By Adrian Musolino
September 16th 2009 @ 2:54am
Related coverage
Eleven teams is the only option for next season
Gold Coast United FC head coach and director of football, Miron Bleiberg (centre) celebrates with Football Federation Australia (FFA) CEO Ben Buckley and Gold Coast United CEO Clive Mensink at Skilled Park on the Gold Coast, Thursday, Aug. 28, 2008. AAP Image/Dave Hunt
FFA boss Ben Buckley insists an 11-team A-League would work if a twelfth franchise isn’t able to meet the financial criteria for next season. But rather than rushing a decision, the FFA needs to bite the bullet and accept an 11-team competition as the only option for next season.
With the leading West Sydney bid lead by businessman Joe Meissner withdrawing, and another bid from the region connected to murdered Sydney businessman Michael McGurk, the race for the twelfth franchise appears to be lead by Canberra.
But the insistence from the FFA that there is a “great opportunity” for a team in western Sydney suggests its preference for a franchise from the region.
West Sydney is going to be the next battleground between the codes, and perhaps the FFA feels it cannot afford to allow the AFL to get the jump on them in the region.
In terms of population base and potential crowd figures, West Sydney remains the best option.
While Canberra’s A-League bid insists it’s ready to go, the unimpressive crowd-figure last weekend was a major blow and casts further doubt about the cities’ ability to sustain a franchise.
Prior to the Central Coast-Perth clash at Canberra Stadium, A-League boss Archie Fraser insisted the FFA didn’t have a specific crowd target but would be disappointed if there were only 5,000 people.
Just 5,139 turned up.
There is a tremendous amount of work to do for the possible franchises, and their inability to meet the financial criteria at such a late stage of the bidding process suggests the decision needs to be delayed.
As we have seen with Gold Coast United, even having a cashed up owner and star players isn’t enough to guarantee a decent crowd. For upstart franchises, significant work needs to be done in the community to build interest and a following and this process cannot be rushed or overlooked.
While Buckley used the Wellington Phoenix as an example of how quickly an upstart franchise can get on its feet, this is different scenario.
The Phoenix exists in a much less competitive sporting market, while inheriting fans from the defunct New Zealand Knights.
The twelfth team also has the added competition from the confirmed eleventh franchise in Melbourne Heart, which is well advanced in appointing off field positions.
The twelfth team will be significantly hamstrung in competing for on and off-field talent by the Melbourne franchise. Considering the headstart they have had, it’s simply not fair for the twelfth franchise to start on such a back foot, especially if they’re struggling to meet the financial criteria for entry.
An 11-team competition next season won’t be disastrous.
If anything, working byes into the draw will give the FFA greater flexibility in scheduling, better enabling it to avoid clashes with other codes and events in certain markets.
And if the twelfth team decision is made in the not too distant future, the franchise could be given a spot in the National Youth League next season to develop young players and start building a fan base.
Considering the work that needs to be done, delaying for a season is the only option.
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tifosi said | September 16th 2009 @ 5:32am | Report comment
Im getting tired of hearing about the crowd figure for the CCM v Perth game here in Canberra.
When cities that have an a-league team are getting only 6000 people turn up to games, then the Canberra crowd, between two teams no one could really care less about, was a good achievement.
The FFA has lead Canberra down a blind path and the latest excuse from Buckley was just another example of how they are quite obvious in their desire to have a western Sydney team first.
Pippinu said | September 16th 2009 @ 8:14am | Report comment
You’re right Tifosi – if two out of town team can produce 5,000+ , I suspect that a Canberra team will produce 10,000; which isn’t shabby.
But we all know this bid process has been a farce and bids from Canberra and Wollongong are basically biding their time for the next intake.
The FFA only ever wanted 2nd Melbourne and Sydney teams.
The second Melbourne team was awarded with plenty of questions surrounding the final bid (which still remains a bit of a mystery).
The FFA was so desperate for a 2nd Sydney team, that it entertained bids involving some of the dodgiest characters you could ever create as a fiction writer, and placed these well above a very solid Canberra bid (bankrolled by the Territory goverment with an excellent stadium).
