It’s already the most disrupted season since the A-League’s introduction and there are more rocks in the road ahead.
It’s all in pursuit of greater glory – in the Asian Cup, the Asian Champions League and further internationals – but it’s only now the full schedule is unfolding.
January’s Asian Cup will put locally based Socceroos players out of the league for three rounds as they join Ange Postecoglou’s camp in Melbourne.
While the A-League stops for two weekends while group games are played, if Australia makes the final, they’ll miss another two matches – before any rest period needs to be considered.
Earlier plans to bring in Socceroos for two pre-Christmas training camps have been abandoned, avoiding further potential clashes.
But there is another conflict looming in March, when the Socceroos play a friendly in Germany while the Olyroos attempt to qualify for the Asian Under-23 Championship in Taiwan.
That means double-trouble for A-League coaches as the season reaches a climax.
It’s the same situation as last month when Australia’s friendly with Japan coincided with an Olyroos tournament in China.
As the matches are in FIFA-designated international windows, A-League coaches have to grin and bear it.
Aurelio Vidmar – Olyroos coach and Socceroos assistant – said as long as the A-League refused to break for international dates, the clashes would continue.
“That’s how it is,” he told AAP.
“They are the dates, they’re FIFA dates, it’s a bonus for us because we shouldn’t have too many problems getting overseas-based players, which has been a major issue in the past.”
While the bulk of Socceroos play abroad, most Olyroos – Australia’s Under-23 side – play in the A-League.
Just six A-League players were named in the latest national squad, but a dozen of the 22-man Olyroos squad called up for their friendly tournament in China last month were from A-League clubs.
Former Socceroos captain Vidmar can see both sides as the Adelaide United coach, but dismissed the idea of going easy on clubs.
“We need to go into every game with the strongest possible group,” he said.
“In the past they’ve had qualifiers in the off-season, it’s been good for the A-League clubs but it hasn’t been good for us because they’re in an off-season period.
“I feel for (A-League clubs) because I’ve been on that side as well, but unfortunately I’m not the one who sets the dates.”
Vidmar’s side plays hosts Taiwan, Myanmar (Burma) and Hong Kong in the March qualifiers for the Qatar 2016 Asian Championship.
FFA Chief executive David Gallop told Fairfax Media last month a loss in revenue had to be a major consideration in the scheduling mix.
“The commercial reality for our owners who heavily invest in their clubs is that stopping the A-League for FIFA windows will adversely affect our broadcast value,” he said.
“That’s less money coming into the game. That affects the sustainability of the A-League and its clubs, and puts future expansion at risk.”
In other words, don’t count on the A-League breaking for international fixtures any time soon.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
jb My apologies about the AUFC crowd average. I had not yet inputted the crowd from last night. Your figure is correct. I prefaced my points by specifically stating "Comparing attendances for 2014/15 to last season, these are my insights (albeit, 2/3 of the season to still play)" So, my figures for this season only had 43 data points, where as last season had the full 135 data points. Your analysis comparing 44 matches in each season is definitely more meaningful - I was a bit lazy.
