Lampard bound for Melbourne City: report

No mate, it's not like that at all, I'm worried that Melbourne City won't get the opportunity to land some big stars full time. What you're saying is that it's ok for clubs to produce talent for big clubs and that is completely out of the blue, where did I say it was bad for football if players get poached? That's not what my criticisms are about, I'd rather see Melbourne City be used as a destination for these stars, not as a stopover on the way to New York and you've not given me anything but convoluted nonsense about "Food chains" and Chelsea.

Just imagine if South Melbourne Hellas brought the Heart, we wouldn't have Villa or Lampard, both bench players in countries that were counted out of the World Cup in the first round. We could of had ex Greek captain Giorgos Karagounis for played in group of 16.

Maybe have a in import rule, where at least 1 of your imports must be from the AFC.

Sadly, the disappointing performance of Asia at the Cup may have dampened the enthusiasm for Asian marquee players a tad. I would certainly welcome a big boost in Asian players in Oz. Let's hope the Asian Cup next year provides a bit of impetus.

Not sure about being 1st option for players straight out of the big clubs in Europe Fuss, we would still be competing with the MLS, Middle East & China (the new power coming up). However with the increases you mentioned, we will hold onto our local talent longer & only the better ones go to the big clubs in Europe, we will be able to attract players from Asia & Sth America, those gems like Ono & Crusca.

Are we discconecting with Asia to much Fuss, and being too Euro snob and not embracing Asia? It seems our football path or Sokah path is more aligned with Europe than Asia.

Okay Kane, now what. You saying Man City should sell Melb City FC coz there treating them with a feeder club lower food chain status? That's how the big time works, I reckon it's great there pumping money in, even if it's only to treat them as a factory production line. Like in South America, Argentina,Brazil,Uruguay leagues have just become factory youth comps in reality for Euro clubs. They make there money of the transfer fees and developers of talent (factory syndrome). The vision you want for aussy soccer, ain't gonna happen were "small fry" or medium size in the football World, done and dusted! Unless you gotta a better realistic solution $$, knowing full well money-talks and 'modern football" is all about money and the highest bidder, the amatuer days are long gone, over!

This is great news - for MelbCity, the Aleague & Australian football. Slowly, we are moving along the evolutionary path taken by the MLS, which is 10 years older than the A-League. There's no reason A-League can't double its major customer metrics: match attendances, TV ratings, social media interactions, etc. within the next 10 years. If that can be achieved, A-league will become a viable 1st option for players straight out of the big clubs in Europe; plus we'll retain the best Aussie talent until they're ready to go directly to the big clubs in Europe. Patience is required.

Never should have extended the CBA lol....said it a million times! It restrains teams with ambition and sets too high an entry point for teams at the bottom. Totally flawed but of course unionists assume everything must be regulated.... Like all wage regs it favours those already in the tent....a cartel mechanism effectively... There's never been a better time to deregulate the league. Potential at the top and a solid base at the bottom to open up the league for promotion and relegation. The oz football pyramid has no middle, just a disconnected top and bottom. Time to fill out the middle and make it a real competition. Let the ambition of the top clubs raise the standard...thats how to grow a league.

or even you may have.

Yeah, I'm a huge fan of more spots on the bench, raising the salary cap and squad size and of course I'll be glad to see Lamps and Villa, I just don't see any benefits to their season in this, what if the two of them thrash everything before them and Melbourne City become reliant on them, it will take some time to get used to not having Lampards amazing box to box abilities or Villa's sixth sense for the goal. Sure it will put a few ducats into the coffers but what is this really offering in the long term?

Take a deep breath, think about what it really is you want to say, your try hard rant against "Modern football" hasn't worked, I don't care what your feelings are about Chelsea or what you think about me supporting them, this isn't about that so stop trying to make it happen buddy. Moving on, I'm aware of the "Food chain" I just don't want Melbourne City to be treated as "The other club" When the FFA handed over the license they did it in good faith that the greater good of Australian football would be looked after. At the moment all I see is Man City using Melbourne City as a warm up for the bigger stars, as a fan of football in this country I want the best for all clubs, I don't want to see an owner of a club see an Australian club as an afterthought.