But the FFA was only ever looking in one direction, and that was due West of the CBD.
Joe FC said | September 16th 2009 @ 10:00pm | Report comment
“But the FFA was only ever looking in one direction, and that was due West of the CBD.” You’re probably correct Pippinu and it’s likely to be for the same reasons that have determinded AFL expansion.
MVDave said | September 16th 2009 @ 6:52am | Report comment
Canberra would be in either this round of expansion or the next so if they consider themselves ready and all financial criteria etc are met then why not bring them in next season (if WS arent ready). That would just leave WS and 1 other to come in within a couple of seasons to make 14 teams. That would complete a national profile no other code has in Oz and give all regions opportunity to be part of this great game at the highest level in Oz.
cab711 said | September 16th 2009 @ 3:02pm | Report comment
Why not 13 teams. West Sydney, Melbourne part deux and Canberra?
Pippinu said | September 16th 2009 @ 8:16am | Report comment
I just heard on the radio this morning that the FFA will put in a West Sydney team, controlled and bankrolled by the FFA.
Jay said | September 16th 2009 @ 11:57am | Report comment
Theres a similar article on SMH that a western Sydney team will be announced by the end of this week.
I predict this team will be more successful (in terms of crowds and local support) than the new AFL team to be establised in WS.
AndyRoo said | September 16th 2009 @ 12:09pm | Report comment
I know the Parramatta Power failed but as long as there not based in Homebush (sounds like they might be gulp) they would have to work pretty hard to screw this one up.
Choppy said | September 16th 2009 @ 12:21pm | Report comment
On the Big Sports Breakfast this morning they were saying the WS would likely be based at CUA stadium in Penrith.
Surely they won’t put it in Homebush?
AndyRoo said | September 16th 2009 @ 12:47pm | Report comment
The SMH said it was Ian Rowden who was involved in the Meissner bid that is now the main man. And I believe the Meissner plan was Homebush. It could just be for a handful of games though
I am pretty ignorant about how stadium deals work but perhaps Homebush are offering a guaranteed deal from the Stadium operators (like Victory at Etihad) so the club would be sound financially for the first 5 years.
I don’t understand how does the stadium make their money in the Etihad deal?
Who keeps the gate receipts and does Etihad write out a cheque for the approx 50k each game or do they just guarantee Victory’s receipts and chip in the shortfall?
AndyRoo said | September 16th 2009 @ 8:31am | Report comment
If that’s true Pip then the FFA better anounce when Canberra will be getting an a league team even if it’s two or three seasons from now.
2000 people have put up there hard earned believing this was a fair process…. it clearly wasn’t and they will lose a lot of goodwill if they don’t. I imagine the next Mariners game at Canberra will be played in front of 25 people otherwise.
Choppy said | September 16th 2009 @ 11:54am | Report comment
Andy,
I agree with you about Canberra, it seems to be the best prepared bid….BUT get rid of the name Capital Punishment. Surely Ivan and the crew can do better than that.
AndyRoo said | September 16th 2009 @ 12:07pm | Report comment
I am a big fan of the idea of a Western Sydney team but also a fan of justice and just want too see the right thing done here.
Realistically I think they might cop being delayed but told to reapply would be a huge slap in the face. Let them in even if you tell them it’s not until 2012/2013.
Name wise is Capital Punishment the name they really plan to go with? That is a bit out there.
Choppy said | September 16th 2009 @ 12:19pm | Report comment
Andy,
Capital Punishment is the team name they are currently running with.
As both a Mariners member and a ACT resident I was out there at the Glory game and to be honest I was disappointed with the crowd. In saying that, there was almost no publicity surrounding the game that I was aware of and only knew the game was on because my Mariners membership got me in for free.
I agree, the Canberra team is ready to go, has lots of local support and government backing, if there is no West Sydney team that far progressed, bring the ACT team in.
Tuggies6 said | September 16th 2009 @ 2:31pm | Report comment
Lads,
Capital Punishment is the name of the official ‘Canberra United’ supporters group. A band of people that are supporting a club that doesnt even exist…check out the website.
