Is A-League going to be a success in 3-5 years time

[hybrid_tiger]

so what? marconi were operating in a shambles of a league? any club would struggle under those conditions

no, im not over the fact that they have wiped out multiple teams from the elite competition in the heartland of australian soccer

im from marconi way, ill be at the first game and im sure many may well watch it from my area for the novelty factor. But come on, do you really think a bi-weekly pilgrimage is realistic/possible? i know as well as you do how hard it can be to travel to moore park on the weekend, not to mention associated ticket/food costs that families from out in this area generally struggle to meet...

Can't see it.

You should be over it Moffo. There was nothing "elite" at all about the NSL in it's final years. It was an embarassment to the game.

And they have not "wiped out" these teams. These teams will still be playing in the State League competition, where I went and watched Marconi play numerous times last season.

Travel may be a small problem for some, but if the product is good then the people will all be back.

 

[Everlovin' Antichrist]

Bullsh1t. You are too worried and concerned about his Rugby past. It's totally irrellevant.

What else is there to base one's opinion of him on?

His future isn't looking very solid.

Television rights, prize-money, advertising. Exposure. You won't know any Asian players now, but you will soon. Building blocks.

bullsh*t I will know them soon.

Is it going to be on FTA TV?

If it is, who is going to watch Sydney United v an Asian Club team?

I'll tell you.

No one.

I suppose staying in Oceania and belting non-professional island nations like the Solomons is a better solution...?

No one said it would be.

But talking up Asia doesn't help.

What qualifying through Asia will do is give us a fairer shot at the WC finals and more games to go to that are actually worth going to.

But that still doesn't mean that club games against Asian clubs will be "interesting".

It doesn't matter what the FFA do, EA, you will NEVER be pleased. You said previously that you want a reason to go and watch it, but that's cr@p. You wan't the game to fall on it's a.r.s.e again. It's quite obvious...

I'd go and see it under my conditions, that's the difference.

Firstly, aussie stadium is a pain in the arse to go to for someone living near Campbelltown, if the quality of the product is worth the trip, I'll go during the League off-season. Secondly, the quality of the product has to be at least decent and that remains to be seen and thirdly, let's see if they get through without the age-old problem for a few weeks before deciding if that's finally been put to bed.

BTW, care to discuss the so-called "problems" that this move into Asia will cause?

It's nothing to do with where you're heading.

The exposure will be in Asia, it won't help the game's exposure here.

See above. What do you expect - Beckham and Zidane to play over here??

No, but it'd be nice if there were 20 or so of our best players playing here. Blokes like Kewell, Viduka and Co.

Bullsh1t. If we hosted the Olympics, we can host the WC. We've got the facilities and you know it.

Who said we couldn't physically host it.

I said we'll never get it. Australia is a Soccer backwater and there is absolutely no way that FIFA are going to play the WC Finals here to try and engender interest amongst 20 million people....

If we still had the NSL then yes, it would be embarassing. But look at the stadiums the A-League is using. Plus, Melbourne are getting a new ground.

You missed the point.

Saso Petrovski. He just made the 20 man squad. Hiddink likes the look of him.

Has he seen him play an A League match yet?

You are right, let's just pick players getting splinters in their a.r.s.e.s in Europe because they are "physically and mentally" tougher than those playing regular football here.

They probably are.

There are more than enough players in Europe playing regular first team Soccer to fill two national teams.

They'll be first picked.

Probably right. But how many players in the old NSL would have even been considered. I'll answer it for you - NONE.

Are you saying that no then-current NSL player played ever played for the National side in WC qualifiers?

Face it, if players are any good, they're not going to be playing in the A League. It'll always be where blokes come to play a season or two before they retire.

Actually, Hiddink has already stated that those playing in the A-League have a better chance of being looked at than those not playing overseas.

When push comes to shove, he'll be relying on the blokes who ply their trade elsewhere. If he doesn't, we've no chance of qualifying.

 

[hybrid_tiger]

What else is there to base one's opinion of him on?

I dunno, EA, maybe what he has done so far in his new job...?

That's pretty much a no-brainer.

bullsh*t I will know them soon.

