With Sydney FC confirming yesterday they’ve moved their round four clash with Perth Glory to ANZ Stadium, there’s no doubt the club appear, at this stage, to be setting the Sydney agenda in the battle against the new kid on the block, the West Sydney Wanderers.
While the A-League’s new western Sydney franchise has been all the talk over the past few months, as they held fan forums, announced their new colours and logo, played their first few games, and held a membership launch, suddenly the agenda has shifted to the east.
By capturing the Italian great Alessandro Del Piero, Sydney FC have not only stepped up to the home plate, but right now appear to be slugging home runs every time they step up to bat.
Suddenly things have gone a little more quiet out west.
On Sunday, on the day Sydney FC were holding their fan day at Leichhardt, attracting a crowd of about 3,500 for a trial against the Newcastle Jets, the Wanderers made a far more modest home “debut” at Parramatta Stadium, playing a trial in front of just over 1000 fans.
The Red and Black Bloc did their bit, not stopping for the full 90 minutes, but you couldn’t help but think that the recent negative headlines about crowd trouble and the Del Piero signing had had an early impact on the Wanderers “brand”.
Sydney being Sydney, fickle and prone to following fads, it’s no huge surprise to find the momentum has shifted towards the bigger fish in town, particular in light of the capture of a player that appeals not only to those that love hype, but those that live football.
There’s no doubt the Sydney FC team, led by new CEO Tony Pignata, seem hell bent on capturing as much of the early attention as possible, using Del Piero to create plenty of hype and momentum.
While the decision to move the round four match away from Allianz has been forced upon them by the decision to resurface the stadium during the football season, strategically it appears to have been well thought out.
In past seasons the corresponding game has been played at either Parramatta Stadium or Campbelltown, but Pignata and Co. are banking on a big start.
With the club confident it can sell out the first home game, in round two against Newcastle, and the Sydney derby a week later at Parramatta likely to sell out, there’s hope of a crowd pushing 30,000 at ANZ on Sunday, 28th October.
With a 5pm kick-off, the club will hope they can attract families as well as those that want to see Del Piero.
Certainly, it’s a play right into an area the Wanderers would consider to be their own.
Having said that, the new club made their own strategic decision earlier this week not to host the round two derby at ANZ, but keep it at Parramatta.
No doubt this was a decision based on fan feedback, and Lyall Gorman and his team are to be applauded for listening to the fans.
At the two fan forums I attended, the clear message was “no to ANZ”, and while it may have been tempting to cash-in by shifting to Homebush, it appears a decision that should create goodwill, a bumper atmosphere for the derby, and might create more demand later.
Sydney FC had no such hesitation.
Providing an affordable family ticket, no more than say $50, might be another way of targeting a demographic and market that the Wanderers would be hoping to capture.
It’s all a fascinating side-show.
At the very least, the Wanderers appear to have shaken their cross town rival out of a slumber, and for the sake of the A-League, that was much needed.
The gauntlet, it seems, has been thrown down to the new kid in town.
The Wanderers claim they will go about their own thing, and there’s certainly no big names or stars among the five foreign visa players or the rest of the squad assembled by Tony Popovic and Ante Milicic.
Whether they respond with a big name of their own, or by building patiently, over time, remains to be seen, but what it is clear is that Sydney, the city, is in for a fascinating summer.
Nathan of Perth
Roar Rookie
I think I likes it
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
@ AF I've seen fans supporting the same team flying the Palestinian flag & the Israeli flag cheering at matches in the Europe. I've seen fans supporting the same team flying the Japanese flag & the South Korean flag at matches in Europe. This season, MVFC has players from Argentina & Brasil in the squad & I'm sure we'll see flags from both these countries at Docklands in a couple of weeks. Football is a global game with 208 flags available to be flown at matches.
Simmo
Guest
Um, SFC fanbase is as culturally diverse as the city itself. Wanderers are just following a path we've already paved.
Australian Rules
Guest
Fuss Again you missed the point by a mile. I attend sport every week with people of all different ethnic backgrounds. The question is whether National Flags are a good idea at A-League games or whether they could instigate trouble. In my opinion, there is no way WSW fans with Aust-Bosnian ties would happily cheer alongside a Serbian flag. If you say there'd be no scope for trouble or disharmony - well, you're lying. Only WSW flags should be allowed at a WSW game.
Stevo
Guest
Nice! And yes, I'm sure many people still think that Berisha dived ;) Can't wait for Oct 5 .
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
@Australian Rules Stop talking nonsense. My group of mates - a mixture of MHFC & MVFC members - include Aussies of various ethnicity, including Macedonian (who is married to a Bosnian), Slovakian, Serbian, German, Spanish, Irish, English, Danish, Mexican, Colombian, Indian & Chinese. We have no problems laughing together, arguing together, playing football together, or drinking beer together. We all went to WC2006 together. Yes, many of us went to matches involving our country of birth, but every single one of us was in Kaiserslautern the day Timmy scored a brace against JPN. You're either insular or ignorant. Either way, you need to get more friends with hard vowels at the end of their surnames.
