A-leagues top ten

The A-League's ten best

By Les Murray | 25 November 2008 | 11:37

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Time for a list. I figure if the deputy editor can compile the top ten WAGs of football � and, by the way, who am I to disagree with his choices? � I can also have a go at the ten best players in the A-League.

Comments (0) | Your thoughts?


These are my personal choices, of course, and you might know that I am a bit partial to players who are not only capable but also excite a little. Accordingly, you won�t find many functional, �he�s not flash but, geez, he�s effective� players here. No apologies for that.

All this is just to make sure you have something to have a crack at me about. So go for it, knock yourself out.

But, by the way, before you lick your tapping fingers, this is not a �players of the year� list. It has nothing to do with achievement. It is just about player quality and who are our best at this time.

So here goes. The HAL�s finest ten, in reverse order.

10. STEVE CORICA

The sweet old man of the A-League, greying at the temples and admirably resistant to colouring them, is still among those who draw a crowd and give the admission fee value. Okay, he�s only a 45-minute player these days, but his touches, his wonderful vision and lethal finishing retain him as a star act with the Cove. Opponents still fear him.

9. DIEGO

The most debonair of our Brazilians, one of five imports on this list, Diego came here as some kind of junior appendage to Romario two years ago. While the old guy, one goal in three games, turned out to be a dud, Diego so impressed John Kosmina - the then-Adelaide coach - that he was kept as a memento. Just as well. Great on the ball, fierce in combat, Diego has been at the core of Adelaide�s dream run in the ACL. May he stay for a tad longer.

8. CRISTIANO

The smooth-pated Brazilian got some notoriety in recent days for taking a clever dive and getting a penalty. But that distracts from his capacity to surprise and excite. This boy, more than just a diver, is a lethal finisher and a consummate creator of scoring chances. His beautiful balance and capacity to finish are among the league�s genuine attractions.

7. CASSIO

Being Adelaide�s player of the year last year should be enough to rate this boy highly. He is a serious attraction, a player of whom the fans expect, as he gallops up the left and sends in his sweet crosses. I am not an Adelaide fan but, not withstanding, whenever I watch them, I await this boy�s every move. Cassio is class and I would cross the street every time to see him. I just wish that one or two of his folho seca free kicks would go in.

6. NIKITA RUKYAVITSYA

Word has it that Elton John and Bernie Taupin have already written a song about this boy, a decade before he was born, that�s how good he is. I agree. Arnie agrees, having chosen him ahead of Bruce Djite, and that�s a big wrap. Pim has not been moved that far yet but I predict it won�t be long. Nikita is young, has skill, is super quick and has a fabulous nose for goals. That for me adds up to quality and entertainment, and down the line, probably a long career as a Socceroos central striker. You read that here, remember. Nikita excites me, even if it�s not in quite the same way as he would Elton.

5. JOEL GRIFFITHS

I did say above that this was no player of the year list so don�t be so shocked that this errant, but awfully good, player is on it. Fact is Griffiths is the reigning HAL player of the year, elected as such by his own peers. This cannot be without reason and it isn�t. The Griffiths football persona is not just pure front page. He promises, usually delivers, he scores goals and he leads. He�s a quality footballer whose frustrating current season is not so much attributable to him as it is to the awful circumstances handed to him at a club in a tailspin. And while my view is that a marquee player in the A-League should be some kind of globally admired magnet, more like a Juninho or Yorke than a Griffiths, I am ever so glad that the moola he�ll get as a result of that status will keep him here for a while longer.

4. CARLOS HERNANDEZ

Fred, the boy Hernandez was brought in to replace, was a hard act to follow. And while it took him some time, midway through his second season at Victory, the Costa Rican is undoubtedly vindicating the faith put in him by Ernie Merrick and Gary Cole, who must have been crapping themselves at the thought of how they would replace the devastating and immensely popular little Brazilian. I must admit I had my doubts after Carlos arrived with his love handles, his double chin and his dawdling pace. But his technical gifts, his vision and intelligence were never in doubt and he came good. Good choice Ernie and Gary. I bow to your judgment.

3. FRED

Okay, okay, as I write Fred has played less than 90 minutes in the current season after his shock return as a guest for Wellington. But already he was THE class act in the Phoenix�s consummate victory over the Jets. We know him well and there is no need here for me to introduce him and rabbit on about his qualities. Suffice to say that Fred is bound to leave his mark, yet again, and the hope lives that he can be enticed to stay longer than his guest stint. But so long as he stays he is one of the best in the A-League. Of that there can surely be no doubt.

2. CRAIG MOORE

This is no sympathy vote. Craig has been diagnosed with cancer and we football types all support him and have faith that he will come through it just fine. He�s a born fighter and a winner. He will win. But I celebrate him here for being a quality footballer, the highest ranked returnee of the Germany 2006 squad, an immaculate defender and organiser, without whom the Roar would now be less than capable or challenging. Every time I switch on to a game involving the Roar I look only for Moore and the education he gives.

1. ARCHIE THOMPSON

Without doubt Archie is the best player in our league and its biggest attraction. He is the Victory�s marquee and sources say he�s on $400,000 per season. Not enough. He�s worth more I say, memo Jeff Lord. Memo other clubs in the A-League whose chairmen with green lined wallets - our mini-Berlusconis - might be tempted to prise him away just to make an ego point. If I was one of them I would make a play tomorrow. After his five goals in the 2007 grand final there can be little argument about this. But still, let me say, that the Victory, our best team at the moment, remains impotent without him. If Archie has an off day, or if he�s absent through injury or suspension, the Victory usually cannot and do not win. If there is one player in the A-League whom I would cross the street to see, it is Archie Thompson.

Smeltz just scores a couple of goals. The rest of the time he's making usless runs, this is more evident now Fred's here.

Smeltz just scores a couple of goals. The rest of the time he's making usless runs, this is more evident now Fred's here.

Gee I can stir up some controversy... probably a touch of hatred to.

How is Charlie Miller not on that list??