It was football last night, but not as we know it. The LA Galaxy’s 4-3 win on penalties over the Melbourne Victory at Etihad Stadium had all the ingredients needed for a big match. David Beckham, Robbie Keane, Landon Donovon, a big crowd and a few outrageous haircuts.
Yet, somehow, it felt like we were watching a glorified kick around at the park. As Victory skipper Adrian Leijer said after the match: “it wasn’t about the result.”
Sure we had a Beckham shot from half way, bringing back memories of his memorable goal for Manchester United against Wimbledon at Selhurst Park in 1996.
Keane even got jeered while taking two dubiously awarded penalties for one of the 697 clubs that he supported as a boy.
Still, something was missing. Football without intensity is strangely boring.
Whenever a ball was turned over it was hard to find someone who cared enough to turn and chase. Roddy Vargas wasn’t even bothered if any of his passes found another player let alone a team-mate in the first half.
These games could be so much more.
It’s time the A-League and the MLS turned their relationship into something more meaningful.
At the moment it’s like Tiger Woods coming out to Australia and only playing the pro-am before departing.
If the logistics could be worked out it would be fantastic to see the A-League champions and the winners of the MLS Cup face off every year for a trophy.
The fixture could be squeezed in at this time of year. It would mean a team like the Galaxy taking on the A-League winners from the season before, but that is no different to the current set up for Australian teams competing in the Asian Champions League.
The Hyundai/Dodge/Pepsi/Coca-Cola shield would take time to gain relevance, but surely it would be better than one off friendlies.
It would also ensure a lasting relationship between the two leagues. If, and when, Beckham moves on to more Parisian surrounds, it’s likely no A-League side will bother playing a mid-season friendly against a team from the MLS.
Australian officials can learn a lot from their American counterparts. The MLS travelled the same path as the A-League earlier in its existence.
Now the average attendance for the 18, yes 18 teams, climbed to 17,872 for the season just completed.
That means more people attend MLS games than NBA (17,323) and the NHL (17,132).
Teams in Vancouver, Kansas City, Portland, Philadelphia also have stadiums built specifically for them and the Houston Dynamo will join that list next season.
They’re boutique arenas that create a unique football atmosphere. Sound familiar anyone?
While most of the intelligence gathering by A-League officials should be done off the field, it would be nice to have an outward on-field symbol of what could be a fantastic partnership.
NashRambler
Guest
"That means more people attend MLS games than NBA (17,323) and the NHL (17,132)." Nice try, MLS teams played a 34 game shedule in 2011 with 17 home games per team. NBA and NHL teams play an 82 game schedule at 41 home games per team. The per game average for MLS is to be congratulated but should be put in proper perspective relative to the other major professional sports leagues in the U.S.
apaway
Roar Guru
Mel has a shiny ring on the finger on her hand that denotes being engaged. It broke my heart.
AL
Guest
I enjoyed the game for what it was, exibition. I though it was entertaining and open play. Despite no obviouse intencity.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
[math fail. Comment deleted]
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Futbanous, It is going to be a heck of a lot cheaper to refit Ballymore than build from scratch somewhere else.
Mike in SoCal
Guest
I like it, let's do it! Seriously, why not? Each league could schedule it in, make arrangements at least for their particular champion or top-two to be off. Would make for some great viewing. Seems like there is some type of ego which runs across a lot of these latin-American countries. Would be hard to get them, why not start out with MLS/A-League and whichever Pacific-bordering countries want to participate? Even if it starts up small for a few years, these types of things develop over the years. Just takes some enterprising-type thinking to get it going. Again though, since this is a smart idea and would be fun to watch, for that reason it probably won't ever happen...
Michael
Guest
That's great to hear someone from the other side of the Big Lake. I agree that an expanded tournament between the top two or three teams from each league would be best, but it would be a very expensive venture with no real guarantee of financial success.
Michael
Guest
Pretty girl, loves football. Many men's dream girl?
