Okay, so the title is tongue-in-cheek. While I realise that the birth of the A-League certainly signalled a fresh and at times innovative approach to the game at club level, there were perhaps better ways to leave behind the era of the National Soccer League than by labelling it “old soccer”.
Two appointments this week illustrate that the links between the NSL and the A-League continue to get stronger and hopefully lead to progress for the individuals and clubs involved.
Both Francis Awaritefe and Paul Trimbole won NSL titles and shone as what the A-League might now term “marquee” players.
Melbourne Victory and Brisbane Roar have added respectively, the two to their coaching staff. “New football” analyst Robbie Slater, a player of “old soccer” with Northern Spirit, couldn’t understand the appointment of Awaritefe, who joined new “old soccer” stalwart Mehmet Durakovic at the Victory.
“Old soccer’s” Paul Trimbole has joined fellow “old soccer” warrior and total “new football” convert Ange Postecoglou at the new-age, new football pin-up boys at the Roar.
It’s all a bit dumb, isn’t it?
I mean, “old soccer” identities have been part of “new football” since the A-League’s inception.
John Kosmina, Branko Culina, Miron Bleiberg, Frank Farina, Lawrie McKinna, Alex Tobin, Ian Ferguson, David Mitchell, Graham Arnold – just to name a few – have had or have coaching positions with A-League clubs.
I’m not even going to try and go into the players, who have straddled both sides of the mythical divide for they are numerous.
Off the pitch, Andy Harper, Nick Meredith and Ross Aloisi draw on their considerable experience at those “old soccer” venues like Middle Park, Perry Park, Schintler Reserve, Marconi Stadium and St George Stadium to provide commentary on players treading the “new football” turf at A-League venues around the country.
Even some of the clubs are “old soccer”-inspired.
Adelaide United and Perth Glory played in the NSL. The Brisbane Roar were originally to be known as the Queensland Lions in a nod to their heritage link to the Brisbane Lions, until the AFL club of the same name stepped in (like football fans would ever confuse the two).
The Newcastle Jets were run by Con Constantine until this season when Nathan Tinkler bought them and just about every other sporting franchise in the Hunter.
Without doubt, Sydney and Melbourne is where the greatest change occurred.
Six seasons on, regardless of what their off-field perils may be, the Victory and Sydney FC are the two most successful clubs in the A-League.
There can be no doubt that “old soccer” laid the foundation for the rise of both clubs, just as it is true that the eventual mismanagement and insurmountable restrictions of those former NSL clubs led to the existence of the A-League’s two fiercest rivals.
However, let’s not deny history or ignore the harsh lessons learned from the formative years of club football for the NSL was truly a pioneering competition.
And stalwarts from those pioneering days are making contributions to the still-young A-League in greater numbers each season.
Futbanous
Guest
Yes I see the irony.
con
Guest
they said they have been bombarded with fans complaints for the past 4 years about home end memberships and overpolicing. the club agrees with the fans and wants things to return to how they were but they must follow ffa implementations. im surprised most of the HAL fans on here are'nt aware of the issues considering how much they have dropped our attendances
con
Guest
na na i goto vpl occasionally tho. bentleigh greens and oakleigh cannons are 5 minutes drive. its great fun as well
mahony
Guest
In my view the FFA approach (or 'new dawners') is one of centralised governance as driver of football business and ultimately football culture (i.e. strategy driving culture). Opponents of the FFA (or 'Fosterites') argue that the existing NSL culture should have been allowed to drive the business of football, thereby informing governance (i.e. culture driving strategy). Clearly neither approach is absolutely right and a flexible mixture of the two is optimal. The thing I like about apaway's contribution is that he is in effect arguing that this mix has been out of balance - but is improving with recent appointments. He rejects the notion that the revolution in football was either all good or all bad. A valuable contribution to the debate from a person with a relatively unique perspective on our game. His contribution is certainly more appropriate that the ironically racist ravings of his former fellow pro Lubjo, or those that love such contributions - namely the 'wog ball' haters in the media. Strange bedfellows indeed.
Futbanous
Guest
Finally got to watch the last World game forum after sorting out a few problems with the computer. Virtually watching the old soccer,Foz,Les, SBS generally against the new Football Ben Buckley, Greg Griffin. Having watched both the NSL & A-League from word go,perhaps we need to look at the makeup of this panel & consider that 6 years ago this mix was impossible. There is a tug of war going on but most of the participants are on the SBS end of the rope. Foz is a great football analyst on the park,but for me on subjects off the park he is starting to sound like the whiny little kid who had his ball stolen from him in the playground. That fact that Ben Buckley,Greg Griffin are involved means the game is progressing. Sure they dont know as much as Foz about the game,but they are smart men regardless of whether they really understand where the genius of Messi is coming from. My impression was one of an increase in mutual respect between all involved. For me its asking for miracles to expect a smooth transition from theOceania/ NSL/Non world cup qualifying era to Asia/A-League/World cup qualifying era. Ange,Trimmers,Frannie,Ben Buckley,Greg Griffin who cares about their past all contributing to Football in the future.
MelbCro
Guest
Con do you still go to hellas matches?
apaway
Guest
Con I assume you've written or contacted the Victory with your frustrations about the match day experience. Did they respond, and if so, what did they say?
con
Guest
i was using it in the context of what i was responding to. in reference to the overpolicing and oversanitization of home ends. read before you comment
Realfootball
Guest
"I am still angry because I can't do whatever I like..." Are you serious? Is this really what your problem is? What is this? Kindergarten?
