I don't think we can look at exclusively Australian players in Europe. We need to be looking at the development of footballers from all nations for the rather obvious reason that there's no innate difference between Australian and non-Australian footballers. If we just look at Australian footballers in the context of other Australian footballers, we limit how much we can achieve. We play against footballers from every country. Therefore we need to compare our footballers to footballers from every country.

When we do this we see that it is perfectly possible to achieve rapid progress in Europe. And far greater levels of progress have been achieved in Europe than in the A-League.

It's uneven across Europe. But in the better parts, we're talking about higher quality coaching, more competitive matches, far higher technical quality, attacking players who actually know how to take their opponents on with pace and, as a result, defenders who know how to close down very fast.

Where the A-League is ahead of the curve, imo, is the tactical side.

The reality is, however, that if footballers want to develop entirely in Australia, unless they're in the class of Zidane, they're almost certain never to develop the technical skills which the best footballers in the world possess. They'll be about five years behind the rest of the world, too. The best Belgian footballers tend to have left Belgium by about the age of 19. So if Aussie players only go to Belgium around that age, or later, then it's most likely that by the time they've had the chance to succeed in such a league, they'll be too far gone for top notch European sides to consider them.

The best we can hope for is a Mooy like situation every now and then (and Mooy is very much an outlier).

I don't think we can look at exclusively Australian players in Europe. We need to be looking at the development of footballers from all nations for the rather obvious reason that there's no innate difference between Australian and non-Australian footballers.

Awesome Ryan starting for Valencia. 

yep....great Job to him in taking number 1 keeper....lets hope he keep it

Ryan concedes a penalty after a careless foul from Valencia. He went right early and it's slotted down the middle. 

3rd goal now....but all goals could not have been stop

Shockingly swift into the goal aren't they? 

And Ryan concedes 4.

He wasn't great. He was let down by some utterly shit defending but he still, he wasn't at his best. the fourth goal he should've probably saved but only happened because they were pushing for an equaliser.

A lot of confirmation bias going on in here regarding Ryan. He's being found out at the top level.4 goals without a save....that's really really bad.

was he at fault

A lot of confirmation bias going on in here regarding Ryan. He's being found out at the top level.4 goals without a save....that's really really bad.

Maty highlights here: 
http://www.fullmatchesandshows.com/2016/08/22/valencia-vs-las-palmas-highlights-3/

First two he had no chance. The last two maybe a world class GK would have done better, but they were hardly regulation saves and certainly not any 'gaffes' from Maty. That Valencia defence must be so frustrating to play behind.

Aussie keepers in recent times seem to not peform or buckle when taking that next step up. 

If it's langerak or Ryan, you never watch them on the big stage with confidence they'll nail it. Always a goal or two that was saveable.