Matthew Hall
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Australian Football and The Thorny Devil Lizard
To survive, you have to make the most of every opportunity.
Somewhere in the dry dust of the Central Australian desert, way out past Alice Springs where some people think nothing ever happens, there's a thorny devil lizard enjoying a drink.
Such opportunity is rare under a big red sun where, at lizard level, there's nothing but rock and red dirt for as far as your beady eye can see.
Australians, we know, have had to master the art of adaptation to survive and the thorny devils are as Australian as you can possibly get.
Scientists have discovered that, rather than suck up water through its mouth, the thorny devil uses its legs as straws.
No drop is wasted. It takes a shower, moisturises its skin, and gets a drink all with one leg wiggle.
When the thorny devil gets a chance, he (or she) takes it and doesn't waste it.
Which is a roundabout way to bring us to one of the stories of the week.
The headline on British website SkySports.com was quite assured.
"Derby Sign Australian Ace", it roared.
WTF?
Had Derby, possibly the worst ever team in the history of the Premier League, pulled off a late season-saving transfer coup?
Was the mystery arrival Harry Kewell? Mark Viduka? Mark Bresciano? Even Archie Thompson?
Er, no.
Stand up, Ruben Zadkovich, the former Sydney utility known more as a jack of many trades than an ace.
To be fair, neither Zadkovich, Derby County, nor the journalist who tapped out the story, was responsible for the headline.
Instead, a pumped-up sub-editor didn't miss a chance to employ some easy alliteration, even if the real story is slightly more mundane than a spun press release.
Or is it?
As Sydney fans might recall, Zadkovich was off-loaded by John Kosmina at the end of last season, making around only 38 appearances since originally impressing then-coach Pierre Littbarski way back in 2005.
Few Sydney fans thought Kosmina made the wrong call and while Newcastle Jets were offered Zadkovich a deal that would have kept him in Australia, he tried his hand (and feet) elsewhere.
Zad (we can call him that, can't we?) made an impression at Crystal Palace, currently sixth in the Championship and a good bet for the Premier League play-offs but a two-day trial at Derby County, (heading in the opposite direction), ended with a contract offer.
Derby manager Paul Jewell, not an idiot, said: ""Ruben impressed us enormously in training. A number of clubs have been interested in him, and we wanted to make sure we didn't miss out on a fantastic talent."
Read that again.
Key words: Zadkovich "impressed us enormously"; he is a "fantastic talent".
Jewell's job is to talk up new signings, especially when his team is in the doldrums, but let's be clear, this is Ruben Zadkovich we're talking about not Ronaldinho.
So a player deemed not good enough for Sydney is championed as a fantastic talent by Derby.
That's not to say John Kosmina got it wrong.
Football is often subjective and one man's grimy grit is another's pearl, especially when your name is Paul Jewell.
Last week, I was at a boxing gym (I get around) where a former world champion told me: "You can have all the ability in the world but that counts for nothing if you don't have the will. But if you have the will, you can make up for less ability."
Zadkovich certainly has the will.
"There are points to prove, especially to some people, but I love a challenge and I'm ready for that," he said after being unveiled by Derby.
It should be noted that he has yet to do anything at Derby other than sign on the dotted line, but the opportunity is obviously there. Like the thorny back lizard, it's now up to him to make the most of it.
Here's the interesting twist. The way in which Zadkovich has been championed by Derby is good news for the A-League.
A stated aim of the competition is to keep young talent at home but Zadkovich's move enhances the reputation of the developing league.
So, too, have moves by Michael Beauchamp to Nuremburg, David Carney to Sheffield United, and Nick Carle to Bristol City.
Australian football is still searching for the ever-elusive next Harry Kewell or Mark Viduka to bust a top European league wide open.
Zadkovich, Beauchamp, and Carney are not them but the A-League is taking baby steps in establishing itself as a credible competition.
A big European club is yet to sign Australian talent directly from the A-League but second-tier clubs know there's water in the Australian desert.
It makes you wonder what the genuine local young guns - Nathan Burns, Bruce Djite, Mark Bridge - can achieve if they make the most of their own opportunities.
