Victory May Lose Its Star

The Age

Monday November 21, 2005

By MICHAEL LYNCH

SOCCEROOS forward Archie Thompson could seek a short-term loan to Europe during the January transfer if it becomes clear that Melbourne Victory is unlikely to make this season's A-league finals.

Thompson would pursue the European loan deal in an effort to push his case with the Socceroos selectors, as well as staying in peak match condition ahead of the late May announcement by Socceroos coach Guus Hiddink of Australia's final World Cup squad.

While Thompson would prefer to remain with the Victory, it is believed Socceroo insiders have suggested his international interests might be better served by playing at the highest level - although Football Federation Australia management has stated several times that playing for an A-League club would not necessarily minimise players' chances of selection.

However, should Melbourne miss the finals, Thompson's last match before the Australian 23 is announced would be on February 4. Even if the Victory qualified, the A-league grand final is on March 4, while other players would continue to push on for selection in the weeks up the World Cup selection deadline.

Thompson's agent John Grimaud yesterday said it was a subject he hoped to raise with the Victory management over the next few weeks. "Archie loves the Victory and the relationship he has with the fans. That's why he came home to play. But he desperately wants to play in the World Cup and be part of the Socceroos squad in Germany," Grimaud said.

"He does not want to leave Melbourne, but if it was in his interests to stay sharp and match-fit and increase his chances of World Cup selection, he could look for a loan deal to a club in Europe, which would mean he could keep playing until Guus Hiddink makes his selections.

"If it became clear before the end of January that Melbourne was not going to make the finals, we could look at moving him to a club in Holland, Germany or Belgium in the January window. If the Victory does make the finals - which we all hope will be the case - then we might be able to do a short-term guest player deal with a club in one of the good Scandinavian leagues, which start in March."

Regardless, Thompson would remain on the Victory's books and be contracted for the next season and beyond.

The early end to the campaign is not just a huge issue for Thompson. Several other fringe Socceroos - such as Newcastle's Jade North, Perth's Simon Colosimo, Queensland's Alex Brosque and perhaps Central Coast centre-back Michael Beauchamp - would also find themselves inactive ahead of World Cup selection.

Melbourne Victory coach Ernie Merrick and football director Gary Cole yesterday made it clear they always would put the needs of the national team ahead of the club and would continue to do so.

Merrick remained confident that Victory would make the finals, and if they did, Thompson had a contractual commitment to fulfil.

"We would require his services right to the end of our season, but there will be a range of options for him to maintain his level of fitness," Merrick said. "He's got a job to do for the club first and then the national team. I would think there would be liaison between the FFA and the clubs who might have players involved.

"But we have always done everything we can to help the Socceroos during this campaign and now we have qualified for the World Cup, we will continue to release him every time he is required by the national team.

"It's such an important time for the development of the game. Archie got into the national team because of his form in the A-League and he has got to keep doing that for the rest of our season. If he doesn't play well, he won't have to worry about any loan deals."

Matt Carroll, the FFA executive in charge of A-League operations, said the issue would be dealt with this week. "It's a situation we will discuss with our high-performance unit head John Boultbee. We want to offer every A-League player the chance to make the World Cup squad and we know that Guus Hiddink does put great store in players who are playing regularly."

© 2005 The Age

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