FFA seeking fans' opinions on FFA Cup

I notice the survey questions from the F.F.A. of violence and ethnicity have come up on this forum . Since the inception of the H.A.L i cannot recall a group or an individual who have attacked one another at a H.A.L. game because of race ,politics or religion,it simply no longer happens and it's something that a lot people forget about .

Have you actually followed the FA Cup or seen it for yourself? The big teams put their youth teams out against the semi pro or lower division sides. Also, England is soccer mad. They follow it like Victorians follow football. That is simply not the case in OZ with local soccer.

Got the email. I think Cattery and Smell the Coffee raise some good points While the questionnaire may or may not have much bearing in the long run depending on the cultural leanings of the FFA, it is one of those things that needs to be done anyway, while not a substitute for engagement, it is nevertheless the first step. In Marketing terms, they are probably trying to get a gauge of how to pitch the competition, and how to position it amongst the myriad of other sporting competitions, and so know what kind of sponsorship to go for, when to schedule it etc I personally answered a combination of group and knockout format like the previous format of the UEFA Cup before it becamse the Europa league, I think they should have knockout stages amongst the grassroots teams, have the A League teams come in at the group stage, but based on regional areas to keep travel costs down, plus get heaps of local A League fans to local grounds. If you allow 3 out of 5 teams to progress in a group with 2 A League teams, in the later knockout rounds you are guaranteed smaller State League etc clubs have giant killing opportunities, against Interstate A League sides, without breaking the bank to help cover or subsidise travel costs Like most people I thought the violence and ethnicity questions were bizarre and slightly stupid, but it illuminates the mindset of the FFA, no one wants the problems of the old NSL, but they are a bit hysterical about it really, Where this excessively influences decision, they result in adverse outcomes for football because they alienate people like the old soccer fraternity and active fans. Another issue they seem to forego is that a lot of the times these stories were beat ups by agenda driven media entities, and they never seem to have thought to actually defend the sport from this rather than be reactive. I ended up putting the middle option which I considered neutral I would actually like to see a lot f the group stages or action take place after the A League Grand Final, during what is still football season in Europe and the local leagues are running here, have it basically run until May. Don't worry if it doesen't get much media attention, just pitch it as a comp for the hard core football fraternity. I don't like the idea of it being a pre-season comp, while that idea makes sense in a number of ways practically, I believe it fundamentally undermines the competition

Hey Plonker Have you heard of a Cup Competition in England called the FA Cup?

Uh, yeah they will. These are the teams that the A-League does the bulk of its pre-season friendlies against, you know. Gotta get match fitness somehow and this is a better way than others. Further helped by the fact a lot of A-League teams are looking for ways to build/rebuild community links.

The concept won't work. The pro teams won't risk their stars against amateur hacks so what the heck is the point?

If the teams are seeded at the group of 32, then you inevitably get the 10 A-League clubs playing 10 minnows, and yes, they should play at the smaller club's venue, if practical.

Just did the survey. My tagline: A chance for old NSL clubs to show some flare(s) -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.

I've clicked on that Lnk and the first thing I noticed was that its ot a straight knockout. There are 2 Pools of 3 teams each to determine the 4 semi-finalists. If this is the stage Victory & Heart were due to enter the tournament thenI can understand giving eeryone their moment aainst the big boys, but deviating from a knockout format in the FFA cup would have the whinging class amongst the football community out in force no doubt. As mentioned elsewhere, it needs to have an element of risk to the bigger boys (HALteams) to build the romance that cup comps are famous for.

^^This I agree with. At some stage there needs to be a defined point where an A-League club can get drawn away at some State League ground and vice versa, and the football community needs to know what this point is. Would make the draw itself an important event. The question is, at which point in the knockout does it become financially viable. I mean, Para Hils Knights(SASupLge) away to Sydney FC won't exactly get the turnstyles spinning at SFS, so someone would have to help the Knights with airfares..sponsor?, TV coverage? Given SFC just beat Paramata 6-0 in a HAL pre-season warmup at Parra Stadium, I like the idea of this comming at the end of the state league season and just as the HAL teams are coming back from holidays...would give the minnows a fighting chance.

If there is to be romance then at the round of 32 the draw has to be randomised. You need a MVFC to play against a Mackay on the minnow's turf just as much as for the players of Mackay would love the opportunity to fly to Melbourne and play at AAMI. Regardless of the result this is what forms the 'romanticism of the cup'. When some Sunday League team has the idea that they could be playing at old trafford then the score would be incidental -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.

Real, its not much to ask is it? an actual Cup for the Cup? Dust off the Old Australia Cup, , give her a polish and there you go:) a link to the past without being a slave to it. http://sfcu.com.au/smf111/index.php?topic=18236.0

I encourage anybody to sign up for F.F.A. newsletter , surveys and what not. I thought it was a comprehensive survey it was great to think these people may listen . Mt tagline was - Tradition Is Back .

The smart way to run it is for local sides to play first .say we have 700 sides including 10 A-League & 30 State league... Round 1 ... 640 teams play ... half knocked out ... but everybody places a local team Round 2 ... 320 to play ... again locals to play locals... Round 3 .... 160 teams... this time regions play ... Round 4 .... 80 teams + the state teams ie 110 teams.... play as much as possible with state and region... Round 5 ... 54 teams + 10 A-League sides Round 6... 32 remaining Round 7 ... 16 Remaining Round 8 .... 8 remaining Round 9 ... 4 remaining Round 10 ... the final..

No when tho fine

Geez, FFA can't do anything right, can they? Maybe its some of the so called football fans, who can't do anything right. Like support an A-League team in good and bad times. Like support the sport they love and defend it against some of the obvious crap and lies thrown at it.. Like go to games to enjoy them and not cause trouble or complain about everything that moves. You don't have to suck up to the FFA, but geez - give them a fair go.

All I can say is can we please have a trophy this time that doesn't look like it was knicked from a train station urinal. That's all I want, really. Although I guess with the toilet seat you can put your head through it, which works for victory celebration photos.

The Mirabella cup is a great concept, and good blueprint, but equally, it has to be recognised that it's far easier for Victoria to have that sort of structure than, say, Queensland, or even NSW.

Just go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Mirabella_Cup to see precisely how the Mirabella Cup has gone so far this season. Very well-organised very close to the FA Cup model, with the qualifying regional rounds early and the senior teams coming in after some of the minnows had been eliminated. No reason why the same format cannot work Australia-wide. Often in this country we talk too much rather than biting the bullet and getting on with the job - so let's just do it! Iron the wrinkles later. Long ago I played in an FA Cup match, and the memory is still there. It's what players, whatever their skill level, and fans dream about.

True, Cattery. I was a bit loose with my choice of words there.