This has been an absolute farce. We have done everything they have asked and more. Some 2000 people have already put in $200ea to be foundation members…of a team that has never played a game…
FFA you have lost my support. I defo wont be attending any more A-League games in the Capital unless its our very own Canberra team playing. 5000 people turned up to watch a game between 2 average out of town teams. Earlier this year we had 20,000+ turn up to watch the Socceroos 3rd tier team take on Kuwait…
This is a joke…
Jay said | September 16th 2009 @ 2:57pm | Report comment
Basing a team out in Penriff is a wrong move. The team should play in Parramatta – which is the centre of western sydney.
A western sydney a-league team will have a strong ethnic following. The majority of football loving migrants live cloer to Parramatta than Penrith. I doubt supporter from Auburn, Liverpool, Baulkham Hills are going to travel to Penrith on a regular basis.
cab711 said | September 16th 2009 @ 3:09pm | Report comment
Does it necessarily have to be at the one stadium. Why not home games at Parra/CUA and derby at ANZ? Logistically it would be a nightmare especially if bookings are done months or years in advance. But its a thought or even share the SFS. That would be hilarious. All the armchair western sydney fans too lazy to go to the SFS waiting for a western sydney team, only for the team to play at the SFS as well…that would be sweet justice.
Jay said | September 16th 2009 @ 3:13pm | Report comment
Not having a fixed home group will be a headache for season ticket holders.
The team should avoid homebush – they will never get it half full and Sydney people hate the stadium.
They should market the local derby as the cafe lattes v the nescafes.. east v west. It seems to work in the league.
True Tah said | September 16th 2009 @ 3:22pm | Report comment
I would have thought it would make sense for the WS to play at Parramatta, Penrith and Campbelltown, after all it is a WESTERN SYDNEY team, and I believe all of said stadia would be suitable, might even consider a few games at Edensor Park (it sits around 20K??), Belmore and potentially derbies against Sydney FC at ANZ Stadium, although I think there would have to be a significant cash incentive for them to move games there.
Yeah I think the FFA could have been a bit more transparent from the start and say we only want bids from Western Sydney. Canberra went and got a lot of community support, funding and then got told you were never in the running!! Canberra futbol fans have a right to feel being deceived.
Killer_Tomatoes said | September 16th 2009 @ 12:23pm | Report comment
The FFA losing good will? Imagine that?
Adrian Musolino said | September 16th 2009 @ 12:15pm | Report comment
I wrote this piece before the West Sydney news broke this morning but I maintain that the FFA would be better off going ahead with an eleven team comp next season considering the financial question marks over the WS franchise and the disadvantages they will face relative to Melbourne Heart who is well advanced in signing personnel.
Jay said | September 16th 2009 @ 3:03pm | Report comment
The establishment of a 12th A-league team is primarily for the Aussies securing 4 champions leagues spots in Asia. You raise a good point in terms of player recruitment and corporate sponsorship. I think the FFA had made their decision last year for a western sydney team, but they appear to be too stubborn to depart from this original plan no matter how much of a farce the organisation may be. I think it reflects the ego and power of Frank Lowy more than anything – how he got rid of one of the country’s top sporting administrators in John O’Neil defies logic.
Mr said | September 16th 2009 @ 3:22pm | Report comment
The prize is ACL spots. The A-League gets only 2 spots based on the last AFC Assesment in November 2008. The criteria used for lex Australia was a cap at 1/3 of the league total rounded down, ie. in Nov 2008 8/3 = 2.67 > 2. Now there is another review due (whether in Nov 2010 or 2012 depends on who’s reporting it). 10 or 11 teams get a maximum possible of 3 slots, 12 teams gets a possible 4 slots. Assuming the review will be November 2010, then it is critical to get another team by the start of the season. This of course doesn’t assume all slots are guaranteed, but it does tick the boxes for the AFC.
