When season eight of the A-League started it was hard to tell if the FFA was launching a new season or, with the arrival of Alessandro Del Piero, Shinji Ono and Emile Heskey, a new marquee reality show.
The imports were anointed ‘the biggest names’ to play in our infant competition by fawning fanboys and a gushing media, who exposed us to travesties like ‘Del Piero Cam’ and mindless questions about the awe in which the news of the signings would be greeted in Europe.
For too long the A-League has placed too much emphasis on attracting ‘names’ as imports or marquees, as opposed to players who can produce sustained quality on the pitch.
There are some positive signs though. In the off season Perth Glory, Adelaide United and Melbourne Victory have signed Andy Keogh (28), Isaias (27) and Daniel Georgievski (a 26-year-old who was born in Australia but has spent his career in Europe) respectively and with this we may hopefully see a recalibration of scouting resources across the league.
While these three may or may not be the next Thomas Broich, Carlos Hernandez or Sergio Van Dijk, their arrivals should encourage other clubs to look hard for talented players with resources they’d usually use for older marquees. Keogh, Isaias and Georgeievski may not be household names but that means they can make a name for themselves in this league rather than use their reputation to get away with subpar performances.
Of course, it’s hard to dispute the credentials of players like Del Piero nor can you deny the exposure and branding leverage they give the league (for example, in a bar in Naples in 2013 one gentleman told me he was watching “Syd-a-nee effa-see” highlights every week to see how Alessandro got on). But the reality is that simple statistics suggest A-League clubs should not use attention-grabbing marquee signings and international imports anymore. And it is debatable whether they should have in the past.
When comparing the basic numbers of age, appearances, goals and seasons played in the league of arguably the seven biggest marquee players against the seven most talented lesser-known imports, the numbers are telling.
Robbie Fowler, Dwight Yorke, Juninho, William Gallas, Del Piero, Heskey and Ono came to the A-League at an average age of 34, and averaged 35 appearances across 1.7 seasons.
Broich, Fred, Hernandez, Besart Berisha, Stein Huysegems, Sergio Van Dijk and Marcos Flores joined the league at an average of 26, and made an average of 87 appearances across 3.4 seasons. The marquee men scored an average of a goal every 3.6 games while the lesser known players go at a goal every 3.3 games, which they’ve had to maintain over a longer period of time.
Keogh, Isias and Georgievski are players in the middle of their careers. They have not come here to have an impact on the size of the league (whatever that means), they have come to play football and earn a living at what is considered to be a footballer’s optimum age.
We have seen in the past how well researched imports can startle A-League fans and those who loved Fred, Hernandez and Broich should have been excited when Melbourne Heart were bought by Manchester City. The network of scouts at the football conglomerate’s disposal has been repeatedly championed. Disappointingly all we have been presented are ageing ‘buzz’ players Damien Duff (35), Robert Koren (33) and David Villa (32). The latter’s value is undermined by only having a temporary stint.
City’s international faces and marquees may meet a money spinning agenda but hopefully real football fans can see through these signings, and demand Manchester City and the FFA foster a more thoughtful standard of imports in the future. Duff, Koren and Villa are not at an age where they can play at a high-standard for five or six years, helping develop younger players over the long-term.
To argue the Del Pieros, Duffs, Fowlers and Onos will attract the better players this piece calls for is incorrect too. Broich and Berisha have enriched the A-League but they were willing to come to Australia before Del Piero or Heskey had touched down.
The league could take a big step forward if clubs put the scouting and negotiating skills usually reserved for impressing football’s elderly into attracting those eager to advance their careers.
After all, what’s better for Australia football? A domestic league with surprising quality on the field or an impressive ability to generate buzz off it?
