Tell us what you really think Jeff!

[dibo]

 

[midfielder]

Interesting comments from non football folk including Ray Gatt the brother in law of Tony Lab of the old NSL ... one an enemy within the other writes for other codes ... the first on the crowds but with a go at the A-League but Lyall says different the second on the round and a bit on the crowds the second ..

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/a-leagues-stage-managed-opening-round-a-flop-with-fans/story-e6frg7mf-1225903164453

FOOTBALL Federation Australia has been left red faced following disappointing crowd figures for its stage-managed A-League opening round.

Not even a stunning record Perth Glory crowd of 16,019 to watch Robbie Fowler's debut and a rematch of last season's grand final between heavyweights Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory could prevent the worst opening round average and second worst aggregate in the six-year history of the competition.

In what must be a sobering wake-up call for the game's administrators, just 54,048 (average 10,809) turned up. And that is despite there being five games compared to four in the first four seasons of the A-League. Only season four (2008-09), which drew 53,325 (average 13,331) has drawn a lower aggregate.

It wasn't supposed to be like that, coming off the back of the Socceroos playing at the World Cup finals, the introduction of a new team, Melbourne Heart, and the return of players such as Nick Carle, Michael Beauchamp and Josip Skoko.

Apart from the Perth Glory-North Queensland Fury and Sydney-Melbourne games, the FFA also scheduled the derby between Gold Coast United and Brisbane Roar, gave the Heart an opening-night match against Central Coast Mariners, while Adelaide United, one of the better drawing clubs in the league, was also at home against Newcastle Jets.

Given those circumstances, the FFA would have been expecting a bumper start. Instead, it has been left to ponder the wisdom of its decision to gamble so much in the first round while questions must be raised as to its strategy and the noticeable lack of marketing and promotion of the A-League.

The tradition of scheduling the grand final rematch in round one, at the height of the AFL and NRL seasons, backfired as the Sydney Football Stadium attendance was by far the worst for a Sydney home game against Victory.

Saturday night's game attracted a paltry 12,016 - 4211 fewer than the previous lowest.

Grant Muir, the "official unofficial spokesman" for Sydney's passionate supporter's group, The Cove, preferred to look on the positives.

"I'm not particularly worried. It was a little disappointing that the champions couldn't get a bigger crowd, but I am far from horrified," Muir said. "We have a very congested sports market and Sydney people are very fickle."

Muir pointed to a number of factors that would have affected the crowd, including the fact four of Sydney's last five games (stretching back to last season) have been against Melbourne, the late kick-off (8pm) which he suggested prevented young families from attending, the City to Surf the next day and other codes still running. "When the AFL and NRL finish, Sydney's crowds go up 20-25 per cent," Muir said.

A-League boss Lyall Gorman suggested round one was an "exceptionally good" start.

"I think the crowds were very positive," Gorman said. "We (FFA) had a debriefing and we were delighted. It augurs well for the rest of the season."

Gorman brushed aside crowd comparisons as "a flaw" and said he was more than happy with the Sydney attendance given what the match was up against.

"It is not logical to compare round by round with previous seasons because there are so many different circumstances," he said.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/soccer/quality-of-football-and-lack-of-crowds-damage-a-league/story-e6frepmf-1225903343879

Quality of football and lack of crowds damage A-League

SO the latest version of the A-League has kicked off. There was literally only one winner, and it wasn't soccer, or football.

Central Coast got the points on Thursday night with a 1-0 win over new kids on the block, Melbourne Heart.

From that point on there were four draws, including two in which a goal wasn't scored.

Now I take the point from the soccer, sorry football, purists that some of the best games ever played have finished 0-all.

But I doubt the two played out over the weekend fell into that category.

Yes, a scoreless draw can be thrilling, but only when chances are created and the odd shot is put on target.

On Sunday, the Roar looked capable of breaking down the opposition defence, but delivering a shot that genuinely tested the keeper was beyond them.

By all accounts the shining light of the opening round was the six-goal thriller between bitter rivals and last year's grand finalists Melbourne Victory and Sydney.

SO the latest version of the A-League has kicked off. There was literally only one winner, and it wasn't soccer, or football.

Central Coast got the points on Thursday night with a 1-0 win over new kids on the block, Melbourne Heart.

From that point on there were four draws, including two in which a goal wasn't scored.

Now I take the point from the soccer, sorry football, purists that some of the best games ever played have finished 0-all.

But I doubt the two played out over the weekend fell into that category.

Yes, a scoreless draw can be thrilling, but only when chances are created and the odd shot is put on target.

On Sunday, the Roar looked capable of breaking down the opposition defence, but delivering a shot that genuinely tested the keeper was beyond them.

By all accounts the shining light of the opening round was the six-goal thriller between bitter rivals and last year's grand finalists Melbourne Victory and Sydney.

 

[kevrenor]

Despite the comments on Ray Gatt's connection he is a writer I like .. not afraid to say what he thinks and may some sort of case. In this case he's half right and half-wrong.

I still believe the FFA are mad starting in early August but that is just my opinion.

Karl in the Courier Mail article goes on to say ...

"If you watch an A-League game on Fox Sports and then wait around for the English Premier League match that often follows it, you would swear the first game was played in slow motion"

To which I say ... so what? 1. Mad racing around is not necessarily good football, 2. Australian football has been more Central European since the 1960s, 3. It is friggin summer over here .. get Man U to play in Townsville in Feb and see how they play!

 

[MrCelery]

Smell the fear.

I just laugh at those lop-sided articles from people who are completely witless about our code.

I just look at the growing forest of football goal posts on grounds around Australia, and the lack of ARL\NRL posts and just chortle.

Still, there is still a long way to go to get the player numbers to bring their families to games as supporters and get respectable crowds for internationals and A-League.

It's not like NRL crowds are anything to crow about though, compared to football. OK, AFL crowds are good, but look at how many games (NRL too) that are essentially local derbys. Adding a second team in Sydney and Melbourne should add to football's figures, although it's been a failure in Brisbane\GoldCoast.

Dibo - we know your view about this issue - no need to repeat yourself over and over.

Chris - I used to respect Ray Gatt too, but his anti-A-League stance is wearing a bit thin.