On recruitment, last weekend 20 Australian players were warming the bench for thier teams in Europe. Expect recruitment of a few of these players (not all are in dire straits) who may not be having the best time of their Europe careers;
Theoklitos (GK) Norwich
Petkovic (GK) Sivasspor
Beauchamp (DEF) Aalborg
Spiranovic (DEF) Nurenberg
Guyett (DEF) Bournemouth
Leach (DEF) Barnet
Djulbic (DEF) Rot Weiss Ahlen
Wehrman (DEF) Frederikstad
North (DEF) Incheon United
Ognenovski (DEF) Seongham Ilhwa
Salley (MID) Shannxi Chanba
Skoko (MID) Hajduk Split
Nix (MID) Mansfield
Zadkovich (MID) Derby
Valeri (MID) Grosseto
Holland (MID) AZ Alkmaar
Giannou (STR) AO Kavala
Rukavytsya (STR) FC Twente
Djite (STR) Genclerbirligi
Esposito (STR) Albinoffe
Melbourne Heart are barely more advanced than the Sydney franchise at the moment. No coach is signed, and as far as I know there have been no players announced. The only recruitment has been off-field – CEO Scott Munn.
Also, there will be some retirements of Australian players after the 2010 World Cup as has been rumoured. Are some of these marquee material – who knows.
There are more positives than negative if West Sydney FC goes gets the franchise this week.
megatron said | September 16th 2009 @ 3:30pm | Report comment
Barely more advanced? Hearts are signing and scouting – not to mention had a head coach signed until he pulled out – and West Sydney doesn’t even have someone bankrolling them! They are way behind.
Mr said | September 16th 2009 @ 3:36pm | Report comment
Who have they signed then? Spill the beans as no-one else knows.
megatron said | September 16th 2009 @ 3:46pm | Report comment
A chairman, CEO, operations manager and had a coach all but wraped up.Getting those positions right is as important as the players. You can’t tell me they wouldn’t be scouting for players already and aren’t the favourites to score Viduka.
WS doesn’t even have someone to write the cheques as yet. As Adelaide can confirm relying on the FFA isn’t a good option.
Mr said | September 16th 2009 @ 3:56pm | Report comment
So Heart has a Chairman in Peter Sidwell, a CEO in Scott Munn. If you are talking about Robbie Ditroia as Operations Manager – this was never confirmed. There is no coach at Heart – the same as Wanderers.
Wanderers will have a Chairman once the franchise is announced – Ian Rowden.
Neither have a coach, technical director, nor a player.
So for me, that’s pretty even-stevens. By the way, I would like both to succeed.
megatron said | September 16th 2009 @ 4:14pm | Report comment
A lot of the behind the scenes things we don’t hear about would be well advanced compared to WS
Phutbol said | September 16th 2009 @ 12:20pm | Report comment
if its ok to have an 11 team comp, and then FFA decide they want to put WS in instead of Canberra, AND Canberra’a bid is ready to rock and roll, then why not admit Canberra and WS and have a 13 team comp? I can see the need to get WS up and running asap but give Canberra the nod as well and let them start preparing to enter the comp in the season after next if it is deemed too hard to get them in as well as the other 2 next season.
If a 14th team shows up, all well and good but if not, run with 13.
Killer_Tomatoes said | September 16th 2009 @ 12:20pm | Report comment
It will be 12 teams, one of them West Sydney next year, nothing could be surer. More important to the FFA in this decision than beating the AFL into the region will be capitalising on the hopeful increase in interest in football post-WC. I think the FFA feel that this is the best time to split both the biggest markets, in the hope that the new franchises don’t take to many fans away from the existing clubs, but rather attract a completely different fanbase altoghether. It is a dangerous tactic, we’ll see if it works, but it is more important to have a team in West Sydney than it is in Canberra (even though my personal choice would of been West Sydney and Canberra, the 2nd Melbourne team is ridiculous) and I think that post-WC is the only chance the FFA had to gain enough support for these two clubs to make them viable.
