Western Sydney Wanderers chairman Paul Lederer is underwhelmed with the attitude and ambitions of the next generation of Australian players, saying they are too easily satisfied and lacking the commitment levels required to reach higher levels of the sport.
Lederer was taken by comments made earlier this month by Melbourne Victory's star recruit Keisuke Honda, who said his early impressions were that young Australian players didn't train hard enough and needed to do more to stand out.
Show me something: Wanderers owner Paul Lederer wants to see more from young Australian players.Credit:Wolter Peeters
Lederer, who recently became chairman of the A-League club owners association, said he "100 per cent" agreed with Honda's assessment.
"I think young players today are a bit disappointing," Lederer told the Herald. "They're happy to make the first team, which is a great achievement by the way. But my expectations are that they should rise to a higher level. They're satisfied a little bit too easily.
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"They should aim to be the best. You can only be as good as what you put in. That's it. Some of the young players today are not as committed as they should be.
You look at the potential of a young guy and you say 'he's reasonably good'. You go back three years later, he's exactly the same.
Paul Lederer
"A lot of young players get to a stage where you're waiting for him to improve, but let me be blunt, it doesn't happen and that's disappointing and it's a bit frustrating as well. You look at the potential of a young guy and you say 'he's reasonably good'. You go back three years later, he's exactly the same."
Lederer and the Wanderers are making a significant contribution towards youth football with their $15 million academy due to open in January. It will be free of charge for the players who are selected to take part. Lederer clearly wants a return on that investment from them.
Further expenditure, however, is also on the cards. Lederer confirmed that Western Sydney is on the hunt for a high-profile marquee player, preferably to coincide with their long-awaited move into the new Bankwest Stadium next season.
Low key: Western Sydney Wanderers chairman Paul Lederer with coach Markus Babbel.Credit:AAP
Lederer said the Wanderers were keen to make use of the $3 million-per-season marquee fund provided by broadcasters Fox Sports to bring in a player like Honda to help move the dial. It won't be an easy task – or a cheap one, for that matter. But coach Markus Babbel's extensive contacts throughout European football should give Western Sydney a leg-up in that pursuit.
"It's very hard to find one like [Honda]," Lederer said. "Make no mistake – we are constantly on the lookout for players. We talk to a lot of players, a lot of people, a lot of agents around the world, and if the right player comes up and Markus is happy with them or he recommends someone, we always take it very seriously."
Their only marquee player on the books this season, Oriol Riera, is off contract and has been continually linked to a return to Spain.
Western Sydney's crowds have dropped dramatically since the demolition of their former home, Parramatta Stadium. They attracted 14,715 per match in their last full season at that venue, but that number has dropped to an average of just 9310 this season from their two matches at Spotless Stadium.
Lederer is as excited as anyone about Bankwest Stadium, where the Wanderers will meet English Premier League promotion contenders Leeds United on July 20.
"For the last three years, the best description I can give you is we've been in the wilderness. It's been tough, but the new stadium will be an absolute game-changer for us," he said. "I'm there every month, just checking in. It will probably be the best viewing in the country."
Vince is a sports reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald.
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