Is it time to consider Frank Lowy’s successor?
Columnist By Mike Tuckerman, 13 Dec 2010 Mike Tuckerman is a Roar Expert
- Tagged:
- A-League, Craig Foster, FFA, football, Football Federation Australia, Frank Lowy, Robbie Slater
Craig Foster wants to know his “appropriate role” is in the next evolution of football. Robbie Slater suggests he should buy us all Christmas presents. And Andrew Jennings says he should resign as head of Football Federation Australia and give taxpayers their money back. They’re all talking, of course, about Frank Lowy.
Ever since Australia received a single vote in its bid to host the 2022 World Cup, conjecture has swirled around Lowy and his future as patriach of the Australian football community.
While Lowy’s tenure as head of the FFA went largely unquestioned before the fateful vote in Zurich, he’s copped some serious flak on the back of Australia’s poor showing in the bidding process – and not just from the usual anti-football brigade.
Writing in the Fairfax press yesterday, former Socceroo Foster took Lowy to task for brushing aside criticism from Zeljko Kalac and ex-Socceroos coach Les Scheinflug, with Lowy claiming the pair were past their use-by date.
Foster stopped just short of suggesting the same about Lowy, but he’s not the only high-profile commentator wondering whether it’s time for the billionaire Westfield magnate to unveil a legitimate succession plan.
Any such plan seems likely to involve Ben Buckley, but it’s fair to say many critics were decidedly underwhelmed when Lowy revealed he would stick by his much-maligned deputy despite the crushing disappointment of Zurich.
What is clear is that the A-League needs a drastic overhaul – regardless of who’s in charge – and the premature demise of Sydney Rovers won’t help the cause one bit.
The FFA should be hauled over the coals for their bungling of the entry of a western Sydney team into the A-League, not least because it was common knowledge Rovers never had the start-up capital to enter the competition in the first place.
Now Buckley and co are forced to go cap in hand to bidders they’ve already turned down, suggesting due diligence is sorely lacking in the hallways and board rooms of the FFA.
And with the game’s governing body looking set to ignore the appeals of fans to save the beleaguered North Queensland Fury, there could be another black mark against the A-League before it even kicks off again next season.
Three home games in the space of eleven days at Gold Coast United have attracted truly abysmal crowds of just 1,716, 1,658 and 1,714 fans, and all the free tickets in the world won’t change the fact the club are about as popular as a certain Sepp Blatter on the so-called glitter strip.
But money invariably talks, so Clive Palmer’s unpopular United look set to stay in the competition at the expense of the Fury, who are bleeding money and players at an alarming rate.
What an experienced European coach like Franz Straka must think of the situation is anyone’s guess, but I hardly think the Czech tactician is going to return to Europe with glowing reports about how the A-League is run.
For all the myriad problems in the A-League, Frank Lowy clearly won’t be around to solve them forever, so now is as good a time as any to start considering the next generation of football leaders.
The A-League must learn to survive without Lowy, who has done more than most to promote football in Australia, but who is surely canny enough to know that devising a succession plan is an integral part of building an empire.
Mike Tuckerman is a Sydney-born journalist and lifelong football fan. After lengthy stints watching the beautiful game in Germany and Japan, he has settled in Brisbane and has been a Roar columnist since December 2008. Follow Mike on twitter @Mike_Tuckerman
- Explore:
- A-League, Craig Foster, FFA, football, Football Federation Australia, Frank Lowy, Robbie Slater
December 13th 2010 @ 9:03pm
banaba said | December 13th 2010 @ 9:03pm | Report comment
Craig Foster (Fussball),if I were you I would be bending over backwards for Sir Frank, because if he leaves your dying sport (A-League attendances are an embarrassent to Australian sport – note, I mentioned Australian not THE WORLD GAME (hahaha)), Your sport will be Dead …. Tinkler/Palmer only jumped on for the World Cup ride because Sir Frank promised them World Cup glory which has hit a BIG speed hump …. wonder how long they will last …… Did you say attended every Hawthorn GF?, I don’t believe you !! (I won’t call you a LIAR) BUT how could you say the recent Melbourne derby (any soccer game in the last 12 yrs was more exciting than the 89′ AFL GF), LIAR pants on fire !!!!
December 13th 2010 @ 9:17pm
Fussball ist unser leben said | December 13th 2010 @ 9:17pm | Report comment
Couldn’t give a stuff what you think, banaba – I’ve been to every Hawthorn GF since 1978 and also went to the 1982 GF when Helen D’Amico “interrupted” the match just after 1/2 time.
