The A-League needs more attacking football

Ha ha .... enjoyed that little stoush between drew777 and j binnie. Who knew stats could be so devisive, not that it was about stats. From a casul observer point of view and just judging on their posts on this topic, I'd be happy to have a beer with drew777, j binnie i'd be afraid that the condescending tone would cause me to smite him.

Who is the fit .5 player who plays for 90 minutes? I've only ever seen whole people running around in the A League.

Perhaps what Mike was getting at was not goals scored, but the quality of said attacking play. Whilst we might see on average just as many goals, I doubt we see as much attacking play. It would be interesting to see how many goals come from penalties/breaks/set pieces in comparison to other leagues. These types of goals shouldn't be considered attacking play because let's face it, a long ball is hardly attacking football resulting in a goal. Maybe we are better off comparing shots on goal as a better indicator of what Mike is writing about. The site http://www.whoscored.com/Regions/252/Tournaments/2/Seasons/3853/Stages/7794/TeamStatistics/England-Premier-League-2013-2014 has some good stats. I wonder how HAL compares in regards to completed passes/shots at goal.

JB You're off your rocker. You asked "Now to the nitty gritty Drew, (Drew Who may I ask?) if you feel I am patronising (to whom?)" I replied "You’ve been patronising in many comments I have read, with it culminating in the absurdity I had to read in response to my article regarding Moye’s poor performance. I took exception to that after witnessing it across many other articles posted here" which quite clearly explains where, and how you were patronising. It was in my Moyes' article. That is why I mentioned Moyes, to explain to you where you wrote patronising comments. What is so difficult to understand about that? Also, Drew is half my name, you are correct. But I fail to see how this is an issue to you, considering I am sure J Binnie is not your full name? I entered the discussion stating you were blunt in the response, which I felt was rude. Regardless of if QsAF thanked you or not, I stated my opinion. And your problem to that is? I then commented on the stats, stating that a paltry "decline" of 3.4% is hardly something to worry about, thereby contributing to the conversation about the stats. The only stage I mentioned Moyes was when you specifically asked who you were being patronising to. In order to answer that question, I cited your comments on my article which were patronising. Speaking of which, you should go back to that article, it is here> http://www.theroar.com.au/2014/03/22/much-maligned-moyes-solely-to-blame/ and read the comments from others about you. You make no sense, and the common consensus is such. You then write "You chose to enter the discussion whichyou are entitled to do,but cited the declinewas paltry and nothing to worry about. Who said that it had????" But it was you who said it needed addressing! How dense are you!? You wrote "These figures are hardly “terminal” but are unlikely to change over the last games.So it’s back to the “marketeers” to maintain this improvement." therefore you quite clearly said it needed tending to, I essentially agreed with you, and added that as far as I was concerned it is more of a plateau than a decline, and as long as we are competing with the other codes this isn't really a problem. You are completely off your head, how do you fail to comprehend, or remember any of this?

Yes Drew?????? You've finally convinced me,when I see your half name I'll just ignore it for my time is too valuable to try and get any thread of continuity in your logic. Here QsAF and I were involved in a discussion as how to work out avarage crowds in the HAL.. He replied by thanking me for the info.You chose to enter the discussion whichyou are entitled to do,but cited the declinewas paltry and nothing to worry about. Who said that it had????You finished by introducing Moyes' performance. What the hell has that to do with HAL attendance figures? I'll take your advice and ignore any future offerings.Thanks a million for all your knowledge.jb

As we get closer to the finals would it be fair to say attacking football will become prevalent. The pressure to score goals in an attempt for a top-two finish, semi-finals and finals. Download the ScoreCube app. for live scores and statistics across all sports at one glance: bit.ly/1j2iTeX

JB Mate now you're just going back on your comments and it is contradicting yourself. You've been patronising in many comments I have read, with it culminating in the absurdity I had to read in response to my article regarding Moye's poor performance. I took exception to that after witnessing it across many other articles posted here. Now it is kind of like that state of mind where when someone has put you offside, just their presence annoys you. I believe we have each fallen into that category for each other. I could have quoted it differently, but I didn't. The use of the ... indicates text is missing before and after - I don't see the problem? I've already stated it - you were patronising to me and others as |I have read. What is my full name to you? What if Drew was not even my real name? I could tell you my surname is Anderson but how or why is that relevant? If you're so concerned about personal details, give us yours. I'd like your credit card number too ;) Or are you just simply "Mr J Binnie" on all official correspondence? Same applies you you JB, if you see my name, why read?

Drew 777 I did use the world "decline" relative to the figures used, but your citing me would have been better to say that I used the phrase "a decline in figures", for the figures shown as compared with the same figure last year did show a reduction.for these 3 clubs. There was no hint of degrading these figures into what could be descibed as negative data concerning the clubs for I also said the reductions were not what I would describe as" terminal" but you apparently must have missed that too. Now to the nitty gritty Drew, (Drew Who may I ask?) if you feel I am patronising (to whom?) the solution is quite simple,if you see my name attached to a comment don't read the rubbish jb

Nutshell, good post.

