Academies and World Cups
We hear a lot about the failures of the English football academy system. There have been numerous articles about how a large number of…
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Jeff Williamson is a business consultant. Passions are sport, music and film. Jeff is an advocate for expansion of the A-league and a strong NPL. Jeff also thinks our national capital should have a team in the A-league. He is also an idealist who believes in peace, justice and fair play.
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We hear a lot about the failures of the English football academy system. There have been numerous articles about how a large number of…
The grand final of the National Premier Leagues (NPL) is on this Saturday night. For everyone who talks about a national second division, this…
It's state finals time in the National Premier Leagues, and this weekend has a lot of good football to watch. Last Saturday evening, I…
The best football competition in Australia, the FFA Cup, launches into the round of 32 this week. There is something about cup competitions that…
One of the things I like about being part of The Roar is the discussion about different issues. It’s a healthy thing. I do…
Sunday, April 2, 2017, marked 40 years since the National Soccer League kicked off, in Canberra. At Manuka Oval in the ACT, Canberra City…
A lot of opinions have been shared recently about a new national second division. We have heard from those opposed to the idea. The…
On Saturday night, I watched the opening game of the English Premier League, between Hull City and Leicester City. It was played at the…
The Round of 32 of the 2016 FFA Cup is now complete, raising plenty of talking points for the ongoing tournament. The Central Coast…
Recently, I journeyed to WIN Stadium to watch the Wollongong Wolves in the NSW National Premier Leagues, and as I sat in the grandstand,…
On a very pleasant Sunday afternoon at Blacktown Football Park in Sydney, I watched an entertaining battle between Blacktown Spartans FC and APIA Leichardt.…
The Asian Champions League for 2016 is under way. This is the top level club competition in Asia, bringing together the best teams from…
The Board of Football Federation Australia (FFA) has announced that it has decided an application from Wellington Phoenix for a 10-year licence extension to…
A lot of football fans want to see promotion and relegation introduced to the A-League. After all, so many of the top football leagues…
The A-League has finished for another season with a sold out final at AAMI Stadium. Despite all the controversy about which venue should be…
I am looking forward to watching the A-League finals, starting on Friday night with Adelaide versus Brisbane. It should be very different to the…
This Easter weekend was spent contemplating the impact of weather on sport. Last Saturday evening I was due to be at Melita Stadium to…
Last week, on the World Game website, David Lewis reported that several clubs were considering leaving the National Youth League competition. Every season, we…
Sebastian Hassett has written a report for the Sydney Morning Herald that should be a concern for football fans. Sebastian has reported that the…
The first round of the National Premier League was played in Sydney over the weekend. I was at Marconi Stadium in Bossley Park on…
Thanks Marty for a good read. I remember many of those matches.
And some I’d like to forget – like the ease they beat Australia at the 2010 World Cup.
German football will be strong for a long time because of the strength of the Bundesliga. It’s a top class competition that brings young players through.
The Bundesliga is a great model for Australia to follow in so many areas.
The end of Germany
We need to get to 14 teams ASAP.
Ideally, this would happen in 2019.
The A-League needs expansion before it's too late
You will be surprised if you spend some time watching the youth league.
Australia has plenty of talented players who should have the opportunity to play A-League.
The A-League isn’t stale, just filled with teams that can’t win at home
A-League crowds are not all about winning home games.
Biggest problem is that you get too many home games with the same team.
A lot of people do not want to see Wellington or a bunch of others twice at home in the same season.
People keep asking for a home and away season where each visitor only arrives once a season
Expansion to 14 teams has to happen very quickly.
The A-League isn’t stale, just filled with teams that can’t win at home
I would not cut Wellington because they get beaten.
If Wellington is to go, it will be because of poor crowds and the fact that they do very little to help Australian football.
FFA told Wellington they have to improve in a number of areas, but so far there is no evidence they are doing much about it.
On the other hand, Newcastle and Central Coast have contributed a lot to Australian football.
We need more Australian clubs in the A-League.
If the Phoenix have to go, what about the Jets and Mariners?
This is a good suggestion.
I would like to see it in a trial game.
It would change defending in a big way. Keepers would not be able to come out for a high cross.
I also think heading will be gone soon, and this change will work well with that.
Send it to FFA and FIFA.
Why the goal area should be a no-go zone
Middy – no need to worry if Woy Woy FC get promoted. They might have to move from Austin Butler Oval.
Would be a great derby with Mariners if Woy Woy got to the A-League
Solutions to the A-League's problems
I have to take issue with the suggested structure of the league.
