Thank goodness for this weekend’s FFA Cup semi-finals – and the fact that the new A-League season kicks off in a fortnight.
Are we done with all these Congress issues? I have a feeling there are going to be more than a few teething problems to sort out between now and whenever an independent A-League kicks off.
But that’s to be expected of any regime change, and it shouldn’t be forgotten that the last A-League season – with its illegitimate title-winning goal – was hardly a showcase of Football Federation Australia’s best work.
Nor should it be overlooked that – not for the first time – another A-League season looks set to kick off with very little fanfare.
Maybe that’s because FFA wanted some ‘clear air’ once the NRL and AFL seasons were over.
Or maybe it’s because they were too busy playing politics instead of investing their time and energy into what really mattered.
For those who haven’t seen it, there’s an ad out featuring Tim Cahill and former Matildas defender and current W-League host Amy Duggan spruiking the new A-League and W-League seasons under the tagline: “Where heroes are made”.
It’s not the worst thing the FFA has ever done – which is saying something – but it’s not exactly the best.
In another curious decision, they’ve picked two personalities who have nothing to do with the A-League this season, shoehorned the women’s narrative into what resembles a cut-price ad, then executed the whole idea poorly enough so that by the end you’re left wondering what is it exactly you’ve just watched.
They’d have been better off focusing their campaign on Riley McGree’s scorpion kick – presumably Fox Sports will do exactly that – although maybe there’s a follow-up ad to come that shows some clearer footage of actual A-League action.
Riley McGree’s scorpion kick – a good news A-League story. AAP Image/Darren Pateman
Perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised that the video itself gained very little traction on social media upon its release.
It garnered only 65 likes and 14 comments on the A-League’s official Facebook page, and fared even worse on Twitter, where just four people retweeted it and the comments it generated were largely negative.
Who cares? Well the FFA should. Aren’t the kids who spend all day on their phones precisely the youth demographic football is supposed to be targeting?
But the social media side of things is just another element of the game that feels like it’s been tended to as an afterthought – I noticed the FFA Cup account on Twitter quietly unfollowed me a few weeks back – and so it’s largely left to fans themselves to create their own buzz.
Fortunately we’ve got the FFA Cup semi-finals to tide us over this weekend, and the two clashes between Bentleigh Greens and Adelaide United tonight, and Western Sydney Wanderers and Sydney FC tomorrow, should be crackers.
I hope Bentleigh can put behind them their dramatic National Premier Leagues Victoria semi-final defeat to Avondale FC, and really take the game to an Adelaide side missing the increasingly influential Craig Goodwin through illness.
And I couldn’t care less what happens in the Sydney derby just as long as a decent crowd turns out in Penrith.
Who am I kidding? Of course I care!
And if there’s one problem the A-League needs to solve if the 2018-19 season is to be a success, it’s to get a lot more people to care about the competition.
I’m relieved the Congress resolutions have passed because I was sick to death of sitting down at my laptop to write about politics.
It’s time to talk about football again – starting with tonight’s FFA Cup showdown at what will hopefully be a packed Kingston Heath.
I’ll be smashing a glass of wine or two and dreaming of another cupset when I tune in on Fox Sports.
And I hope we’re all back here on Monday morning to discuss what happened on the pitch, instead of worrying about everything that’s happening off it.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
I believe soccer can bounce back from this.
Cousin Claudio
Roar Guru
I believe the FFA have spent their entire propomtions and marketing budget for this season on legal costs to defend their good name. When those voracious Club Owners take the helm there will be no coins left in the cookie jar. Once again, ridiculous Sokka self-destruction on a grand scale.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Yesterday's SMH: FFA board to discuss scrapping A-League expansion "The Football Federation Australia board are contemplating scrapping the current A-League expansion process after major reforms set to lead to a change in leadership of the organisation were pushed through earlier in the week. Eight bidding teams hoping to gain one of the two licences on offer for entry into next season's A-League were set to learn their fate later this month, but Fairfax Media understands a decision may not be made for at least a year. The FFA board are at odds whether to continue with expansion plans or leave it up to the new chairman and new board elected in November." Also another SMH article about the Canberra bid being concerned that it will all be pushed back a year.
