Football on a Tuesday night? At a decent hour, featuring attractive and attacking football? It’s fairytale stuff, is this real life?
Tuesday night’s opening flurry of fixtures and goals provided such a fresh take on Australian football.
I’ve always been a fan of the FA Cup tournament in the UK, it was one of my first experiences of football, and my first ever live experience, so it’s a tournament I hold close to my heart.
To see it on a local stage was a brilliant experience.
I headed out to Cromer Park on Tuesday, and really enjoyed the atmosphere. I must confess I haven’t been to an NSW Premier League match in forever, so it was a great atmospheric change.
I was genuinely surprised at the quality of football on display, the fixture between Sydney Olympic and Manly United was one of the better matches I have seen locally in a long time. Those 22 lads on that field really gave it their physical and emotional all, and it was a great match to witness.
Over the time the FFA Cup will do wonders for the Australian football landscape, it has the possibility to extend several branches to connect Australian football to more marquee international fix ups. It would be great if the winners could play against the FA Cup holders or the Copa del Rey winners sometime in the near future.
It also gives Australian youth a platform to excel themselves, which is something that was so lacking in the past. It gives local clubs exposure, funds and new supporters, and it also re-ignites the good old NSL days, with some enticing fixtures between old rivals to come.
It always gives a footballing competition a helluva lot more credibility, and an upper-hand on rival codes, if the first season goes without a hinge. But if Tuesday night was anything to go by, then we may be in for one hell of a ride, mainly because these underdogs have what it takes to possibly match it up against our A-League clubs.
David Gallop would be sitting with a big wide grin after a more than perfect start. Every single match that took place gave us everything we craved – goals, intensity, drama, a little controversy, healthy crowds and an overall positive reaction from the press.
I think every Aussie loves a good underdog story, and I feel we will get that from the FFA Cup this season. Well, I want to believe we will. This tournament may not have any history, but the magic was there and it has a long way to go, I can’t help but feel all giddy about it all, and it can only get bigger from here.
The only downside, would be the FFA banning ethnic banners, slogans and logos, because in they all entail back to the history of these clubs. If they aren’t racially offensive, than what’s the harm in showcasing the ethnic ties, that have made these clubs who they are?
That’s just a suggestion, but overall two thumbs up to Gallop and company, you definitely have me hooked.
Batou
Guest
I have to agree Justin. I'd love to see some upsets, but based on the only game I've seen (Manly v Olympic), the gulf in class looks huge. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and there were a few good moments, but on the whole the quality of play was well below A-League level. The aimless long balls and lack of control stood out in particular. Also manly looked to have no structure and no plan other than to hit it long and hope for the best (Olympic were much better in that regard). It was just the one game though so I probably shouldn't read too much into it. The second half was distinctly better than the first too.
c
Guest
appreciate your analysis thank you justin
Justin Mahon
Guest
Rubbish, the gap was huge in tactical terms in particular, and in technical terms there were many long balls, bad passes and some rather agricultural defending. Great entertainment as cup fare, but not remotely at A-League level. A-League teams playing pre-season friendlies around Australia at the moment against NPL teams in season are seeing massive score differentials. These same A-League teams will have a few more games under their belt before FFA Cup games. It will tell in my view. I hope there can be an upset or two, but I doubt it. My own MVFC are the most vulnerable given our heavy emphasis on going forward and our tremendously bad history of flying to Perth to play games. We might see a huge difference in class, but in football that does not rule out a shock result.
c
Guest
the standard of play did not appear to be that great a differential to what occurs at a league level, can one of the football experts summarise the differentials and quality between the two levels? and what the ramifications of this are for our game nationally? thanking you in anticipation
AZ_RBB
Guest
Great stuff. Been wanting this at Parra Stadium for ages. I would almost certainly turn up early and watch the girls go around. Would love to see how some of them are looking in the build up to the 2015 WC
Bondy
Guest
Good idea : http://www.brisbaneroar.com.au/article/suncorp-stadium-to-host-three-double-headers/im880k94hvs41vpxag33eejpq) ...
