The A-League commences on October fifth and it seems the round two match between Sydney FC and the Newcastle Jets will be hotly anticipated like last year’s Melbourne Victory versus Sydney FC game.
It has already been hotly anticipated because if all goes to plan, Sydney FC’s marquee man, Italian football legend Alessandro del Piero, will make his debut at the Allianz Stadium, his home ground for the next two years.
But another massive signing coup is about to be unveiled, with Newcastle Jets signing ex-Liverpool player Emile Heskey on a one year deal, subject to a medical.
This sets up a tantalising battle.
Both Heskey and del Piero have played for their nations many times (del Piero 91 times for Italy, Heskey 62 times for England) and have proven their worth against the world’s best in European competition, with del Piero having a UEFA Champions League title to his name and Heskey winning a UEFA Cup with Liverpool.
Just like Harry Kewell and Brett Emerton last year, when two class players returned home to play in the A-League, both del Piero and Heskey have provided the A-League a big shot in the arm.
Possibly, del Piero alone has given football in this country its biggest shot in the arm since Dwight Yorke launched the A-League’s first season.
With former Johnny Warren Medalist Marcos Flores back in Australia playing for Melbourne Victory, the biggest club (supporter wise) in the A-League, an Italian footballing legend playing for Sydney FC and Emile Heskey playing outside of England for the first time in his long career, the A-League is set to become one of the hottest tickets in town.
Brace yourselves.
mahony
Guest
Thay don't fill the stands to watch half the NRL as I understand it? Football is will drive its revenues in a range of ways - and increasingly that will be off shore.....
mahony
Guest
Absolutely - this is not Pepsi v Coke. This is football v. some provincial codes no one cares about......
thomas
Guest
the effect works in different ways - a marketing boost which increases audiences, an awareness boost which attracts players, an increase in playing quality which attracts players and media interest, an increase in playing competition which helps develop young players and helps improve playing quality again, which keeps the positive spiral going, all of which helps boost revenues, and on, and on... so the question isn't what happens when the effect wears off, but, what will be the next move to make sure the effect is amplified to the maximum? What good players are next on the shopping list? Will A-league teams begin to win in the Champions League? Which media outlets will decide to fight for league rights? Do the Aussie and Kiwis national teams perform better? Which players will benefit, and what skills will they show? How much money can be generated?
Minister for Information for the Democratic People's Republic of Football
Guest
What's the Australian Labour Party got to do with SFC? And who's AM? What's going on Middy?
TC
Guest
That wasn't Slade - that was Marc Bolan and T-Rex. TC
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
"What long term plan does the A League have in its bid to become a major sporting code capable of rivaling NRL, AFL etc" Why do we have to rival AFL or NRL? For me, in a global sports market, the HAL's major competitors will be J-League, K-League, Chinese Super League, etc. The AFL & NRL are different products. However, the other football leagues in Asia are different brands of the same product. Our aim should be for the HAL to be the best football league in Asia. Why? There are 22 million people in AUS; there are 4 billion people in Asia. By 2020, every Aussie company, who has a product that has the potential to be sold to the global market, should be aiming to generate more revenue from outside Australia than inside Australia. Finally, if we do this properly, there is no reason why the HAL cannot attract 3-6 ex-EPL/La Liga/Serie A/Bundesliga players every year. The MLS is 10 years older than the HAL and, nowadays, there is a steady stream of highly-talented players - who can still perform at the highest level - heading to the MLS.
Alan
Roar Guru
Just a thought. You are right these signings are a massive shot in the arm for football in Aus. But what is going to happen when the effect wears off? I guess what I am trying to ask is whether fans are going to fill the stands to watch Sydney FC or are they going to watch just Del Piero, Ballack or Heskey? If its the latter, what is going to happen when these players decide to move on? What long term plan does the A League have in its bid to become a major sporting code capable of rivaling NRL, AFL etc? A star signing is just that.... a shot in the arm. Nothing more.
Matt F
Roar Guru
That sums up the whole marquee player system really well. They're most certainly high risk but the right player can have enormous benefits.
mahony
Guest
Exchange rate is good right now also...
Futbanous
Guest
Another one about DP's & the overall health of the game in the USA,which is optimistic overall:- http://soccerlens.com/delicate-balance-the-mls-designated-player-rule/95208/ Theres no uncharted waters here for the A-League,we need to look learn & try get in on the DP/Marquee act. I'd say the signing of ADP is leaning towards learning whats needed for our league to make a mark in the World Game.
Futbanous
Guest
Also from this article on the impact of DP's in the MLS ie this is purely about impact on the field:- http://www.lagconfidential.com/2012/7/28/3198753/mls-designated-player-thierry-henry-david-beckham-landon-donovan-alvaro-saborio-kris-boyd "DPs don't always pan out and the average production by DPs this season is not so impressive. However, if your team picks the right DP, the benefits are certainly there." So picking the right one according to their (real) experience is the key to onfield success.
Futbanous
Guest
Heres an article about the "Beckham(designated player) rule in the MLS:- http://www.forbes.com/sites/bobbymcmahon/2012/08/05/has-the-beckham-rule-worked-for-mls/ Noticed this paragraph which we can relate to in the A-League:- "An increase of $50,000 in the average MLS salary would require the cap to be increased by about a million dollars a year per team. Everyone thinks it would be great to increase the average salary for non-DPs but would it improve the product? Would it sell more tickets?Would it increase viewing numbers? The answer for all three is almost certainly no. Take that $1M, make it discretionary and allow a team to invest in another DP or two and the answer for the three questions above is almost certainly yes."
Midfielder
Guest
Just think... SFC have ALP Jets ... AM WSW ... MB Mariners also have a top signing not in the same class as the above in Nick Montgomery a DM who played for SU for over 12 years... AU have some decent signings... As the old Slade song go's 'Bring it on, bang a gong'''
Midfielder
Guest
EVEN MORE MASSIVE NEWS ... Ex-Germany captain Michael Ballack in A-League talks with Western Sydney Wanderers http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/soccer/ex-germany-captain-michael-ballack-in-a-league-talks-with-western-sydney-wanderers/story-fndb5nmd-1226477528365 with ADP coming to Australia it has meant other top names are willing to consider ...
AL
Guest
Good point Bondy, hopefully economic conditions in Europe (dont mean it like it sounds) and Del Piero will open the door for other top line players to come to the A-League. Pitty our own overseas players e.g. Cahill dont see our league as the best option after europe. Like coming to Australia is beneth them, very Euro Snob mentality. One other point when we have the likes of Del playing for Sydney FC we get fans with Juventis shirts, flags etc showning up. Just remember he plays for SFC. Even these Australian fans much like some of our Socceroos find it beneth their football aristocracy to support a home grown team. Are they better than the rest of us?? Or do they have more football knowledge because they wear a Juventis shirt.? Del Piero has left Juv behind why dont they.
nordster
Guest
Totally, given a choice of all options australia looks attractive. Especially for those not wanting to be seen to be cashing in too much. At least with here for the legend type players, they can say 'well its australia' ....whereas some other leagues, fans seem more cynical about. (not that i share such thoughts, but oz has to use what it has!) And downturn wise, we really have only seen the early pops....the real crash, the govt bubble has not hit yet. So we may yet pick up a few more flights to safety.
Bondy.
Guest
I think it reflects the market downturn in Europe as well and alot of pro footballers dont see China or Japan as an option both Heskey and ADP want to play football in a stable country thats know throughout the world as being a relatively safe country. These big name signings hopefully will illustrate to parents and kids that this is the sport, the daddy of all Mc daddys.