The suggestion of a ten-team Division 1 and 2 is not a workable solution. Having each team play each other 3 times is one of the A-League’s biggest problems.
The A-League needs to move to 14 teams as fast as possible. And then look at expanding to 16 teams.
Solutions to the A-League's problems
Good article.
There are a lot of young players working hard all around Australia
Life on the fringes: Emily Kenshole's W-League story
Cessnock Sportsground is probably a better option than North Sydney Oval. Cessnock has a better grandstand and a better playing surface. And it’s rectangular.
North Sydney Oval is a cricket ground. I know football has been played there, but it is a cricket ground.
There would be many better stadiums around Sydney to use when SFS is unavailable..
Brookvale, Shark Park, Belmore, Kogarah would all be better. Leichardt is ok.
Will Sydney FC fans follow if the club heads north of the bridge?
Canberra is clearly the best option for expansion.
More teams in Sydney and Melbourne are not needed until Sydney FC and Melbourne City can fill their stadiums.
A derby in Brisbane might work if there is a club that can offer something different to Roar.
Wollongong is possible.
A 20 team A-League expansion roadmap
You may remember that is how Perth Glory got in trouble – payments to family, etc
The salary cap system: a necessary evil or a painful hindrance?
Waz, you have pointed out the real issue.
When nearly all clubs lose money every year, we have a bigger problem than just the salary cap.
The salary cap system: a necessary evil or a painful hindrance?
A salary floor makes no sense for an international game.
The salary cap system: a necessary evil or a painful hindrance?
The final scores for week 1
South Melbourne -1 v Edgeworth Eagles – 0
Lakeside Stadium, Albert Park (Victoria)
Hills United -3 v Hakoah Sydney City East – 6
Lily Homes Stadium, Seven Hills (NSW)
Bankstown Berries – 2 v MetroStars -1
Jensen Park, Bankstown (NSW)
Sorrento -1 v Canberra Olympic – 0
Percy Doyle Reserve, Duncraig (Western Australia)
Four more games next week
The FFA Cup approaches crunch time
This is very disappointing.
Nine Australian clubs is simply not enough.
A-League expansion delayed again by FFA
Being at the ground is great.
But TV is fantastic when the game is far away in another city. That is the power of broadcasting.
I am looking forward to watching Australia play in the Confederations Cup in Russia over the next couple of weeks. On TV of course
Roar and Against: Watching football on TV is better than being at the ground
Auckland are considering a new stadium primarily for rugby union and rugby league. The proposal is not about A-league or even football in New Zealand.
Interesting idea for the stadium, but it does not seem to have much support in Auckland.
Could an underwater stadium be Auckland's A-League lifesaver?
Agree. EPL on Optus and SBS has worked great.
Watched more EPL games this season
The EPL is now invisible thanks to Optus
David’s article was about whether he should stop supporting Brisbane Roar and switch to Brisbane City.
That certainly does reflect that there are people who want a change in Brisbane. And I understand the point about competition for existing clubs. But what is best for the A-league?
I think A-league expansion should be more about the parts of Australia that do not even have an A-league team.
Canberra is a great example. There is no talk in Canberra about dropping support for one club and choosing another. Canberra just wants an A-league team.
As well as Canberra, there are people in Wollongong, Geelong, Tasmania and even other parts of Queensland who would like their own team.
Brisbane Roar or Brisbane City? It’s a conundrum!
I agree. NPL is definitely worth getting out to watch.
The good news is that the NPL is played in every state and territory.
Missing the A-League? Try watching a local club
Waz, your train story is so true.
Many people do support clubs in lower leagues and different leagues. They can, because those clubs never play against each other.
One reason Canberra is a great expansion choice for the A-league is that it does not take away supporters from other A-league clubs.
It is better for the A-league to expand to places where there are no existing A-league clubs.
Brisbane Roar or Brisbane City? It’s a conundrum!
A-league needs expansion.
Expansion needs to happen first. We need to be at 16 teams before promotion & relegation is introduced.
First priority should be new teams from strong football centres such as Canberra in 2018/2019 season.
Expansion must take priority over promotion and relegation
Canberra should be in the A-league.
There is room for Canberra without having to axe Newcastle or CCM.
Expansion must take priority over promotion and relegation
Watch some of the games between the other 17 teams – you’ll see some good football.
Even Budesliga 2 offers some very good games.
And the battle for promotion and relegation positions is always interesting.
The end of Germany