Gold Coast United will rock the A-League
Columnist
By Adrian Musolino, 9 Jan 2009 Adrian Musolino is a Roar Expert
When Gold Coast United was launched, billionaire owner Clive Palmer claimed the new franchise could win the A-League in its first season. Far from naïve optimism, Palmer’s prediction must be taken seriously with what is shaping up as one of the most impressive squads and a franchise with the potential to be one of the countries’ best.
The soon to be announced signing of Socceroos midfielder Jason Culina is a massive boost for not just the club, but also the A-League.
A player of his calibre will add so much to the team and, as a current Socceroo, a vitally important marketable marquee player to attract the masses.
Gold Coast is also set to announce the signing, on loan according to reports, of fellow Socceroos veteran Mile Sterjovski, who has inexplicably spent his time at Derby County warming the bench.
In addition to the Socceroos pair, Gold Coast United have also snared the A-League’s leading goal scorer, Shane Smeltz, South Australian born, Hartlepool United striker Joel Porter, former Juventus reserve goalie Jess Vanstrattan, the Brazilian trio Jefferson, Milson and Robson and current A-League talents Adam Griffiths, Tahj Minniecon and Michael Thwaite.
It is a squad that offers so much promise and depth all over the park. Should they gel immediately, there is enough talent there to threaten the established A-League franchises.
Despite having never played a game, Gold Coast United has already caused quite a storm with its aggressive signings, while the presence and bravado of one of Australia’s few billionaires ensures the franchise will have the glitz and glamour befitting the region it represents.
The original powerhouse or ‘bling’ club of the A-League, Sydney FC, has fallen in a heap.
Only Melbourne, Adelaide and Central Coast can truly claim to have consistently drawn-in decent crowds, won games, built the foundations for future growth and generated significant momentum as franchises.
In short, the A-League needs another star franchise, a team that will draw in the crowds across the nation – and Wellington – and play an exciting brand of football.
Hitting the ground running is imperative for the Gold Coast.
It will be an overcrowded sporting region once the AFL rolls into town, one of the few cities to host an A-League, AFL, NRL and NBL franchise, so competition amongst the various codes will be intense, especially when you consider the inconsistent crowd figures throughout the various codes.
But as one of Australia’s fastest growing regions, one of the most popular for tourists, and with the cash reserves of Mr. Palmer, there is no reason why an aggressive marketing campaign shouldn’t draw the fans to the first game at Skilled Park.
It will be fascinating to see what sort of crowd the Gold Coast pull given the presence of Australian stars.
The Gold Coast Titans have averaged 21,000 NRL fans for the past two seasons. Is an average of 15,000 too much to expect for United?
The ingredients are there for the Gold Coast to hit the ground running in Season 5 of the A-League. Based on initial signings they could be the forerunners on the pitch and potential stars off it.
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NUFCMVFC said | January 9th 2009 @ 7:10am | Report comment
Is what the League needs, will really freshen things up, and the fact that it challenges and shakes up the order of things should make for some spicy encounters
Not to mention it has the makings of a fantastic away trip for opposition fans
Good also that we have some players of decent calibre in the A League, will strengthen home based Socceroo squads for ACQ
There is a need fo caution, a salary capped league means that no team can be consistently top year in year out, so if you build your “brand” on the premise of constant success like Man Utd or Chelsea than there will be problems like there were at SFC, there is a bit of a need to learn the lessons from MVFC and CCM, in a competitive market place they may do well to actually work closely in conjunction with the Titans in some respects given they play out fo the same stadium and would even share soem fo the same grassroots facilities like Rectangular based infrastructure
Dave said | January 9th 2009 @ 7:36am | Report comment
Not sure about Culina coming, according to reports from his ‘old man’ yesterday but hey give GCU full credit for trying and getting so much media space in the process (hope they do get him by the way but doesnt really make sense for him to come with the WC in 2010).
As a MV foundation member l look forward to booing GCU when they come to the new rectangular stadium in late 2009. With their owner continuing to boast about his team winning the A League etc it certainly gives extra incentive for fans to show up and rub his nose in it.
Bring it on with the bigger names the better.
If there 1st season is a success on the field then ave crowds of 15,000 would be reasonable IMO.
Koala Bear said | January 9th 2009 @ 8:14am | Report comment
Gold Coast united will add new meaning to the term coined once by ex Chelsea great manager player, Ruud Gullit’s “Sexy Football” .. Yes this will be the motto on the Coast.. We play “Sexy Football” .. bring it on… None of this kick it up the guts stuff you see from the Melbourne Vics …
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KB
Millster said | January 9th 2009 @ 8:57am | Report comment
I think Gold Coast will do more than “threaten the established A-League franchises”. Perhaps with the excpetion of Melbourne, Gold Coast is set to blow them out of the water what with the combination of resources, players and the self-belief that must surely be around the club given how it is being launched. Well done to the guys involved up there. And please don’t thrash my beloved Sydney too badly when you play them…
Koala Bear said | January 9th 2009 @ 9:29am | Report comment
Millster,
no need to worry Lad; the Boys have been told, when playing SFC play sexy 0-0 draws .. However, hitting the posts and crossbar is permitted…
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KB
chris said | January 9th 2009 @ 9:31am | Report comment
Lets just hope the A-League players don’t become the over-paid puffs like the EPL and instead treat sport and fame with respect.
Dave said | January 9th 2009 @ 9:34am | Report comment
KB
“None of this kick it up the guts stuff you see from the Melbourne Vics …” 2nd time you’ve had a go at ‘The Scottish One’ and his band of merry Costa Rican interpreters…currently sitting top of HAL if you dont mind!! Who said EM couldn’t be understood by the lads? Winners are grinners
You have been officially warned MV are untouchable 
BTW Misses old man lives on the coast so might even get to an away game…watch out the Vics are coming!!
The Bear said | January 9th 2009 @ 9:40am | Report comment
chris, is Timmy Cahill an overpaid puff? Lucas Neill? Fair go mate… these GCU players will be paid with the same sorts of wages (except Marquee, of course) as everyone else in Australia. They will have better grounds and the like, but explain why would they all of a sudden have Fame? It’s not like we have an issue with the A League and fame, anyway.
What are you on about?
Jaredsbro said | January 9th 2009 @ 9:41am | Report comment
Right so it’s GC I should be heading too next year eh? Not the CC…gosh it’s good being on any coast these days isn’t it?
I did like Bondi last time I was there tho?
With a virtual free reign (apart from the ‘restrictions’ of a salary cap) The Gold Coast team has potential. But do they really have the supporters? The Titans were a freak of the times and most people ackowledged that would be the case. Think they’ll do better than the AFL franchise, but that’s coz Association Football’s got a niche everywhere. Still its only natural that there should be lower expectations during the first season or two…provided they play it the right way, they’ll succeed. Good effective football, nothing overly showy…just winning the tight games, you’ll have a winning team/culture in no time.
Derbies will be great finally in QLD. 3-0 to GCU against NQL Fury and maybe 1-1 against Roar in their first two derby games. This is what will make or break the first year IMO
The Bear said | January 9th 2009 @ 10:01am | Report comment
J’sbro …welcome to thhis side of the fence, btw. GCU look to have more than a “Good effective football, nothing overly showy…just winning the tight games” sort of squad. The expectations are high just looking at the squad (they have already signed 19 of the 23.. and it’s bloody quality players, too), it’s just now about engaging the community that they need to “kick goals”.
And yes, the extra teams in Queensland will put a rocket up us lazy sunsoaked cane toads, especially those in the media!