Draw for the last 11 games

[dibo]

I don't think we've got the best ground. Adelaide and the bubble dome are both probably better in my view - Adelaide for the view; bubble done for the atmosphere (from the roof). Our ground has the combination of the worst of both.

 

[Jaundice]

Personally, I think the Premiership is the bigger and more satisfying achievement - long-term... But Dibo (and BG) are right, the build up to the Grand Final is more immediate and thus stronger in a sense... It's difficult to maintain that level of excitement over a year (staunchly trying to ignore the tantric remarks here thank you ).
To me, the importance of the championship has more to do with slowly closing down any of the "attacks" that other fans might use... It's really great to have and if we can't have the premiership then the Championship'll definitely do - VicMariner is spot on, any silverware IS worth winning.

Re the thing about having the season stitched up well before comletion, I don't think that has as great an impact as one might expect... I've seen FC Copenhagen do it a couple of times - perhaps not halfway through but definitely early... Focus seems to got towards second of the ladder then... Don't forget, there's still prestige in sitting higher than everyone else. In a sense, I tend to see fotball as a bit of a recursive universe... Each game is a focal point, with it's own tensions and worries... Some of those include the ladder position, but most of them, at-the-time, are about the game itself. Before and after, there's the potential impact of the result, in the calculation, but that's not really what attending the match is about. I certainly know people who attend the games without knowing the ladder at all, really... They go to support the Mariners, to enjoy a game and that's that... The friend that I attend with, when not going with family , is like that.. He likes football, he enjoys a good game, but I'm not sure he's all that on top of the league as such.

So, after that sidetracked diatribe - I prefer the premiership - and as most of the other games sofar this season, I think this weekend will be defining for that... If we can beat the Roar up there, I think we've got a good shot at the premiership. If not, well at least we should have a chance at shooting for second and maybe become successive champions while also qualifying for the ACL again - fingers crossed.

All good points Neb, but I think Denmark (europe) and OZ are a little apples and oranges in that regard. They have an ingrained footballing culture and this is what they know and grew up on. Also most European leagues have relegations/promotions and champions,europa leagues that the public actually consider meaningful to qualify unlike our ACL. Yes People like us do but when we struggle to even get 3k to show up on heavily discounted tickets and lots of freebies not even our regular support get behind it.

This is just my opinion ofcourse. Ideally, I much prefer your point of view though

 

[Jaundice]

.
. but if we're talking theories i think it is possible to win the championship without winning a game (i'm sure dibo has done the maths to prove or dis-prove). could a team make 'the six' by only drawing games? they could then make it to the grand final by drawing and going through in a shootout ... they could then be crowned league champions by winning the GF in a shootout even if their opponent had one practically every game they played for the entire season

. that scenario (if possible) wouldn't cause much debate, would it?

It may be possible, although highly unlikely. I think its more a reflection of the high percentage of teams that can make the finals out of a small 10 team comp that can make such comical scenarios plausable.

Ive followed rugby league ( a lot less these days) and I cant recall anytime ive ever seen a lower seeded semi finalist ever take out the grandfinal. I dont think its happened in the hal yet either.

 

[dibo]

In 2009, 4th (Melbourne) beat 8th (Parramatta) in the Grand Final. That's pretty crap.

 

[dibo]

In the A-League,

1. We should have won the final from 3rd after we eliminated Adelaide (1st), Sydney won it from 2nd
2. Melbourne did the double
3. We finished 1st, lost to 2nd
4. Melbourne did the double
5. Sydney did the double
6. Brisbane did the double [I don't actually remember this game]
7. Brisbane (2nd) beat Perth (3rd) after we finished 1st but were eliminated
8. We finished 2nd, beat Wanderers (1st).

 

[nebakke]

All good points Neb, but I think Denmark (europe) and OZ are a little apples and oranges in that regard. They have an ingrained footballing culture and this is what they know and grew up on. Also most European leagues have relegations/promotions and champions,europa leagues that the public actually consider meaningful to qualify unlike our ACL. Yes People like us do but when we struggle to even get 3k to show up on heavily discounted tickets and lots of freebies not even our regular support get behind it.

This is just my opinion ofcourse. Ideally, I much prefer your point of view though

Hmm, I see what you mean and, to be honest, considered that myself when I posted the previous thing. Once that's said, in Danish terms at least, the Europa league is often seen a little bit like the ACL here... The games draw crowds, but that has more to do with who is playing than it has to do with the league... My perception at least, is that the EL games have less to do with it than the pure honour of being higher on the ladder.
Relegation only really matters for the bottom placed teams when it comes to that part of the season anyway - I acknowledge that it supports the excitement, but I'm not sure it matters much for the ones that were once in contention for top-spot.

