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United must look to Asia

May 04, 2015
Iraqi captain Younis Mahmoud: a good fit for Adelaide United?

Iraqi captain Younis Mahmoud: a good fit for Adelaide United?

Adelaide United is likely to participate in the 2016 Asian Champions League and, if it does, the campaign will begin in February while the 2015-16 A-League season is in full swing.

Only $7.50 outsider Melbourne City can deny Adelaide seeing Asian competition again. If City defeats crosstown rival Melbourne Victory on Friday night and then wins the A-League grand final on 17 May, United will miss out on its first ACL appearance since 2012.

The Reds will probably enter the ACL in its sudden death play-off round but would be favoured against most of the potential opponents. Winning the play-off would take United to the group stage for another six matches against top Asian teams.

If United manages to win the A-League grand final, it goes straight to the ACL group stage and avoids the play-off.

Why does this matter now? Qualification isn’t certain yet and the 2016 ACL won’t start for nine months.

The answer is that the ACL and the A-League have different rules for foreigners. While an A-League club can have up to five overseas players, the ACL only allows teams to have three – a fourth is permitted if the player is from another Asian country.

Earlier this year I argued against a move to lower the number of overseas players allowed at A-League clubs and my view hasn’t changed.

Nevertheless, if Australian teams in Asian competition choose to have five non-Asian overseas players, they will need to omit two squad members when they play in the ACL.

Adelaide United currently has four Spaniards and an Argentine in its squad.

And here’s why the club has to think about next year’s Asian competition immediately: it has already re-signed four of its five foreigners for next season – Marcelo Carrusca, Sergio Cirio, Isaías Sánchez and Pablo Sánchez (so those players’ contracts take them beyond the beginning of the 2016 ACL).

The odd man out is Miguel Palanca who came to Adelaide in January on loan from Spanish second division club Numancia.

Ah Palanca. A fortnight ago most of United’s fans would have been happy to see him return to Spain after an underwhelming handful of A-League appearances.

Then on Anzac Day he was in the starting line up against Melbourne City and starred in a convincing 4-1 win.

On Friday night he came off the bench and brilliantly set up Awer Mabil’s winning goal against Brisbane.

But should the club sign Palanca for 2015/16 and just accept that two of its overseas players will have siestas while the rest of the squad is competing in Asia?

Surely not.

Two members of United's Spanish collective -Pablo Sanchez (left) and Miguel Palanca. AAP photo

Two members of United’s Spanish contingent – Pablo Sanchez (left) and Miguel Palanca. AAP photo

Adelaide United could just go with four foreigners next season, so only one has to be left out if the club plays in the ACL, but why not also explore the other option – signing an Asian?

It’s easier said than done, particularly as United may not have much room in its salary cap. Only three senior players haven’t been re-signed for 2015/16: Nigel Boogaard (who will move to Newcastle), Cameron Watson and Palanca.

Marquee players’ salaries are exempt from the cap but that option isn’t open because United is retaining Marcelo Carrusca as its international marquee for next season.

Still, a few enquiries around the region might help us find a top player the club can afford.

Our Catalan overlords could start by checking the status of an Asian player in Spain.

A few years ago some observers were declaring that Iran’s Karim Ansarifard was one of the world’s best young talents. Now 25, Ansarifard is with Osasuna in Spain’s second division and it’s fair to say he hasn’t yet lived up to the hype.

At his age and with his ability, Ansarifard, a forward, could star in the A-League. Perhaps he could come on loan like Palanca did.

The young Iranian might think it’s out of the question. Osasuna might think it’s out of the question. But it costs nothing to ask.

Australian fans are more familiar with Iraqi legend Younis Mahmoud who captained his nation to victory in the Asian Cup in 2007. He also played in that tournament in Australia early this year (despite not having a club at the time) and scored twice in Iraq’s superb run to the semi-finals.

Mahmoud is 32 so he still has something to offer. And he has a magnificent goal scoring record for clubs and country.

During this year’s Asian Cup Mahmoud said he was interested in playing in the A-League and it seemed his most likely destination would be Sydney FC where he’d join his compatriot Ali Abbas.

It looks like nothing came of it. So give him a call.

And though the leagues in China, Japan and South Korea are much richer than ours, that doesn’t mean their players are off-limits (as Western Sydney showed by signing two players from leading Japanese clubs earlier this year).

Even if Adelaide United misses out on the ACL group stage, there is still potentially plenty of value in looking to Asia both on and off the field.

At this year’s Asian Cup, crowds exceeded expectations because organisers underestimated how emphatically local Asian communities would embrace the tournament.

A club’s main motivation in signing players should always be assembling the best possible squad.

But it doesn’t hurt to explore what other benefits potential signings may bring.

Paul Marcuccitti’s soccer column is published in InDaily on Mondays. He is a co-presenter of 5RTI’s Soccer on 531 program which can be heard from 11am on Saturdays.

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