Soccer Australia fiasco

[Fat Red]

I can't believe yet another backflip with the Strikers and Cosmos coming back into the comp.

IMHO it was stupid kicking them out in the first place, but this is...

Much as we complain about the AFL, they're not in the NSL's league in terms of incompetence and even insensitivity to fans.

 

[sbagman]

Absolutely agree.

The ejection of Brisbane and Canberra was totally nuts, although I must admit, was the clubs in question were partially to blame. Brisbane have struggled for crowds despite getting 40,000 people to the GF a few years ago, and have been plagued by mismanagment and fights with its own federation, the QSF. I'm not sure about Canberra, but small crowds there certainly contributed.

The league needs teams which aren't going to fold mid-season. I feel too many sides have been let in previously, and are now destined to struggle - Parramatta Power and Nothern Spirit leap to mind. At the same time, a presence in the major cities is a must - the absence of a team in Brisbane would have been sheer lunacy, especially considering the NZ Kingz finished lower on the tabel of financial viability than Brisbane.

Cheers,
Sbagman.

 

[GOALden Hawk]

Are they back in? Didn't even know. Oh well, good decision...finally. So the big revamp for the NSL has ended up been....the exact same clubs, TV coverage, marketing and sponsors as last season.

Great job Soccer Australia I can't wait to see how they botch the tickets for the France and WCQ games.

 

[CDFCLad]

SA are a disgarce aren't they? Here in Adelaide, we still don't know if we are getting our desperately needed second 'broad-based' team or not. They've been dangling the carrot for 3-4 years now, and every time it is taken away.

 

[sbagman]

These so called "broad based" teams are supposed to be the saviours of soccer in so many cities. What rot. People bag the ethnic clubs, yet they're still here. Have a look at the so called "broad based" clubs....
Carlton (fell over)
Newcastle (fell over)
Parramatta (low crowds)
Northern Spirit (lucky to get 3,000 a game now)
Brisbane (nearly fell over, lucky to get 3,000 a game)
Canberra (ditto Brisbane)
Wollongong (twice in a row champions, yet still not pulling great crowds)


I mean, apart from Perth, which non-ethnic clubs have had good crowds? This idea that a non ethnically aligned club in Melbourne, Adelaide or anywhere else to me is a load of rot until I see proof that it can succeed better than the ethnic setup. I'm yet to see that proof.

Sbagman.

 

[GOALden Hawk]

Good point sbagman, but Melbourne has 3 million people, yet only has 2 clubs, both of which are ethnic based.

I really feel no great enthusiasm for either team...I play at a soccer club that has a lot of Greeks (including a member of the board at South) so I sort of follow them. But if a team was to come along that was to represent all Melburnians, and not just an ethnic group or a football club, I think I would support them a lot more.

But until Soccer Australia get their act together I'm not really interesteed in the NSL - makes the AFL Commission look like a bunch of visionary gurus who have never stuffed up in their lives.

 

[sbagman]

Yes that's true. But they have survived there are deserve to be there. Why didn't you follow Carlton? Why didn't ANYONE? Anyway, I reckon the problem would be solved if the ethnic clubs marketed themselves a bit better. You know, saying stuff like "yes, we've got a greek past and we're proud of that, but our future is Australian". Like me... I've got an Italian backgorund, and I'm proud of that, but at the end of the day I'm Aussie, and that's where my future is.

(actually that's rubbish, I'd consider myself more Italian than Australian, and can't wait to move back there. but you get my point).

No more plastic teams with new names and new colours every year. Lets improve what we've got an build on the tradition.

 

[topdon]

i support the dumping on the NSL alltogether and a formation of a "new" competition with new licences issued. The ethnic affiliation with soccer clubs in this contry has meant that many of those who like soccer have been scared off (no literally, but you know what i mean).

It's a tough one and i really can't be bothered getting into the real crux of the issue. I do believe that Soccer Australia is holding the sport back in this country. Australia is a scoccer nursery, with so many juniors playing the game. Some of these players are basically "forced" to go overseas, far earlier than they normally would, in order to further their careers.

Our lack of international competition is a definite concern.

P.S. I'm of Italian origin by the way.

 

[GOALden Hawk]

I didn't follow Carlton because they were to close to the Carlton football club for my liking....by doing that they put themselves behind the 8-ball before they even started...same with Collingwood Warriors.

There is a campaign going at some soccer site, might be SBS Forum, not sure for a club to be set up called Melbourne Victory to represent Victorians.

I'm not saying Knights and South don't deserve to be there, they definitely do...Knights produced Australia's greatest ever player (Viduka we love ya) and South are along with Glory the best supported club in the NSL.

 

[sbagman]

Yeah I saw that site. Thing is that the LAST thing the NSL needs is another team to be created out of nothing, get good crowds for a few years, see the crowds lose interest in the club, the club goes belly up. Then after a few years the process in repeated. I'm simply not convinced Melbourne Victory (what a crap name!) would have the support of the greater Melbourne public for a sustained period. What evidence do you have that it could succeed?

 

[sbagman]

Originally posted by topdon
i support the dumping on the NSL alltogether and a formation of a "new" competition with new licences issued. The ethnic affiliation with soccer clubs in this contry has meant that many of those who like soccer have been scared off (no literally, but you know what i mean).

With new teams? The ethnic affiliation IS soccer in this country. If you removed every club in Australia at every level which has an ethnic affiliation, you would be left with practically nothing.

