It is time to move the A-League back to winter

Interesting article by Cockerill. Helps hit on the head the cultural cringe we often get from some sections of soccer fans in Australia, who think Australians are incapable of doing things their way. Here in Australia, we have known since the 1890s (maybe even earlier) that a finals system is far superior to first past the post in every conceivable way. I particularly like this quote from the article: "There needs to be a counter-balance, and clearly the J-League believes only a pan-Asian approach can manage the damaging effects of this football colonialism and protect the integrity of domestic competitions. " For those unaware, the J-League is very strong on not sanctioning these end-of-season trips by big European clubs, because they view it as diminishing the J-League, in terms of siphoning resources and media interest, and of course, in treating the J-League as a B-grade competition in comparison to the European leagues. Does the FFA have the same view in this regard?

N What Fadida posts reflects my personal experiences. What you can't seem to understand is whatever industry you are in ... you need to adjust to the market environment you are in. Very few business have the ability to turn the market to their wants ....

When anyone start mentioning Big Bash ... I have to laugh. That's not a sporting competition. It's reality TV. A 5 week contest that is based on giving the audience what they want to see. Football is a sport. It's about a contest between 2 teams of 11 players; if fans are not entertained by a football match... too bad. Find something else to watch.

The only blowing going on here is you two blowing eachother...Or yourselves respectively. The number of attendees pi55ing contest is really enthralling btw. Tell me more about how I don't give a crap about your stupid sports (on the football tab).

You blew that Fuss Man away

Horto -Without wishing to upset you by mentioning the NSL There has been a precedent set in the matter of a player playing with 2 clubs in different leagues in the early years of the NSL. Grange Thistle, a team playing in the local Brisbane comp.brought a player and his family to Australia where the player Jim Hermiston, commenced playing for the club in the local comp. Jim had played top football in Scotland and ,being a superb athlete (he ran marathons for a hobby) it soon became obvious that the man was quite capable of playing,and starring in the then NSL. When some judiicious investigation found that there was nothing in the rule books to stop a player playing for 2 identities in 2 different comps it wasn't llong before an arrangement was made where Jim would play with Brisbane City in the NSL while also playing with Thistle in the local comp.This arrangement stayed in vogue until Jim,now recognised as a superb centre-back became the subject matter for a transfer to an NSL identity.. " Brisbane Lions won that "duel" and reportedly signed Jim for a then record 5 figure fee. Jim won the "player of the year" while at Lions. Cheers jb

apaway -As you know I was heavily involved in the idea that the NSL should be moved to summer and I cannot recall any discussion concerning the state of football pitches coming into the debate. It has to be remembered that at that time there was no directive from the then ASF as to clubs having to use certain stadia (As per the HAL) with the result that by 1990 many of the clubs,Brisbane Lions,Brisbane City and Marconi for example were by then playing on their own grounds,grounds leased from councils ,or grounds adjacent to their social club backers.Sydney City played on a ground called ES Marks Field which to my eyes was a council "general sports ground" with no real connection to any NRL team in NSW, As I explained earlier, one of the main points ignored by thr ASF was the suggestion that games be played under lights in early evening on a Saturday or Sunday when all games were played. .Now at that time very few clubs played at grounds with floodlights and as I said I think that part of the suggestion was swept quietly "under the carpet". Cheers mate jb

Fuss ball. So you were not interested in the Power/ Geelong match. That's fine. For your interest 44,937 attended that match. Compared to the combined attendance of 36,053 for major preliminary finals in soccer. So if soccer can't get decent numbers for major games how can it compete for normal home and away games? Remember 7,000 during the summer when a few factors are in soccer's favour. No other competing football codes. Warm balmy evenings that are ideal to be outside watching. School holidays. So where does soccer fit in with football codes in Australia? Big bash cricket blew soccer of the ratings scale over the past 5 years and looks to continue to rank poorly. Competing against AFL and NRL. No hope

Interesting indeed. I don't even remotely like the idea of a marquee doing half a season here, half a season in JLeague.., but the fact that not only is there dialog, but an actual agreement in place to align agendas between the two of us, is nothing but good stuff.

Great post RBBA. And great follow up post waz. "Some seem to have a knee-jerk reaction whenever the nsl is brought up." Except this point lol. It's the context in which it's brought up. I love chatting about NSL but I dare say I've never had a positive conversation on that topic here.

"Only fools ignore history’s lessons!" True! The NSL used round footballs.,, we currently use round footballs.,,gulp..,That can only equate to one thing: the inevitable death of the domestic game.

As I was saying...

Tully, Not the first time that this topic has come up. People generally think that we should just pack up the summer season, and play it in winter. I actually think that this just isn't possible in Australia, and there's only one reason for this, facilities and stadia. Yes, there may be a slight drop in media coverage and overall sports fan interest in the A-league if it was played at the same time as the NRL & AFL, but IMO that's not what shuts the entire idea down. We just don't have the stadia to cope. And thenAFL doesn't hurt us in this regard, as 99% of our games are played in rectangular stadiums. But both the NRL and the Super15 are in full swing, and those roll and tumble sports just destroy the pitches, and make them unplayable for our game. IMO our sport needs at least a 3 day turnaround between an NRL or a Super15 game and an A-league game, and with the amount of games that need to be played, and the small number of stadiums available, that just not gonna happen. So yes a winter league isn't the worst idea, but it's just not possible in Oz for at least the next 20 years.

It's more than just whether fans follow other codes also. The A-League has to navigate a packed sporting landscape through January, but doing it through winter would find a much more packed sporting landscape for much more of the season. Plus, a high percentage of the grounds are shared with Rugby League and Union and you'll find they can probably get much better quality playing surface for football during the summer months than when they are sharing with those other codes at the same time of the year. Plus, having the A-League during summer offers a lot to the venues in giving them continual usage through 12 months of the year in many places, which then also improves the chances of having more money invested in better infrastructure. Certainly, if promotion / relegation was to happen, all levels involved in that process would need to play the same season. But I think we are a fair number of years away from that happening anyway.

The article makes some points about summer football that are not entirely accurate. "Summer Soccer" was introduced by the National Soccer League in 1990. At the time, there was no real trade between European leagues and the NSL and the move was designed for a couple of reasons - the first to get away from coinciding with the rugby league and Australian Rules competitions (as stated in the article) but also to preserve playing pitches which, while for most NSL clubs were used exclusively for football, were usually in poor condition as the winter season progressed due to overuse. the concept was immediately successful. To return to winter now would be foolish. For one thing, ground availability would become an issue as all but Adelaide United share their ground with winter codes.

Oh well, you missed an absolute ripper !

Absolutely not.

This makes interesting reading, especially with Japan's success with p/r: http://m.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/jleague-and-aleague-look-at-joint-marquee-fund-20160424-godpdj.html

RBB Some seem to have a knee-jerk reaction whenever the nsl is brought up. I don't see myself as "guilty as charged" it's just I believe there are lessons to be learned and it would be foolish to ignore them (as it would be equally foolish to say it failed before so "never again"). The economics of football in this country are not working yet, that is the simple argument the FFA can and will use (in fact already have used) this with the ACL to end any pressure over pro/rel. and quite right as well, for the moment. Then there is the question of the FFAs ability to take on too much, there is evidence that following big administrative activities such as the WC bid and Asian Cup that other games that other facets of the game get neglected so while a plan for pro/rel etc might seem feasible I wouldn't underestimate the FFAs inability to do much more than they are. In a more perfect world I would like to see greater independence for the HAL and give them the charter to set up HAL2. That might work better.

@RBB - OK having read your next comment I've with drawn my some what tongue in cheek response.