AndyRoo said | September 16th 2009 @ 12:21pm | Report comment
In regards to your last point about scheduling, an odd number would have been great this year as apart from the early season when they scheduled teams at the same time their local NRL side was playing (away) it would have solved the problem with NZ and Phoenix when the matches against Bahrain take place.
So FFA go 13 next year
or 11 next Year and 13 in 2011/2012
Realfootball said | September 16th 2009 @ 12:59pm | Report comment
Adrian, you are skating over the key issue here – television. The broadcast rights negotiations are not far away, and there is no way that the FFA was going to pass up an audience of two million people in west Sydney – a demographic that will add very significant muscle to their bargaining position. West Sydney was always the only option, and no matter what it took – even FFA investment – there was always going to be a team in west Sydney next season. Canberra, south NSW and Tasmania are completely inconsequential in this numbers game, and as such I would have been astonished if any of them had got up this time around. With west Sydney, every major urban population is now represented by a team. Neither Canberra nor Wollongong come into that orbit and are thus not a priority at this point. Personally, I think the FFA have played a smart game right to the line, and they’ve just got there. Ben Buckley, with his AFL experience, knows exactly what the stakes are, and how the game is played. The code could not have a better man in the hotseat.
dasilva said | September 16th 2009 @ 1:08pm | Report comment
The main issue wasn’t that FFA is targeting West Sydney
The main problem is that they didn’t declare it openly and mislead the Canberra and Wollongong population to support the bid that they were never going to win even if they meet all the criteria whilst the other bids floundered.
Robbos said | September 16th 2009 @ 1:41pm | Report comment
Dasilva,
I’m abit confused by this comment. All along Frank Lowy kept saying we want a 2nd teamin Sydney. Every interview, every newspaper article, he stated the 2nd Sydney team was a high priority, so not sure how he didn’t openly declare it.
Remembering who really leads the FFA.
Canberra will be the 13th or 14th team whenever they come in.
dasilva said | September 16th 2009 @ 4:38pm | Report comment
Lowy said he wanted the 2nd Sydney team
It was a gaffe
Afterwards Ben Buckley came in and contradicted that comment and said that all bids are welcome for the 12 th team and they would all be judge by the same criteria. Ben buckley basically disown the comment from Frank Lowy
The media and newspaper article that said that 2nd Sydney team will get the 12th team was based on well justified opinion on the mood coming out of FFA but it’s certainly wasn’t open policy and they certainly encourage bids coming from Canberra and Wollongong causing these people to waste their time
Robbos said | September 16th 2009 @ 6:34pm | Report comment
Lowy wants 14 teams, Canberra, Wollongong or Tasmania, the financial crisis has slowed down this thought process but I see 2 of these 3 teams being the 13th & 14th sides year after next or 3 years time depending on the timeframe.
Mr said | September 16th 2009 @ 6:41pm | Report comment
Lowy also wants a Div II
dasilva said | September 16th 2009 @ 7:28pm | Report comment
I also meant “Lowy said he wanted the 2nd Sydney team as the 12th team” which Ben Buckley subsequently rejected that comment.
____
My only point is that FFA should have been completely up front and say that West Sydney will get the 12th bid and then tell Canberra and Wollongong and Tasmania to work on getting your bid ready for the 13th and 14th team.
The current situation is pretty much, we are welcoming all bids for the 12th team but we are only letting team from one city to win. This isn’t exactly fair play and Canberra has the right to feel that they are getting shafted.
Killer_Tomatoes said | September 16th 2009 @ 1:12pm | Report comment
Those last two sentences are vomit enducing coming from somebody going by the moniker ‘RealFootball’
Realfootball said | September 16th 2009 @ 1:21pm | Report comment
Why, Killer? Buckley personally negotiated the record breaking AFL broadcast rights deal. It is simply a statement of fact – he is, by any objective criteria, the best qualified person in the country to be negotiating football’s next broadcast rights deal. If you can’t see that, then your naivety is impressive.
True Tah said | September 16th 2009 @ 1:29pm | Report comment
He would rather have Tony Lazzabozetta in the hotseat!
Killer_Tomatoes said | September 16th 2009 @ 1:50pm | Report comment
Did i say that? No.