Jb My name is on my profile, it is Drew - not sure how that is miscommunicated here? I took exception to the patronising way you wrote - you say maybe I need to look at it again, but if your post causes someone else offence whilst you claim it wasn't intended in such a way, then maybe you need to step back and take an objective view of how you phrase things. You wrote, and I quote "...3 clubs have shown a decline..." so clearly, you did use the word decline and it is not something I imagined. Quite clearly you, my friend, are the one in need of reading what you wrote again. I used the words paltry and plateau in my description of any perceived decline, so again not entirely sure what your point is by pointing out the words I used in description of, what you termed, a decline. In the event you need guidance, because it shows that you have a poor memory, the comment in question was yours April 1st at 9:15am - just a few comments up that way. See - patronising isn't it. And to get in before you raise the point that I criticised you for being blunt, yet called you an ass, don't bother - mine wasn't thinly veiled contempt - it as meant outright. Drew

I don't understand the relegation/promotion argument that it will vastly improve the league - NRL, Rugby Union, Cricket, Netball, AFL - none of these sports have relegation and they do just fine. If we had a country that didn't have 15 sports competing for eye-balls and for players it might be an option, but we don't, so it isn't.

So Football gets a decent crowd and it's all doom and gloom for the AFL? Such drama queens...

777 I've said it you before but I'll say it again,you should learn to take the total message out of any comment rather than the small piece that suits your personal opinion. You should have noted that we were discussing the total attendances taken over 135 games. When doing comparisons no finals figures are included for they are "unusual" figures and only affect the top 6 clubs. My answer was aimed to QsAF and he obviously got the whole message for he had the good grace to thank me for the statistcal explanation. Blunt????? It was QsAF who stated he was not a stats expert,I simply said "it shows" You also appeared to miss the fact that I stated at game 125 the INCREASE in gate numbers showed a 7.4% increase over last year . Cannot see the words "decline","paltry" or "plateau" used anywhere in either QsAF's or my comments.Wonder where they came from?? Are they once again some more inputs from your overactive imagination based on what you THOUGHT you had read. Blunt????? Get with it and take full comprehension from what you read, who knows you may learn something not already in your overflowing knowledge bank. By the way you can call me an ass anytime or anywhere you like,for my doctrine has always been "use the facts" and maybe that is why I am not afraid to use my name under my comments. jb

J Binnie Wow. That was blunt, and I use blunt because I'm sure I can't call you an ass on here. I'd say this is hardly a decline, more of a plateau. The percentage of "decline" (as you love figures so much) is a paltry 3.4% It is all relative however, so as long as football is competing with the other codes, I say happy days. Keep in mind, should jets make the finals these will no doubt go up.

Half right, Johan. People will be tuning in tomorrow morning to watch Bayern Munich. The only people watching Manchester United will be Manchester City fans indulging in some schadenfreude.

In fact all of you are missing my point which is that very few peeps overseas give a rats about any Austalian sport unless it is Australia playing in an international tournament like the World Cup and even then only if they happen to be playing Australia. Are you deluded enough to think that the 99th ranked football league in the world is watched by millions overseas!!! Whilst I fully accept that my own personal experience is only a very small sample of about 15 -20 peeps over the last decade or so, and is what statisticians would probably refer to as not statistically significant, my experience is that tourists visiting our country want to see things that they Cannot see when they are at home which often includes our only solely Aussie sport. fadida- your claim that I stick the boot into the a league every single chance I get is a gross exaggeration. I am however not some a league sycophant like some peeps are who refuse to accept anything except that every aspect of the a league and football in Australia is completely perfect. Oh and there are in fact many football fans in Oz who are not regular attendees of the a league who will probably be watching Bayern v Man U tomorrow. At least I attend the a league from time to time.

I forgot to agree with you about the offside rule, Mike. It is pretty clear that it is being called to the advantage of the defensive team, while I thought it was supposed to be called to the advantage of the attacking team. Probably something that needs to be sorted out by the FFA, along with general reffing standards.

Mike -You get very close to an odd question with your headline. Technically speaking a team is in attacking mode (or should be) every time they get possession of the ball.Contary to that they are in (or should be) a defensive mode every time they lose that possession. Now if that simple statement is analysed it should mean that the paying fan should see 90 minutes of attacking & defending in every game & therein lies a tale. If a viewing spectator is watching a Barcelona he will see possession being kept always with forward movement in mind ending with an attempt at goal. That whole transition is accomplished by players who have reached a standard of ball skills, first touch,accurate & quick passing of the ball & the ability to finish such a period of play with a meaningful attempt at goal.Unfortunately we are very amply sated with football at that level on our TV sets & I think it means that some of our friends who write into these columns expect to see the same standard of football when they go along to their HAL game. The blunt truth is they are not going to get that standard of entertaining play for our players have yet to achieve that same standard of playing football. We get flashes of course & that keeps us interested but too often the transitions are broken down by a poor first touch,or a lack of options to the ball carrier, poor pass selection etc etc but we can only hope this keeps improving & we continue to improve, though another problem is those teams from other countries are not going to wait until we catch up. A sad fact of life Mike. jb

Johan must have a platoon of overseas friends to have finalised his scientific statistical experiment. he may be exaggerating to make a point. Imagine if aussie rules was played overseas - oh wait, no. we can't all be a sport that has a claimed existence of 150 years and only managed one official game in NZ. those kiwis are just lining up for the sport.

much like any team there are different crowds for different teams. and we had over 15,000 against heart in round 4 - but that's the 'bigger crowds in the beginning of the season' syndrome. i think there is a syndrome for every month of the season.