Tim Cahill’s frank assessment of the Hyundai A-League as a “step backwards” is hardly a ringing endorsement. Should we expect a little more diplomacy from a Qantas Socceroo?
Tim Cahill-s frank assessment of the Hyundai A-League as a “step backwards” is hardly a ringing endorsement of our local competition but whatever your opinion of the A-League, surely we might expect a little more diplomacy from a Qantas Socceroo?
As I wrote last week, Cahill-s decision to sign for the New York Red Bulls was the right move for him.
We can-t deny the MLS is stronger than the A-League, that Cahill is still much too good a player to return to Australia just yet and that no local club ever had a chance of signing him.
The switch will ensure he continues to play to a standard and in an environment that will keep him in excellent condition for the national team.
But Tim-s assessment of our local league was implicit in his decision to head to the States; stating it explicitly will cause a stir, no matter many people actually agree with him. And while we can say that – should he?
Cahill is one of our most talented, honest and committed footballers and we-re proud to call him a Socceroo but as one of our most senior representatives, this probably wasn-t his smartest statement ever:
“Moving to the A-League, in all fairness, would have been a step backwards. No disrespect, but I still want to play at a high level, there-s still another World Cup for me to play, to qualify for with Australia.
“I didn-t speak to any A-League clubs and it was never in my plans.”
Tim, Tim, Tim… Couldn-t you have just left it unsaid? If the A-League asked you if its arse looked big in these jeans, what would you say?
Personally, I have no problem with his appraisal; as I suggested in my previous blog, I actually agree with him.
But couldn-t he have buttered us up a bit more? A little bit of sugar and all that? Perhaps just saying, “It wasn-t the right time for me” might have worked better.
What do you think of Tim-s comments? Were they fair? Was it bad judgement from a senior Socceroo? Or is it a non-issue, one we should just take it on the chin and move on?
Either way, if Tim comes to your place for dinner, you better hope your soufflé is up to scratch…
The views expressed in this article are purely those of the author and do not reflect those of FFA.