How about somebody like Saburo Kawabuchi or Kenji Mori? The guys responsible for creating the J-League, who not only have experience and knowledge in the game of football itself, but who are also well versed in the problems of adapting to crowd number issues, competing with other, culturally ingrained sports and have proven in their early guardianship of the J-League through rough patchs to be more than adequate sports administrators. For mine, these sorts of people, football people with quality business skills, are who we should be after to take care of the future of our game. Not ’sports’ businessmen like Buckley or psuedo-football people like Fraser.
Realfootball said | September 16th 2009 @ 2:55pm | Report comment
Killer, are you serious? Business turns on personal relationships and direct experience of the market, which is highly specific to cultural and economic context. The idea of inserting Japanese football officials into an Australian negotiating process is quite the most extraordinary idea I have seen on one of these forums in a long time. I read it twice looking for the punch line.
Killer_Tomatoes said | September 16th 2009 @ 3:00pm | Report comment
I see your point, and don’t completley disagree, but i fail to see why it would be so impossible to have a business administrator to deal with aspects of running the league such as the TV/stadium negotiations you’re speaking of, and also have some actual football people, such as those mentioned above, with experience in running a succesful new football competition to run the football side of things.
megatron said | September 16th 2009 @ 2:59pm | Report comment
I don’t agree that WS is crucial for the TV deal. Why would that be the case? A-League is already in Sydney. It’s crucial so they don’t get beaten by the Afl. Like on the GC they wanted to get established before the Afl moves in.
Realfootball said | September 16th 2009 @ 3:02pm | Report comment
For crying out loud, isn’t it obvious? How clearly does it have to be spelled out? 2 million people. 2 million viewers. It is about tv rights.
Killer_Tomatoes said | September 16th 2009 @ 1:33pm | Report comment
Negotiators will come and go, granted though, his skills in that area are impressive. He’s a talented business man, but he knows nothing whatsoever of football as a game or it’s culture, and quite frankly has no respect for it. He has not made any attempt to learn either, which is possibly more worrying. As football continues to decline from it’s all time peak in this country between 06-07, Buckley is not only making mistakes, but reinforcing them time and again through misunderstanding and general ignorance. I could go into the how’s and why’s, but that’s another discussion. He maybe capable of negotiationg a great TV deal, but if nobody is in the stadium and less and less are watching at home because of the other ways in which he and his administration are running the game then in the long run, any such TV deal will prove redundant.
Realfootball said | September 16th 2009 @ 2:59pm | Report comment
I take it you have a degree in Sweeping Generalisations, Killer. Of course there will be errors of judgement. People make mistakes. But on the whole, I have nothing but respect for the professionalism and vision Buckely has brought to the FFA. Fraser is a sound appointment too – a football man with AFL commercial experience.
Killer_Tomatoes said | September 16th 2009 @ 3:01pm | Report comment
me and you are clearly going to have to agree to disagree
Realfootball said | September 16th 2009 @ 3:04pm | Report comment
Killer, I just hope for our code’s sake that I am right and you are wrong on Buckley, which is no disrespect to you at all.
Killer_Tomatoes said | September 16th 2009 @ 3:17pm | Report comment
I know of many people long connected to football who think Buckley is doing a wondeful job, I know people who see his role as more so-so, taking a generally neutral view (willing to praise positive moves while openly questioning negatviees) and a vocall minority who think he is absolutely shocking. Now, while the fact that those that see him as shocking are in the minority should be viewed as a positive, i don’t see him doing enough to bring new people to the local game, whhile he is at the same time driving some sections of the once committed away. That’s where i feel the stagnation comes from. You need to have a balance, and i personally (and as i’ve alluded to, i know quite a few others who feel the same) think that Buckley and others at the FFA have completely missed the balance between the A-League being a game run for the fans and a game run as a product to be consumed. Treating people solely as customers without the established histoical link people have to the game and their clubs (as say they do in the AFL or NRL) is dangerous, as when somebody is solely a consumer you can’t expect them to continue paying for a poor product. That’s not neccessarily a criticism of the general ‘product on the park’ or standard of play, but saying that you’re creating fair-weather fans by doing this, and also linking peoples attendance directly to levels of enjoyment. This is what what worries me.
