The world game, by its very nature, offers a global smorgasbord for Australian coaches and club chairmen as they look to replenish their playing lists, replace key players who have quit for Europe or fill
a glaring gap for that attacking left-sided player they have never quite managed to find.
Of course it’s easier in Europe than Australia: freedom of movement within the EU, no “tyranny of distance’’ forcing players to uproot their families and the chance to play for a smaller club and the chance to be picked up by a bigger club.
Still, Australia is not without its attractions. A short summer season – not so good for up and coming youngsters but ideal for ageing players who have spent the bulk of their careers at higher levels overseas.
A good climate – even down here in Melbourne, where the winters, although scorned by those in sunnier climes up along the coast, are nothing compared to the freezing conditions players face in the UK and most of northern Europe.
And, vitally important, political stability – both in the politics with a capital “P” sense of federal and state government, and with a lower case “p”, as in the viability of the clubs and the certainty that wages will be paid.
Yet with all the world to choose from most clubs have been rather conservative with their approach and have focused on Brazilians.
We have seen some notable successes here, but we have seen an awful lot of duds too. For every Fred – recruited as one of a trio from Rio by Melbourne Victory pair Ernie Merrick and Gary Cole – there has been a Cleberson, Claudinho, Felipe or a Denni at Newcastle.
Even Juninho, the highest credentialled player ever to come here – he was, after all, a World Cup winner – was hardly a rip roaring success.
Britain has proved a mixed recruiting ground, better, in some ways, for the young Australians who have come back here to relaunch their careers – think Ruben Zadkovich and Nick Ward – than for seasoned professionals, although Dwight Yorke and Scotsman Grant Brebner were clear exceptions.
Merrick and Cole went in search of a fresh paradigm last season and picked up Costa Rican international Carlos Hernandez. A player with terrific touch and talent, Hernandez was something of a disappointment when marked over the whole season. He arrived recovering from injury and overweight, struggled for fitness and took much of the season to hit his straps. But when he did he showed plenty to suggest Victory has again unearthed a promising source of talent. In fact they seem set to mine that seam further, having been linked to a deal for another Tico international, midfielder “Pupy’’ Lopez.
The ACL is another rich source of potential recruits. Much was made, following the Asian Cup last year, of the availability of relatively cheap but exciting Thai, Indonesia, Uzbek and even Vietnamese talent. Little was done after that tournament, but with further exposure to the region Melbourne Victory has again proved itself one of the more adventurous clubs, signing a striker whose goal against them arguably did more to unhinge their campaign than any other.
Most pundits expected Victory to make short work of Thai club FC Chonburi, but the Thai champions beat them 3-1 in Bangkok in mid-March. Brazilian striker Fabiano, a tall, rangy, powerful front man, scored the first goal, and also got one in the return match against Melbourne at Telstra Dome in late May.
If they meet at any time in the near future Fabiano will be hoping the boot is on the other foot, having signed for Victory after the final ACL game.
He may well not be the last player from Thailand to come – if only clubs could rid themselves of their Brazilian fixations.
This column appeared in the August edition of Australian FourFourTwo
a glaring gap for that attacking left-sided player they have never quite managed to find.
Of course it’s easier in Europe than Australia: freedom of movement within the EU, no “tyranny of distance’’ forcing players to uproot their families and the chance to play for a smaller club and the chance to be picked up by a bigger club.
Still, Australia is not without its attractions. A short summer season – not so good for up and coming youngsters but ideal for ageing players who have spent the bulk of their careers at higher levels overseas.
A good climate – even down here in Melbourne, where the winters, although scorned by those in sunnier climes up along the coast, are nothing compared to the freezing conditions players face in the UK and most of northern Europe.
And, vitally important, political stability – both in the politics with a capital “P” sense of federal and state government, and with a lower case “p”, as in the viability of the clubs and the certainty that wages will be paid.
Yet with all the world to choose from most clubs have been rather conservative with their approach and have focused on Brazilians.
We have seen some notable successes here, but we have seen an awful lot of duds too. For every Fred – recruited as one of a trio from Rio by Melbourne Victory pair Ernie Merrick and Gary Cole – there has been a Cleberson, Claudinho, Felipe or a Denni at Newcastle.
Even Juninho, the highest credentialled player ever to come here – he was, after all, a World Cup winner – was hardly a rip roaring success.
Britain has proved a mixed recruiting ground, better, in some ways, for the young Australians who have come back here to relaunch their careers – think Ruben Zadkovich and Nick Ward – than for seasoned professionals, although Dwight Yorke and Scotsman Grant Brebner were clear exceptions.
Merrick and Cole went in search of a fresh paradigm last season and picked up Costa Rican international Carlos Hernandez. A player with terrific touch and talent, Hernandez was something of a disappointment when marked over the whole season. He arrived recovering from injury and overweight, struggled for fitness and took much of the season to hit his straps. But when he did he showed plenty to suggest Victory has again unearthed a promising source of talent. In fact they seem set to mine that seam further, having been linked to a deal for another Tico international, midfielder “Pupy’’ Lopez.
The ACL is another rich source of potential recruits. Much was made, following the Asian Cup last year, of the availability of relatively cheap but exciting Thai, Indonesia, Uzbek and even Vietnamese talent. Little was done after that tournament, but with further exposure to the region Melbourne Victory has again proved itself one of the more adventurous clubs, signing a striker whose goal against them arguably did more to unhinge their campaign than any other.
Most pundits expected Victory to make short work of Thai club FC Chonburi, but the Thai champions beat them 3-1 in Bangkok in mid-March. Brazilian striker Fabiano, a tall, rangy, powerful front man, scored the first goal, and also got one in the return match against Melbourne at Telstra Dome in late May.
If they meet at any time in the near future Fabiano will be hoping the boot is on the other foot, having signed for Victory after the final ACL game.
He may well not be the last player from Thailand to come – if only clubs could rid themselves of their Brazilian fixations.
This column appeared in the August edition of Australian FourFourTwo
