Comments on: Jets boycott is a big mistake

By: Ben of Phnom Penh

Ben of Phnom Penh — Sat, 16 May 2009 23:15:50 +0000

I do hope that the talk of a boycott is primarily a beat-up as most reports have the players stating that they fully intend to play in Korea. They can only lose by not continuing in the ACL (less exposure, less football) however what is worse is the damage that they can do to Australia’s standing in Asia. It is the region’s premier football tournament and the strongest club competition that we engage in (until another club gets to the World Club Championships at least).

The Jets may be a management mess however they need to recognise that continued participation in the ACL is an issue that is bigger than them alone. I’d hate to think of the damage it would do to our World Cup bid, let alone the ammunition it would hand to Australia’s existing detractors in the region.

By: Midfielder

Midfielder — Fri, 15 May 2009 11:17:22 +0000

Jes

Have you heard of Christian Esposito can you give us any details on him.. Has anyone heard of this kid .. he sounds the goods .. Fozza will have a heart attack if he looks at his coaches …

But with AC Milan chasing you and being picked in a Serie B side ( Albinoleffe ) he sounds like he is a real talent …

As a side issue Adelaide produce some good players for such a small city that is AFL dominated.

http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,25470273-5006373,00.html

A MODERN Adelaide-born version of Italian super striker Christian Vieri is set to be torn between two countries after making his debut for Albinoleffe’s Serie B side at the weekend.

Christian Esposito is eligible to play for Australia and Italy due to his heritage.

He is also on the wanted list of glamour club AC Milan.

Esposito, 18, has attracted the attention of Australian national team talent scouts after rising from the grinding ranks of the tactically superior Italian coaching schools.

His father, Joe, lives in Campbelltown while his mother, Maria, lives in Bergamo, Italy.

Esposito received his first team call-up against Frosinone on Sunday after scoring five goals for Albinoleffe’s under-21 side, which plays in Italy’s famed Primavera national youth league system.

He was the youngest ever Albinoleffe player to make his debut, said father Joe Esposito.

“I’m proud of Christian,” he said.

“Playing for the Socceroos would be a dream for him.

“He wanted to come to Australia but I really want him to make a go of his career in Italy.”

Vieri rose to prominence when he returned to Italy after Marconi Stallions introduced the star to the game as a teenager before scoring 23 goals in 49 appearances for the Italian national side

By: Pippinu

Pippinu — Thu, 14 May 2009 08:02:44 +0000

When someone is doing something as a bit of a hobby, like, say, collecting coins and stamps, when your own personal financial circumstances change a little, you’ll spend a bit less on your hobby.

Isn’t it presumptuous of anyone to demand that someone should spend more of their own money on a hobby?

If tomorrow he decides this has cost him enough, surely he has the right to simply stop putting in his own money?

By: Tifosi

Tifosi — Thu, 14 May 2009 02:00:08 +0000

burgerman,

thx for that info. I did know his business was struggling in the current economic climate, but was not sure why.

By: StiflersMom

StiflersMom — Thu, 14 May 2009 01:18:13 +0000

What I don’t get is if it is a FFA issue how come the players didn’t seem to know that?
As for being stingy. I’m sure 30 hours from Japan is the long route. If Con wants his team to perform he should make them as confortable as possible. Have you ever see the movie “Major League”, maybe he’s trying to relocate the team?

By: burgerman

burgerman — Thu, 14 May 2009 01:18:06 +0000

tifossi,

adelaide’s problems aren’t to do with the club. It is the business dealings of its owner which have caused him to sell the club. He lost lots of money tendering for a shipbuilding contract as well as building a huge new head office. Also this years ACL has tons more prizemoney… all the way along.

By: DS

DS — Thu, 14 May 2009 00:32:01 +0000

The ACL is more a competition for the future than for the present. The AFC plans for the comp are ambitious and we need to be there now, not only for the commercial future, but to be good football citizens of the confederation.

By: Tifosi

Tifosi — Wed, 13 May 2009 23:20:32 +0000

I agree, no one wins if this continues to go on.

Which makes me wonder if playing in the Asian Champions League is actually a help or a hinderance for A-league clubs.

Games are played to low crowds here in oz and overseas in some cases, and with the travel costs incurred by flying overseas, the clubs cant be making money off this.

Add to the fact that the owners of a-league clubs here arent exactly on the world’s rich list, then you can see why a-league clubs are struggling financially.

Adelaide United being a case in point. CL success didn’t help them much at all.

But it will be meaningless anyway, the Jets wont progress through to the next phase, even if they only need a draw.

By: whiskeymac

whiskeymac — Wed, 13 May 2009 23:04:17 +0000

good point midfielder, especially with Adeliade up for sale.

By: Midfielder

Midfielder — Wed, 13 May 2009 23:01:23 +0000

The PFA need to be careful ..what no one has said yet is the impact this may be having on future investors .. hardly make you want to pour heaps of dollars into.