I was at the 89 GF – stinking hot day – and I enjoyed every minute.
But, it’s the biggest myth in AFL that the 89 GF was a great GF. Apart from the opening 15 minutes and final 15 minutes the game was a “blow out”.
Basically, the Hawks were in front by 6 goals from mid-way during the 1st quarter and the margin remained the same until mid-way during the final quarter. Every time Geelong kicked a goal; Hawthorn would respond … what’s the excitement in that?
Scores:
Q1: Haw 52 – 12 Geel (40 point margin)
Q2. Haw 81 – 44 Geel (37 point margin)
Q3. Haw 121 – 85 Geel (36 point margin)
Final: Haw 144 – 138 Geel (6 points win)
Between 1980 & 2004, most AFL GFs have been “no contest” after 1/2-time and the last hour is incredibly boring for the neutrals.
So, only a person with very low expectations – or, perhaps, somoeone who wasn’t alive in 1989 – would consider the 1989 VFL GF (it wasn’t AFL) to be exciting.
December 14th 2010 @ 12:12am
amazonfan said | December 14th 2010 @ 12:12am | Report comment
The reason the ’89 GF was a great GF (and I’m a Melbourne fan, so I have no emotional connection to it) is because of the individual performances; Ablett’s 9 goals, Brereton’s heroics, Dunstall’s consistency etc…. I don’t think that the closeness of the contest is the only determinating factor in how good a contest is.
December 14th 2010 @ 6:02am
Fussball ist unser leben said | December 14th 2010 @ 6:02am | Report comment
amazonfan opined: I don’t think that the closeness of the contest is the only determinating factor in how good a contest is.
And, therein lies the main reason why I firmly believe the majority of AFL fans will never have the cerebral capacity to uunderstand the Beautiful Game.
Even people, who don’t have English as their 1st language, would understand that “the closeness of the scores” is inherent to any contest!
If the scores are 125-78 it’s not a contest – it’s often claimed that the match is … “no contest”!
I would estimate 50% of all Aussie Rules matches are “no contest” for the final 30 minutes and some are “no contest” for the final 1 hour!
I’ve never understood the fascination in Aussie Rules for “high scores”, “number of possessions” and “wasn’t that a great mark” … who cares?
What difference does it make if the to the score if it was a “great mark” or a “crap mark”? Who cares if Joel Bowden gets 700 possessions every match, if he does nothing constructive with the possessions and/or Richmond loses every match?
But in football it can be 1-0 from the 10 minute mark and the game is still in the balance – and fans on the edge of their seats – right until the final seconds of stoppage time … as Bayern Munchen discovered in the 1999 UCL final.
December 14th 2010 @ 3:17pm
amazonfan said | December 14th 2010 @ 3:17pm | Report comment
“And, therein lies the main reason why I firmly believe the majority of AFL fans will never have the cerebral capacity to uunderstand the Beautiful Game.”
How nice. So you’re now insulting Aussie Rules supporters? That’s really mature. Just so you know, that’s one of the reasons why Aussie Rules supporters haven’t warmed to soccer. When soccer supporters imagine themselves to be intellectually superior to Aussie Rules supporters or think that because soccer is the world’s biggest game, everyone in Australia should embrace it, it’s kind of hard to warm to it.
Oh, and maybe the reason why so many people such as myself, prefer Aussie Rules to soccer, is not because soccer requires a a more intelligent fan, but because we think that Aussie Rules is more complex.
“Even people, who don’t have English as their 1st language, would understand that “the closeness of the scores” is inherent to any contest!”
Well, perhaps these people would understand what I wrote better than you. I wrote ‘I don’t think that the closeness of the contest is the only determinating factor in how good a contest is’, so I wasn’t talking about whether there is a contest, in terms of whether both teams have a chance, but the quality of it.
“If the scores are 125-78 it’s not a contest – it’s often claimed that the match is … “no contest”!”