Waz
Roar Rookie
I’d agree with that Mr. F. In fact I’d go as far as to say everyone directly involved knows this purely based on the legal complexities of doing this but they’re just not saying it publicly (yet). It would take some extraordinary cooperation between outgoing Board, Administration, bidders and incoming Board to pull this off.
Tom English
Roar Guru
The key thing is: the die hards will come even if the ad is nothing more than a kid drawing the A-League logo. No-one really is gonna go "oh that's a cool ad, I'm now going to buy a membership", not really. The best ad is the football itself. Hopefully last year's issues are behind us, and we can just focus on the football. I'm preaching to the converted, but the off field issues are what pushed the sport itself under the carpet last year.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
I'd say a 12 month delay is more likely than not, if nothing else, because of the timing of the decision being right on the threshold of when a new chair and board comes in.
Waz
Roar Rookie
It’s complicated. Technically the new Board may not want to approve it due to the ramifications. The new board may want to approve it and may do so. But then the new clubs may want the delay citing the reduced time they have to sort things out. Perfect world it goes ahead. Less than perfect and it’s delayed 12 months.
RF
Roar Rookie
Personally, I think that expansion will go ahead as planned. There is too much at stake for it not to.
RF
Roar Rookie
Ha - very good
AR
Guest
“If I’m Carrie Bradshaw, you must be Trey MacDougal, seriously…” Clap. Clap. Clap.
Punter
Roar Rookie
Article by Philip Micallef, enough said.
Waz
Roar Rookie
It’s an opinion piece Nick. There’s no factual basis to it and no direct quotes. Worse still, the author has form. Look at his past writings. Attendances have fallen for five years under a Lowy stewardship, a balanced article might have at least mentioned that. It might also have mentioned that AAPFC have already stated their support for expansion and a national second division. The article could have mentioned that the administration costs for the HAL are 3-4 times higher than the administration costs of the entire Scottish leagues (which are five times bigger and run for 3 months longer). The article could also have mentioned that the FFA has not yet supported a national second division and has twice in the last 3 years done a u-turn on expansion. In fact when the current tv deal was announced Gallop said expansion would have to wait 6 years until the new tv deal was done. The article is a sham. It’s aimed at people like blind Nelly and Mr. Football who feed off negativity. There’s nothing to see here. Move along now, move along now. P.S. membership sakes are running 6% ahead of this time last year. But Ssssshhhh, don’t mention that ;)
Nick Symonds
Guest
Optus took the rights to the EPL from Fox and had rights to the last World Cup and now have rights to the UEFA Champions League. Now they have their eyes on the top leagues in Germany, Spain, Italy and France. Would they want to take away the rights to the A-League from Telstra? Yes.
Waz
Roar Rookie
You have. The FFA silence that inspired the fan boycotts.
RF
Roar Rookie
Optus?
RF
Roar Rookie
I've noted with interest that Fox did not report any of it on their football site. There is nothing at all on the meeting as it happened or the possible consequences. Never have I observed a louder silence.
RF
Roar Rookie
I like it. Works a treat. Haven't seen the Cahill spot.
Nemesis
Guest
This is old news. It's common knowledge that FoxSports has a Termination Clause that it can trigger if the ALeague ownership, or operating model, is altered significantly. I've also heard rumours FoxSports would like to exit the ALeague contract. And, ALeague clubs think the Foxsports contract is terrible for growing the game. The 2 biggest football competitions for viewing in Australia are ALeague & EPL. So, if FoxSports to away from Football, it would be embraced by fans, clubs &, presumably, FoxSports executives. Sounds perfect to me.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
This article puts a different slant on things. We've become used to blaming the Lowys for soccer's inertia in this country, but the gist of this article is that it's the ten clubs themselves, who now have more power, who are likely to stymie expansion so that they can recoup a fraction of their losses. "It is reliably understood that the majority of owners are far more interested in recouping some of the money they have invested in their clubs and putting the competition on an even keel than in expanding the league and creating a second tier. Expansion is as far as they would go but apparently they do not see it as a priority. They feel there are more pressing issues surrounding the competition and a second division could be "10 years away", as one club official puts it. "
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
It's good, but here we go again, giving all the credit to strikers and goal scorers. Aren't we allowed to have a few defensive heroes?