On Sunday afternoon I sat down with two fellow West Ham United fans at my local.
We were meant to be discussing what in the world we are going to do next season when our expensive and wasteful Premier League side is relegated.
As we also kept a close eye on the clash between Western United and Brisbane Roar from Mars Stadium in Ballarat, the conversation quickly shifted to a topic of far more pleasure and hope.
The most noticeable thing from my vantage point on a cane bar stool in a noisy beer garden was the positioning of the main camera used by Fox Sports to cover the action.
Of course, we did have to ask the bar staff to find the appropriate channel on the big screen television, with the AFLW getting headline billing and football far from the minds of many patrons.
Interestingly, not a mumble was heard when the women flocking around a chip were dethroned by football and by the end of the match there was even some audible cheering and gasping from a number of people other than the three West Ham losers.
People seemed to enjoy the finish to the contest and I asked the bar manager if he would consider having the A-League on for us next Sunday. He didn’t directly say no. Ah, progress.
The camera that brought the match to life was positioned far lower than at most venues, with broadcasters usually in the lofty heights of the main and shaded stand. On Sunday afternoon it was far lower, much like the FFA Cup, and it instantly changed the perception of the game.
Thus, the television experience became much closer to that of being at the ground. Of course, there is no pure substitute for actually attending a match, however the closer proximity allows for more of a bird’s eye perception of the action and adds much weight to the intensity of tackles and crisp exchanges of passing.
The newly independent A-League could do worse than investing time into some discussions around camera positioning, as other sports do frequently. While not possible at all venues, the television spectacle was noticeably improved at Mars on Sunday.
For Robbie Fowler’s side it was another tasty win, their fifth in seven, and the 61st-minute goal to substitute Mirza Muratovic was the impetus for our shift in conversation away from the rubbish that the Hammers have produced this season.
The 20-year-old found his second A-League goal, after Brad Inman neatly played laterally to him inside the box. Western United had blundered at the back yet the men in orange remained cool as one of the most exciting young talents in the league made no mistake from close range.
It triggered our discussion. Have we ever seen such a spectacular, promising and bright group of kids making their mark on the competition?
The chat was also spurred by the events of Friday night in Adelaide where 15-year-old Mohamed Toure scored the Reds’ second goal, aided by Olyroos George Blackwood and Riley McGree.
Mohamed Toure became the A-League’s youngest goal-scorer on the weekend. (AAP Image/Kelly Barnes)
With older brother Al Hassan being the competition’s recent poster boy and Adelaide’s obvious investment and trust in building the next generation from the ground up, United are perhaps navigating a path that other clubs would do well to emulate.
There is a hint of the same at Central Coast with Samuel Silvera receiving opportunities at just 19. His obvious talent is abundant and a pair of 21-year-olds in Wellington have been nothing short of outstanding this season. Both Reno Piscopo and Cameron Devlin have become vital cogs in Ufuk Talay’s machine. Sydney FC surely regret letting the Sydney-born Devlin leave at the expense of other players.
At 22, Melbourne City’s Thomas Glover has probably moved out the kid range, however as a keeper, he most certainly still is in a football sense. His bumbling error in Round 18 against the Victory was humbling, yet his talent is unquestionable and the long-term successor to Mathew Ryan may well have been found.
The Newcastle Jets’ new manager Carl Robinson spoke openly on the weekend about just how impressed he had immediately been with the skills and application of 20-year-old Angus Thurgate, starting him against the Wanderers in what looked like a must-win match.
Nick D’Agostino’s immense potential has finally been realised under Tony Popovic in the west and there are a host of other young men lurking on benches looking for an opportunity to claim starting status.
There are fewer opportunities at Sydney FC and Perth Glory. Both possess deep squads with experience outweighing any efforts to experiment with developmental youth. Yet for many other clubs chasing valiantly and looking towards the future, throwing the dice on youth has already proven to be a successful strategy.
The young men have contributed, their value increasing with each and every good performance. And the positive effect that has on the freshness of the competition cannot be overestimated.
I’m not sure the league has ever had such a promising crop.
CallMeDaddy
Guest
no. we paid $150k for piscopo from italy. been at inter since he was 15
AxeMaster
Roar Rookie
I think if A-League games provide a few goals, a lot of chances and near misses, then most fans would be happy. It's the slow boring play and unnecessary back passes which frustrate people.
Punter
Roar Rookie
Well considering, we have only really had 1 Harry Kewell in 140 years of football in this country, I wouldn't hold your breath kanggas. However, the talk about Teague is he is something special, but only time will tell.
AndyAdelaide
Roar Rookie
all a league clubs should take note of our approach with youth, stop recycling the same players every year (cough fitzgerald cough) there are so many raw talented kids that aren't being given a go. I have the pleasure of being able to watch at least one of AU's training every week and have seen the toure boys tear it up (even the third one who gloriously double nutmegged jakobsen last week). The amount of talented african boys in the local leagues is absurd. Melbourne has a high african population, why arent there more african australian players coming out of melbourne? they are the future of australian football!!!