NY
Guest
I do agree with what you wrote AR. Flags will probably be an issue as they can provoke or cause problems. If you are going to enforce a rule, make it blanket. So if you won't let Serbians or Bosnians carry their flags to a game, then it has to apply to all. To be honest I even think Tony Popovic (coach) would want to see Croatian flags. I don't see the point in it, and can only cause a potential flare up if someone gets offended (which believe me will happen). To be honest I think we have moved past this all anyway. And if one person is offended by not being able to carry their flag into a game, then I am suspicious about that person's motives anyway. You can't please everyone, but we will take in the one's that are coming for the football.
Australian Rules
Guest
Kasey, you're being pedantic just because I wasn't politically-correct enough to use the term Australian-Serbs or Australian-Bosnians...it's was obvious that's what I meant. Now READ what I actually said. I never suggested they weren't "Australians". Nor did I ever suggest that multi-ethnic crowds cannot enjoy sporting events together, as they do every week across Australia - so you just made that up. The issue I wondered about is FLAGS. A national flag is a strong symbol that unfortunately can invite trouble. I was in Melbourne during the 2009 Aust Open when the Serbian and Bosnian fans rioted against each other. Croatian fans were at it in 2010. Just last year the Serbian fans unfurled the "Free Mladic" sign at a friendly - shockingly provocative to Bosnians. You really think Australian-Bosnians would cheer happily alongside a Serbian flag? You're either naive or way more optimistic than me.
Minister for Information for the Democratic People's Republic of Football
Guest
There are also many African migrants living in WS Kasey, especially from Ghana,Sudan and Nigeria. I hope they jump on board because they love the game and the football culture they are used to from their former homelands is definately something they've been missing. I have had some interesting conversations with African migrants here in Sydney about football. Their enthusiasm and passion for the game are no surprise to me but what stood out for me was their keen interest and support for the Socceroos and for the growth of the game here in Australia. WSW should do everything possible to attract the African-Australian demographic. A Yakubu or Stephen Appiah in the WSW squad would do amazing things in that regard.
Punter
Guest
Kasey, there are always a few nutters, but generally football in Australia is for all Australians with their varying backgrounds. I have Portuguese background & proud of it, my favourite player is the great man himself Cristiano Ronaldo & find myself defending him often, but when it comes to my allegiance there is no doubt, go you Socceroos & my favourite team is Sydney FC.
Realfootball
Guest
Add to the new staff and player a massive positive in the departure of Lavicka. He did the club more harm than anything else by a country mile. Yes, he won the double in a dire season of football with a team he inherited - and look what happened after that.
Realfootball
Guest
I think the ad is disappointingly average. I hoping for something that would set me back in my seat. Given the material they had to work with, I would have hoped for something considerably higher octane than this.
rob
Guest
The ad is no 'come on aussi'e or 'up there cazaly', 2 songs which changed the shape of their games. It doesn't hurl me to floor or make my nipples go hard. WE need a legendary anthem.
Kasey
Guest
I already stand side by side with people of many ethnic backgrounds at Adelaide United games so to suggest it doesn't happen in football in this country is a mischevious untruth at best and xenophobic racism at worst.
Kasey
Guest
They are still 'Australians' and Australians of many backgrounds work well together, bond and form 'teams' very easily in the scheme of things. I have no doubt the faces in the stands at WSW will reflect the cultural diversity in WS.
Marc
Guest
hi Elisha Have enjoyed your insightful contributions on other tabs of 'The Roar'. Welcome aboard, and hope you become a long-term fan.
robfromtheriff
Guest
Well said NY. Im a foundation member and echo your thoughts. Very disappointed with the rubbish printed by the Daily Telegraph and its NRL agenda ( I was at that game), but I'll be over it when the season starts and Im enjoying the home grown football with the my friends from western Sydney. I know it will be a harder task than anticipated but the long term future of the game looks good. The WSW will be the "icing on the cake" to go with our world of football including the EPL, Primera Liga, Champions League etc. Looking forward to the summer. Go the Wanderers!
Punter
Guest
Yes I agree, WSW will grow, but they need to do the little things right first, grassroots first, the potential is there, allow the club to grow slowly both on & off the field, but they have to do it right. This is too big a market to rush into it & building it up from bottom up is the way to go.
Punter
Guest
It's the Perth Glory game that has been switched to the ANZ Stadium, but yes I agree 30K will sound pretty empty, but maybe the FFA & SFC will advertise heavily on this game, plus good opportunity for the SFC owners to recoup some money on the Del Piero investment.
Australian Rules
Guest
Suggesting that Bosnians, Croats or Serbs would happily cheer alongside each others flag is optimistic indeed. Would be great to see...but I won't hold my breath.