and tackle him.
The highlight reel from Honda’s stint with Mexican side Pachuca alone demonstrates exactly what Melbourne Victory’s opponents are in for.
And having lost Besart Berisha to Japanese football, Victory officials deserve plaudits for replacing him with a player who will become just as much of a talisman.
That said, anyone who thinks Honda has been signed specifically to bring Japanese fans through the gates doesn’t quite understand the market.
Honda might be a Samurai Blue legend, but there aren’t necessarily thousands of Melbourne-based Japanese football lovers lurking in the shadows.
And if there were, they’d be more likely to turn up at a solitary training session than buy a season ticket.
More instructive is the fact that Honda boasts more than half-a-million followers on Instagram alone. His hilarious “Who Wants To Be An Australian” video has been viewed more than 300,000 times.
And when he tweets, his 643,000 Twitter followers across the globe pay attention.
This is a guy who puts plenty of thought into his use of social media.
You want metrics? Honda generates them.
And we shouldn’t be put off by his involvement with the Cambodian national team either. Once again, this is an individual who can open doors for the A-League.
But the best part of Honda’s move to Australia is well and truly yet to come.
Keisuke Honda is exactly the type of player the A-League needs. (Photo by Suhaimi Abdullah/Getty Images)
Because he will be one of the best players A-League fans have ever seen. He’ll score long-range thunderbolts. He’ll smash home free-kicks. He’ll flatten opponents.
He’ll celebrate every goal with his teammates as if it was the championship winner, then give wonderful post-game interviews on Fox Sports in his idiosyncratic English.
Then he’ll back up and do it all again the following weekend.
Not since Alessandro Del Piero has a player of such singular talent graced our shores.
Like a larger-than-life Godzilla, Keisuke Honda is the monster the A-League needs.
So grab the remote and get ready to be blown away. The finest Japanese player of his generation is about to be unleashed.
Matsu
Roar Rookie
I feel better to know it was just announced. I started looking for viewing possibilities a week or so ago... but if this is something they just decided upon yesterday, I guess Im early to the party, rather than late. I suppose the real question is why they did not do anything about broadcast rights until now? I know that when the J.League launched broadcasts in Southeast Asia, they spent over three months marketing it aggressively. OK its true, they had support from DAZN who was holding the broadcast contract, but I imagine the same would be true for any league that was really interested in attracting fans. Looking forward to the matches. The only question now is which team to support . . . .
MarkfromCroydon
Roar Pro
I'm more excited to see Honda play for us than any other player we've ever had, including Kewell. The guy is just so likeable. Even when he was playing for Japan against Australia, you had this respect for him and hoped we beat them 2-1 with him scoring their consolation goal. He plays beautifully, and its obvious he has talent and skill to burn, but he also ALWAYS looks like he's putting in his maximum effort and there's just something about the way he carries himself that says he's respectful of the game. Even when he scores, he celebrates hard, but without denigrating the other team. I can't wait to see that silky left foot score and set up a bag of goals for us this season.
Nemesis
Guest
Was only announced 10 hours ago, so not surprised if it's not yet known. I'n sure the smarter members of the Japanese football community will find out about it, like the smarter members of AUS football community keep on top of football news. And, then they can pass on the info to those who are a bit slower on the uptake.
Matsu
Roar Rookie
RE: A League on YouTube WOW! First I have heard of this! . . . . Which doesnt bode well for the number of Japanese fans who are going to tune in. After all, I not only can speak BOTH Japanese and English, but I am one of only a tiny number of people in Japan who would ACTIVELY seek out information on how to watch the ALeague. I think Mr. Gallop needs to Gallop up to Japan and make this information a bit more publicly availabl
Mitcher
Guest
Shame on me for engaging. But your efforts to jump on this RL game are regrettable. I assure you, I’m a Wanderers and A League fan long before league. I guess I just reject the fans of any code who feel such a desperate need to bring down another to fuel their bizarre fandom for a code, rather than the traditional club (of any flavour) support. All that aside, I defy anyone to watch the Tongan fans sing and support with the deepest pride. It reflects everything we love about the football experience, yet you want to tear it down to settle a score with I presume some imagined ‘other’. Get a new hobby friend.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
I'll never forget the day the socceroos played Fiji in a WC qualifier and lost 1-nil.
