bazza
September 17th, 2006, 12:44 PM
SYDNEY FC's likely acquisition of Benito Carbone as a marquee player signals a step forward in A-League player recruitment.
At 35, Carbone has much to prove in relation to fitness and motivation but, in principle, he is an example of the type of player the league should be recruiting.
He has a very high technical ability, a track record with Serie A club Inter Milan and should have much to offer our young players.
In looking to supplement Australian talent with imported players, the A-League needs to be highly selective, both with the quality of the player and their cultural football background.
The overriding principle should be that Australia should import coaches and players whom we wish to emulate. In other words, we must buy what we want to become.
So, what do we want to become? What are our critical deficiencies that will determine international success for which we must look abroad?
The answers are complex and should be compiled by a national technical committee, but generally we need players with a technical level above our own, preferably with the ability to excite the fans and provide an element of flair and style to our league.
Naturally, superstars such as Drogba, Kaka, Emerson, Ruud van Nistlerooy and Ronaldinho are out of our price range. However, last year Brazil exported about 800 players, plenty of whom, like Alessandro at Melbourne Victory, would be a pleasure to watch and a profoundly positive influence on our kids.
Much of your reaction to this point of view will centre on the style of football you enjoy. For me, the recent Champions League games highlighted both where we need to go and where we have been.
Last Wednesday, Barcelona - a wondrous melange of Brazilian, French, Portuguese, Spanish and Dutch influences - played some of the most fluent, creative and beautiful football seen for years in Europe in slaying Levski Sofia 5-0.
The following day, Manchester United and Celtic played a thrilling and passionate - though not technically sound - match in which both sides struggled to keep the ball at breakneck speed.
Barcelona kept the ball for long periods - one- and two-touch circulation around the pitch for up to 40 or 50 passes - whereas Celtic struggled to string together more than a handful before losing possession.
In Australia, we have a lot of Celtic, and too little Barca.
In the absence of a strategic policy at league level, A-League clubs have imported a mixed bag of players, in both quality and origin.
Standouts last season were from Asia, particularly Queensland Roar's Hyuk-Su Seo and Adelaide United's Shengqing Qu - two gifted players who contributed significantly to the technical level of their teams. This year Alessandro at Melbourne Victory is a revelation for lovers of skilful and creative football.
Similarly, Carbone has the pedigree to add an element of brilliance to Sydney FC and the A-League.
I hope he lives up to the promise and, like Alessandro, demonstrates why we need to focus our recruitment policy on these types of players in coming years
http://www.smh.com.au/news/football/we-must-choose-skilful-stars-to-make-our-game-beautiful/2006/09/16/1158334730109.html
At 35, Carbone has much to prove in relation to fitness and motivation but, in principle, he is an example of the type of player the league should be recruiting.
He has a very high technical ability, a track record with Serie A club Inter Milan and should have much to offer our young players.
In looking to supplement Australian talent with imported players, the A-League needs to be highly selective, both with the quality of the player and their cultural football background.
The overriding principle should be that Australia should import coaches and players whom we wish to emulate. In other words, we must buy what we want to become.
So, what do we want to become? What are our critical deficiencies that will determine international success for which we must look abroad?
The answers are complex and should be compiled by a national technical committee, but generally we need players with a technical level above our own, preferably with the ability to excite the fans and provide an element of flair and style to our league.
Naturally, superstars such as Drogba, Kaka, Emerson, Ruud van Nistlerooy and Ronaldinho are out of our price range. However, last year Brazil exported about 800 players, plenty of whom, like Alessandro at Melbourne Victory, would be a pleasure to watch and a profoundly positive influence on our kids.
Much of your reaction to this point of view will centre on the style of football you enjoy. For me, the recent Champions League games highlighted both where we need to go and where we have been.
Last Wednesday, Barcelona - a wondrous melange of Brazilian, French, Portuguese, Spanish and Dutch influences - played some of the most fluent, creative and beautiful football seen for years in Europe in slaying Levski Sofia 5-0.
The following day, Manchester United and Celtic played a thrilling and passionate - though not technically sound - match in which both sides struggled to keep the ball at breakneck speed.
Barcelona kept the ball for long periods - one- and two-touch circulation around the pitch for up to 40 or 50 passes - whereas Celtic struggled to string together more than a handful before losing possession.
In Australia, we have a lot of Celtic, and too little Barca.
In the absence of a strategic policy at league level, A-League clubs have imported a mixed bag of players, in both quality and origin.
Standouts last season were from Asia, particularly Queensland Roar's Hyuk-Su Seo and Adelaide United's Shengqing Qu - two gifted players who contributed significantly to the technical level of their teams. This year Alessandro at Melbourne Victory is a revelation for lovers of skilful and creative football.
Similarly, Carbone has the pedigree to add an element of brilliance to Sydney FC and the A-League.
I hope he lives up to the promise and, like Alessandro, demonstrates why we need to focus our recruitment policy on these types of players in coming years
http://www.smh.com.au/news/football/we-must-choose-skilful-stars-to-make-our-game-beautiful/2006/09/16/1158334730109.html