Post by brett on Oct 23, 2007 17:26:26 GMT 10
ALOISI SIGNING: THE BIGGEST COMPLIMENT
Brett Taylor
The signing of John Aloisi has come as a fantastic surprise for all Mariners fans. The admiration he will get from the three stands of Bluetongue Stadium will surpass what any other player receives.
But I think the real story lies in the feeling that is going the other way – from player to club. For a player like Aloisi to choose to sign with the Mariners over other A-League clubs is the best complement our club could be paid.
Let’s not muck around here. This IS the biggest signing in A-League history in terms of profile.
The best Aussies to have graced the A-League consist of the brigade of ex-Socceroos including Tony Vidmar, Craig Moore, Ned Zelic, Paul Okon, Tony Popovic, Kevin Muscat, Stan Lazaridis, Paul Agostino and Danny Tiatto; and the current crop of fringe representatives such as Archie Thompson, David Carney, Nick Carle, Michael Beauchamp and Mark Milligan.
The old boys mentioned have various participation levels across the three big ticket Socceroo events since the A-League’s inception: Uruguay, the World Cup and the Asian Cup. Some were at none. Johnny was there for all them, scoring in each.
Vidmar and Okon are probably the most legendary of the bunch, but they arrived having already farewelled the international stage and their best form. Johnny is a current Socceroo, aiming for the 2010 World Cup, and only two goals away from being Australia’s top scorer ever.
The likes of Milligan and Beauchamp are only now launching their Socceroo careers, based on good form in the A-League. Archie is the peak-age player, the pick of the bunch, but he lies directly below our Johnny on the striking pecking order for the national team.
Verdict: John Aloisi is the best (at time of playing) Australian player to appear in the A-League.
The international signings to make a splash in the A-League have seemed to consistently show up on Sydney FC’s door. And one could argue that Juninho, Dwight Yorke, Benito Carbone and Kazu have aspects of their careers that outshine Aloisi’s to differing extents.
Those in the football know will recognise that winning a World Cup or a ‘treble’ with Manchester United are highlights that Aloisi will probably never surpass.
But for the general public, the half-interested mob that the A-League must appeal to in Australia, what achievement could possibly outrank that sensational night of 16 November 2005? John Aloisi’s penalty and semi-nude sprint made people feel manically ecstatic and that emotion will not be quickly forgotten.
John Aloisi is no mug, and there is no suggestion that his value lies more in one fleeting moment than in a cosmopolitan career spanning the big three leagues of Europe.
But his sweet spot kick remains one of the most replayed moments in recent history, and its profile reaches far deeper into the mainstream than the fame of the Yorkes and Juninhos.
Given the current-ness of his international career and his much-welcome tendency to make people feel good (think Uruguay and goals against Japan at the World and Asian Cups), it is fair to say that Aloisi’s appeal exceeds that of any A-League import.
Verdict: John Aloisi is the highest profile player to appear in the A-League.
The only shame in our acquisition of John is that it comes as an injury replacement mid-season rather than as a full-blown marquee at the start of the campaign. The scale of it has been partially lost in the hustle bustle of the A-League.
Since the announcement on Saturday, a few clues have fallen out about the reasoning behind John’s decision to come to the sunny Central Coast rather than the sources of other rumoured interest: Sydney, Adelaide, Queensland or Wellington.
It appears that Tony Vidmar had kind words to say about our club from the inside, and brother Ross gave us a good rap as the past and present captain of two other A-League clubs.
And this is the crux of the thing. What could make a supporter more proud of its club than to have it receive such glowing recommendations from a Socceroo legend who plays at our club, an experienced A-Leaguer with a neutral view, and John Aloisi himself in the form of a signature!
The Mariners’ quest to be the centre of excellence for football in Australia is going from strength to strength. Good things keep happening to us because we are doing good things.
It was interesting to see Sydney FC chairman Andrew Kemeny in the media last week saying that Sydney FC had the potential to be the biggest football club from any code in Australia.
I don’t disagree, but the timing of the claim was strange given that Sydney is struggling on and off the pitch and is currently far from the biggest club in the A-League.
Back on the Coast, we’ve announced we want to be the best – if not the biggest. Aloisi’s arrival reinforces that sentiment. This is no longer wishful thinking – our ability to secure Aloisi is a raging endorsement that the people running our club are going about almost everything in exactly the right way.
These are golden days for the CCMFC.
As for the football, it is rather convenient that John Aloisi will be the saviour of our season.
It looks like Nik Mrdja has once again committed the crime of building up hopes and then dashing them…although you feel for him too. Three years have been taken away from his career and his road back to a second international cap is a long one.
We have seen time and again how the inclusion of Mrdja transforms our team from challengers into dominators. In front of a uber-solid defence and an all-star midfield, the missing piece has always been a strong, clinical frontman.
Sasho Petrovski has partially solved the goal-scoring woes with his poaching instincts but it is Aloisi’s power and class that will also mutate the way we play. Long gone will be the desperate long balls that have been required in the injury crisis of recent matches. The puzzle will be complete and the champagne football will ensue.