You may of followed Chelsea Kane before the "Oligarch" culture and Abramovich took over, but if your now unhappy with the culture at "your club" resign. Why keep supporting a team you dislike or dissapprove off. You didn't say disapproved off the big time owners. And you don't want Melbourne to be a doormat to New York, well too bad your just gonna have to accept Melbourne's spot on the food chain, A-League is not a UEFA 5-star rating league Buddy!

Bondy, despite all the riches of Real Madrid & Barcelona, Athletico wins La Liga. Liverpool cannot match Chelsea, Man U & Man City's riches to return itself to former glories, but for a Gerrard slip, would've won the EPL. If Melbourne City are 6 pts clear, is it Melbourne City's fault, or does other teams need to step up. I now look forward to SFC, BR, MV, WWS, PG all stepping up, not to mention CCM. AU, WP & NJ.

That's quite a horrible idea for mine, we should be looking more to align ourselves with Asia. To be more specific we should adopt Japan's rules, less can be more, like good architecture, you just have to invest in quality rather than your Bunnings special. I also don't like either the guest or injury signing rules, there is a squad for a reason. I would rather see the cap and squad size raised, along with the spots on the bench which I would like to see as 7. But all said and done, this is how it is and I will be as excited as the next person to see them play.

Punter I agree with your points but it can also be seen as branch stacking. Would I like to see Frank play in Australia ?,bloody oath. Would I like to see City 6 pts clear after 10 games ? , No. ..

I don't think anyone is suggesting that Lampard playing here will overtake the development of teams playing exciting attacking football or the influx of comparatively underrated yet quality players like Carrusca and Broich; marquee players create excitement and are part of the A-League puzzle as it currently stands.

Ok somewhere in that huge run on paragraph was some semblance of an idea so let me take a moment to decypher. 1) "Fans wanna see the best" I want to see owners that don't use clubs as fitness camps for their other clubs. 2) "Unlimited foreigners" This is Australia, we don't have the wealth of lower clubs players based in England have to ply their trade at so taking restrictions off foreign players won't work. 3) "You like the unlimited foreign players" The A-League and the EPL are different leagues you do know this right? 4) "You like Oligarch culture" I liked Chelsea before Abramovich. 5) "You'd stop folloing" Sorry Zola inspired me too much to follow any other team. 6) "Resignation" I don't know what you're on about buddy. 7) "Disapprove of the oligarch" It's not that I disapprove of Man/Melb/NY City owners, I just don't want Melbourne to be a doormat to New York. 8) "Double standards" I can have double standards and I do, the A-League and the EPL are products of two completely different sporting landscapes so I treat them differently. Any other convoluted rantings you'd like to throw my way?

Why it's all about winning, the fans wanna see the best. I'd prefer the FFA ramp up the foriegners tag and allow more foreigners turn it into the EPL unimited foreigners. Kane I see your a Chelsea fan so you like the unlimited foreigners players Oligarch culture $$ of the EPL,if you didn't you'd stop following Chelsea and follow a more salary cap equal comp than the unlimtied foriegners capitalist winner takes all unlimited money spending culture not giveing a stuff about the national team culture of the EPL. If you don't hand in your resignation as a Chelsea fan right now, if you dissaprove of your Russian Oligarch owner who espouses all Chelsea's culture values and what it is to be a Chelsea fan and represents the values of Chelsea fans and what they want Chelsea football club to be. Can't have double standards for Australian football about all sorts of restrictions then espouse the values of the EPL and your Russian Oligarch owner who is much loved by you and all Chelsea fans about the culture and values and direction he brings to Chelsea.

I don't like how Melbourne City are being treated, the FFA must step in here and ask Man City to assure them that they have the interests of Australian football in mind, I don't like the idea of an Australian club being used a pre-season fitness camp for players going to New York.