because at any given moment, Ajax have access to over 100 Pasqualis to whom they might offer a handful of contracts

Thats funny, he goes to Ajax and returns as a starter for WU, but it would have been better to stay and be an almost starter

Absolutely awesome if he does. 

i reckon if he has a experienced partner in midfield with him it would be great to watch 

@AJF

Who said anything about him being a starter for WU? You're not even reading what I wrote lol

I hope people realise this is a big opportunity missed for Pasquali and for Oz football, imagine if the kid broke through into the first team and played in the UCL he's profile would have risen quite high and would have presented the Socceroos with a gem of a midfielder that we can use for the national team straight away.

And given his age his upside would have been quite high to play at the top level in the future, Ajax is one of the hubs for the world's best talent.

One big missed opportunity, a real shame it didnt work out for him.

Nothing wrong with coming home but its the easy way out for many of the younger players, how many are willing to stick it out? I don't see Pasquali playing at the highest level after he's back here as Ajax was his best chance of doing so given the profile.

Who will be our next big star playing at a big club in one of the top leagues in europe? Im afraid i dont see anyone maybe Arzani but right now its quite doubtful unless he kills it in the next 12 to 18 months.

This has got nothing to do with football politics, its all merit which Ajax is known for.

They have many talented players like Pasquali in there set up, like anymore you have to work and make the most of your chances that are given to you.

Its a cut throat environment in Europe, unlike the soft version here in Australia.

Not saying this case was football politics, just pointing out there are many reasons that things don’t work out.

I tend to think that coming back and getting game time would be a good opportunity to get things moving again. I’m certainly not one that thinks this is a backward step. Mooy proved what such a move can do to re-energise a career, so can only hope the same is true in this case.

Even though Ajax let him go he should be looking elsewhere in EU to force the chance IF he's looking ahead.
Its determination and keep going at that level as hard as the knock backs are, coming home is the easy option, a shame.

I included your quote so not much to misunderstand,

Also it not normal practice to sign benchwarmers and squaddies as your first players, so you can be sure they will be giving him a good run

isn't that his agent's fault for not getting him other offers? 

A point but lightning doesn't strike twice as they say.
Mooys scenario imo comes down to timing And that he was with City - due to their network/profile and Mooy being outstanding played perfect for him.

Mooy’s time at WSW also helped, but things went to the next level at City.

Those that say coming home is the easy way out is all well and good, but that doesn’t mean staying in Europe will be any more successful than trying to find their feet again back here.

Sometimes hitting the reset button and being back in more comfortable surroundings can help until the time is right to go back, likely stronger and more hungry to make a success of it.

It’s far too simplistic to think that staying there is the only way to be successful. Good luck to him.

I’ve got no issue with him coming back or plugging away in Europe in the ressies. I just think it’s such a waste of a young talent for his agent to stich up a deal where he was not even allowed to play.

I hope he turns it around and goes on to better things.

Actually there is and you've got it wrong again.  By now he would have been a starting player for victory. Not for WU. He would have had an opportunity to show consistency in his performances and make a name for himself. Instead all he comes back as is a kid with little football under his belt with a lot of potential. 

I hope hope you can see the difference now. 

Pretty disappointed he didn't follow in Jason Cullina's footsteps. 

He was also a talented young Australian who failed to make it out of the Ajax youth academy, but after a series of loans managed to secure a place as a regular in a mid-table Eredivisie club. 

Even Brett Holman spent years toiling away in the both the 2nd & 1st div. in Holland before landing a gig at AZ. 

The fact that he chose to come back as opposed to seek a loan elsewhere in Holland or Europe is disappointing (provided he was wanted elsewhere in Holland or Europe). 

For every Culina or Holman theres many more who tried that route and came to nothing. Look at someone like Ascroft or Yeboah who toiled in the lower divisions for very little reward. Far better to come and be a regular in the A-League at a younger age playing better quality football and get another move abroad. 

Most of the players that "never reached their potential" sought loans to other clubs and fought for their reputation in Europe. 

Whether the A-league / Asia is the comfort zone that was never offered to previous generations or not, you can't argue that the current gen. are taking the easy way out.