Maybe, just maybe, the A-League is better than what some of us give it credit for.
COMMENTS
I have always been a fan of Zad. Not for his talent as a football player but the impecible condition of his bright white boots. They're like spotlights shining in your face. Secondly, there is a reason Derby is buying an A-league player as they are the worst side to play in the history of the premier league. I quite like the A-league has good contests and is quite entertaining to watch live but all the A-league talent mentioned above stil has a long way to go.....
- by Anon on April 19, 2008 at 10:23 PM
Zadkovich is a quality player who was developing nicely under Culina and Arnold (for the Olyroos) but never fired under Kosmina. Many players lifted when Kossy rode into town, Zadkovich and Milligan, two of our brightest young talents, weren't amongst them.
Both excelled on Olyroo duties under coach Arnold: Zadkovich was terrific right through the campaign as a right flanker; he has genuine pace and Arnold used him to create tremendous width in attack. He got lost in Kossy's systems, lost his mojo, and ultimately his place on the roster.
Milligan has devloped into a lynchpin of the Olyroo defence. He communicates well, can adapt to different systems, is a strong target off dead balls, and has a bullet long throw (something Arnold used to great effect, but which I've never, ever seen Culina or Kosmina utilise).
I hope Zadkovich does well at Derby. He's certainly got the talent. A final word: when it comes to shooting for goal, he is one of the biggest duffers in the entire A-League.
- by Jason on April 20, 2008 at 12:29 AM
Whenever he was on the pitch for sydney he seemed like he was one of the only ones actually working for a living (Middleby, Tsattialos and Corica being the others) and English football appreciates a 'Grafter' like nothing else. Makes you wonder how Kewell and Viduka have been getting away with it all these years. He'll do well at Derby.
- by jon on April 20, 2008 at 06:44 AM
He was useless at Sydney and he will be useless at Derby. Sorry Derby fans, this "Ace" is going to flop.
- by Joel on April 20, 2008 at 09:00 AM
"It makes you wonder what the genuine local young guns - Nathan Burns, Bruce Djite, Mark Bridge - can achieve if they make the most of their own opportunities."
Shouldn't forget Joel Griffiths as well - sure he's older, but still has a lot of talent to throw around.
Zadkid was a hot head. He had a great first season and then was consistently carded and sent off and upstaged throughout the following two seasons.
And also, it appears he turned down Crystal Palace (a team coming up to the Premier League) for Derby, a Championship bound team. Great Choice.
- by esol on April 20, 2008 at 11:45 AM
Our SFC season seats were perfectly positioned to see Zadkovich call for and get the ball which he did every time with an impresive burst of speed. Then he would put his head down, go flying up the sideline and a) not cross b) leave his cross too late c) get tackled by a much slower defender d) kick it out. It was soul destroying. He had no vision on the ball. It got to the point where everyone would groan when he got passed to. If Jason is right and it was simply the coach not knowing his strengths then I wish him all the best at Derby, but I'm really not sorry to see him go.
- by Dave on April 20, 2008 at 12:20 PM
Not sure what thorny lizards have to do with anything, I think he sounds more like a galah. Why join a team whose only future is relegation.
- by Sam K on April 20, 2008 at 03:31 PM
esol, i think you'll find that Crystal Palace are hanging onto 6th place in the "Championship", and will be lucky to get a playoff position, never mind promotion.
i think Zad made the right decision to goto Derby as Paul Jewell is a top manager, and Zad can learn plenty from him.
- by kiriak0z on April 20, 2008 at 04:16 PM
zadkovich is crap. australian ace i think not. they would be better off going to birrong bowling club and taking mark milligan away from all the gangers.
- by zaid on April 20, 2008 at 08:56 PM
I was nota fab of Zadcovic for thefirst two seasons of the A League. He gave the ball away too many times & he was certainly guilty of the long ball that never connected with anyone. In fact, I used to wonder how he could ever be included in the first teal line up?
However, in A League version 3 I saw a completely different player. He kept possession, didn't try for those stupid long balls & actually showed some skill in taking on some players. A player transformed if ever I saw one!