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
Oh and you can possibly chuck McGree into that lot... ever seen a grown man weep tears of joy
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
Chris if we have a fully fit squad with Macca, Taggart, Arzani, Nabbout, Mabil, Irvine, Boyle, Mooy, Rogic etc bring it on. And if young Al Hassan Toure is eventually added….stuff me’ mushrooms, it’s freakin’ Christmas!!!
Will
Guest
Unfortunately Aussie football is too ignorant of the game around the world, we have got good coaches here but the world is an oyster and the people here especially the former players and coaches thought they were beneath that to use more knowledge when the opportunity came. Japan took that approach in learning from the Brazilians, German and French coaches look how far their game has come, now they learning from Ange! We had former dutch coaches who were largely experienced youth coaches who came with the new youth development changes 10 years ago, but the people within the game choose to ignore them thinking they were frauds and imposters looking for a pay check and not give them credit for pioneering a new wave of Australian youth that is the most technical advanced youth we have had in a long time. Sums up the immaturity really.
chris
Guest
FIL you are bang on. There is no feeling like watching an Australian on the world stage bringing success. The world is watching, and there you have an Australian doing the country proud. Achieving at the highest possible level. We have individuals that do this at the Olympics and world titles. In team sports, only one team does this and that is the socceroos.
chris
Guest
At no point have i ever said that people who follow league or AFL or whatever will suddenly flock to football when msm keels over. The main gist of what I've been saying is that the msm disproportionately covers sports, not necessarily based on their popularity, but is based on what their business model dictates. Hence, channel 7 with lots of breathless reporting on AFL (in Sydney) when most people couldnt give a rats about it. Thats fine, they can do whatever they like. But what is not fine is running down football, just because they believe that it is in their best interests to keep football lowly and in its place. Hope that clears things up for you.
Kanggas2
Roar Rookie
I hope there are s next Harry Kewell among those players
Kanggas2
Roar Rookie
Apparently Talay can coach but Fowler can’t , even though they are one win apart . It’s all in the eye of the beholder
Kanggas2
Roar Rookie
The conversation every week from you is everything will be better in the future because either msm dies out or nrl has no players left , keeps the mentality on other sports to keel over . It doesn’t work like that . 99 percent of nrl people would be very happy with a successful well attended A league and would not feel threatened. Maybe in the future, sport might be irrelevant as tv product , or gsoccer might have a world club league and we all support Australia United.
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
My old boy would rate you highly. He often describes football as "Chess on Grass". He says that if you don't have the mind for the strategy and the tactics that come with football you are free to go and watchtch something mindless. Each to their own. Personally if football does not have excitement the what about the Asian Cup Final we won against South Korea, I was at that game and it was a cracker, and the Australia v Croatia gamr at the 06 WC, not to mention Timmy's performance v Japan in the opener, how about the A-League final where Bris-Vegas came from behind and won with a screamer from big Eric Paartalu. There have been plenty of awesome games and there are plenty still to come
chris
Guest
Kangas stop raving on. My comment was in relation to the comment re football not being treated seriously by the msm. Its the same in the US (also relevant to my response to Waz who mentioned the US market) in that they have vested interests in other sports. And the extinct comment was in relation to the msm platforms of free to air. Maybe if you just concentrated on watching a game or 2 instead of tilting at windmills with me you might not make such silly statements.
Punter
Roar Rookie
I'm not sure you looking too hard Kanggas, as I said SFC not liked on here so I can understand your naive comment. I think the world know more about SFC then you give them credit for, certainly more then any NRL club. Lets look at some facts SFC is 10 pts clear at top of the table with 2 games in hand, so 1st team is pretty stable. However, the SFC just won the Youth League with some wonderfully gifted players. Some of the young players who have had a run in the A-League are Joel King, a very good run, Harry Van der Saag, a strong solid defender, Luke Ivanovic, a couple of goals & assists & there was Ryan Teague, who is the u17 Joeys capt, had a couple of runs in A-League & now signed for Famalicão in the Portuguese Primeira Liga. There is a player who was a bit of a star in the NYL in Marco Tilio, who has sat on bench for some experience.
Kanggas2
Roar Rookie
Hermes I think the complex is all yours
Kanggas2
Roar Rookie
Apparently Brisbane roar were getting the wooden spoon this year ... mmmm.
Kanggas2
Roar Rookie
“worse still a SFC fan, the world hates Us” The world has not heard of Sydney fc , so can hardly hate you . Funny how this article is about young footballers in the a league . Sydney fc Newcastle and Nsw in general is not doing enough in this regard .
Punter
Roar Rookie
I think so too Mid, not sure how this article the A-League kids became another Roar article about a team running a poor 6th. But then I come from Sydney & worse still a SFC fan, the world hates us & we are on top & playing great football, both attack & defence. As far as kids, as many as mentioned very impressed with D’Arrigo especially, but lots of young kids running around.
Fadida
Roar Rookie
LH answers for Waz. Mmm