That’s all very well, but I wasn’t really talking about that. My point was that simply because a match is close, doesn’t make it a great one, if the skill level is terrible. There have been plenty of football (and soccer) matches where the scores have been close, but only because the skill levels were disappointing. Do you want to know what IMO was the most overrated GF of all time? 2005. Apart from the last few minutes, it was extremely disappointing and not particularly attractive. If it weren’t for Leo Barry’s mark, and the closeness of the final score, I don’t think anyone would care. There have been quite a few other close matches with disappointing skill levels or in which ugly football were played. People refer to soccer as the Beautiful Game. It often it. But not because of the closeness of the scores. Even putting aside goals, watching people like incredible passes or dribbling can be a joy. However when there are close matches, it is not always amazing to watch.
The reverse, BTW, is also true. While only passionate fans of the winning side enjoys a 100 point flogging, there have been plenty of great matches which have not been particularly close (but not thrashings either). The 1970 GF, in which Carlton was down at one point by 44 points, is a classic. There have also been matches marked by incredible individual performances, such as a WCE-Essendon match this year.
“I would estimate 50% of all Aussie Rules matches are “no contest” for the final 30 minutes and some are “no contest” for the final 1 hour!”
Perhaps, but is that better than soccer with it’s 0:0 draws?
“I’ve never understood the fascination in Aussie Rules for “high scores”, “number of possessions” and “wasn’t that a great mark” … who cares?”
We care. When a player takes a great mark, or kicks an incredible goal, it brings crowds to their feet. Soccer may be more of a team sport than football, but even in soccer, there is a focus on the individual aspect. Maradona’s performances at the 1986 World Cup is a perfect example of this.
BTW, there is a difference between “wasn’t that a great mark” and the other two things. People love great marks, but people don’t really care about number of possessions, unless you’re involved in fantasy football, and as for high scores, supporters of the winning team care because it ensures a good percentage.
“What difference does it make if the to the score if it was a “great mark” or a “crap mark”? Who cares if Joel Bowden gets 700 possessions every match, if he does nothing constructive with the possessions and/or Richmond loses every match?”
Do you realise that you’re now talking about different issues? What does this have to do with the closeness of the contest? I could ask you, who cares if the score is close throughout the entire match, if your team ends up losing?
This has nothing to do with the closeness of the scores.
“But in football it can be 1-0 from the 10 minute mark and the game is still in the balance – and fans on the edge of their seats – right until the final seconds of stoppage time … as Bayern Munchen discovered in the 1999 UCL final”"
That match may have been wonderful, but would it have been as great if the skill level was terrible or if the sides were playing ugly and defensively?
December 14th 2010 @ 3:31pm
Koops said | December 14th 2010 @ 3:31pm | Report comment
Quite frankly, he may not have cerebral capacity to take in anything that you have said, he will say exactly the same thing verbatim tomorrow, and the day after.
December 15th 2010 @ 10:02am
Ben of Phnom Penh said | December 15th 2010 @ 10:02am | Report comment
correct me if I’m wrong however I believe over the entire history of Aussie Rules the most common winning margin is 1 point (I assume this was a VFL/AFL stat when I heard it).
Both games are great to watch and play.
December 15th 2010 @ 10:13am
amazonfan said | December 15th 2010 @ 10:13am | Report comment
Ben, I believe that you are right. It could simply be the law of averages, but for whatever reason, I do believe that you’re right about the most common winning margin.
I also agree with you regarding your last sentence.
December 14th 2010 @ 3:33pm
amazonfan said | December 14th 2010 @ 3:33pm | Report comment
You’re probably right.
December 15th 2010 @ 11:02am
Fussball ist unser leben said | December 15th 2010 @ 11:02am | Report comment
2010 AFL home & away season (176 matches)
Average winning margin: 35 points
0-20 pts: 61 (35%)
21-50 pts: 67 (38%)
>50 pts: 48 (27%)
Only 4 matches had a 1 pt margin and 2 were draws. A total of 20 matches (11%) had a margin of 1 goal or less.
There is absolutely ZERO possibility that “the most common winning margin” in AFL is 1 point!
Source: http://stats.rleague.com/afl/seas/2010.html
December 15th 2010 @ 11:08am
amazonfan said | December 15th 2010 @ 11:08am | Report comment
We’re talking all-time, and we are correct. The most common winning margin in the VFL/AFL since 1897 is indeed one point.
http://www.cumsar.com.au/News.php?By=Item&Item=005http://www.cumsar.com.au/News.php?By=Item&Item=005
December 15th 2010 @ 11:25am
MyLeftFoot said | December 15th 2010 @ 11:25am | Report comment
You’re only looking at one season, over the course of 114 seasons, it may well be that the most common margin is one point.
Either way, so what.