 

[CDFCLad]

I mean, apart from Perth, which non-ethnic clubs have had good crowds? This idea that a non ethnically aligned club in Melbourne, Adelaide or anywhere else to me is a load of rot until I see proof that it can succeed better than the ethnic setup. I'm yet to see that proof.

Sbagman. [/B][/QUOTE]

Adelaide is a soccer mad city. In certain Northern areas of the city it is almost certainly the most popular sport (including Aussie Rules.) The North have 4 Premier/State teams. I played for a State League side called CD Apac (now merged) and the whole Northern area has about 3/4 of all the 1st Division Amateur sides in Adelaide. A few years back a few high profile people from the North of Adelaide wanted to merge Elizabeth City, CD Apac and Salisbury United and attempt to buy a licence for the NSL but West Adelaide sold Lazaridis and survived thereby making the plan pointless. Two years ago Peter Emery tried to get Adelaide United into the NSL, but the NSL choose to keep Westies who died three weeks later. We do need another club in Adelaide.

I have nothing against the 'ethnic' clubs, I used to support Heidelberg Utd when they were in the NSL, but I am telling you from personal knowledge, the soccer community in Adelaide will not support Adelaide City as a rule. The former owner of the Sharks, Con Makris, knows it as well..........he is the guy in charge of the new venture called the South Coast Eagles (only a temporary name apparently)

My argument is that Perth would be no more of a soccer loving city than Adelaide, we have a fantastic stadium, we'd get 10,000 plus no probs. We used to get that for derby matches, who weren't widely followed.

 

[GOALden Hawk]

I don't have any evidence that Melbourne Victory would succeed, but I think the idea is right. But realistically, I can't see a Victorian team joining the NSL for a long time....I think I'll just stick to my Australia and Liverpool, at least I know they'll be around for a few years!!

Heidelberg City....I would DEFINITELY follow them if they were in the NSL, their home ground is about 10 minutes from my house...but the ground is in disrepair, and I think the club is struggling a bit these days.

 

[Sydneyfan]

Soccer Australia have lost any remaining inch of credibility that they had by removing Brisbane and Canberra only to re-instate them a few weeks later.
Having said that, I'm glad that Brisbane and Canberra are back, they shouldn't have been removed in the first place!

 

[topdon]

Originally posted by sbagman


With new teams? The ethnic affiliation IS soccer in this country. If you removed every club in Australia at every level which has an ethnic affiliation, you would be left with practically nothing.

sbagman...i understand that ethnic affiliation IS soccer in this country...but take a look at the two Melbourne teams. Having a huge Greek community in Melbourne, South Melbourne "Hellas" have had no problems in sustaining a strong supporter base. The Melbourne Knights (Croatia) on the other hand still only appeals to the Croatian community in Melbourne (which pales into significance compared to the Greek and Italian communities).

I was making a suggestion. Something has do be done, and i don't pretend to have any solutions. I think the problems start at the top. I would love to see soccer thrive in this country, but at this point in time...soccer is sick! Which is unfortunate with the number of kids playing the sport.

 

[topdon]

Originally posted by GOALden Hawk
Heidelberg City....I would DEFINITELY follow them if they were in the NSL, their home ground is about 10 minutes from my house...but the ground is in disrepair, and I think the club is struggling a bit these days.

How about the Venito Club across the road from your old school? They have a soccer pitch.

Good man GOALden...i'm happy with my Italy/Australia/Liverpool support!! Heard that some games in the UK will be pay-per-view as of this season. Hope that doesn't effect us over here. I will be mightily pissed off. The first Merseyside Derby is set to be PPV apparently

 

[CDFCLad]

Originally posted by topdon


How about the Venito Club across the road from your old school? They have a soccer pitch.

Good man GOALden...i'm happy with my Italy/Australia/Liverpool support!! Heard that some games in the UK will be pay-per-view as of this season. Hope that doesn't effect us over here. I will be mightily pissed off. The first Merseyside Derby is set to be PPV apparently

PPV has been in Britain since the 97/98 season. First game was Sunderland v Oxford and it got over 300,000 subscribers (mainly because Sunderland has a huge following in the UK) I think it has been limited to the 1st Div until now. Is it coming into the Prem next season.....I haven't heard anything about it. If our derby game (Sunderland v Newcastle) is PPV I'll be mightily miffed!!

 

[GOALden Hawk]

Yeah, Veneto Club is pretty close as well...I reckon they could definitely succeed in a 2nd division of the NSL if they had one, they have a fantastic set up down there.

I would have thought we would still get the same 1 hour package on SBS, as that's especially made for international audiences, much like the AFL Wrap.

I'm not sure how PPV would affect Foxtel though, it should be OK because Foxtel is different to Sky Sports, but I don't own Foxtel so I couldn't be sure.

 

[topdon]

Originally posted by GOALden Hawk
I'm not sure how PPV would affect Foxtel though, it should be OK because Foxtel is different to Sky Sports, but I don't own Foxtel so I couldn't be sure.

Fox Sports use the Sky Sports feed for the majority of the matches, with ITV the remainder. Bot will be entering to PPV arrangements this season. I honestly don't know what this truely means for us in Australia.

However, i was speaking to a few guys from the Liverpool newsgroup (uk.sport.football.clubs.liverpool) and they said that when they have travelled overseas, they haven't had any problem getting a live feed (even if the game is PPV in the UK). Yeah, they seemed to be really concerned about having to pay to see selected premiership matches.

Just have to see how the coverage is come the start of the season next month.