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Which is why you should give the 0.5 ACL spot to the FFA Cup winner. If it's a State based team, who is out of its depth; they won't make it past the preliminary knock-out match.
Griffo
Roar Guru
Bondy I believe it's more the AFC's criteria than ours (FFA)...
AZ_RBB
Guest
CCM, a club that averages 9-10k crowds every fortnight was almost sent broke by competing in the ACL. How on earth will a state league team manage? I'm sure FFA can subsidise them but is it worth it?
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Surely there must be a difference between fanciful dreaming and cold hard reality? A one-off knock out tournament is going to produce surprises for sure. Even a non HAL side could go all the way. But an ACL spot -- for a state league side? OK, good luck to them but it's not as if fully professional HAL sides haven't tried hard in Asia yet come away empty handed. From what I saw on Tuesday night, yes entertaining and all the rest of the good stuff, but skillful and competitive at an ACL level - you've got to be joking??? Maybe give it 15-20 years of FFA Cup and come back to this question then.
RBBAnonymous
Guest
I totally agree. As unlikely as a team outside of the A-league winning the FFA cup. There is still a possibility it can happen. If it does happen then I would consider them worthy representatives in the ACL. These are good dilemmas to have, not bad ones. Open up our game to further possibilities and dare them to dream. It can only be a good thing.
Bondy
Guest
Griffo I never thought of that whatever criteria we have or would like can be knocked on the head by the AFC . Perhaps if a State based team won the FFA Cup you could marry up a few players the better ones from that club for the FFA A League All Stars match, imagine a plasterer/gyprocker playing against Wayne Rooney's ManUtd .Lol...
Justin Mahon
Guest
I want to see the NPL Cup winner play the FFA Cup winner in a TRUE "Community Shield" to crown the community season and launch the A-League season. I also would like this shield game to determine who wins the (FFA subsidised if necessary) 3rd ACL place in the future.
Justin Mahon
Guest
I want to see the NPL Cup winner play the FFA Cup winner in a TRUE "Community Shield" to crown the community season and launch the A-League season. I also would like this shield game to determine who wins the (FFA subsidised if necessary) 3rd ACL place in the future.
Timber Tim
Guest
No issue if the Nix qualify for the ACL then like the FFA cup they just play their home games on Australian Soil since they are technically registered as an Australian club.
Griffo
Roar Guru
There are a lot of possibilities for one-off games here now... Champions Cup (HAL Champions vs NPL Champions) Cup winners Cup (Champions Cup Winner vs FFA Cup winner) I wouldn't bet against those matches generating as much if not more interest than the first night of the FFA Cup a couple of days ago. The ball is in FFA's possession on this one - can they score another couple of goals for the game? 8-)
Griffo
Roar Guru
I think the AFC would have a lot to say regarding a semi-pro or amateur side playing in the ACL considering they are trying hard to raise the profile and quality of the competition. Still, a good question to ask the FFA what plans they might have on FFA Cup winners. In the same vein as Wellington 'qualifying' in an ACL spot position in the A-League, an NPL FFA Cup winner this year would force this question to be asked and a response from here and AFC to 'clarify' their position.
AZ_RBB
Guest
@Bondy. Not sure how long the FFA plans to ensure a state league team make the semis. But all it takes is an off day or Sydney FC and the state league team is into the final. Amazing for the NPL and that club but in terms of ACL I have my doubts.
Griffo
Roar Guru
Reading AFC documentation a while back for a previous ACL admission criteria and such things as ground condition, infrastructure (lighting, media facilities etc.) and their involvement in the professional tier were determinants of a clubs suitability to be considered to participate in the ACL. As romantic as it sounds (and I admit it would be great) only an A-League club FFA Cup winner (sans Wellington) would be allowed into the ACL I would expect unless the AFC loosens their criteria.
AZ_RBB
Guest
Can't say I agree. I think the half spot should go to the FFA Cup winners or highest ranked A-League team. Cup final I prefer rewarding teams for playing well over a 27 match tournament than winning 4 to 9 matches.