December 15th 2010 @ 11:44am
Fussball ist unser leben said | December 15th 2010 @ 11:44am | Report comment
That “frequency of winning margin since 1897″ simply tells us that in 113 years of VFL/AFL (approximately 16k matches), a 1-pt margin has occurred around 290 times – i.e. 1.5% of all winning margins in the past 113 years have been 1 point.
Whilst I haven’t counted all the dots on your graph, a cursory glance at that graph indicates the 2010 season is pretty similar to the historical 113 year records: approx. 1/3 matches are 0-20; 1/3 are 21-50 and 1/*3 are >50 pt margins.
December 15th 2010 @ 1:02pm
MyLeftFoot said | December 15th 2010 @ 1:02pm | Report comment
Fussball etc
and the point is??
IN AFL 2010, avg win score 108, avg lose score 72. Ave margin 35. Avg lose score just over 2 times the average margin. That’s just over 200% relative to the average margin.
HAL V6. Avg winning margin 1.8. Avg lose score 0.5. Avg lose score therefore is 27% of the avg margin.
btw
for 2010, 3 pts was the most common margin (8 times), then, 6 each for 9, 29 and 36.
btw – 24% (32) of V6 HAL games drawn. Those with a result, the loser failed to score 63 times, and the loser managed more than 2 goals only 11 of the 103 times. There were 2 3:3′s and 1 2:2. So, seriously, concede 2 goals in a game of soccer, and you really are cactus!!!
December 15th 2010 @ 1:22pm
amazonfan said | December 15th 2010 @ 1:22pm | Report comment
I’m not a statician. I actually used that source simply because it mentioned the most common winning margin. The fact that it has been the most common winning margin, though, does not mean it happened the majority of times.
December 13th 2010 @ 9:34pm
jamesb said | December 13th 2010 @ 9:34pm | Report comment
Whoever is the successor, he or she have to come up with ways on how to generate new revenue streams for the code and the a-league.
We are part of asia now, lets use it to our advantage.
If I was a PR man for the A-LEAGUE as far as promoting it in Australia and asia, I’d use slogans like “want to watch the most unpredictable football competition on earth, watch the A-league!.
In fairness to the A-league it is unpredictable. Not many comps around the world would have a team coming third last after winning the comp the prevoius year. In europe its the same 3 or 4 teams on top of the ladder, year in year out……………..boring!
December 14th 2010 @ 1:14pm
Jeff said | December 14th 2010 @ 1:14pm | Report comment
lol we are definately not part of Asia, where did you get that from, Kevin Rudd?
December 15th 2010 @ 10:00am
Ben of Phnom Penh said | December 15th 2010 @ 10:00am | Report comment
he means we are part of the Asian Football Confederation. Do try to keep up.
December 13th 2010 @ 9:57pm
banaba said | December 13th 2010 @ 9:57pm | Report comment
I was very much alive in 89′ and i was watching the game in Sydney with alot of other people and the atmosphere was awesome (no one I know watched your A-League “blockbuster” on Sat nite (neither do the FTA executives -haha)) – I guess we differ, you think a nil all draw is a great game in front of 1,700 people or a penalty shootout is great (might as well toss a coin), we do differ alot, you follow your game and i will follow mine – as far as your comment on low expectations, think the World Cup bid !!!, you had better hope Sir Frank/Tinkler and Palmer are prepared to lose alot of money or else CYA !!!
December 13th 2010 @ 9:59pm
banaba said | December 13th 2010 @ 9:59pm | Report comment
are we part of Asia?, I thought we are Oceainia, no other Asian country supported us in the World Cup bid? from what I can gather Asian countries do not like us
December 15th 2010 @ 9:59am
Ben of Phnom Penh said | December 15th 2010 @ 9:59am | Report comment
Where did you get that idea? I live in Asia, your assertion is incorrect.
December 15th 2010 @ 9:05pm
punter said | December 15th 2010 @ 9:05pm | Report comment
There are 4 Asians on the FIFA committee & guess what 3 of them had a country bidding for the World cup, get your facts right.
December 13th 2010 @ 10:12pm
Fred doh! said | December 13th 2010 @ 10:12pm | Report comment
guy’s a drop kick
December 15th 2010 @ 8:58pm
banaba said | December 15th 2010 @ 8:58pm | Report comment
Fussball???, like I said we are not Asia, not one Asian country voted for us in the World Cup 2022 (we are Oceania)