keeper11 said | September 16th 2009 @ 3:49pm | Report comment
surely the new WS team won’t be playing out of the cavernous wasteland that is Homebush….?
but i wouldn’t put it past the bods at FFA…
enough $$ dangling infront and they’ll happily ditch the customers..ohh i mean fans….
either way..i feel this team has plenty of potential..especially if a big name socceroo publicly backs it…
btw..Kewell to captain it by …2014??
Midfielder said | September 16th 2009 @ 5:06pm | Report comment
For those who doubt the second Sydney team move … please understand the following ….. six former NSL clubs, three state leagues clubs, 5 Football association, close to 100, 000 registered players… has produced more Socceroos, Coaches, NSL, & A-League players than any other region…
Midfielder said | September 16th 2009 @ 5:38pm | Report comment
May I say this as clear as I can… if and it is a huge if a massive if… but if a team from WS could ever unite the various tribes behind one team.. then that club would IMO become Australia’s biggest club within a few years.. biggest from every point … crowds, sponsors, etc…
The task of uniting te old NSL clubs, the stste league clubs, and the Associations ,… is massive ,, nay mega massive squared… however if anyone did … boy would it be a huge club…
Robbos said | September 16th 2009 @ 6:31pm | Report comment
Hear, hear, I totally agree.
cab711 said | September 16th 2009 @ 8:27pm | Report comment
There is no way some of the state league clubs will merge.
Working Class Rugger said | September 16th 2009 @ 6:50pm | Report comment
Midfielder
And if it was able to attract the regions best player’s a damn near unbeatable one at that.
Midfielder said | September 16th 2009 @ 7:11pm | Report comment
WCR
No doubt the football knowledge in the various ethnic villages that make up WS is huge …along with as I said 8 stste or former NSL clubs and five football association who have almost 100, 000 players registered (that is not counting, indoor, fultsal, outdoor 6 a side, school players) …. look at the current first choice Socceroos… Kool sorry Harry Kwell, Timmy Cahill, Bret Ememtion, Mark Sch, Jason Culina, … thats off the top of my head but all WS boys… almost 50% of the first choice team …. and from WS ….
jimbo said | September 16th 2009 @ 11:03pm | Report comment
If you’ve got the money, doing business when the economy is slow is actually the best time. You get what you want at a better price and no waiting.
Then when things pick up, if you are entrenched you are well placed to take advantage of the upturn.
But the low crowds so far this season are certainly a concern for the WS bid.
But I believe Frank Lowy is part of the bankroll and the FFA are also keen to see a WS team get up and running.
The numbers stack up but they need the local football momentum to pick up again.
Mad said | September 17th 2009 @ 10:14am | Report comment
Another internet peanut gallery fuelled by no facts … just what they get from trawling the internet.
Do you people really think that FFA don’t know what they are doing ? Do you think that the HAL will be better served by anything but a western Sydney team.
Some quick facts -
- all bids currently around – are pushing to meet FFA’s strict criteria
- there is a “negotiating point”
- Parramatta Stadium is TOO SMALL for a western Sydney team (obviously there are no marketers out there), plus it has no transport links, nor does it have ONE public car space
- FFA and at least one WS bid have “crunched the numbers” and there is NO CONCERN about ANZ Stadium – and if many of you had actually done any research, you would know this too … if one bid gets up, a “day” at ANZ will be the greatest club football event you’ve seen for a while, and with a catchment area triple that of Sydney FC … watch the people come. There are 4000 season tickets already sold before the club is announced.
Canberra is a POOR option
Wollongong is a POOR option
They both might have a better chance down the track when the HAL is stronger, which will happen if a second Sydney team is generated quickly.
… and it will be.
Rock on habibis.
