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Joined December 2008
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The news that clubs are planning to actually market the A-League this year is a welcome development for a competition that has wasted the last few seasons.
The Premier League is back and thanks to catch-up streaming there are no doubt a few fans in Australia who didn’t watch a minute of this weekend’s action live.
Whisper it quietly around a code that has lurched from crisis to crisis in recent years, but there’s suddenly an air of optimism as the new A-League season dawns.
It’s a wonder former Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou doesn’t have Mitch Langerak’s number on speed dial because he could sure use a decent goalkeeper.
Western United will be the best thing to happen to the A-League this season in a competition that’s been crying out for new storylines for years.
The struggle to put out a fixture list that’s suitable to an uneven number of clubs is a reminder that nothing ever comes easy in the A-League.
The FFA Cup may signal the start of a brand new season but we’re still stuck with the same old problem of some teams having to host home ties in neutral venues.
The Wanderers held their own against Leeds on Saturday night, but it won’t stop many online fans from comparing the A-League unfavourably to English football.
Bankwest Stadium is the best ground in the A-League before a ball has even been kicked, but it’s up to Wanderers fans to turn it into the sort of fortress they once called home.
Alex Morgan’s tea-sipping celebration was a storm in a teacup but it’ll still have most of the world hoping the United States lose the Women’s World Cup final.
There’s no better club in the A-League at setting the narrative and upstaging their rivals than the most talked about club in the land, Melbourne Victory.
The June 30 deadline for A-League independence is upon us but one group that always seems to be ignored when it comes to what we actually want from our football is the fans.
The Matildas hardly deserved to go through to the World Cup quarter-finals but their penalty shoot-out defeat to Norway in Nice yesterday still left a bitter taste.
The Matildas’ run to the Round of 16 has brought back the feel-good factor to Australian football and restored a sense of pride in our national teams.
“You can see what it means to us,” said skipper Sam Kerr after the Matildas’ nail-biting 3-2 win over Brazil, although a few critics seemed to miss that comment.
The Matildas’ gutsy 3-2 win over Brazil this morning was as courageous a comeback as we’ve ever seen from an Australian national team.
Australia’s 2-1 defeat to Italy in the Women’s World Cup overnight was exactly what a football association that prioritises anything but football deserves.
It’s hard to remember the last time there was so much expectation around an Aussie team, with the Women’s World Cup set to lift football out of the doldrums.
We’ve just witnessed the greatest season in the UEFA Champions League in recent memory, even if Sunday morning’s final failed to live up to expectations.
There’s a World Cup featuring one of our most popular national teams in action over the next few weeks, and another one hosting the Australian cricket team.
I can’t quite figure out if getting the Mariners is a good draw for the Roar or not. Should be a really interesting tie for both teams.
Finally, football in Australia is again on the up
“And if the powers-that-be don’t start coming up with some plans to rejuvenate the competition, by the time next season rolls around, it might already be too late.”
So in other words, A-League officials are doing now what I suggested they needed to do.
Finally, football in Australia is again on the up
I think you should go back and re-read some of those columns and try and get a better understanding of what’s been said.
Finally, football in Australia is again on the up
Some of you blokes would give a five-star rating to the Titanic.
Finally, football in Australia is again on the up
That one I wrote about Western United the other day was just to throw you off the trail.
Finally, football in Australia is again on the up
Some writing praise from Lionheart. I’ll take that! Thanks mate.
In fairness to RF, he changed his comment straight away. I think we all know what I meant.
Finally, football in Australia is again on the up
Fadida, I don’t actually think you make negative comments all the time. I’m trying to make a simple point to you.
If you just keep going around saying things like “you’re negative” or “I’m positive” or “this is this because I said so,” eventually people start to believe it since they see it so often.
But these things are never black or white. I’m not “negative” and you’re not “optimistic” just because you say so. All I do and have ever done is write about what’s happening in the game.
And I’m going to hammer you every time you post a negative comment this season. Because then you might finally get a sense of how tiresome it is to see genuine attempts to kick-start a conversation derailed by needless attempts at cheap point-scoring.
Finally, football in Australia is again on the up
Don’t you get tired of writing negative comments all the time?
Finally, football in Australia is again on the up
Yeah, I’d second the recommendation to go see Urawa Reds at home. Definitely worth the short trip out to Saitama.
As for Vissel Kobe, their coaching situation is a mess. (They should have signed Ange). Couple of blokes (Lukas Podolski being a prime example) also haven’t fit in with the culture too well. They are making a mint off shirt sales, however.
Ange Postecoglou is still the most interesting Aussie coach around
On the stadium situation, I’ve heard from club officials and they are determined to make it happen. They see a club-owned boutique stadium as the model for the A-League going forward and they want to be the first club to make it a reality.
As for the name, I can’t see any reason why it won’t be sticking around.
I'm on the Western United bandwagon - and you should be too
I read your preview and really enjoyed it. (For what it’s worth, I’m a long-time reader of When Saturday Comes… so I’m familiar with the trials and tribulations of English lower league clubs).
Why do fans compare the A-League to England's lower leagues?
Here’s hoping. Much to be done this season.
It's the most important A-League season ever - so let's see a fixture list
Ten games at Suncorp, three games in Redcliffe.
It's the most important A-League season ever - so let's see a fixture list
The German Cup kicks off on August 9. Games played between Friday and Monday, with the vast majority kicking off at 3.30pm on Saturday and Sunday.
There'd be more magic in the FFA Cup if teams could play at home
I think stadium standards are going to be a bit of an issue for a national second division. Particularly if it’s linked by promotion and relegation to the A-League.
There'd be more magic in the FFA Cup if teams could play at home
I think your attitude sums up everything that’s wrong with Australian football, Fadida.
Never mind Olympic FC’s lost gate-takings at Perry Park, or the fact Cooma Tigers had to play more than a hundred kilometres from home in Canberra, or that Newcastle Jets fans are tired of seeing their team being drawn against A-League opposition every single season.
Because you aren’t personally inconvenienced by the FFA Cup draw, no one else should be either. And instead of acknowledging the simple fixes that could improve the game, you criticise anyone who raises the issue.
Football needs some big-picture thinking. So be it if you only care about yourself and your club, but that doesn’t mean the rest of us should ignore these obvious issues.
There'd be more magic in the FFA Cup if teams could play at home
What happened in the west? Was there trouble at an AFL game again?
Why do fans compare the A-League to England's lower leagues?
That’s true Kanga, but is anyone in Oz actually watching League One or League Two? Because that’s essentially my point. These comparisons are usually based on nothing.
Why do fans compare the A-League to England's lower leagues?
That LA derby game was incredible.
It's time Wanderers fans proved they're the best in Australia
I’ve been an Eels member for more than a decade and flew down from Brisbane to take my nieces to the first game at the new stadium. If anyone’s entitled to ‘knock’ them, it’s me.
It's time Wanderers fans proved they're the best in Australia
Your entire comment. I called the Americans winners but you seemed to think I was criticising them?
The Americans are rude, loud, arrogant... and winners
What he said.
Finally, football in Australia is again on the up