Nemesis
Guest
"Honda I’m excited to see play, as I’m sure most football fans are. But for $1.9m he must, simply must, increase crowds and ratings." Not 1 cent of this investment in Honda is coming from the FFA. The money is coming from FoxSports. As long as FoxSports considers the $1.9M has been well-spent then that's all that matter, even if The Roar forum is not happy with the returns. FoxSports has already spent a significant chunk of this Marquee fund on Tim Cahill. Based on crowds & ratings, the Return on Investment seems inadequate to me. But, FoxSports is still persisting with the Marquee Fund, which suggests none of use understand how FoxSports values its ROI from the Marquee Fund. PS: Last year, it was reported the $3M marquee fund was given to the 10 ALeague clubs as a $300k marketing distribution. Don't think it had any impact, but I might be wrong. Maybe, it provided an appropriate return for FoxSports.
damo
Guest
Lol very nice- Rodman at the 'Nix would probably solve their financial woes with an influx of "authentic currency" from North Korea via various laundromats (very lucrative laundromats producing very high quality laundered clothing- the Wellington strip would positively gleam!), surely Roger trials for MV (a city he knows & a bit of sporting royalty- yes I'm a Victory supporter lol) & Lewis Hamilton is a Sydney FC man surely a' la Dwight Yorke?!?! Phelps would surely have hands like dinner plates so to speak & at 16 foot tall would probably make a good keeper but to be honest the footage of Bolt contesting headers makes it likely that if you're over 5 ft tall & can time your leap to meet the ball & head it then you've got him covered. I love the cricket & Warne is a complete tosser so he probably would have throw- ins covered but I can't see him plying his skills in Adelaide. Perhaps he could be the new marquee player at MC & we could forget Timmy ?
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
They'll be able to watch Yuki Nagasato too, a Japanese striker of repute who's scored nearly 60 goals for Japan, including WC 2011 when Japan beat US in the final. Now plays in the US for Chicago and signed recently with Roar for this W League season.
Waz
Roar Rookie
Thats the challenge right. I would crawl across broken glass to watch Broich play one more time but I dont expect others to feel the same. Honda I’m excited to see play, as I’m sure most football fans are. But for $1.9m he must, simply must, increase crowds and ratings. If not then special marquees are not the answer. At least not the ones we can afford. Or maybe we have to go all out and get the likes of Ibra?
Waz
Roar Rookie
err no? The money gifted to Victory (like City before them) is designed to facilitate the signing of a player that will grow attendances and viewership. If Honda doesn’t do that. It’s failed. I hope he does, I’m not sure he will, but I really hope he does. We need to stop the rot this season.
Fadida
Guest
If only George Blackwood was so prolific :)
Punter
Roar Rookie
I'll be adding my bit Kangas, I will be watching the derby tomorrow mainly because of Honda, when MV visits, i will go & see Honda play. If Newcastle gets Ibra or Torres in January, i too will tune into Jets games on TV & go to see the Jets in Sydney just to see either of those players play. Geez, why not, might even make a day out of it & drive up to McDonald's stadium to watch especially Ibra.
Kangas
Roar Rookie
Punter On Tuesday, you mentioned the importannce of ratings and metrics in the big city clubs , this is why the signing of Honda is a test . Does Australia like quality soccer players like Honda in their big city clubs as the Ffa believe, or does it make very little difference. Obviously the Ffa are unlikely to get it wrong .
Kangas
Roar Rookie
If there is one thing I learnt from the roar and the Ffa this week , is that Ratings are all that matters Long live the sideshows like bolt , football quality like Honda has little to with the metrics . Believe me , I would like the football to matter .
Kangas
Roar Rookie
Former Newcastle lad and Socceroo Darren Stewart has passed away aged 52 Pretty sure he played with lawriie McKenna at the Newcastle breakers Way too young Sad day
Kangas
Roar Rookie
Stuart ,, If there were more A league teams in Sydney I’m sure that the papers would forget the rugby league test .
Kangas
Roar Rookie
Warney scores too often to play for Adelaide
Nemesis
Guest
FFA CEO has just announced that every ALeague & WLeague match will be LIVE streamed FREE into Japan via Youtube & Twitter. This is absolutely wonderful news. We know Japanese football fans are 100% committed to streaming football, since that's the only way you can watch J-League in Japan. And, to have every Keisuke Honda match now available LIVE into Japan will provide massive exposure. https://www.a-league.com.au/news/fans-more-corners-globe-set-watch-australian-football-season
At work
Roar Rookie
Kangas the Tonga v Aus league match is 2hrs before the Melbourne derby. They should have nothing to do with each other in terms of ratings.