Michael
Guest
They come in a flatpack from IKEA.
Benchwarmer
Guest
http://www.hawaiianislandsinvitational.com replaced the pan-pacific championship that Sydney competed in one year. Melbourne Heart are competing in it this time. Perhaps the FFA could try and host the tournament in future.
Futbanous
Guest
Cant say for other states & clubs ,but Ballymore is not an option.Not if the Roar are to be considered a modern professional football club ,providing the modern amenities that go along with that. The turnstiles,catering & toilet facilities are primitive by present day standards. If this stadium could be brought up to date with a 25,000 or so capacity,then it is ideal. But even if that happened the Roar wish to distance themselves from Ballymore indicated by Ange plugging for new training facilities of their own.
Midfielder
Guest
A number of years ago ... Hal 2 & 3 ... a Pan Asian Pacific one off event was half tried.... The competition never reached its end goal of say the top tean from Australia, Japan, Koera, China, Indoneisa, US, Mexico, South Amercian Coutries with a pacific boarder... Takes the golf view .... this is a real goer ... played over say a two or three weeks in a knock out type competition... just have to find the calender when everyone has two to three weeks clear...
Midfielder
Guest
Saw the article myself.... the 17 million means you don't buy the land and its no frills ... BTE the 17 million was NZ dollars ... and its pre frab... meaning just bolts together ...
Mike in SoCal
Guest
First of all, I'm in L.A. and I stayed to watch the game. So did my son, even though it ended at approximately 3am here. Furthermore, there are a number of Galaxy fans that threw viewing parties to watch the game. Personally, I think it's a great idea if the MLS and A-League had closer ties, a regional champion is a great idea. We could always alternate years, each country hosting every other year. The game could be scheduled at a time that would work for each country, on a weekend, morning or night. It could be a relationship that would benefit both leagues, each in their relative infancy as compared to established European leagues. The MLS' 4-top teams currently play in a CONCACAF Champions League tournament, perhaps an expanded tourney including the A-League could be arranged, something like that. Anyways, it's a good idea. For that reason it probably won't happen...
nordster
Guest
on the similar sporting environments ... an A-L/MLS club CEOs conference would achieve more in that respect. Let the on field opportunities come up as they may.
Matt F
Roar Guru
Spot on. If my maths is correct an 8pm kick-off in melbourne would mean 1am in LA. I have serious doubts that there would be heaps of MLS fans getting/staying up to watch the MLS vs A-League champion which seriously takes away commercial attractiveness and therefore viability of the idea. Likewise if you played it in the USA an 8pm kick off in LA would be about 1pm in Melbourne. Obviously the hours would vary depending on the time of year and city that the game was played but it's a long way to go to be broadcast back home at awkward hours. Besides given the size of our market you'd think tha if the MLS were to put on an event like this the would look to China or Japan for a game like this.
Matt F
Roar Guru
Get in line buddy! Though I'm pretty sure I heard that she's already engaged/married. Lucky bastard... :)
Chris
Guest
Yes, a TEMPORARY stadium. Essentially it's an existing field where they're putting up some extra temporary seating. In no way is it a viable permanent solution - corporate facilities (which is a big source of revenue these days) are almost non-existent. In most places there are better stadiums capacity-wise than the current ones (e.g. Sydney FC could/should play out of Jubilee, or Parramatta Satdium, Brisbane Roar could/should play out of Ballymore, Phoenix could be moved to Dunedin to play out that city's schmick new stadium, etc). But whether they represent better financial deals for the clubs is another matter...
Matt F
Roar Guru
When you say "temporary stadium" is that sort of like the temporary seating they put up for the Davis Cup match against Switzerland a little while ago? If it is then that's more or less the stadium equivalent to the demountable classrooms which would explain the costs. If not then Australian clubs/sport bodies need to hire that company!
Craig Neilson
Guest
Mel McLaughlin: Will you Marry Me?