A-League boss Greg O’Rourke, who has been overseeing the pursuit of Honda, said last month: “He is the one we really went after and we’re still talking to his management.

"We made a pitch and they came back with a larger number and we’re working through that.

 https://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/victory-driving-bid-to-snare-multi-million-dollar-honda

'Onya Greg!

Will he put bums on seats?

Doubt it even though I’d love to see him in the comp I doubt your average euro snob is going to care much.

Not to the level the FFA would like, I personally wouldn't be motivated to buy a ticket just for him. 

FFA aiming for the big Asian Community in Melbourne

O'Rourke 31 May



https://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/ffa-still-bidding-to-seal-honda-marquee-deal

Yeah a Japanese player is going to make Melbournes large Chinese and Vietnamese communities flock through the gates.

He's more world-renowned than Ono

He did play for AC some will recognize him

Japan's in SE Asia???

Um, no. It's not.

Honda will appeal to Japanese people who like football. Not many others, At least not initially. A step up from Ono though. 

But the wording sounds like it's already dead but he's trying to stretch out the media beat up:
"We gave them our highest offer, they came back with a much larger number, and now both camps are entrenched in ongoing communications..."

re-read the article

Probably won't put a lot of bums on seats, but not sure there is a player in that price range that would. ADP was a bit of an anomaly occurrence. Right time, right place, huge Italian population, planets aligned, etc. Attempting to replicate that is simply not a reality.

Can't wait to see him punt a Sherrin

-PB

The same muppet journalist said something similar about Torres who's asking price actually went up, not down...

Nothing in that article sounds anything other than a puff clickbait piece designed to keep the league in the headlines for an extra week after the WC has finished. 
 
He would make more sense at Sydney than Melbourne to be honest. There's a larger Japanese population in Sydney so if that's what they're trying to tap into i'm not sure why they'd talk to MV in any case. 

So , let me get this straight

2 seasons ago, FFA paid $500k for Socceroos all time great Tim Cahill

Now $3m for a Japanese player, no-one outside Eurosnobs will have heard of

If a growth strategy was to target Asian communities I could live with that, every ACL shows the potential and last year Roar has a pre-season friendly against a Chinese U23 side and Cbus drew over 4,000 for a midweek game, with more than half supporting China.

But one player won’t do it, it would take several players at several clubs plus some coordinated marketing and community connections, Honda won’t do it.

If Victory (or Sydney) get Honda it will be a great signing for the league. Top quality. But unlike Torres won’t put bums on seats, and even Crouch would have more appeal.

Lovely racial slur mate. Now removed

Melbourne Mexican community will be on board.

not necessarily $3m, but a "large chunk" according to the article - that could be a fair bit less than $3m

but really, just goes to show what a great deal FFA did to get Timmy.

You'd have to have rocks in your head if you think Honda would have the appeal to fans similar to ADP.
On the other hand as a player he'll fucking kill it and will be amazing for the league.

War chest. You forgot to mention the war chest.

They also gave City Sky Blue as part of the deal

Medium Fish

They offered Torres $2m

So weasel words that can mean anything

pretty much, the kind of thing a reporter writes when they have no idea

outside of whether he'll put bums on seats or not, its good to finally see Victory opening their wallets for once. kewell is the only player we have paid 7 figures for. 

the clubs should be climbing over each other to get a signing and take the $3m that foxtel is putting up.

imo they should give it to a struggling team - not melbourne, victory or sfc.

Usain Bolt anyone?

-PB

I would pay to see Honda. 

Make that "will" if he is signed.

Honda would get frustrated playing next to Troisi and Barba blacksheepio

If old mate Greg wants to tap into the Asian community he's far better off setting up an Asian +1 rule for all clubs, where clubs could get star players from countries such as Iraq, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, etc.