The A-League is my local league and I have been a fan for several years. However, as much as the sport has improved there’s still much to do, in terms of player recruitment and the general quality of football on the pitch. I know that bidding for big name foreign players is not always viable for the teams, so I’ve put together a list of three players that I think would improve their team and the league itself. Additionally, I have also suggested the team I think would best suit the skills of each player and bring out the best in what they have to offer.

Teemu Pukki – Adelaide United

Pukki, the Norwich City striker started off this season in the Premier League on fire. Although he has lost some of that form since, I am a firm believer that he would be a coup when it comes to players of quality in the A-League. With Norwich currently sitting at the bottom in the league, they appear to be looking a lot like a relegation candidate. If Norwich City fail to turn around the cards of their fortune, an end-of-season move for Pukki may seem inevitable so the team can pick up the slack in order to return to the Championship. At age 29, many may consider him to be nearing the end of the traditional prime years for a footballer. In spite of this, player statistics indicate Pukki has a decent goal scoring history with Norwich (35) but also with Brøndby (55) and Celtic (7). This highlights that he can step it up no matter the country or the league; which is rare for a striker to be able to carry their goal-scoring ability across multiple countries. I have suggested Adelaide United simply because I believe that Pukki would receive good service from James Troisi, whereby the two of them would be a formidable attacking duo. After dealing with the tough Premier League and Championship defenders, the A-League would be a welcome change in pace and would allow him to flourish. The change would enable him to be scoring goals at a high rate. Furthermore, Pukki would be best placed to be able to hold up play, setting up the decent attacking options that Adelaide need to run onto the ball, posing as a serious threat to the opposition. Some of you might say that a signing like Pukki is probably unreasonable due to him more than likely staying at Norwich even if they are relegated. Nonetheless, as I have explained Teemu Pukki would be quite the coup if a club could pull it off and snatch up the strong striker but I do understand that this is a bit of a reach and it would be highly unlikely, but you can always dream.

Daniele De Rossi – Melbourne Victory

Now, as a Roma fan, De Rossi is a signing that I would be amazed with however unlikely it may seem. Currently signed with Boca Juniors, the ex-Roma captain and legend may be thirty six but much like a fine wine he has aged incredibly well. In fact I would confidently state that he could very well have remained playing in Serie A if not for his unfortunate disagreements with Roma. All the same, with negatives also come some positives, with the most important one being that is he still is playing professional football. Although he might not be as involved at the moment due to an injury, personally I believe he still has several years left in him. He would be a terrific addition to Melbourne Victory if he could be tempted to come to Australia and ply his trade as a midfield maestro. I believe if offered a role as a player/coach would most likely be the most tempting as he is approaching the end of his career and perhaps would like to step into coaching similar to former Melbourne Victory man Keisuke Honda. I think the A league would be the perfect step down for De Rossi in his final years of his career and would still allow him to perform at a high level.

Andrés Iniesta – Any (like c’mon)

The former Barcelona and Spain international is currently plying his trade in the J League and has been impressive playing alongside another big star in Fernando Torres scoring six and assisting six in just twenty two appearances shows that the thirty-five year old hasn’t lost his touch. Any club would be lucky to have a player of his calibre and just with the presence he was bring to a locker room would be worth the marquee label easily.

Second tier

It’s been said for a few years now that the A league needs a second tier league and perhaps even promotion and relegation and I personally think that the best way to grow the league is with this second tier as it would allow for more talented young players to make their way to the top level but also to showcase a more local product. Now I’m not saying we should immediately push for relegation to be implemented but after a few years it would have to be discussed once the second division had a firm footing and could function independently. But honestly it’s time for a second tier and now is the best time as the league grows to keep reaching and create something all new for the country.

Closing it up

So I’ve tried to address a few things that the A league could do with and some players that I personally would like to see in the league but I would also like to supplement all this by saying I do love the A league and the product that’s out on the field but in saying that there’s still lots of work to be done and even more work to be done behind the scenes especially with the establishment of a second division. But with the right people put in place things could move in the right direction very quickly and with the adding of two new teams will hopefully mean the A league undergoes rapid growth but hopefully the league can take advantage of it rather than before where opportunities have been left begging. Finally I highly suggest everyone goes and supports their local club because the best way for the A league to grow is at the bottom starting at your local park team and all the way up to your local A league side. Just enjoy football.