Is it going to be on FTA TV?

If it is, who is going to watch Sydney United v an Asian Club team?

I'll tell you.

No one.

That's bullsh1t and you know it. It will create interest.

But talking up Asia doesn't help.

What qualifying through Asia will do is give us a fairer shot at the WC finals and more games to go to that are actually worth going to.

But that still doesn't mean that club games against Asian clubs will be "interesting".

The move into Asia is one of the most successful things that has happened to the sport in this country. You will see.

I dunno what you expect EA. Maybe a pass into the European CL? Matches against Real Madrid, Barcelona, Juventus?

Surely you aren't asking too much...? :roll:

I'd go and see it under my conditions, that's the difference.

Firstly, aussie stadium is a pain in the arse to go to for someone living near Campbelltown, if the quality of the product is worth the trip, I'll go during the League off-season. Secondly, the quality of the product has to be at least decent and that remains to be seen and thirdly, let's see if they get through without the age-old problem for a few weeks before deciding if that's finally been put to bed.

Yes, if the quality is good, then the crowds will come.

But knowing you EA, if the quality isn't Champions League standard, you will be unhappy.

No, but it'd be nice if there were 20 or so of our best players playing here. Blokes like Kewell, Viduka and Co.

Viduka will be playing here in a couple of years - he has already said it.

As for Kewell - who gives a stuff about him, he's sh1t and he doesn't give a cr@p about his country anyway.

Zelic, Muscat, Zdrillic, Thompson, Corica, etc. have already come home. There will be plenty more to follow.

Has he seen him play an A League match yet?

He saw him play in a friendly against New Zealand.

Have you seen him play? No, yet you automatically presume he is cr@p.

 

[Copa]

If O'neill starts bagging off other sports... the A-Leagues potential will decrease.

 

[Everlovin' Antichrist]

I dunno, EA, maybe what he has done so far in his new job...?

That's pretty much a no-brainer.

What's he done?

Helped set-up the A League which starts tonight, got us into Asian WC qualifying (I doubt that he had much to do with that) and told everyone to call soccer football?

He'll live and die on the A League.

My bet is that he'll die.

That's bullsh1t and you know it. It will create interest.

No it won't.

Asian Soccer is as relevant here as Albanian Soccer.

Not only could 99.99% of the population of Australian not name one Asian player, they couldn't name one Asian club side.

Having a few games on Foxtel that no one will watch won't change that.

The move into Asia is one of the most successful things that has happened to the sport in this country. You will see.

Financially it will help, but as far as helping exposure for Soccer in this country goes, it won't help, at all.

I dunno what you expect EA. Maybe a pass into the European CL? Matches against Real Madrid, Barcelona, Juventus?

Surely you aren't asking too much...? :roll:

Hang on, you're expecting the move into Asia to mean big stuff for Soccer in Australia?

My point is that Asian soccer is irrelevant to virtually everyone in Australia.

Even people who follow Soccer don't regard Asia as a "Soccer powerhouse". Apart from one sortie at a home World cup, Asian nations have generally been cannon-fodder in the WC Finals.

We don't get Asian Club Soccer televised here for one reason and one reason alone, no one would watch it. Sticking an Australian club side at one end of the pitch isn't going to help.

Financially it will help, no argument.

Yes, if the quality is good, then the crowds will come.

Of course they will, the problem is will it be good compared to the alternatives?

But knowing you EA, if the quality isn't Champions League standard, you will be unhappy.

bullsh*t.

If the quality is better than average, I'll be watching it. Even if it's crap, I'll still watch a couple this weekend.

Viduka will be playing here in a couple of years - he has already said it.

When he's too old to cut it in Europe.

Like I said, the A League will be a retirement home but at least blokes like him will help draw the punters.

As for Kewell - who gives a stuff about him, he's sh1t and he doesn't give a cr@p about his country anyway.

Sure, and he's also our highest profile player.

Zelic, Muscat, Zdrillic, Thompson, Corica, etc. have already come home. There will be plenty more to follow.

