On the back of what has already been a bumper round of festive fixtures, it’s time to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and share your wishes for the New Year.
How good was it to see almost 26,000 fans pack into AAMI Park for the annual pre-Christmas Melbourne Derby?
Sure, it was more spiteful than scintillating – despite plenty of goalmouth action – but it was just great to see the stands packed once again for a fixture with real meaning.
I wish we could see a bit more of it between now and the end of the season.
And since I’m in such a festive mood, I thought I’d share my top five wishes while I’m here.
5. Perth Glory to sort out their ownership issues
I’ll come right out and say it – I’ve been a huge fan of Perth Glory since their National Soccer League days.
I love their stadium, I love their ‘West versus the Rest’ attitude, I love the fact that at any given point of a season, you can guarantee Glory will put some east coast high-flyers in their place with a ridiculous come-from-behind victory – see Saturday’s 3-2 win over Macarthur as a case in point.
I rate Alen Stajcic as a coach, and I’d love to see the Glory put their ongoing ownership issues behind them and emerge as a genuine contender once again.
(Photo by Hagen Hopkins – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
4. Football in Queensland to find a permanent home
Nine league games in and Ross Aloisi has already left Brisbane Roar. The former assistant coach was always fighting with one hand tied behind his back, with rumours abounding that he had no say in transfers and never had the backing of the club’s latest administrators.
With that sort of a backdrop for professional football in the city, you can almost forgive local politicians for feeling like the game is a basket case. Almost.
The simple reality is that football fans have been treated as second-class citizens by the state’s politicians for years now, and that Perry Park – not the impossible-to-get-to Ballymore – should be the home of football in Brisbane.
But it needs some vision from politicians and a united front to make it happen.
3. The Socceroos to win the Asian Cup in Qatar
Rightly or wrongly, Australia has always had a difficult relationship with Asia. And I’m not sure that Graham Arnold – with all his ‘fight to win’ mantras – is necessarily the diplomat to smooth things over.
But when it comes to the national team, I’d rather see them do well than make friends.
It’s worth remembering the Asian Football Confederation makes plenty of dodgy decisions of their own – their latest being the absolutely rank decision to sell off AFC Champions League Final hosting rights to Saudi Arabia (Danny Townsend must feel right at home).
There’s no way the Socceroos go into next month’s Asian Cup as favourites to win it.
But if Australian sport is littered with underdog stories, I’d love nothing more than to see Arnie’s men write another one and win the Asian Cup against the odds.
2. Some common sense from the Australian Professional Leagues
It wouldn’t have been a proper Melbourne Derby without some comical pre-game shenanigans, and we got it in spades when the Yarra End Collective put out a tweet claiming the APL had “banned” their planned tifo.
You’d think the APL would have better things to do trying to run a football league – not something they’ve had a terrible amount of success with lately – but in the end the Melbourne City fans unfurled their “We Are Melbourne” banner regardless and remarkably, the whole world didn’t stop turning.
We’ve already had one recent win with the APL agreeing to push back mid-summer kick-off times to 5pm AEDT.
Here’s hoping the trend remains well into the new year and they continue to display even more common sense.
1. Fans to start returning to A-League Men games
We can’t keep staying away forever.
Yes, the APL should have the book thrown at them for making Mr Bean look like a reasonable option as their newest chief executive.
But as ridiculous as many aspects of the A-Leagues’ administration has been, it’s also incumbent upon fans to play their part.
In most leagues across the world, fans don’t give administrators a second thought.
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
And with close to 26,000 fans turning up at Saturday’s derby, my No.1 Christmas wish is for fans to continue turning up – in Melbourne and Sydney, but also in Brisbane and Perth, and Newcastle and Adelaide and Wellington – to actually support the league.
It may not be perfect. But at least it’s ours.
And with that, I’d like to wish each and every one of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Don’t forget to share your wishes in the comments.
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
Chris, that will only come with visibility, education and A-League clubs engaging grassroots football to establish a direct relationship with the supporters. The perfect opportunity would have been in Wellington the other day. The Kiwi commentators mentioned the Yellow Fever's 12 Pubs of Christmas event. i am not saying the players have to have a beer, but just turn up at the pub for 15-20 minutes, sign a few shirts, let the supporters ask questions and engage the players etc. Mark Rudan did so much for football just by shouting the lads a cleansing beverage. And very generously might I add. Every time he turns up at the Cake Tin, they'll be singing his name.
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
my uneducated opinion is that people know the cricket is on, they don't have the appetite to watch the game unless they are hardcore cricket people, so it's a case of "Oh, cricket's finished, turn over and see who won?"
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
guess who doesn't have para+ :happy:
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
my apologies for not spelling it out, but I specifically relate to crowd numbers. I too have a like for Sydney equivalent to that of receiving a poke in the eye.
Saffi
Roar Rookie
Great piece Mike. Merry Christmas and happy new year. The Roar football site is the only football site worth reading and acknowledging our great game. I can add a wish of publicity, broader coverage and simple recognition for our worthy A League. Lets hope many more people know the A League is such good fun!
