A-League

[philhawk]

Who here is an A-League fan and if so, which team do you support?

Living in Sydney, i'm slowly getting behind the Sydney FC - but those damn Melbourne Victory just keep on beating us. ;)

[kolchak]

A-league.

There is a football league that needs support from fans.

Soccer gets bigger crowds at local club showdowns (which can be massive 15,000 or more).

[matty_hawk]

victory man myself. didnt really follow it last season, but a mate got me into it and my cousin has foxtel so i hear a lot more of them now, even went out and got a little victory soccer ball for my little cousin and got myself a shirt. still rather have the real footy on but hey.

[Mitchell Madness]

Was never really much of a soccer fan, however, since the introduction of the A-League i am begininning to see why it is classed as the "world game." There is a certain element to the game which allows anybody to play, no matter how lean or "unlean" they are.

AFL is for the elite of the elite, and you must have all boxes ticked these days to get a game. much like the basketball and NBA. Unfortunately, to see the best, you have to take it the way it falls.


anyway, back to A-League, I think victory will really struggle when Fred leaves to play elsewhere, I dont know how we managed to pick him up. HE was already on Brazil's team list, and he is only 19, he will absolutely carv up the world ina few years, I believe he could even over take Ronaldino for impact

[philhawk]

... Fred plays for Brazil? I thought that was a different Fred?

While I really like soccer - I just cant get into it as much as I can with AFL and Rugby League.

[kolchak]

... Fred plays for Brazil? I thought that was a different Fred?

While I really like soccer - I just cant get into it as much as I can with AFL and Rugby League.

It can be very fustrating :)

[bushranger]

i go for victory

allsop should be in the socceroos

[Gary Shadforth]

I find it difficult to get interested in soccer.

But I am a fan of Harry Kewell. A great Australian who has been home here in Ozz for the past 7 weeks having operations for 3 injuries he has been carrying and has spent his time away from the op-table working for the campaign against obesity in kids.

[crowsarethebest]

Was never really much of a soccer fan, however, since the introduction of the A-League i am begininning to see why it is classed as the "world game." There is a certain element to the game which allows anybody to play, no matter how lean or "unlean" they are.

AFL is for the elite of the elite, and you must have all boxes ticked these days to get a game. much like the basketball and NBA. Unfortunately, to see the best, you have to take it the way it falls.


anyway, back to A-League, I think victory will really struggle when Fred leaves to play elsewhere, I dont know how we managed to pick him up. HE was already on Brazil's team list, and he is only 19, he will absolutely carv up the world ina few years, I believe he could even over take Ronaldino for impact
You are talknig about another Fred. The Melbourne Victory Fred will never ever play for Brazil unless he has a massive massive x2000 improvement. The Fred you are talking about plays for Lyon and is a striker, not a midfielder. Melbourne Victory Fred will never ever be in Ronaldhino's class.. never ever. If you watch the world class teams, they will totally smash Melbourne Victory. The Melborune Victory Fred's still a good player and is one of the best in the A-League at the moment. :thumbsu:

[Hawkers]

Was never really much of a soccer fan, however, since the introduction of the A-League i am begininning to see why it is classed as the "world game." There is a certain element to the game which allows anybody to play, no matter how lean or "unlean" they are.

AFL is for the elite of the elite, and you must have all boxes ticked these days to get a game. much like the basketball and NBA. Unfortunately, to see the best, you have to take it the way it falls.


anyway, back to A-League, I think victory will really struggle when Fred leaves to play elsewhere, I dont know how we managed to pick him up. HE was already on Brazil's team list, and he is only 19, he will absolutely carv up the world ina few years, I believe he could even over take Ronaldino for impact


You're comparing the AFL to the A-League??

You should be comparing the A-League to the VFA and the AFL to the EPL

[philhawk]

To be fair Hawkers - i've been very impressed with the skill leve in the A-League this season.

If the sport manages to take off in Australia - do you see International players (who are entering their prime and not here for the money), being attracted to play for clubs like Sydney FC or the Victory?

[RustyHawk]

If your going to check out the Victory at the Dome, do not, I repeat, DO NOT sit at the Coventry or Lockett ends on level 1.

South end is the Victory supporters end and is swamped with people.

The north end is the away team supporters end and is joined by about 500 Victory supporters just to cheer them up and remind them who is playing.

Different, very different crowd to the one that goes to AFL, so be warned.

[Hawkers]

To be fair Hawkers - i've been very impressed with the skill leve in the A-League this season.

If the sport manages to take off in Australia - do you see International players (who are entering their prime and not here for the money), being attracted to play for clubs like Sydney FC or the Victory?


I'm the wrong person to ask philhawk, if you were just asking me. I don't like soccer so I wouldn't know

[hyperswivel]

If your going to check out the Victory at the Dome, do not, I repeat, DO NOT sit at the Coventry or Lockett ends on level 1.

South end is the Victory supporters end and is swamped with people.

The north end is the away team supporters end and is joined by about 500 Victory supporters just to cheer them up and remind them who is playing.

Different, very different crowd to the one that goes to AFL, so be warned.

