Last season was a disappointment. After all the pre-season hype surrounding Harry Kewell, it just didn’t live up to the expectation. Could this year be the year that the A-League cements its place in world football?
There’s no doubt that the last couple of weeks have really caught the attention of the masses when it comes to the A-League.
Del Piero and Heskey have signed with A-League clubs Sydney FC and Newcastle Jets respectively, and there is now talk that former German captain Michael Ballack could join the Western Sydney Wanderers.
Who wouldn’t be excited about those big names joining our home grown league?
Not only would we see exciting football, but it means more teams will be competitive. Isn’t that what we want? A competitive season with great attacking football? Let’s hope these players can live up to their reputation.
With Clive Palmer behind us, this off-season has been an entertaining one. It started with Ange Postecoglou signing with Melbourne Victory, a win for all Victory supporters.
From there, Victory have signed a number of exciting attacking players, bringing back Marcos Flores to the A-League.
Of course, the other clubs have had to respond, and respond they did.
Sydney FC enticed Fabio away from Victory, signed Adam Griffiths and lured marquee man Del Piero to Australia.
Staying in New South Wales, Western Sydney signed breakthrough goalkeeper Ante Covic from Victory, Mark Bridge from Sydney FC and managed to bring Tony Popovic to the club as their manager.
Every club has been busy during the off-season, building up their sides for a competitive season.
One of the most exciting things about the upcoming A-League season is another rivalry. We have seen the powerful Victory versus Sydney FC derby, the Victory versus Heart derby, and even the Roar versus Mariners derby. Now an all Sydney derby will kick off.
Western Sydney versus Sydney FC is a rivalry the A-League needs to create and foster. The Melbourne derby has worked a treat, attracting 30,000 plus crowds to every game, and it’s with this fixture that the A-League kicks off on the fifth of October.
In Round three the new club on the block will face Sydney FC in the first Sydney derby.
As a passionate A-League fan it has killed me to see the A-League struggle with so many issues over the past years. Clubs have come and gone and we have never been able to form a stable league.
This year could be the breakthrough year for the A-League. With the exciting new players lending their services to many different clubs, we may finally have attacking football. It’s what the fans want to see.
Get ready, this season will be a big one.
James
Guest
I agree, Canberra needs to be in the A-league. Their attendances in pre-season friendlies were better than the ones hosted in western Sydney. Canberra has to be the next place to get a team
Walesy
Roar Rookie
Yes I still would have seen it as a disappointing season, not for Victory obviously but for a team to be taken out of our league (almost 2 teams) that's not a good season in my mind.
Futbanous
Guest
Whilst not from Canberra I sympathise that you dont have a team. WSW should have had a team from the word go,but IMO Canberra should have been there long before GCU or NQF. Anyway thats history, move on & keep pushing for your own team.
Mantis
Roar Guru
I am in Canberra too. Im not too dissapointed we missed out for WSW now seeing what theyve done putting their squad together, and particularly their community engagement, but I dont like how we've been treated by the FFA. We have to be the next team, surely. When that is though who knows.
langou
Roar Guru
I just wonder if Harry Kewell had of scored the winning goal to lead the Victory to a grand final win in front of a full house at Docklands whether you would still have believed it to be a “disappointing year”. There seems to be a bit of a “born to rule” mentality with Victory fans.
Walesy
Roar Rookie
I am, but I wasn't talking about Victory being disappointing, the off-field dramas took the attention away from the football itself when isnt that what we should be focusing on?
Melange
Guest
Yep Canberra. But it wouldn't matter if I was in an a-league clubless town anywhere, I would join a queue, I want my team.
Mantis
Roar Guru
Is your town Canberra? If it is, I'm with you. If not, get in the queue
Melange
Guest
I loved last year: the Harry buzz, the soap opera that was MV in a dire season some emerging youngsters coming thru the Bling ranks the development of the Heart kiddies Roar's quest to break sporting records Perth finally repaying the Glory faithful for all their blind enthusiasm Palmer gone (pity GCU didn't work out, but PALMER GONE) Newcaslte's progress under the Tinkler regime (hopefully he remains but they develop an ownership structure that doesn't rely on him solely) Phoenix making the finals against all odds CCM's Premiership (woohoo) Adelaide, well there has to be one disappointment Along with stars mentioned above, improved rosters, free to air (I HOPE) I CANNOT WAIT to see whether Rogic will step up to A-League superstar status, MV's progress under the super coach, the potential Bling soap opera if Crook can't make pieces fit, WSW progress and Mooy in particular, will the Brisbane bubble burst, Heart having a shocker but still beating MV, Adelaide conquering Asia, Perth deflating their fan's blind enthusiasm. When, oh when, will my town get a team? :(
langou
Roar Guru
Walesy your not a Victory fan by any chance are you?
Futbanous
Guest
"Last season was a disappointment." Not if you were a Roar fan. Overall though last season was what I expected. This season will be better though & would have been even without the quality imports
Mantis
Roar Guru
Im really keen for this year, it will be a belter, I have followed the A-League since day dot, and this will be the best year of the lot. Hope the big names and potential for more competitive games brings in more fans, and boosts crowd numbers. All we need now is a team from Canberra and ill be set...
Kasey
Guest
The disappointing thing for me last year was the terrible performance f my team. Apart from that from a state of the League perspective it was nothing but positive News, even the dummy spit of Tinkler was turned into a positive with the formation of the JALSC. The underperforming (off-field) GCU were punted for the limitless potential of WSW. Membership, Atendances and TV ratings were all up significantly. I'm curious as to how you came to the conclusion that last season was a disappointment. Perhaps from a MVC p.o.v. it was a crushing disappointment, but that neglects the immense schadenfreude the rest of the fans of the other 9 teams felt at watching Victory struggle to draw after draw. Even more so than last year this season brings a larger buzz heading into it and so I expect not naively that all of those KPIs I mentioned earlier will once again have an upward tick.
Phil
Guest
It's great to see the buzz this year. Sydney FC must be congratulated for their initiatives and most importantly bringing Del Piero out to Australia. All the stadiums in Australia will be full to see him and that's what the A-league needs. I'm also glad to see the back of Clive Palmer and his empty stadium in the Gold Coast. North Queensland However, should be brought back into the League as they at least attracted a descent crowd.