Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Marquee Lite
Another interesting initiative from the FFA...but this one comes with plenty of relevant questions attached.
First, the old Sydney FC conflict of interest chestnut.
Frank Lowy, of course, remains in an obviously anomalous position in the Australian game, and the cynics have been laughing heartily (or grumbling mightily) today. The point being that two of the most coveted Olyroos still playing in Australia, Mark Bridge and Stuart Musialik, have recently signed lucrative contracts with...Sydney FC. Olyroo marquee? No worries.
One wonders whether Nikita Rukavytsya or Nathan Burns would have been offered rather more incentives not to head for the northern hemisphere had the "Junior Marquee" plan been announced just a little earlier. Issues of fairness certainly arise with the announcement.
And although at first hearing the initiative seems laudable, a few moments' reflection might lead one to conclude...is it really necessary?
If the cap is to be expanded, why the emphasis on youth players only? In terms of improving the quality of the competition, one of the critical issues to be addressed is attracting a better class of import; our recent experiences in the Asian Champions League have demonstrated this only too clearly (not to mention the disastrous spells down under of the likes of Mate Dragicevic, Brian Deane and Mario Jardel). Part of this is down to the judgement of the individual clubs, of course, but a smidgen of extra cash wouldn't go astray.
As it is, the cap has been raised significantly, but the clubs will effectively have no more to offer their foreign signings. They may even end up having even less than before, if they take up the Junior Marquee option (and there seems to be an implied moral imperative for them to do so) but find themselves in a straitened wage bill situation despite the cap.
And looking at it from another perspective, should 21-22-year-olds of close to international standard really be playing in the A-League?
I'm on awkward ground here, I realise, but in my view the developmental benefits accruing from a European move (as long as it's a sensible one...see here) would, from the player's own point of view, outweigh the supposed "consolidation" which David Davutovic's source alludes to. Please note: not for 17-18-year-olds such as James Holland, but for those with a couple of seasons of professional football already under their belt.
Artificially boosting the pay packets of the younger brigade might - yes, might - prove attractive to the punters (although, I would argue, not more so than acquiring a genuinely good foreign crowd-pleaser), but in the long term it could prove a developmental disadvantage.
The notion that there is some mad rush to Europe on the part of our younger stars is, in any case, a false one. In fact, the opportunities offered by the A-League have ensured that more youthful talent has remained in the country of late, as a brief glance at the places of employment of the 2008 Olyroos compared with the 2004 and 2000 cohorts would indicate.
First, the old Sydney FC conflict of interest chestnut.
Frank Lowy, of course, remains in an obviously anomalous position in the Australian game, and the cynics have been laughing heartily (or grumbling mightily) today. The point being that two of the most coveted Olyroos still playing in Australia, Mark Bridge and Stuart Musialik, have recently signed lucrative contracts with...Sydney FC. Olyroo marquee? No worries.
One wonders whether Nikita Rukavytsya or Nathan Burns would have been offered rather more incentives not to head for the northern hemisphere had the "Junior Marquee" plan been announced just a little earlier. Issues of fairness certainly arise with the announcement.
And although at first hearing the initiative seems laudable, a few moments' reflection might lead one to conclude...is it really necessary?
If the cap is to be expanded, why the emphasis on youth players only? In terms of improving the quality of the competition, one of the critical issues to be addressed is attracting a better class of import; our recent experiences in the Asian Champions League have demonstrated this only too clearly (not to mention the disastrous spells down under of the likes of Mate Dragicevic, Brian Deane and Mario Jardel). Part of this is down to the judgement of the individual clubs, of course, but a smidgen of extra cash wouldn't go astray.
As it is, the cap has been raised significantly, but the clubs will effectively have no more to offer their foreign signings. They may even end up having even less than before, if they take up the Junior Marquee option (and there seems to be an implied moral imperative for them to do so) but find themselves in a straitened wage bill situation despite the cap.
And looking at it from another perspective, should 21-22-year-olds of close to international standard really be playing in the A-League?
I'm on awkward ground here, I realise, but in my view the developmental benefits accruing from a European move (as long as it's a sensible one...see here) would, from the player's own point of view, outweigh the supposed "consolidation" which David Davutovic's source alludes to. Please note: not for 17-18-year-olds such as James Holland, but for those with a couple of seasons of professional football already under their belt.
Artificially boosting the pay packets of the younger brigade might - yes, might - prove attractive to the punters (although, I would argue, not more so than acquiring a genuinely good foreign crowd-pleaser), but in the long term it could prove a developmental disadvantage.
The notion that there is some mad rush to Europe on the part of our younger stars is, in any case, a false one. In fact, the opportunities offered by the A-League have ensured that more youthful talent has remained in the country of late, as a brief glance at the places of employment of the 2008 Olyroos compared with the 2004 and 2000 cohorts would indicate.
