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Aussie Analysis: Has The Gamble Failed For The A-League Socceroos?
Goal.com's Chris Paraskevas wonders whether Culina and co. have done enough to justify their place in South Africa.
Nov 26, 2009 2:45:57 AM
When Jason Culina announced officially in January that he would end his European sojourn and join the A-League cause, it largely divided opinion.
The league’s crusaders, desperate to latch on to a notable Socceroo name that had so eluded the competition in its first four seasons, identified the decision as a sign of its growth.
Here was proof that the level of the competition had risen and that Australia manager Pim Verbeek’s famous quip about training in Europe being better than starting in the A-League was perhaps a little overblown.
Indeed, the timing could not have been more perfect, with Culina putting his faith in the league despite an impending World Cup.
It was essentially the biggest gesture of faith in the competition during its embryonic existence from player, coach or administrator.
Balancing the mild euphoria that met the announcement was the realisation that such a gesture of faith was a massive risk for both player and country; what if Culina’s game suffered and what would that consequently mean for the Socceroos?
Gamble | Has Culina's game regressed?
Culina had, after all, established himself as a key member of one of the biggest club sides in Europe during his four years at PSV Eindhoven.
Here was a man who wasn’t simply a fringe player at a second-tier English club – no disrespect to the Championship – but a seasoned veteran of the UEFA Champions League, who had developed into a vital part of the Socceroo system under both Guus Hiddink and Pim Verbeek.
Much of the player’s strength lies in his tactical understanding of the game, able to offer assistance to his teammates without producing the spectacular (his style of play has had its detractors in the past, who have wondered just what his contribution to the national team exactly is).
His is a subtle role but one that leaves little margin for error and relies upon professionalism and fitness.
Consequently, the question was whether the A-League – which still only offers 27 matches and finishes for most players in February – would be enough for Culina to sustain his sharpness and level of performance at international level.
Last Chance | Sterjovski will seek a January move
Typically, Verbeek was quick to cast doubt on the move for that very reason, though it will take some time to determine whether the fears are legitimate, with the World Cup to prove the ultimate test.
Until then, inferences can only be made by Culina’s body language and level of performance on the domestic scene, both of which have been unimpressive this season.
Calls for a more expressive style of football from the Dutch-educated midfielder have failed to materialize, his familiar figure often seen coming deep within a Gold Coast outfit that started with a cavalier brand of play before gradually regressing to something more functional.
The body language of the 29 year-old has been similarly worryingly, with the crowd crisis that recently enveloped the club clearly having taken its toll on the captain, despite a lively comeback performance against Sydney FC recently.
Low crowds coupled with a lack of attacking contribution give ammunition to those who doubted his return to Australia.
The plight of Culina’s fellow international teammates Mile Sterjovski, Chris Coyne and Jacob Burns has been similarly uncertain, with the trio having been omitted from Pim Verbeek’s squads on at least one occasion this season.
Admittedly, the latter duo are anything but first-choice Socceroos, with Burns normally not part of Verbeek’s squads at all.
But for Sterjovski in particular, a veteran of one World Cup, the situation is a tense one given his lack of goals from open play this season.
A slow start to the season for both he and Coyne would not have helped his international credentials, though the striker has begun to produce flashes of quality.
Coyne appears to have fallen down the pecking order as far as central defensive partners for Lucas Neill are concerned, with Craig Moore having maintained fitness at the Brisbane Roar and Leeds United defender Patrick Kisnorbo having worked his way into the Dutchman’s thinking.
The problem for the Glory trio is that there are alternative options for Verbeek in their respective positions, virtually all based in Europe.
It makes their predicted move away from the A-League in January crucial, though that may not be enough depending upon the form of their rival Socceroos.
Verbeek’s preference for his overseas chargers likely remains, which puts the domestic players at an immediate disadvantage.
Their respective lack of form has not helped their cause with South Africa barely six months away.
Chris Paraskevas, Goal.com
Get all the Australian football coverage you need on the Goal.com Australia homepage!
The league’s crusaders, desperate to latch on to a notable Socceroo name that had so eluded the competition in its first four seasons, identified the decision as a sign of its growth.
Here was proof that the level of the competition had risen and that Australia manager Pim Verbeek’s famous quip about training in Europe being better than starting in the A-League was perhaps a little overblown.
Indeed, the timing could not have been more perfect, with Culina putting his faith in the league despite an impending World Cup.
It was essentially the biggest gesture of faith in the competition during its embryonic existence from player, coach or administrator.
Balancing the mild euphoria that met the announcement was the realisation that such a gesture of faith was a massive risk for both player and country; what if Culina’s game suffered and what would that consequently mean for the Socceroos?
Gamble | Has Culina's game regressed?
Culina had, after all, established himself as a key member of one of the biggest club sides in Europe during his four years at PSV Eindhoven.
Here was a man who wasn’t simply a fringe player at a second-tier English club – no disrespect to the Championship – but a seasoned veteran of the UEFA Champions League, who had developed into a vital part of the Socceroo system under both Guus Hiddink and Pim Verbeek.
Much of the player’s strength lies in his tactical understanding of the game, able to offer assistance to his teammates without producing the spectacular (his style of play has had its detractors in the past, who have wondered just what his contribution to the national team exactly is).
His is a subtle role but one that leaves little margin for error and relies upon professionalism and fitness.
Consequently, the question was whether the A-League – which still only offers 27 matches and finishes for most players in February – would be enough for Culina to sustain his sharpness and level of performance at international level.
Last Chance | Sterjovski will seek a January move
Typically, Verbeek was quick to cast doubt on the move for that very reason, though it will take some time to determine whether the fears are legitimate, with the World Cup to prove the ultimate test.
Until then, inferences can only be made by Culina’s body language and level of performance on the domestic scene, both of which have been unimpressive this season.
Calls for a more expressive style of football from the Dutch-educated midfielder have failed to materialize, his familiar figure often seen coming deep within a Gold Coast outfit that started with a cavalier brand of play before gradually regressing to something more functional.
The body language of the 29 year-old has been similarly worryingly, with the crowd crisis that recently enveloped the club clearly having taken its toll on the captain, despite a lively comeback performance against Sydney FC recently.
Low crowds coupled with a lack of attacking contribution give ammunition to those who doubted his return to Australia.
The plight of Culina’s fellow international teammates Mile Sterjovski, Chris Coyne and Jacob Burns has been similarly uncertain, with the trio having been omitted from Pim Verbeek’s squads on at least one occasion this season.
Coyne | Has fallen down the pecking order
Admittedly, the latter duo are anything but first-choice Socceroos, with Burns normally not part of Verbeek’s squads at all.
But for Sterjovski in particular, a veteran of one World Cup, the situation is a tense one given his lack of goals from open play this season.
A slow start to the season for both he and Coyne would not have helped his international credentials, though the striker has begun to produce flashes of quality.
Coyne appears to have fallen down the pecking order as far as central defensive partners for Lucas Neill are concerned, with Craig Moore having maintained fitness at the Brisbane Roar and Leeds United defender Patrick Kisnorbo having worked his way into the Dutchman’s thinking.
The problem for the Glory trio is that there are alternative options for Verbeek in their respective positions, virtually all based in Europe.
It makes their predicted move away from the A-League in January crucial, though that may not be enough depending upon the form of their rival Socceroos.
Verbeek’s preference for his overseas chargers likely remains, which puts the domestic players at an immediate disadvantage.
Their respective lack of form has not helped their cause with South Africa barely six months away.
Chris Paraskevas, Goal.com
Get all the Australian football coverage you need on the Goal.com Australia homepage!
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