Zelic and Muscat will help if they're committed; people will want to see them play, but if they're here for a holiday, they won't. Thompson and Corica won't help much.

He saw him play in a friendly against New Zealand.

One game?

FFS, even you can see through that, surely?

Token A League players.

Have you seen him play? No, yet you automatically presume he is cr@p.

Whatever floats your boat.

You said that he's seen him in one friendly international match against NZ and picked him based on that, I didn't.

?

 

[Everlovin' Antichrist]

If O'neill starts bagging off other sports... the A-Leagues potential will decrease.

True. He probably would like to but I'm assuming that his bosses know the damage it could do.

They have to convince people who follow AFL and League that Soccer is worth a shot in the off-season. Bagging their game isn't going to help.

 

[hybrid_tiger]

True. He probably would like to but I'm assuming that his bosses know the damage it could do.

They have to convince people who follow AFL and League that Soccer is worth a shot in the off-season. Bagging their game isn't going to help.

I can't recall him ever bagging any other sport since he has been involved with soccer...

 

[Everlovin' Antichrist]

I can't recall him ever bagging any other sport since he has been involved with soccer...

FFS.

Who said he had?

 

[hybrid_tiger]

What's he done?

Helped set-up the A League which starts tonight, got us into Asian WC qualifying (I doubt that he had much to do with that) and told everyone to call soccer football?

He'll live and die on the A League.

My bet is that he'll die.

Yeah, ok, that's all he has done. Like it's nothing...

FFS...

No it won't.

Asian Soccer is as relevant here as Albanian Soccer.

Not only could 99.99% of the population of Australian not name one Asian player, they couldn't name one Asian club side.

Having a few games on Foxtel that no one will watch won't change that.

Rubbish. It will create interest, case closed. Deny it all you like...

Financially it will help, but as far as helping exposure for Soccer in this country goes, it won't help, at all.

The A-League will help exposure to the sport. When A-League sides play in the ACL this will in turn help as well.

Hang on, you're expecting the move into Asia to mean big stuff for Soccer in Australia?

My point is that Asian soccer is irrelevant to virtually everyone in Australia.

Even people who follow Soccer don't regard Asia as a "Soccer powerhouse". Apart from one sortie at a home World cup, Asian nations have generally been cannon-fodder in the WC Finals.

We don't get Asian Club Soccer televised here for one reason and one reason alone, no one would watch it. Sticking an Australian club side at one end of the pitch isn't going to help.

Financially it will help, no argument.

See above.

bullsh*t.

If the quality is better than average, I'll be watching it. Even if it's crap, I'll still watch a couple this weekend.

And you'll still bag it afterwards. It is a work in progress. A modest start. Just remember that...

When he's too old to cut it in Europe.

Like I said, the A League will be a retirement home but at least blokes like him will help draw the punters.

That's the entire aim of the league. The interest will be created.

Sure, and he's also our highest profile player.

Maybe a couple of years ago he was, but he is nothing these days. He is certainly not a player who should be used to attract fans because his attitude is disgraceful.

Zelic and Muscat will help if they're committed; people will want to see them play, but if they're here for a holiday, they won't. Thompson and Corica won't help much.

Thompson is a very good player and already a crowd favourite. Corica has looked good in the matches I've seen so far. Zelic is the one I am most interested in - if he is as half as good as he was when we last saw him, he will be a goldmine.

One game?

FFS, even you can see through that, surely?

Token A League players.

Selected ahead of other players in Europe pushing for a place, such as Scott McDonald.

 

[hybrid_tiger]

FFS.

Who said he had?

Well, why would you bring it up then?

 

[Everlovin' Antichrist]

Well, why would you bring it up then?

If you can't work it out, there's not much I can do.

Those rose coloured glasses won't help you forever.

 

[hybrid_tiger]

If you can't work it out, there's not much I can do.

Those rose coloured glasses won't help you forever.

The hating ones don't help either.

Each to their own, EA, but I am adamant that you would love nothing more than to see the A-League fall flat on it's a.r.s.e.

Nothing they do is going to impress you. I really don't know what you want, besides failure.

 

[Everlovin' Antichrist]

Yeah, ok, that's all he has done. Like it's nothing...