j binnie
Guest
Fuss - A strange reply indeed coming from you.I would prefer if you had said there is a cloud in every silver lining that would have been nearer the point I was trying to make. The other problem I have with your reply is where you are sourcing your figures from and I'll discuss them point by point . (1) I cited figures from game 44 last season to game 44 this season, Those figures were as quoted This season 658,212 against 627,239.That to me registers an increase of 4.95%. Could you explain your 16% increase.?? (2) No argument at all. (3)Adelaide last year 11,225 this season to date 16,492. Increase 47% Victory last year 21,806 this season to date 28,743. Increase 32% (correct) Sydney last year 18,682 this season to date 23,404 Increase 25% (correct) Now I won't go any further but why the discrepencies in calculation????? (4) No argument at all. (5) Could argue that point remembering we are not counting grand final crowds. Present trends suggest around 1,850,000 as a total for the season,but hope you are right. (Average HAL crowd by season's end should be around 13,750) Lastly if you think the costs of hiring a stadium,and running costs of a small business in Melbourne or Sydney compared to CC or Wellington would amout to a differential of 283%!!!!!! then there is nothing I can say would convince you that the income differential between Victory and Wellngton is not a problem that will raise it's head in the future. Cheers jb
j binnie
Guest
RBB - A reply totally out of context with what was being talked about. Nowhere in my comment was the standard of football being discussed,what was being discussed was the differential in gate income beween the top two "drawing clubs" and the bottom two "drawing clubs". Now if that is beyond your comprehension my advice is to ignore the comment and discuss something from your own agenda. Cheers jb
RBBAnonymous
Guest
Fuss, JB is a crusty old fart, always a glass half full with him. Despite our lowly position I am thoroughly enjoying this years A-league. It doesn't help our attendances when at least half of our home games this season will be midweek matches. Both Adelaide and Melbourne Victory appear to be gun sides and I am expecting these two will be fighting out the Grand Final. I am putting our season down to an ACL hangover just as Adelaide experienced when they went on their run. I should have known it was coming, I dont think we have recruited all that well this year either and letting too many players go at the end of last season was not the best way to keep team uniformity. Lessons to be learn't. Regardless the season is shaping up to be the best ever in the A-league. Onwards and upwards.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Relax, jb. You seem intent on finding a cloud to every silver lining. Comparing attendances for 2014/15 to last season, these are my insights (albeit, 2/3 of the season to still play): 1. Ave crowds: INCREASE of 16% 2. HIGHEST average crowds in the history of the A-League (previous highest was 14.6k in 2007/08) 3. Individual teams: * 60% of teams INCREASE attendances: >> ADL =+57% >> MVC = +32% >> SYD = +25% >> MBC = +20% (without the Derby) >> PER = +3% >> BRI = +1% * 3 teams slightly reduced attendances >> WSW = -2% >> NEW = -8% >> NIX = -9% * 1 team significantly reduced attendance >> CCM = -20% 4. Total attendances have been trending UP every year the A-League has been operating - except in 2008-09 & 2009-10. 5. On track for historical high total attendances .. perhaps we'll nudge the 2 million total. Your gate receipts figures don't tell us much without the costs of playing at each stadium. I'll need to check the figures, but intuitively I'll say: the cost of operating a business in Melbourne & Sydney will be significantly higher than the cost of operating a business in Gosford, Newcastle & Wellington. So, in summary ... In 2014/15, A-League crowds are tracking towards record highs - both average crowds & total crowds across the 10 teams. Cause for concern? Not for me. I'm sitting back enjoying the rise & rise of AUS football - we've risen to levels I'd never dreamed we'd ever achieve.
j binnie
Guest
David G ringing alarm bells again, this time about the disruptions caused by Fifa "International weeks" and the problems it causes with cash flow interruptions to HAL clubs.I'm afraid FFA have a far greater potential problem in the HAL and that can be seen in crowd comparisons with last season. Last night the HAL reached one third of the season and a comparison with last year is worth a mention. To date we have had 658,212 fans attending the 44 matches. Last year at the same time ,44 matches had attracted 627,239.This represent growth of marginally under 5% and to most pundits that would represent a healthy growth figure. However further investigation throws up a darker side to these figures. If we start with the "big 2" in the league, we find that Victory this season are attracting 28,743 / game compared with their last season's average crowd of 21,806 / game. Sydney,using the same criteria,are attracting 23,404 / game compared with last season's 18,682. If we go to the other end of the scale we find CCM attracting 7,514 to their games compared with last year's average of 9,398 and Wellington ,playing well, getting 7,496 compared to last year's 8,259. If this trend of the 'rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer" is allowed to go on unabated there is a very real risk the HAL will be totally dominated by 20% (2) of our 10 team league. I think most thinkers would agree this is not really an acceptable future for our competition and yet the existing situation has much deeper ramifications than a few "international days" in our calendar. To simplify in monetary terms using a $40 dollar average entry fee Victory presently has an average home "gate" of 28,743 x 40 = $1,149,720 Wellington presently has an average home "gate of 7,496 x 40 = $ 299,840 Food for thought is it not?????jb.