How many Japanese players rush back to the J.League or Koreans to the K.League when they don't quite make it at their current club. 

Keisuke Honda played 2 years in the Dutch second division at VVV before securing a permanent move to CSKA. 

I'm sick and tired of our player's weak mentality. It is damaging Australian football. 

The A-league is meant to develop kids for the best leagues in Europe. Not to welcome them back with open arms after a couple of years. 

I don't consider Ascroft or Yeboah as good examples of players our youngsters should be emulating. 

Kruse & Leckie are the types of players they should be using as role models. They are good examples of the new gen. that stuck it out and were rewarded for their perseverance. 

Kruse had 60 first team games before he left for an immediate role in a team. And likewise Leckie had a couple years here too. Pasquali hasn't played virtually any first team football in his career which is what he needs to get.

Surely he'd be a good option for them to sign as well

So MV is better at developing youth than Ajax.......99.999% of the football world disagree but you keep dreaming sunshine

A couple of things.
We do not know if Pasquali received any offers from European Clubs. What position has he been recruited for by Western United , given that Jong Ajax tried him at CB? 

In hindsight it would have been useful had he played out that season with Melb Victory, but maybe it was a offer from Ajax that had to be taken then, and only then-maybe his transfer could not be delayed.

Yes, it is disappointing that he is returning to  Aus, but hopefully he can kick on following his return, and mount a challenge for a return to Europe and bigger things. People forget that Rogic also returned to Australia, albeit on loan. He will need to earn his spot in the Western United starting 11. He won't be a lay down masere to be a starter - but would be surprised (shocked even) if he doesn't become a regular starter (given his Ajax grounding).

spot on...
Everyone saying its a shame or its a disaster wants to believe that he has failed. You are probably as equally as hard on yourself thats why you spend too much time making comments on internet forums and not achieving anything..

Progress is not linear! See Aaron Mooy...

Some people peak at 30...

Also we cannot compare 20 years ago to now. The market place is much more cut throat. They key here is to understand that when you arrive in Europe a player needs to take their chances. Gone are the nurturing clubs. Clubs employ people to get results on and off the field. 

But the hook is this - despite not making it the first time (poor form or whatever) the player will have more chances. Eventually though they will need to play consistent high level football 'somewhere. If he, or any other young player, comes back to the A-League and stands out over a long period, international clubs will come knocking. 

Terry Antonis will get another crack if he wants it....

Having said that he can probably command a nice salaryhere for the next 10 years if he chooses to stay at home. 

@AJF

Ok so I'll take it that you are admitting you were originally in the wrong . Now you're shifting goal posts and again putting words in my mouth. I didn't say that either. The arguement wasn't specifically about development. It's about being established. He's not an established player, hence only a talent. If he stayed here he could very well be an already established player. This would then give him more potential of making that jump into European football. I'm struggling to dumb it down for you anymore. Please let this be the end of it, I hope this clears it up once and for all.

lol

Sorry, not admitting anything.You need to take your rose coloured glasses off and look at MV's record with youth development and its clear Seb made the right choice.

Exhibit A: MV gave 36YO Djubic (who was released by PG) a 4W contract instead of giving one of their yoof a chance.
Exhibit B Jimmy Jeggo rotting on MV bench, moves to AU because of the great opportunities M gave him (not) & is now in Austria.
Exhibit C: Nabbout, not good enough for MV and released, but is now a socceroo.
Exhibit D: MV sign Elvis straight from NPL because they obviously dont have any wingers in thier yoof setup

There are plenty more examples and only a nuvo new dawn idealouge would think MV is better for development than Ajax in any way. jog on sunshine.

Nabbout wasn't wanted by any club until Newy gave him a life line and Elvis trialled with Adelaide twice and failed to earn a contract.

I'm not taking sides in this debate, I just feel that needed to be mentioned.

Actually Nabbout was playing Vic NPL before going to MV,. He only got noticed after he went to Malaysia and then NJ picked him up. Elvis was overlooked by Adelaide and was brought to Melbourne by Melb Knighs before getting poached by Avondale. 

Both good examples of how the HAL development system missed good youth prospects (not to mention all the other youth that were overlooked within the MV system).