With three of the four remaining A-League finalists also playing Champions League football, the commencement of the fixture debate was a matter of when, not if.
Central Coast Mariners veteran Mile Sterjovski joined the chorus of disapproval over the weekend, calling on the FFA and Professional Footballers Australia to intervene over the scheduling of matches during the A-League final series.
Understandable, too. The Mariners have a 40-hour round trip to Hiroshima for their match against Sanfrecce on Wednesday before returning for Saturday’s semi-final against Western Sydney. They will have just 24 hours on the ground ahead of the match.
The state of play is just as damaging for Melbourne Victory, who will have more than 40 hours’ worth of travel between a trip to Jeonbuk on Tuesday and a match against the Roar in Brisbane on Sunday.
Western Sydney have drawn the long straw this time, but would undoubtedly back changes to the fixture list.
In an ideal world, all three A-League teams would have been able to successfully lobby for home matches in the ACL this week, but negotiating with the AFC regarding Asian competition hasn’t exactly been smooth sailing in recent years.
A-League boss Damien De Bohun said over the weekend “not much more can be done” to improve the balance between ACL and A-League fixtures, highlighting the fact that Central Coast’s match was moved from Friday to Saturday to account for their trip to Japan.
But considering the bulk of Asia’s leagues play their season through the winter, it’s hard to believe there couldn’t be some leniency around the finals series for Australian clubs. After all, it’s only three weeks – two group matches.
The apologists will argue that A-League clubs simply need to learn to adapt to an increased playing load, citing the European example. Surely if Bayern Munich can play three games in a week, A-League clubs can manage two?
The thing not factored into this argument is travel. It’s not a matter of coaches not taking the Asian Champions League seriously or players not being fit enough to compete.
During the group stage of this season’s UEFA Champions League, Bayern spent less than 20 hours total in the air en route to their three away games in Manchester, Plzen and Moscow. That is the bare minimum for Australian clubs for just one intercontinental fixture.
A-League clubs often finish the group stage in or close to the financial red, with prize money and travel subsidies far from lucrative. But with a reported $1.5 million on offer for the winner and $750,000 for the runners up, incentive remains for the tournament to be taken seriously, if Aussie outfits are given the opportunity to do so.
This week’s fixtures present an unnecessary risk at the trickiest time. The Mariners, Victory and Wanderers are all within reach of progressing to the knockout stage, but could easily be undone by a negative result.
It’s a far from ideal situation, and the three coaches will be forced into making significant changes between the two matches, as we’ve seen with Kevin Muscat not sending James Troisi and Pablo Contreras to South Korea, seemingly as a precaution with “soreness” the cause.
The ball is not only in the court of the FFA but also the AFC, who need to give the A-League some help to offset a substantial disadvantage.
It’s unfortunate that being part of the Asia’s most prestigious competition can create this kind of burden, but clubs aren’t to blame and it’s up to the organising bodies to ensure that Asia’s best sees Australia’s best.
Bondy
Guest
Apologies Shingo.
Shingo Miyashiro
Guest
Wrong Osaka team! He plays for Cerezo Osaka NOT Gamba Osaka!!!
AZ_RBB
Guest
Hate to interrupt while the grown ups are arguing. But October is far better for the sake of the World Cup. If the league ends in February, the players will lose match fitness by June. I've always felt that one of the main purposes or goals of the A-league was to give the national team the best chance possible on the world stage. Having an October to May league is essential in achieving that.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
"August or October – what is best for the ALeague?" I'll have a better idea in 12 months, after I've had the opportunity to analyse empirical data from a season where the FFA Cup for A-League teams starts in July; & the A-league finishes in May. My gut-feeling is FFA Cup commencing July & HAL ending in May is perfect. The only change needed is the FFA to ensure every team has a minimum of 3 full days recovery between games ... this may require fixtures to remain floating for March, April & May until the ACL schedule is released.
AR
Guest
Well maybe you know better than Kevin, but Muscat said that he was resting those two for Sunday. But as usual, you've lasered in on a minor point and avoided the larger question. August or October - what is best for the ALeague?
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
@NUFCMVFC Let's pretend you are given the job to create the next ALeague fixture. Can you kindly explain what you would do to ensure ALeague teams in the ACL are given "the best opportunity"? If I were given the job, my only recommendation would be "keep the fixturing for the 3 ACL teams flexible until the ACL draw is published, then make sure every team has a minimum full 3 days recovery between matches".
