Socceroos star and recent Colorado Rapids signing Alex Gersbach has called for the A-League to start taking more inspiration from the MLS rather than continue trying to “copy the European structure.”
Gersbach has the fortunate position of being one of a select group of Aussies to play in both the A-League and MLS having begun his career with Sydney FC and moving to the Rapids in the January transfer window, with Tim Cahill also playing in both.
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The 25-year-old has also spent the majority of his playing career in Europe, bouncing from Rosenborg in Norway to Lens and Grenoble in France as well as stints in Denmark and Holland.
Although Gersbach’s time in the States remains in its infancy, he has already taken stock to realise there’s more similarities between the two leagues than some might like to admit.
“I think it’s time that the A-League started noticing [the MLS] as well,” Gersbach told the Fox Football Podcast.
“Instead of trying to copy the European structure, we all talk about this promotion and relegation thing, which I think is a good idea in Australia as well, but there needs to be some serious research done in terms of that and which model to follow.
“The A-League has similarities with the MLS, and for some reason I feel like no-one pays attention to the MLS in Australia in terms of replicating things that they do here.
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“We always look to European leagues and think how can we compete with that, how can be come that.
“But to be honest, I’m not sure Australia ever will be able to compete with European leagues and that’s purely just the geographical sort of thing, in terms of enticing players to come and play in Australia.”
There is no simple answer as to how one gets the Australian football community to start looking at the MLS with an envious glance.
After all, Aussie football has plenty to sort out in its own backyard before casting its eyes elsewhere.
However, Gersbach believes there is a simple starting point to shift the mentality.
“It’s got to come from our own young Australian players,” Gersbach said.
“I’ve seen here the academies here in the MLS seem to be really, really good. We’ve got a number of boys in the first team at Colorado who have come through the academy and are doing really well.
“You see that in Australia at the moment with Sydney FC for example.
“Maybe the A-League needs to take a bit of the best of both worlds: European football structure and then learning things from the MLS. Maybe that’s a good little combination.”