Comments:
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There could certainly be some developmental problems with the plan but that has to be weighed against the problems these players often face in Europe. IMO the damage should be limited as long as they can get a good move after the incentives run out. Where I disagree is on the idea of imports, theoretically good quality imports are important but every club has shown a complete inability to find any. I think the problem is a lack of scouting. The young guys though should be a much better prospect and hanging on to them for a few more years should increase the quality of the league. I know it's a problem with the clubs and not the league but what else can you do?
...Where I disagree is on the idea of imports, theoretically good quality imports are important but every club has shown a complete inability to find any. I think the problem is a lack of scouting....
No doubt. But a lack of imagination as well, I think...as I've remarked in the past, there's been this fixation on Brazilians recently, and the clubs don't seem to have looked much further afield.
I just can't see what's wrong with simply increasing the cap, and thereby giving the clubs the option to offer a greater incentive to a good non-marquee youngster (or two...interestingly this new initiative seems to refer to one U-23 player only, which is another issue in itself), while maintaining the possibility of attracting better imports.
No doubt. But a lack of imagination as well, I think...as I've remarked in the past, there's been this fixation on Brazilians recently, and the clubs don't seem to have looked much further afield.
I just can't see what's wrong with simply increasing the cap, and thereby giving the clubs the option to offer a greater incentive to a good non-marquee youngster (or two...interestingly this new initiative seems to refer to one U-23 player only, which is another issue in itself), while maintaining the possibility of attracting better imports.
The notion that there is some mad rush to Europe on the part of our younger stars is, in any case, a false one.
Unless your initials are RZ ;-)
Interesting piece. I'm not sure I understand your argument though. How does introducing the Junior Marquee option mean there's no more to offer foreign players? Are you saying that because clubs will feel obliged to use the junior option, they may actually short of cash for their other players?
Unless your initials are RZ ;-)
Interesting piece. I'm not sure I understand your argument though. How does introducing the Junior Marquee option mean there's no more to offer foreign players? Are you saying that because clubs will feel obliged to use the junior option, they may actually short of cash for their other players?
one cannot have a cap in a world game!
I would have thought that obvious to a successful captialist like Lowy but apperrently it isn't.
I would have thought that obvious to a successful captialist like Lowy but apperrently it isn't.
# posted by 
: April 16, 2008 at 1:21 PM
: April 16, 2008 at 1:21 PM
We need to accept that we are a nursery to the bigger and higher paid leagues. How to exploit this position or make the best of it is open to debate.
Our A league lacks professionalism in all aspects of the game. From training and coaching the players to administering the clubs there's a clear lack of quality, consistency and applied knowledge.
FFA are obviously trying to remedy this over a period of time with the new coaching syllabus and now a junior retention policy if I could call it that.
Salary caps are fine in theory but I've not noticed them work in any sport. It just unplugs the drain to let talent escape to higher paying leagues. It can impede success and reward the mediocre.
Our A league lacks professionalism in all aspects of the game. From training and coaching the players to administering the clubs there's a clear lack of quality, consistency and applied knowledge.
FFA are obviously trying to remedy this over a period of time with the new coaching syllabus and now a junior retention policy if I could call it that.
Salary caps are fine in theory but I've not noticed them work in any sport. It just unplugs the drain to let talent escape to higher paying leagues. It can impede success and reward the mediocre.
# posted by : April 16, 2008 at 2:38 PM
: April 16, 2008 at 2:38 PM
..."The notion that there is some mad rush to Europe on the part of our younger stars is, in any case, a false one."
Unless your initials are RZ ;-)...
:-)
Not half as good as he thinks he is.
...I'm not sure I understand your argument though. How does introducing the Junior Marquee option mean there's no more to offer foreign players? Are you saying that because clubs will feel obliged to use the junior option, they may actually short of cash for their other players?...
Basically, yeah.
They should have just raised the cap, IMO. This Junior Marquee thing sounds all progressive and yoof development-related and whatnot, but if you look at it objectively it's of doubtful benefit. And the timing is very bad, to be honest.
Unless your initials are RZ ;-)...
:-)
Not half as good as he thinks he is.
...I'm not sure I understand your argument though. How does introducing the Junior Marquee option mean there's no more to offer foreign players? Are you saying that because clubs will feel obliged to use the junior option, they may actually short of cash for their other players?...
Basically, yeah.
They should have just raised the cap, IMO. This Junior Marquee thing sounds all progressive and yoof development-related and whatnot, but if you look at it objectively it's of doubtful benefit. And the timing is very bad, to be honest.
...Our A league lacks professionalism in all aspects of the game. From training and coaching the players to administering the clubs there's a clear lack of quality, consistency and applied knowledge....
That you, Les?