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
sounded and looked great on TV too. Only outdone by the Liverpool supporters who were magnificent in singing Christmas Carols with a LFC twist (v Burnley).
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
Belated best wishes Mike, and thanks for your year of fine articles to keep the conversation rolling. I try to steer clear of the internet on Christmas and Boxing Days but not too late to offer my wishes for the coming year. Good health to us all on The Roar football tab community. May all our teams perform to their best and may Roar continue to improve on their path to their fourth title in coming years. An edit to add a third wish, that unfounded rumors cease. They’re coming thick and fast at present, Qld football is in trouble, FQ is blocking entry to NSD, Ross Aloisi had no say in transfers, RA did not pick the starting team and did not have the backing of club management, Bakrie makes all decisions at Roar anyway (from Jakarta), … the rumor list goes on, please, may we at least have a fact check before being allowed to post these ridiculous rumors (except for me of course).
Cavaquinho
Roar Rookie
Sydney FC were Champions in 2017, 2019 & 2020. I don’t remember it making the league stronger!
chris1
Roar Rookie
Because those Arab nations are steeped in football history. They deserve it yes?
Redcap
Roar Guru
1. Postecoglou to Man Utd. Why would you wish that on Ange?
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
1. A stronger Sydney is a stronger league 2. That appears to be happening and long may it continue 3. I dream of a stronger tv deal 4. I have been fortunate not to have Para streaming issues 5. Come on the lads, but we have to knock over Saudi, Sth Korea and Japan to do so.
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
There's nothing like a splash of Murdoch propaganda to influence public opinion. Who needs truth. My wife and I attended a Melbourne Derby at AAMI and it was brilliant. We were surrounded by families, there was no foul language and it was a really positive environment. Yes the Active lads were doing their thing at either end of the ground, but by geez they made the atmosphere one that was truly a football environment.
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
God bless ya Knocka. All the best!!!
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
Love ya work Grem. You know my perspective on Sydney, but I honestly believe that it will be next season, when Talay has time to build the squad his way, that you will see the Smurfs back in the mix. Imagine the day when we have City, Victory, Wanderers, Sydney, Nix, Roar, WU, Perth, Adelaide and the Jets all within a few points of each other. Football freakin heaven mate!! Auckland will be good when they realised they made a mistake in hiring Corica. They will clean out the senior cits who aren't delivering, get a younger switched on Gaffer and they will be in the fight. Thanks mate, it's a bloody privilege.
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
Waz, all the best to you and yours mate. You bring informed, intelligent and sound comments to this forum and you educate us all. Keep fighting the good fight. Cheers FIL
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
Afternoon Mike, Lads, I hope you all had a great day yesterday with kids, family and those that mean the most. Mike you make some excellent point here, but I have to add one. Biased or not, Newcastle need and deserve a break. Con Constantinou, Nathan Tinkler and the Chinese fella have all kicked three shades of it out of our lads. At least Perth had a consistent owner in Tony Sage, but when you chuck in the ineptitude of the cerebral strugglers masquerading as referees, and the GF they handed to Victory, enough is enough. The Newcastle faithful are so proud of a bunch of lads who are so young it's ridiculous, who are bereft of senior leadership on the pitch and yet they run themselves stupid every week. It would be nice if we had players like Lolley, Tolgay or O'Shea, but we are running on the goodwill of other clubs. We wont give up, we will eventually get an owner, and we will come back. Can someone just remind Harper of that, when you compare his commentary to the likes of Paul Ifill and the Kiwi lads, Daniel McBreen, Grace Gill and Robbie Wood, there's no comparison. It is so good to see the crowds coming back and as we see the likes of Nix and Roar mixing it with the big clubs it just proves how good our league is. No Chelsea or Man City situations here. I do hope that Perth get themselves an owner, it means they will be stronger in the long run and so will the league. I asked Santa to bring us some football administration professionals for Christmas. I have faith that generational transition will play its part in time. The younger generations who are studying sports administration will earn their stripes and bring new, current and progressive thinking and skills to the administration of our league. The bottom line is we could sit here and complain, argue and whinge all day, but we should never take our good fortune for granted. To do so is disrespectful and unappreciative. We have the A-League, we have some cracking games and we can sit back and enjoy football that is not cashed up engineering that results in a one horse race. All the best for the New Year, soak up your time with your families and it's a privilege to be able to come to this forum and engage with you all over the game we love. Support Australian Football!!! Cheers FIL
Polly
Roar Rookie
BBL hasn’t fallen of a cliff lmfao.
Garry
Roar Rookie
Reading media spy it looks like the post game rated higher than the game? Strange..anyhow general ratings were low with plenty of Xmas activities and shows. Post rated first and game 4th in overnight 25 to 54 ages
Waz
Roar Rookie
You’re possibly too young to remember when FIFA awarded everything to Europe and occasionally South America … maybe the Arabs remember that and think it’s catch up time.
Waz
Roar Rookie
“ You want transparency on how other peoples money is being spent?” Whilst that’s not an unreasonable comment the APL would de well to head the sentiment behind it - professional sport has value because of supporters, without them it’s just grassroots football reliant on membership fees & bar takings.