Realfootball
Guest
I'm a real football person and it hasn't put me off Suncorp. If I'm not a "real" football person, I don't know who is, Con. Lifelong fan, regular A-League attendee, former player, current coach of my boy's under 14s. You need to watch those sweeping over generalisations. Your experience does equal everyone else's experience.
con
Guest
they did attempt it ie. announcement, matchday programs, old wogs playing flutes in the stands and a guy selling peanuts out the front. obviously its not UCL but it was still nice going. we need some of those old flute playing wogs and over passionate supporters to be a part of the HAL. the difference was, the nsl were family clubs with family ties. the hal is not and is governed by people that do not understand supporter culture. but yes i am still angry because i cant do whatever i like (no i do not light flares but i have been to games overseas and i love the colour the bring to the game) or bring whoever i want. if you wanna know why i will always point to a simple fact. seasons 1 and 2, free home ends, no restriction on active fans and a vibrant experience = increasing and record crowds. season 3 this was changed and surprise surprise, season 3 is when attendances began to fall. i understand why this happened, because i (and there is noooooo doubt how much i love football) no longer felt compelled to attend.
con
Guest
i wont stop going but its not the same as going a few years ago. in season 2 melbourne victory was the best thing that ever happened to me. i recall phoning my friend after the semi against adeliade and telling him how much more i love melbourne than spurs (my boyhood team), i lost that passion due to factors ive mentioned many times. take that aside, it frustrates me that out of my entire team, i am the only one who is a HAL fan. the rest say its the standard (cant do much there) whilst many cite the cr@p experience which i TOTALLY understand. also in terms of the technical aspect, were getting there and i appluade the ffa for what they are doing in that respect. the systems in place now are better than what i played growing up
con
Guest
used to be a member of both south melbourne and melbourne victory. played for a greek team (im not greek) so we used to goto the old hellas games all the time. tbh it was doomed because of the ethnic lines. if they changed that but allowed the fans freedom of expression then it wouldnt be in the same doldrums were in now. nsl wasnt as bad as some ppl make it out. the hal is better but the oversanitization of the matchday experience puts real football people off
Ryan
Guest
Kasey, thanks for that read. I'd just about given up on football fans having anything positive to say. I have banned myself from TWG website because it is so ridiculously negative (not constructive) that I can't handle it any more! Let's hope this season sees a change in attitude for the good
Bondy
Guest
Very interesting piece , http://www.smh.com.au/sport/football/feet-over-fists-for-young-waters-20110625-1gkkd.html .
Midfielder
Guest
Con Hang with me on this it hopefully have a point towards the end... The father of modern football i.e. total football ... his system was called TIPS... it stood for technical ability, intelligence, perversance & speed ... he rated all as equally important for a modern day player.... What is said of Australian is we lack the technical aspect of this model.... I disagree ... to explain technical skill is made up of touch and shape... by and large Australian sides hold their shape today... so when the touch improves we will be a top 15 nation... but we need to work on improving the touch side of things while at the same time not going backwards in the other areas... FFA's management, the fans & the media IMO are all getting to understand each other ... hopefully the media will not be so constantly negative..... hopefully FFA will get better at media management... and over time the home ends / stadium management & FFA management will work out how to increase the Home End fans day ... BUT not go backwards in the family friendly image the A-League generally enjoys ... Con I would love you to be part of the solution... and that means going to games and letting your tho's be known ... but maybe with a little less anger ... but do love and respect your passion...
Kasey
Guest
you mean that time I turned up at King Tom to be handed a hastily run off sheet from a photocopier of the line up between Sydney Croatia(Pumas) and Newcastle Breakers. the difference in professionalism is night and day, but Con for all of your passion(obviously a huge amount) can you recognise this as a step in the right direction or are you still too worked up because you cant do whatever you like at MVFC home games?
Kasey
Guest
Bondy that would be nice but I don't see it happening while there's mileage to be made peddling old hackneyed stereotypes knowing full well passionate football fans will click on the article(raising click-counts) to berate the idiots journalists. After which they can write, "Gee you Sokkah fans are a tad precious" aren't you? :( Only time will change this..as football continues onwards, the dinosaurs will move on and a new breed of journos(who might even have played it a junior level - or their kids currently do - or they've grown up with the Socceroos making many World Cups) will take up the trade. This is why the HAL is and has to "play the long game"we need to do everything we can to ensure the league is still around in 20-40 years.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Hey con ... apaway played in the NSL ... perhaps, he is best qualified to tell us about the things that are better &/or worse when comparing the NSL & HAL? Whilst I played Amateur & Provisional league football during the 80s & 90s, I didn't attend any NSL matches so I am not qualified to give any opinion on the quality of the NSL - on the park or in the stands. In my opinion, the only people who can talk with authority and compare the NSL & HAL are those, who have been to significant number of games in BOTH competitions. Oh, and I reckon anyone who is younger than 25 years couldn't have formed any meaningful vies of the NSL.
apaway
Guest
Con, I acknowledge the frustrations you have with the A-League. However, I have to say that on the whole, the A-League at least attempts a "match-day experience" whereas I can't remember the NSL bothering with such a concept. A lot of games didn't even produce a program or announce the starting line-ups over a PA.