Mad said | September 17th 2009 @ 10:17am | Report comment
… apologies to Midfielder … good comments … meet me at ANZ Stadium for a beer on match day one
ajb said | September 17th 2009 @ 1:21pm | Report comment
a second melbourne team is a stupid, stupid idea!
ajb said | September 17th 2009 @ 1:24pm | Report comment
a second melbourne team s a stup[id, stupid idea.. they shouldve left it for at least another season before expanding.. wait for the new teams to settle.
the all rounder said | September 17th 2009 @ 1:41pm | Report comment
mad, i think you are mad. a canberra team is by no means a poor option, as tuggies has clearly pointed out. FFA has just been dangling an inedible carrot in front of all football fans in the Capital. btw TUFC are a good club, i enjoy their home games.
Tuggies6 said | September 17th 2009 @ 1:52pm | Report comment
One of the biggest issues I have is that here has just been soooooo much time and $$$ put into a project that the FFA were never going to let get off the ground. Maybe Mr Slavich should invoice them for all the hours he has spent trying to get the Canberra team up. They have been stringing us along the whole time and its appauling. Word has it that the Western Sydney bid that will get the nod is actually going to be funded in part by the FFA…disgraceful.
And thanks ‘the all rounder’…ther are many in Canberra that arent fans of TUFC ; )
DiCanio said | September 17th 2009 @ 4:00pm | Report comment
I don’t think they Canberra bid can have too many complaints, you basically have a get in free ticked for place 13. its not like all the work was in vain, just posponed for a year or two.
Pippinu said | September 19th 2009 @ 10:13pm | Report comment
MaD is certainly big on the insults: :peanut gallery fuelled by no facts.”
But is he big on the facts himself?
Parramatta is too small he says. I’m not sure of its capacity, but I’m wondering whether League fans would like to comment on the actual size of Parramatta stadium (I suspect it’s somewhere between 16,000 and 20,000).
Is that too small? We aren’t marketeers so we’re obviously too silly to work that one out.
I know that it was big enough back in 1988 to host a Socceroo friendly – I was there – I recall it was less than half full, and I believe it has since been enlarged.
Mad continues with his “facts”.
No problem with ANZ Stadium he says. We have not done our research he says. It will be the best day out he says (but I’m not sure what we were meant to be researching to work that one out).
He appears to be suggesting that this new WS team would fill ANZ stadium.
What do people think? Does that sound right?
He says this new club has 4000 season tickets already sold before the club is announced.
Now I admit, I’m not as smart as Mad, but I’m wondering how a club that is nowhere near getting the nod, manages to sell 4.000 seasons tickets. Is anyone else a bit unclear on that “fact”?
AndyRoo said | September 20th 2009 @ 7:29pm | Report comment
Well it would take 40,000 season tickets before I would be excited about the team playing in the atmospherioc void that is homebush.
Fans hate the place but while I believe in putting a team in West Sydney i don’t see how it’s possible that there are 50k people who are willing to travel to homebush but not the SFS. I could imagine some people prefering homebush but not to the extent of not attending A league games at all while they wait for a team in Homebush a mere 12.74 kms from Central.
Dogs Of War said | September 20th 2009 @ 8:02pm | Report comment
Yeah, I wish the State Government didn’t take the AFL cash, we would have a fantastic rectangular ground, but instead we ended up with a mixed used venue that isn’t as good as it should be.
Still as a Dogs fan, I prefer this to going back to Belmore.
Redb said | September 20th 2009 @ 8:16pm | Report comment
NSW State Govt knew the AFL would post some reasonable crowds for home and away games, most of the best crowds for the general season of any code have been AFL crowds. Funny that.
Norm said | September 20th 2009 @ 9:11pm | Report comment
Tell me again how many turned up for the Swans SEMI FINAL last year?
Dogs Of War said | September 20th 2009 @ 9:23pm | Report comment
We are talking NSW though mate. Not Victoria. The point being that the venue is hardly used by AFL, compared to the amount of games of League played there, and possibly soccer in the future. Thus a proper venue that suits those games should have been the priority after the olympics, but it seems we got sold out and now are stuck with a venue that just isn’t suitable for viewing the game.