If the last one was the off-season of discontent, then this offseason is the off-season of hope.
The following points each by themselves are good news for those connected to them. However, as a whole it’s a far better winter than the previous one for our A-League. It’s almost as if the FFA planned it that way – have a terrible offseason and get all the big calls agreed, leaving this year as it runs into the media deal looking good.
• The Under 16s national team have done quite well in their recent tournament.
• The Jets seem to have a decent owner and excellent CEO.
• The Roar seem to be building a decent administration team and in Craig Moore and John Aloisi they have a tremendous Football department.
• The Mariners seem to be getting their act together again.
• A Socceroos match has been scheduled for Perth.
• Perth Glory seem to have recovered their NSL mojo and things look good in the west.
• Timmy looks like he is coming to City.
• The PFA appointed from the Melbourne City management a decent CEO.
• The new A-League head on paper is an excellent choice.
• Optus and BeIn sport, showing they are bidders in the next media deal.
• Steven Lowy to date seems to be making all the right calls.
• Socceroo’s doing well.
• Matilda’s making the Olympics and their recent growth.
• The moving of Sydney FC V WSW to Homebush as a block buster.
• The Nix look the strongest they have ever looked on paper anyway. Plus their new academy.
• FFA’s marquee fund.
My reading of the tea leaves is we hit a plateau after Alessandro Del Piero and his fellow marquees left. Money, or lack thereof, was the root cause for most of the issues that have presented themselves. Today we have a number of high-quality signing being made by a number of clubs. Perth Glory, Sydney FC and Melbourne City seem to have extremely strong run on sides. Aside from Wanderers and the Roar who are still building, all squads look stronger than last year.
Hats off to Perth Glory, the manner in which the club is turning itself around is a huge credit to all those involved. Special mention for the way in which Kenny Lowe has selected so many local WA players to form a very clever and a very strong squad.
The noises coming out of the Roar with the new admin appointments are good. Let’s hope there is some substance to the noise and just not a lot of hot air. The new owners have earned enough respect for us to sit back and see if they can pull off what they want to do and give them help if they need it.
The Jets actually have a three-year plan and it looks achievable. To have a strong Newcastle/Hunter and Perth market again would be brilliant, as they are both not only foundation clubs but have a strong history in the NSL. Both have deep-rooted support and structures and it would be excellent for the league and their supporters if they could again become not only competitive, but have real swagger about them.
Again growth in the modern world is often limited to revenue. Revenue or lack of it has to an extent held the league back and we have been on a plateau for two to three years. The new A-League head has identified the two major issues in football and he plans to do all he can to unlock them. If he is successful in starting the processes this will be a stellar year and he has had a great lead in.
If he can solve the issue of the player base, and connecting to the player base, football will explode. He has rightly identified all marketing of the A-League by clubs or the FFA should be directed to align with fan wants.
A great season awaits us. Things are looking up for the A-League.
BigAl
Guest
Well ! it's 9:41 now. That's over 3 hours and still no offers, you poor little wall flower you. Shall I re post my "...nothing to see here..." video.. ?
Punter
Guest
It takes 2 to make a war!!!!
Carbuncle Junior
Guest
Your articulate and well-punctuated contribution is appreciated, and I agree with the subtle and perceptive point you are making: if Midfielder wants to turn his own articles into incoherent code wars, that's his prerogative.
Punter
Guest
Laladida!!!!
Midfielder
Guest
Yes they buy the back page and often the back two pages they have I am told 300 players . Whats interesting is the pre and post Mariners player numbers. Pre Mariners, Football 8K, RL, 4.5K, RU 2.5K, AFL I don't know Post the Mariners , Football 16.5 K, RL 2.7k, RU 1.5k, AFL 300
Carbuncle Junior
Guest
You just can't help yourself, can you?
At work
Roar Rookie
Middy is there a local aussie rules comp played on the Central Coast though? I assume that's what you're referring to. Yes funny they don't get a mention at all...
Midfielder
Guest
Read nay scan down the link to see what's missing ... even with all the money being thrown around... from our local rag.. http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/central-coast/sport/central-coast-sports-preview/news-story/3033a7d79cc7b096beb34b6b4f0fd184
AGO74
Guest
What you are describing is the lot of virtually every football league in the world with exception of epl and clubs like Barca and Real Madrid. It's called the football pyramid. Are we at the top ? No - but we are certainly a lot higher up thenpyramid than when a-league started 10 years ago with the caliber of player now playing here. And we will continue to climb up pyramid assuming the trend remains positive.
Bob Brown
Roar Guru
Thanks for the link. 3-3 at the end of extra time. Joeys won 5-3 on penalties and into da finale. Good recovery from where they were last week.
harry houdini
Roar Rookie
SANFL crowds are down due to nobody liking the AFL reserves teams playing, they are down in what is probably cyclical as the WAFL has risen and fallen as well, what is interesting is that AFL crowds are up about 50% on 3 years ago in Adelaide due no doubt to the Adelaide Oval. The SANFL which was Australia's 2nd best standard of football 4 years ago has slipped, but i imagine as they have done before will build it back up again. People like to watch the highest standard available, that is why the Adelaide Crows and Port Adelaide have a waiting list for seats.
Bob Brown
Roar Guru
Official report from FFA on last A-League season: http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/dct/ffa-dtc-performgroup-eu-west-1/Hyundai%20A-League%202015-16%20Season%20Report_lcusnv8p7agn1qoq0l5lk8lwo.pdf
Griffo
Roar Guru
For anyone that is interested (as they were also mentioned by Mid), the U16s semi-final against Thailand U16 in the AFF U16 Championship is going to stream live on YouTube in around 2.5 hours:
Midfielder
Guest
Thanks Real I am also liking the way the various squads are coming together ... it shows today that the coaches and their clubs are much better today than say 5 to 6 years ago at picking overseas players. I particularly like the Perth, MC, SFC, Nix and Jets squads ... WSW & MV & AU are still building.... The Mariners will be vastly improved this year ... On balance many things are falling into place.
Midfielder
Guest
More good news Scott McDonald poised to quit Motherwell for dream return to Australia with Western Sydney Wanderers STRIKER set to return home to join the A-League side if the Fir Park club agree to rip up his new deal and allow him to move as a free agent http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-transfer-news/scott-mcdonald-poised-quit-motherwell-8455033#Ghbq2IOCs2YDMHTt.99
Realfootball
Guest
Good on you, Mid! Agree 100%
Bondy
Guest
And also whenever Rugby League get a feature match or tournament to sell they take it away from the heartland of the sport N.S.W. ... The Rugby League World Cup runs directly against us as the HAL.? The league World Cup wont be as big as the Asian Cup , No Way .. ...
Midfielder
Guest
Interesting also is ch 7, are the broadcasters..
Sydneysider
Guest
Josh an interesting issue coming out of the Rugby League World Cup to be held in Australia in 2017 is that the NSW Government initially offered $4 million to host some matches, then reduced their offer to $2 million and then subsequently withdrew their offer because they didn't see the value of increasing their bids after the poor attendances at the last world cup hosted in Australia. Sydney ended up getting 2 matches - Australia v Lebanon and England v Lebanon.
marron
Guest
Actually Waz when a western sydney team was announced the SFC suits welcomed it and said it would allow them to concentrate more fully and effectively on their market.