NUFCMVFC
Guest
Onus is on FFA to change their fixturing, so they know their line is crap, AFC isn't going to change because the participants of one league have their finals - or rather glorified cup competition as they see it - at the end stages of the group stages The FFA schedule the fixtures knowing full well this is when the ACL group stages will be At least this time things weren't as bad as when MVFC had to play right before the A League Grand Final, and put at a serious disdadvantage, but true to form the FFA seem to lack the wit that the brand of the league is damaged when they fail to make it out of the group stage and enhanced when clubs do, would have done well to give all three clubs the best opportunity I was of the opinion that European clubs play midweek fixtures so whingeing A League teams should suck it up initially, but over time I realised that we have to consider that Europe is the equivalent of A League teams flying around Australia, and A League teams fling into Asia isn't too far off European teams flying into the U.S/Canada or Central Asia/Kazakhstan in some instances
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
@AR They weren't being rested for the Brisbane match & they haven't been rested in previous ACL matches. Troisi had played in all 6 of the previous ACL matches - last night was the 1st ACL match he missed. Pablo has played the full 90' of 4 of the previous 6 ACL matches. He missed 1 match because of suspension & the other match through injury - he didn't play the HAL match the week-end before or after. Troisi & Pablo didn't play because they were not considered to be physically amongst the best XI to do the job last night. Troisi had played nearly 3 full matches in 6 days; Pablo 2 full matches in 3 days. Muscat has consistently said he'll pick the best XI to do the job for each match.
AR
Guest
Troisi and Contreras for starters. Muscat opted rest both so they were fresh for Brisbane on Sunday.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
@AR "some, like MV, are often resting players for ACL matches in order to be fresh for the domestic finals campaign. Clearly, the ACL is not the top priority for clubs…for now…and that isn’t ideal." What are you on about? Have you watched any of MVFC's 5 ACL matches? Muscat has consistently fielded the best XI that are available for every match. This is why we are 90' away from qualifying for the Ro16, from a Group where no one gave us any chance when the Groups were drawn 3 months ago. If, as you say, MVFC is fielding a 2nd rate team ... it means the reserve squad at MVFC is equal to the Champions of Asia? The FFA Cup dates are set for 2014. If you have some information to the contrary - please forward the link.
AR
Guest
Yes, but none of that addresses the issue posed in this article - namely, the purported schedule conflicts of the ACL and the ALeague season/finals. As it currently stands, ALeague clubs are not only complaining about the schedule, but some, like MV, are often resting players for ACL matches in order to be fresh for the domestic finals campaign. Clearly, the ACL is not the top priority for clubs...for now...and that isn't ideal. The FFA Cup is moveable, and would be modelled around the ALeague season. So the question remains - is an October start definitely the best time of year for the ALeague season launch?
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
Quite agree with your idea F.U. However, maybe I would only involve the champions of all federations and send n2, 3 (and 4 for some maybe) to play another UEFA style comp, again with a full knock out format like we had in Europe. My point re a Champions Cup with only 'true' champs is that it would reduce the number of matches and also allow champs of smaller nations to have a real shot, a bit like Steaua Bucharest or Red Star Belgrade, Anderlecht etc before who were only a few games/surprises away from a major title. To reduce costs we could start the first 2 rounds with 2 different regions (West and East Asia) then mix everyone from the round of 16 or QF to the final.
70s Mo
Guest
Great Mazza! And Sunday is my lawn mowing day - aw shucks I'll have to leave it for another week!
tickbites
Guest
Wow thanks! Im very impressed by your connections
AZ_RBB
Guest
Oh? My apologies. Hold on, let me get CCM's best contact number. They'll love to know how they can get to Hiroshima in less than 20hrs.
Matthew Skellett
Guest
Have a great time Fuss I know we will :-)
tickbites
Guest
@ azzzzRBB The author being incorrect is the entire point.....
AZ_RBB
Guest
At least the author knows how to use Google.
Ginger71
Guest
because we share the fields with Rugby League and other codes and it would be a nightmare to try and schedule games.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
@Mazzalenko From personal experience, I find the waiting more draining than sitting on the plane. If the teams have access to an Airline Lounge (e.g. Qantas Club), then the waiting is far more relaxing. Until I'm lying on my hotel bed, airline traveling is a real pain. All things being equal, I'd prefer to travel by High-Speed Rail than planes (comfortable seating, can walk around, access to food & drinks without asking, no 2 hour check-in, etc.)