Perth Red said:
Int RL "with an elite structure built on nothing"
you seen the number of kids playing soccer? Puts AFL&NRL to shame!
Of course there are a heap of kids playing, always has been.
What I mean is creating an elite competition with no history of support, no culture of support and clubs with no history or soul. This means they are entirely dependant on success on the field, and particularly that of the socceroos, to keep interest in the league. Furthermore there is no proof that the current interest will amount to anything.
Just look at how union is struggling now after thinking it was on top of the world in 2003.
Personally I think soccer's best best is to try and make the international side the brand and forget this 'a league' business and try and make the soccer side like the cricket side.
They have built this competition artificially without the sufficient interest and public/corporate support which means that it will take someone with deep pockets to prop it up. Compare this with the AFL and NRL which are 100 year old competitions and have grown into million dollar businesses organically. You can't just try and build something like that from the bottom down. If you do it is in huge danger of falling over.
Thats what i meant about being built on nothing.