Very unfair, IMHO. The administration is pretty good by world standards (light years ahead of the NSL, for one thing), and much of the harshest criticism of the coaching and training has come from pundits with a bloody great axe to grind.
...Salary caps are fine in theory but I've not noticed them work in any sport. It just unplugs the drain to let talent escape to higher paying leagues. It can impede success and reward the mediocre....
If not for the cap, I'd bet you that half the clubs would have gone bust by now.
The A-League has to crawl before it can walk, let alone run.
That you, Les?
Very unfair, IMHO. The administration is pretty good by world standards (light years ahead of the NSL, for one thing), and much of the harshest criticism of the coaching and training has come from pundits with a bloody great axe to grind.
...Salary caps are fine in theory but I've not noticed them work in any sport. It just unplugs the drain to let talent escape to higher paying leagues. It can impede success and reward the mediocre....
If not for the cap, I'd bet you that half the clubs would have gone bust by now.
The A-League has to crawl before it can walk, let alone run.
If not for the cap, I'd bet you that half the clubs would have gone bust by now.
The A-League has to crawl before it can walk, let alone run.
Spot on. North American Soccer League anyone? Everyone tried to be the Cosmos and it didn't work. Major League Soccer is not a bad model to follow; they still have a salary cap 13 years after starting.
The A-League has to crawl before it can walk, let alone run.
Spot on. North American Soccer League anyone? Everyone tried to be the Cosmos and it didn't work. Major League Soccer is not a bad model to follow; they still have a salary cap 13 years after starting.
It's a good point about there actually not being a massive demand overseas for our youngsters.
But that aside, I favour a gradually winding back of the cap (which is a necessary evil), and this is the sort of thing that succeeds in doing that without dismantling it in its entirety.
In my view, I reckon $150,000 is a little light on.
By the way, a bit off subject, but I've just written a piece in my blog about the AFL shunning Tassie, and why the FFA may end up doing the same.
http://pippinu.blogspot.com/
But that aside, I favour a gradually winding back of the cap (which is a necessary evil), and this is the sort of thing that succeeds in doing that without dismantling it in its entirety.
In my view, I reckon $150,000 is a little light on.
By the way, a bit off subject, but I've just written a piece in my blog about the AFL shunning Tassie, and why the FFA may end up doing the same.
http://pippinu.blogspot.com/
Werid concept introduced by the FFA really. I took a different tack on the idea. An extra $150,000 won't protect against foreign clubs, and the option can actually be used to poach the best players from other clubs.
The news article also outlines the PFA proposal which is much more sound IMO.
The news article also outlines the PFA proposal which is much more sound IMO.
# posted by : April 16, 2008 at 5:02 PM
: April 16, 2008 at 5:02 PM
"".Our A league lacks professionalism in all aspects of the game. From training and coaching the players to administering the clubs there's a clear lack of quality, consistency and applied knowledge....
That you, Les?
Very unfair, IMHO. The administration is pretty good by world standards (light years ahead of the NSL, for one thing), and much of the harshest criticism of the coaching and training has come from pundits with a bloody great axe to grind.""
Gosh mate
just because he states the truth, why do people always have to say "is that you fozzie?" or "is that you les?"
If people keep constantly burying their head in the sand we are going to get nowhere, dont you want our football development to progress.
You guys talk about just the money, wake up people.. the league is only 21 games long, it is dominated by over-physical players, and good skillful players cannot show theirs worths as result.. not to mention the poor facilities.. i dont care if we are a first world country in terms of footbaling facilities we are 3rd world..
it is not just money
That you, Les?
Very unfair, IMHO. The administration is pretty good by world standards (light years ahead of the NSL, for one thing), and much of the harshest criticism of the coaching and training has come from pundits with a bloody great axe to grind.""
Gosh mate
just because he states the truth, why do people always have to say "is that you fozzie?" or "is that you les?"
If people keep constantly burying their head in the sand we are going to get nowhere, dont you want our football development to progress.
You guys talk about just the money, wake up people.. the league is only 21 games long, it is dominated by over-physical players, and good skillful players cannot show theirs worths as result.. not to mention the poor facilities.. i dont care if we are a first world country in terms of footbaling facilities we are 3rd world..
it is not just money
# posted by : April 18, 2008 at 10:06 PM
: April 18, 2008 at 10:06 PM
hmmm, another point is, whats with all the control freak detail. side deals, youth marquees, real marquees.
why not set a salary cap, 1 number, and just leave the clubs to manage it?
at some point a club is gonna sell a young player for a decent amount of cash. then we`ll see more interest in player development.
clayton
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why not set a salary cap, 1 number, and just leave the clubs to manage it?
at some point a club is gonna sell a young player for a decent amount of cash. then we`ll see more interest in player development.
clayton
# posted by : April 20, 2008 at 12:23 PM
: April 20, 2008 at 12:23 PM << Home