Lets see what he can do at Derby.....
- by Paul Trzecinski on April 20, 2008 at 10:50 PM
The A League was recently referred to by the Pimp, I mean Pim Verbeek, worse then a training session at Nurnberg. Maybe this signing has turned Pim's world upside down, or just entertained him with its lunacy. By the way one of Australia's forgotton men (Mile Sterjovski) is making great progress in Derby ( I am a great fan of his talent), now that another Australian has arrived, perhaps he can leave for bigger and better things. Again which clubs did Zadkovich try out for, the ones which have absolutely no hope at all (Crystal Palace and Derby), and he's classified as an ace????
- by Mak on April 20, 2008 at 10:53 PM
Benji, the reason Sydney didn't get a transfer fee was because he was off contract. No club in the world gets a transfer fee for a player that moves after their contract expires. This was the case when Michael Ballack left Bayern Munich for Chelsea, he was free because his contract had expired. Although I agree with you in the case of David Carney who had a get out clause in his contract, this IMO is to the detriment of the A-League.
With regards to Zadovich, i thought he was a good player but didn't begrudge Kossie for letting him go. Good luck to him over at Derby, hopefully he and Sterjovski can contribute to helping Derby bounce straight back.
- by Pete on April 20, 2008 at 10:54 PM
I was neverimpressed with Zadkovich. I thought he was slow, lost the ball too often and didnt look like he was interested. Well that was when he played for Sydney FC anyway. I dont think he had a lot of heart nor could he adapt to different style. Well from what i saw anyway. But then i also think that Kossie doesnt imbue Sydney FC with a lot of attacking spark. True the end of last year he got the results required to turn the season around and he was stuck with a squad he didnt choose. Maybe he was doing the best with what he had (i also think the Sydney FC squad was one of the worst in the league - too many old legs - especially Corica - retire already you are past it). But with Kossie getting the players he likes now i am excited about the prospects of Sydney FC and would like to see what he does with the squad. All they are really missing is a quality midfeilder that can actually take on players. But anyway, back to Zad. Hopefully he does well in Derby. Maybe their style will suit him a little more. Hopefulyl he learns to be more adaptable, its the way Australian football i heading and if he ever wants a sniff in playing in theAustralian side he will have to develop this side of the game. He can only learn from being in England, though i think he would have been better off moving to Crystal Palace. Could be though he thought he would get more first team play.
- by Daniel on April 20, 2008 at 11:20 PM
If "the A-League is better than what some of us give it credit for", why is it so tediously awful tp watch? I have been to see Sydney FC three or four times - each time I go there, I see a very poor quality slog-out that makes me feel I have been mugged for the entrance fee. Except for once. Watching Urawa Reds fans was worth the money.
- by IpswichTownBeatSydneyFC on April 21, 2008 at 08:30 AM
About 5 weeks ago i left a tip for all you boys. I said that i was 100% certain that star Chelsea Striker Didier Drogba will join Inter Milan. My source was from my uncle who is in the real estate/property business in Italy and he told me that Didier Drogba was looking for an apartment in Milan which he finally purchased 2 weeks ago.
I emailed The Sun newspaper in the UK and was offered a nice sum of money if they could crack it. The UK Metro & the back page of The Sun newspapers finally came out today mentioning what i told them 5 weeks ago.."Inter 'target Chelsea stars in £35m deal" & "Jose wants Lamps & Drog He'll take them to Inter Milan". I got an email from the football editor Richard White from The Sun and he thanked me for the tip and he still cant find any leads that Drogba has purchased an apartment but the paper did mention that Drogba looks like hes on his way to Inter Milan. I told all you boys.. you heard it from me first !!!
Im just dissapointed that Mathew Hall and The Sun never took my tip when i told them.
- by Mr X on April 21, 2008 at 09:10 PM
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Why is it Australian clubs don't get the transfer fees from these players moving abroad. I think the clubs need to look at this.
They may not be able to stop players playing in Europe but like the South American clubs they need to profit from it and use the money to grow the league.
I propose that FFA don't include all tranfer fees as part of the salary cap. This should encourage more youth development.