The Roar
The Roar

Matt Connellan

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Joined March 2016

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He’d been on the bench for five games when he decided to throw in the towel – I don’t think that’s particularly professional….

Janjetovic, the A-League's first genuine traitor

Sydney are an eastern team in that the geographical centre of Sydney is closer to Parramatta as opposed to the CBD, yes. That’s what I meant by east and west of the M4, by which I meant where it starts at Strathfield.

Tribalism the key to successful expansion

You agree with me yet still find something to complain about – doesn’t sound like you at all!

Socceroos squad: What happened to Luke Brattan?

Ok, the rules are rules and we should never lobby to change anything ever again!

That Clisby and Santalab won't be punished is insane

I understand it, I’m not satisfied with FFA’s response.

The FFA has been taken for a ride again

Whether or not a points deduction stops these idiots is secondary to the fact that FFA imposed a suspended points deduction as a deterrent, and then failed to activate it.

It’s a free pass to these so-called “fans” to do what they like without fear of punishment or sanction.

The FFA has been taken for a ride again

Are you calling me a liar? And what’s this “poorly concealed agenda”? To clean up the game?

I’m fighting the same fight as everyone else, including FFA, I just think they’ve gone about it the wrong way.

The FFA has been taken for a ride again

You will see then that I currently work at Fox Sports, who have been one of the biggest supporters of the A-League since its inception. Pinch of salt my friend!

The FFA has been taken for a ride again

Yes, I have an answer, but I’m not satisfied with it, therefore the opinion piece. I’m not asking you, it’s rhetorical.

The FFA has been taken for a ride again

It’s the third consecutive article in which I’ve had an opinion regarding something to do with the governing body, yes. Cheap shots? Hardly.

I admire your desire to get into a discussion. All I’m saying here is that whether the lighting of flares should be policed by law enforcement isn’t the point of >this< discussion.

The point here is that there was (and still is) a suspended points deduction hanging over Wanderers, and that it wasn't activated by the same anti-social behaviour for which it was introduced to start with. How does that happen?

That's the crux of this debate. I'm happy to have another one about who should be responsible for ensuring crowd safety – but I'll have to take another "cheap shot" somewhere else!

The FFA has been taken for a ride again

“A transparent fabrication” – yep, I made the whole thing up. Didn’t happen. Move on!

The FFA has been taken for a ride again

Yes, I’ve covered the NSW NPL at length and have watched all the players I talked about many, many times. I wouldn’t have bothered writing about them if I hadn’t.

Like I said, Danny Choi shot to prominence because of the FFA Cup and “that” goal, but he’s a superb player who hadn’t really been looked at before then. That’s part of my point.

I agree there is a huge difference between NPL level and HAL level, that much is obvious. But a lot of these players aren’t being given the opportunity to step up, even as squad players, when others have been around for years, never really making the grade, but they keep getting gigs at the expense of outstanding NPL players.

The A-League clubs have a duty to develop our players, so why aren’t they?

Indeed – but obviously he’s talking about expansion of the A-League.
And he had this to say RE a second tier…

“Postecoglou does not address a possible two-tier system, with promotion and relegation, which is impossible until 2034 at the earliest given the licenses of A-League clubs.”

Australia's just not ready for promotion and relegation

The entire point of a national second tier would be to allow promotion and relegation – that’s the very idea.

Australia's just not ready for promotion and relegation

Everyone who is calling for promotion/relegation says it has to be professional. You can’t be promoting and relegating teams between a professional and a semi-professional division.

Your comment RE Melbourne Knights isn’t relevant – they were national champions as a semi pro team when the entire division was semi pro.

But you can’t have a half and half set up AND have promotion and relegation.

I envisage a fully fledged second tier one day, with promotion and relegation, TV, the whole shebang, just like everyone else. It can work.

But I’m saying we can’t have it yet, as some would wish.

Australia's just not ready for promotion and relegation

The entire article is about a professional second tier with a promotion/relegation system – that’s what WE are talking about.

Australia's just not ready for promotion and relegation

I don’t see anyone being hysterical – moreover I see the discussions which need to be had, being had.

It’s a healthy debate, but this is my point of view from my perspective on both sides of fence.

Australia's just not ready for promotion and relegation

No, not surprised at all. That’s exactly my point.

Australia's just not ready for promotion and relegation

We already have a semi professional second tier, the NPL. And although it’s state based, the top teams enter the nation wide finals series at the end of it all – but guess what? Nobody goes. I was at Sydney United v Brisbane Strikers the other day, two clubs stitched in the fabric of Australian football. Did anyone really care?

For a promotion/relegation scenario both tiers have to be professional, otherwise you’ll end up with the part time Melbourne Knights suddenly competing in the professional top tier and vice versa when a team gets relegated from the top tier. But there’s certainly nothing to suggest we’re capable of it.

Australia's just not ready for promotion and relegation

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