Marquee Marq

Last week, Brazil heralded the fact that there are now less than 1000 days until the start of the 2014 World Cup. A long way off I'm sure you'll agree - just as well given the progress of some of the Brazilian plans - but despite this, here in Australia they have already begun the long road to Rio. Last month the Socceroo's scraped past a better than given credit for Thailand and in the next few weeks they face puntastic Oman. 'Oh Man am I looking forward to that game', etc.

Much like the eventually riot-removed England v Holland friendly, the Oman game is rather awkwardly scheduled for the Tuesday after the opening weekend of the 2011-12 A League campaign. Annoying, sure, but FIFA set their calendar way in advance so really the A League have brought it upon themselves, suggesting a fair degree of complicity/acceptance.

Now, here's where the problems begin.

This Australian Winter has seen two very significant pieces of business on the transfer front, with the arrival into Australian football of Aussie superstars Brett Emerton and Harry Kewell. They have brought a large amount of attention and exposure with them - vital, life-giving attention that the A League desperately needs to progress. This has been further increased with the fact that they have signed for Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory respectively. Although neither had particularly strong campaigns last year, and without doubt the stand out team in this competition is the all-conquering Brisbane Roar, the signings were a perfect fit for player and club, and the league in general. Sydney and Melbourne are the two biggest cities in this country. Conveniently, inevitably, they lean towards hating each other. The rivalry has existed for around a hundred years and even resulted in the creation of pointless nowhereville capital city Canberra being planned and built roughly halfway between the two, in a move akin to putting a mouse between two growling bulldogs and asking the mouse to shut the pair up. O Man that mouse never stood a chance.

Further to this, both clubs have enjoyed championship winning campaigns in recent years so they have the pedigree there to suggest they can make a charge at the top of the table. All in all, it is an exciting move which has everyone looking forward to the start of the season. Imagine the delight (or if I'm being cynical the crafty scheduling) when the first fixture thrown up to kick off the entire campaign was none other than Melbourne Victory v Sydney FC, down in Victoria. You Beaut. Perfect timing, the best possible way to capture the interest and pit your two marquee superstars against each other right from the off. With the game coming a week after the climax of the NRL and AFL seasons, the opportunity to grab some new spectators looking for a sporting fix is a dream come true for league promoters and organisers.

Now, remember I mentioned problems? Right, well - as if the Oman fixture on the Tuesday was not awkward enough, the genii (plural of genius, geniuses) behind the FFA have chucked in a friendly in awesome Canberra for the Friday. The night before the league's opening games. As if Canberra does not have enough on it's plate, you chuck this in the way to further rile the Sydney and Melbourne bulldogs. You've practically dipped the mouse in Pedigree Chum, geniuses...genii...wankers.

Pity poor Holger Osieck, coach of the national team, who must surely hate the fact that he is in this position. He has every right to call up the two stars and arguably an obligation and professional responsibility to do so. The unfortunate timing is not his fault and he would be remiss to jeopardise his team's chances of success by leaving out decent players.

However...

Surely to God, they will not relinquish the chance of a lifetime to boost the image and profile of the domestic game in order to put out the strongest side in a pointless friendly against Malaysia. It would be utter lunacy - the Victory Sydney clash with both the newbies playing is perfect - literally the precise fixture the league would pick as the opening game if they were allowed to. Get things off with a bang and then ride the wave. If it transpires that neither player is available due to their selection for international fixtures that, frankly, with almost three years until the tournament, no-one cares about; the people in charge want shooting.

I'm firmly with the clubs here. If you pay a hell of a lot of money for something, you are entitled to want to be able to use it and get the benefit from it. You don't want to buy a Ferrari only to be forced to loan it out and spend the big annual car parade driving your Skoda. Sure you get it back a week later, but the parade is over by then and who knows, it might even have a dent in it.
Incidentally if they do host a car parade they should call it Car-nival. Anyway.

The concept of 'marquee players' is clear and prevalent around the world - even in England clubs will have one eye on the marketability of any potential signing - but in the A League it is a clear and stated part of the policy. These big names are pivotal to the floating interest of the fans and none have been bigger than Daddy Cool and Emmo. It is vital that they are allowed to play in the most eagerly awaited A League clash in the short history of the competition, and if Australia care more about a friendly vs Malaysia than the health of their domestic league, then they may as well pull out of the race to the samba nation right now.