Viduka was world class, no doubt about it. If you read my post I said that.
Kewell, Dukes, Cahill, Schwarsy, Bozza have all starred on the European and/or International stage and could have got a game for any big club. They are or were world class players in my def. Bresca and Grella play for two of the pootest clubs in Italy and whilst good players are not greats.
Bresca played for Parma when they were finishing 5th in Serie A and qualifying for Europe comps. Likewise Palermo (the pink shirt wasn't a great look lol).
And junior soccer in Geelong does not make a Victorian 
So migrating to Australia when you're a very young kid doesn't make you an Aussie
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No one likes Sydney FC. They've failed to engage the community and they waltz around the eastern suburbs like they are the Galacticos. Unlike Victory and to a lesser extent the Reds, they haven't been able to pull together all the different ethnic and supporter lines from the old NSL. It's failed because of Lowy and his jobs for the old Sydney City/Hakoah boys. All the old NSL supporters see FC as City, so they wont get behind them. The NSW Premier League on the other hand is well supported, so don't align A-league crowds with support for soccer in NSW. They'll eventually have 5 A-league teams if Lowy doesn't eff it all up. I don't know if Victoria or QLD could support 5 sides.
You haven't read Ramps (10 Flags) harping on about his beloved South Melbourne Hellas for the past 6 years
. Followers of the old NSL clubs don't follow the A-league down here either. As for the NSWPL being well supported - crowds of a thousand or so at best ain't much to write home about. No different to the VPL with South, Knights, Heidelberg and Preston. That's why the NSL went broke. Too many teams with little support.
The fans also turn up in droves for Internationals. With a good opponent or something on the line, ANZ Stadium is always a near sellout, even against nothing sides or friendlies the place is well attended. eff, AUS v Uzbekistan drew 57k and it bucketed rain for days. 80k went and saw LA Galaxy in a club friendly FFS - that's more than turned up at the 'G for the Socceroos last game before the World Cup. The soccer final at the Sydney Olympics had over 100k. The support is there and the decision to host the Asian Cup Final there is justified IMO.
Regardless, the MCG is not a good soccer venue. Count your blessings you get the Opener 
No one was saying that after the Iran '97 game or the farewell game before Germany 2006 against Greece which both attracted 95k. The great myth is that oval stadia make poor soccer stadia. Funny how half of all the World Cup finals have been played in them
. In any case once in a blue moon international games don't measure the week in week out support the game needs at club level to survive and thrive as you get mostly theatregoers attending wanting to be at a "event". That LA Galaxy game is the perfect example. If Beckham wasn't playing no one would have turned up to see the same two clubs play.