Golden days indeed.
Brett Taylor
The signing of John Aloisi has come as a fantastic surprise for all Mariners fans. The admiration he will get from the three stands of Bluetongue Stadium will surpass what any other player receives.
But I think the real story lies in the feeling that is going the other way – from player to club. For a player like Aloisi to choose to sign with the Mariners over other A-League clubs is the best complement our club could be paid.
Let’s not muck around here. This IS the biggest signing in A-League history in terms of profile.
The best Aussies to have graced the A-League consist of the brigade of ex-Socceroos including Tony Vidmar, Craig Moore, Ned Zelic, Paul Okon, Tony Popovic, Kevin Muscat, Stan Lazaridis, Paul Agostino and Danny Tiatto; and the current crop of fringe representatives such as Archie Thompson, David Carney, Nick Carle, Michael Beauchamp and Mark Milligan.
The old boys mentioned have various participation levels across the three big ticket Socceroo events since the A-League’s inception: Uruguay, the World Cup and the Asian Cup. Some were at none. Johnny was there for all them, scoring in each.
Vidmar and Okon are probably the most legendary of the bunch, but they arrived having already farewelled the international stage and their best form. Johnny is a current Socceroo, aiming for the 2010 World Cup, and only two goals away from being Australia’s top scorer ever.
The likes of Milligan and Beauchamp are only now launching their Socceroo careers, based on good form in the A-League. Archie is the peak-age player, the pick of the bunch, but he lies directly below our Johnny on the striking pecking order for the national team.
Verdict: John Aloisi is the best (at time of playing) Australian player to appear in the A-League.
The international signings to make a splash in the A-League have seemed to consistently show up on Sydney FC’s door. And one could argue that Juninho, Dwight Yorke, Benito Carbone and Kazu have aspects of their careers that outshine Aloisi’s to differing extents.
Those in the football know will recognise that winning a World Cup or a ‘treble’ with Manchester United are highlights that Aloisi will probably never surpass.
But for the general public, the half-interested mob that the A-League must appeal to in Australia, what achievement could possibly outrank that sensational night of 16 November 2005? John Aloisi’s penalty and semi-nude sprint made people feel manically ecstatic and that emotion will not be quickly forgotten.
John Aloisi is no mug, and there is no suggestion that his value lies more in one fleeting moment than in a cosmopolitan career spanning the big three leagues of Europe.
But his sweet spot kick remains one of the most replayed moments in recent history, and its profile reaches far deeper into the mainstream than the fame of the Yorkes and Juninhos.
Given the current-ness of his international career and his much-welcome tendency to make people feel good (think Uruguay and goals against Japan at the World and Asian Cups), it is fair to say that Aloisi’s appeal exceeds that of any A-League import.
Verdict: John Aloisi is the highest profile player to appear in the A-League.
The only shame in our acquisition of John is that it comes as an injury replacement mid-season rather than as a full-blown marquee at the start of the campaign. The scale of it has been partially lost in the hustle bustle of the A-League.
Since the announcement on Saturday, a few clues have fallen out about the reasoning behind John’s decision to come to the sunny Central Coast rather than the sources of other rumoured interest: Sydney, Adelaide, Queensland or Wellington.
It appears that Tony Vidmar had kind words to say about our club from the inside, and brother Ross gave us a good rap as the past and present captain of two other A-League clubs.
And this is the crux of the thing. What could make a supporter more proud of its club than to have it receive such glowing recommendations from a Socceroo legend who plays at our club, an experienced A-Leaguer with a neutral view, and John Aloisi himself in the form of a signature!
The Mariners’ quest to be the centre of excellence for football in Australia is going from strength to strength. Good things keep happening to us because we are doing good things.
It was interesting to see Sydney FC chairman Andrew Kemeny in the media last week saying that Sydney FC had the potential to be the biggest football club from any code in Australia.
I don’t disagree, but the timing of the claim was strange given that Sydney is struggling on and off the pitch and is currently far from the biggest club in the A-League.
Back on the Coast, we’ve announced we want to be the best – if not the biggest. Aloisi’s arrival reinforces that sentiment. This is no longer wishful thinking – our ability to secure Aloisi is a raging endorsement that the people running our club are going about almost everything in exactly the right way.
These are golden days for the CCMFC.
As for the football, it is rather convenient that John Aloisi will be the saviour of our season.
It looks like Nik Mrdja has once again committed the crime of building up hopes and then dashing them…although you feel for him too. Three years have been taken away from his career and his road back to a second international cap is a long one.
We have seen time and again how the inclusion of Mrdja transforms our team from challengers into dominators. In front of a uber-solid defence and an all-star midfield, the missing piece has always been a strong, clinical frontman.
Sasho Petrovski has partially solved the goal-scoring woes with his poaching instincts but it is Aloisi’s power and class that will also mutate the way we play. Long gone will be the desperate long balls that have been required in the injury crisis of recent matches. The puzzle will be complete and the champagne football will ensue.
Golden days indeed.
