Club vs Country, A-League Style

Miron was never going to win the battle to hold onto Tahj Minniecon for Gold Coast's preseason. The FFA have made it clear in the past it will not tolerate clubs attempts to withhold players from international commitments and again they have ensured that Minniecon is in the squad for the South American camp in Argentina.

Overall I agree with the FFA stance that country commitments should hold sway over club duties but there is a serious concern here that the FFA is taking advantage of the agreements to release players they have inserted into the clubs licences.

Should a lead up preparation game really hold sway over club commitments for young players that are vying for first team positions. And if this is a serious camp, that will be critical to the preparation and selection of the Under 20 squad for the Youth World Camp, there seems to be a few names missing from the squad. No Dean Bouzanis, James Holland, Oliver Bozanic, Ryan Grant, Tommy Oar & Robert Stambolziev. Of these the biggest surprises are Ryan Grant and Tommy Oar, surely they are still in the mix for selection, especially considering some of the names that have made the list.

Then there are the big three, why have Bouzanis, Holland and Bozanic been left out of the squad. If their clubs have denied them permission to join the camp (as is their right as this does not occur over FIFA approved dates), you can hardly blame the A-league clubs for feeling hard done by. If they also want to keep a player/s who will be critical to their first team plans for the year they are left with little choice but to go cap in hand to the FFA but it appears no-one is listening there.

It would be ironic indeed if Minniecon, Danning, DeVere, Hoffman, Jurman & Nichols lose their A-league starting spots as their managers feel that they haven’t been involved enough in pre-season and opt for another player who has taken their place while away in camp. Minniecon and Danning are both in the middle of battles with more experienced players for starting berths at their respective teams.

On the weekend Danning once again showed why he is a name to watch this year but with him absent for the last few weeks in the lead up to the opening match, Lavicka may look elsewhere for that starting spot and use him off the bench. I don’t think warming the pine will help his or Minniecon's development much and the FFA should be asking themselves whether the players long term development wouldn’t be better served with their clubs.

18 Days to Season V
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