What do you mean by different Rusty? I was thinking of going to check it out this Friday - possibly on my own. So are you talking crazy, don't mouth off different or just weird different?

[RustyHawk]

What do you mean by different Rusty? I was thinking of going to check it out this Friday - possibly on my own. So are you talking crazy, don't mouth off different or just weird different?

Well for a start its generally 99% of the crowd support Melbourne and the other 1% are either protected by a ring of security and police or stay very quiet.

Seems to be more groups of males rather than families and 55/45 split male female you get at the football.

Where I work it is generally all older people, not many young ones. They dont buy much, dont prebook the restaraunts, just different.

Hyper, I would certainly give it a go.

I certainly, strongly just dont sit at the ends the first time, check out the situation. In other words, be alert, not alarmed :)

[hyperswivel]

So I went to the soccer tonight.
It got interesting after only 88 minutes of play.

Great :rolleyes:

I'll give it another go in a couple of weeks - hopefully it was just a poor game.

[RustyHawk]

Perth played a very defensive game.

The crowd was ok for a Thursday night after Oaks Day. First time I've seen a flare go off in weeks.

Did you like how packed it gets down the Southern X station end on level 1?

[hyperswivel]

Oh yeah, the chanting was definately good, though after a while it just became white noise as I was concentrating on the game. I was down on level one but further over on the wing, so certainly got a good view of the "hooligans" behind the goals. Seemed pretty well behaved and in good spirits actually. I guess that's a given when everyone supports the same team though.

[Slick]

anyway, back to A-League, I think victory will really struggle when Fred leaves to play elsewhere, I dont know how we managed to pick him up. HE was already on Brazil's team list, and he is only 19, he will absolutely carv up the world ina few years, I believe he could even over take Ronaldino for impact

Just to clear things up, the Fred you are thinking about isn't the one playing for Melbourne Victory. I believe that the Fred you're talking about plays for Lyon in the French League. Melbourne Victory's Fred is 28 and was signed from a Brazilian 2nd Division team, make no mistake he is still a quality player as he has played for some of the top clubs in Brazil. But he, to my knowledge, has not played for Brazil's national team at any stage.

By the way, I went to the A-League last night and thought that because played the negative game that they did, Melbourne did well to come away with the win.. A what a strike it was by the Scottsman!!!

[RustyHawk]

Oh yeah, the chanting was definately good, though after a while it just became white noise as I was concentrating on the game. I was down on level one but further over on the wing, so certainly got a good view of the "hooligans" behind the goals. Seemed pretty well behaved and in good spirits actually. I guess that's a given when everyone supports the same team though.

Looks can and usually are deceiving. Just be careful when leaving the venue ok. Somebody was felled at one of the exits that end and arrests made.


By the way, I went to the A-League last night and thought that because played the negative game that they did, Melbourne did well to come away with the win.. A what a strike it was by the Scottsman!!!

Naw ive seen the Victory a couple of times now, their strikers just got swamped as Glory kept players well back.

That goal was a long range strike. Did you see how it penetrated the wall of Glory players. Was the only way in the end.

[Hugshawks]

I don't understand why people were calling for the Sydney coach to be sacked- didn't he win a premiership the previous year? All seems a little beyond me.

This whole soccer game is too dull and not exciting enough, can't see it taking off down under.

[RustyHawk]

This whole soccer game is too dull and not exciting enough, can't see it taking off down under.

Do not agree: Different type of people go to soccer as to footy. After all these years they seem to have got it right. Will survive and thrive.

The crowd is usually double what the Melbourne Storm can pull. In fact the North Melbourne and Foot is grey people must sit in awe and dream of a crowd of 28,000 people against an interstate team.

[realfootball]

I don't understand why people were calling for the Sydney coach to be sacked- didn't he win a premiership the previous year? All seems a little beyond me.

This whole soccer game is too dull and not exciting enough, can't see it taking off down under.

It already has taken off, big time.

No he didn't win a premiership last year, Littbarski did. The coach this year is Butcher.

[RoosterLad]

Was never really much of a soccer fan, however, since the introduction of the A-League i am begininning to see why it is classed as the "world game." There is a certain element to the game which allows anybody to play, no matter how lean or "unlean" they are.

AFL is for the elite of the elite, and you must have all boxes ticked these days to get a game. much like the basketball and NBA. Unfortunately, to see the best, you have to take it the way it falls.


anyway, back to A-League, I think victory will really struggle when Fred leaves to play elsewhere, I dont know how we managed to pick him up. HE was already on Brazil's team list, and he is only 19, he will absolutely carv up the world ina few years, I believe he could even over take Ronaldino for impact


I will try not to laugh. How would an A League club pick up a player who played and scored for Brazil in this year's World Cup? How would Melbourne get a guy who you think will be better than Ronaldinho?

A past World Cup winner and legend of the game will be coming soon though but not to Melbourne ;)

[Hugshawks]

It already has taken off, big time.

No he didn't win a premiership last year, Littbarski did. The coach this year is Butcher.

Ooops think I'm a little behind the times on the soccer front. :(