FFS...

Right now, it is nothing.

The A League starts today.

Let's see how its going at the end of the season shall we?

Rubbish. It will create interest, case closed. Deny it all you like...

No it won't. You're so over-committed to it "happening" and "helpng" that the obvious passed you by.

No one gives a f**k about Asian club soccer here.....

The A-League will help exposure to the sport. When A-League sides play in the ACL this will in turn help as well.

How?

Sydney v Melbourne is at least a game some people will get their teeth into, Sydney v Komatsu Forklifts isn't....

See above.

See what?

The rose coloured glasses?

And you'll still bag it afterwards. It is a work in progress. A modest start. Just remember that...

The start isn't where it'll be a success or failure and you know it.

That's the entire aim of the league. The interest will be created.

The entire aim of the League is to become a retirement home for ageing Australian Soccer players who can't cut it in Euprope any more?

Good aim. Should that be the League's motto?

Maybe a couple of years ago he was, but he is nothing these days. He is certainly not a player who should be used to attract fans because his attitude is disgraceful.

You're missing the point. It doesn't matter what you think of him, he will draw fans.

Thompson is a very good player and already a crowd favourite. Corica has looked good in the matches I've seen so far. Zelic is the one I am most interested in - if he is as half as good as he was when we last saw him, he will be a goldmine.

Correct on Zelic, but the other two just aren't big enough names to create interest outside the "Soccer family".

Selected ahead of other players in Europe pushing for a place, such as Scott McDonald.

Jesus, he's pushed out one of our superstars.....

 

[Everlovin' Antichrist]

The hating ones don't help either.

Each to their own, EA, but I am adamant that you would love nothing more than to see the A-League fall flat on it's a.r.s.e.

Nothing they do is going to impress you. I really don't know what you want, besides failure.

You can't see the wood for the trees. You think it's a given that the A League will be a success, you think everything negative put in front of you is put there out of spite, not out of commonsense.....

Hell, you think that A League teams playing in an Asian Club tournament will help with Soccer's profile here... That's just weird.

I've been following Soccer in one form or another since I first saw English Soccer on Channel 2 30 odd years ago. I know more about the game and its history than you think.

I went to many games, club and internationals, the Sydney qualifiers in '73 plus the friendly against Uruguay where Ray Baatz's career was ended but eventually I stopped going because I got sick to death of being the only one available for the "spot the Aussie" games.

The game was and always has been ethnically-based here, except for pockets like Perth. When that is totally gone, Soccer has a chance.

 

[hybrid_tiger]

I don't have time to argue the same points over and over again.

But I will say this:

The mess that Australian football was in 3 years ago - nearly bankrupt, borderline corruption at the highest level, disproportionate power in the hands of too few, a political nightmare of owed favours, cronies and hidden agendas, falling crowds, media apathy or malice, etc etc.

It is almost beyond belief what has happened in the past 3 years. Every issue holding the game backed has been systematically addressed, and, if not already fixed, is working towards a solution. Not even you can deny this, EA.

I don't think it's a given that the A-League will be an overwhelming success. But unlike you, I'm willing to support it and do my best to see that it becomes and remains a viable sport here.

The league starts tonight and it's a great day for all lovers of the game in this country.

 

[Everlovin' Antichrist]

Anything was up from where it was, I'll give you that.

But it has a long way to go to prove that it'll do anything other than go the same way it always has before.....

 

[hybrid_tiger]

But it has a long way to go to prove that it'll do anything other than go the same way it always has before.....

I happen to disgaree.

There's no way it can go as bad as it did before. It may not be a success, but it won't sink as low as last time. No way...

 

[Macca_]

Well a good start to the season IMO.

It should only grow from here on. Good crown figures, so good goals and games. All in all a good start.

Future of it does look pretty good.

 

[Misanthrope]

Very strong start to the season, far better than I expected as a first time watching of Australian club soccer. I was expecting crowds in the low thousands (8000-10'000) and some lacklustre games. Instead I saw some great football (especially the Sydney/Melbourne game) and two crowds that some league teams couldn't draw.