I can't help but think that the whole ACL thing is a little bit funny - not laugh out loud, just strange... On one hand, it does actually seem to carry some respect, to qualify for the ACL, in everyday-type conversation, but noone outside we lucky few, seem to actually care about the games. I gotta say though, as has been mentioned many times before, it doesn't help matters either, that they're scheduled as mid-week games, particularly for us, as essentially a commuter suburb.

Anyway, tbh, I know sfa about anything - but I hope that I'm right... It'd also be nice if the ACL thing improved

 

[Jaundice]

In 2009, 4th (Melbourne) beat 8th (Parramatta) in the Grand Final. That's pretty crap.

Melbourne were stripped of the title with massive salary cap rorts and parramatta had an unbelievable iirc 13 game winning streak to get there.

Parra, are the first and only 8th team since the 8 team finals were introduced in 1999 to have made a grandfinal, in which they lost.

 

[Jaundice]

It'd also be nice if the ACL thing improved

Amen,

Hopefully this year western sydney turn out for it and show the public its a worthy cause and create a trend for the casuals.

 

[dibo]

Melbourne were stripped of the title with massive salary cap rorts and parramatta had an unbelievable iirc 13 game winning streak to get there.

Parra, are the first and only 8th team since the 8 team finals were introduced in 1999 to have made a grandfinal, in which they lost.

Nobody knew in 2009 that in 2011 they were going to be retrospectively stripped. They just saw two mediocre (by the standards of their performance over 24 weeks) teams in the GF.

 

[Jaundice]

Nobody knew in 2009 that in 2011 they were going to be retrospectively stripped. They just saw two mediocre (by the standards of their performance over 24 weeks) teams in the GF.

I wouldnt have thought a 13 game winning streak qualified as a mediocre performance. I guess we were robbed of the premiership with the wanderers 'mediocre' winning streak on the back half of the season.

Melbourne were a force in that time period hardly mediocrity and yes it did come to light only later why they were so dominant.

 

[Wombat]

In the A-League,

1. We should have won the final from 3rd after we eliminated Adelaide (1st), Sydney won it from 2nd
2. Melbourne did the double
3. We finished 1st, lost to 2nd
4. Melbourne did the double
5. Sydney did the double
6. Brisbane did the double [I don't actually remember this game]
7. Brisbane (2nd) beat Perth (3rd) after we finished 1st but were eliminated
8. We finished 2nd, beat Wanderers (1st).

7. After cheating FFA stooge handed them the title.....has since gone on to be a constantly SHIT ref.....but allegedly is consistent for cash!

 

[eenfish]

I wouldnt have thought a 13 game winning streak qualified as a mediocre performance. I guess we were robbed of the premiership with the wanderers 'mediocre' winning streak on the back half of the season.

Melbourne were a force in that time period hardly mediocrity and yes it did come to light only later why they were so dominant.

That was a tight year at the top too, with St George being real strong as well as others. But that rugby ball lets talk about the round stuff.

 

[Ancient Mariner]

I think a big part of the problem is that in Rugby League the better team will prevail on the day, but football like cricket it is not uncommon for there to be an upset. It is why having a final for the Sheffield Shield is so wrong.

 

[Gratis]

so
back to rebuilding Again.
in many ways not having a chance at the premiership will probably help our finals situation. when we're playing for that plus the acl plus finals it's easy to over stretch

 

[VicMariner]

Don't know where else to put this but it's one of the last 11 games. We need a random junk thread. Anywho...

Our rd 24 match against Melbourne Heart will have a Japanese referee.

http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/news/1181388/Japanese-ref-to-control-A-League-match

 

[bikinigirl]

The program is designed to help referees from both countries gain valuable international experience as well as expose players in the A-League and J.League to different styles of officiating.

http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/news/1181388/Japanese-ref-to-control-A-League-match

. but our players already experience different styles of officiating ... usually in the one match!

 

[gull]

Can only be a positive for mine...

 

[Big Al]

He could be blind it would make no difference,plus he will still have shit touchies

 

[Gratis]

I know this is utterly pointless but I got to thinking what a difference 4 games can make.

we lost the last 4 and now sit 6th and staring down the not making finals barrel.
had we won 2 - 3 of those we'd be 2nd or even 1st.

the next 4 will clearly be even more important

 

[Big Al]

played some of the better teams in that run.

Roar - 1st
MV - 3rd
AU - 5th - Terrible start - Form teams of the moment with Nix & Heart - Bottom teams all fixed there problems
Nix - 7th - Same as AU - Think they are 5 from last 7