How far we have come in 4 years
Socceroo/ Mariner / Whangarei
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OHHHHH how far have we come in four years can you ever imagine this ever happening or even being talked about 5 or 6 years ago.
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2009/03/17/1237054797801.html
According to this article the 11th A-League license has already gone to Melbourne and the others are fighting for the 12th.
The Tassie FC backer is one of the 50 richest men in the world, richer than Abramovich and has put a real fat cat among the pigeons by guaranteeing the $10M they need to get started.
The FFA are also considering expanding to 14 teams next year instead of 12 because some of the other bids are very good too.
The Melbourne Heart rumours are just that � rumours.
Some of the board members of the Melb Hearts are ex Melb Knights people and are confident of signing Viduka for next year � depending on what other offers he gets in the end of season transfer window.
Lucas Neill has already given a commitment to the second Sydney team in 2010 as well - will be very interesting times indeed.
But would we have the players or could we get them back from Europe and from Asia... also in today smh http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/football/a-league/aleague-the-better-socceroos-nursery-says-kalac/2009/03/20/1237526327653.html
Zeljko Kalac believes the long-term interests of the national team will be better served by having more players based in the A-League rather than at second- and third-tier clubs in Europe............
WOW who would have through all this was possible 5 or 6 years ago ....
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2009/03/17/1237054797801.html
According to this article the 11th A-League license has already gone to Melbourne and the others are fighting for the 12th.
The Tassie FC backer is one of the 50 richest men in the world, richer than Abramovich and has put a real fat cat among the pigeons by guaranteeing the $10M they need to get started.
The FFA are also considering expanding to 14 teams next year instead of 12 because some of the other bids are very good too.
The Melbourne Heart rumours are just that � rumours.
Some of the board members of the Melb Hearts are ex Melb Knights people and are confident of signing Viduka for next year � depending on what other offers he gets in the end of season transfer window.
Lucas Neill has already given a commitment to the second Sydney team in 2010 as well - will be very interesting times indeed.
But would we have the players or could we get them back from Europe and from Asia... also in today smh http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/football/a-league/aleague-the-better-socceroos-nursery-says-kalac/2009/03/20/1237526327653.html
Zeljko Kalac believes the long-term interests of the national team will be better served by having more players based in the A-League rather than at second- and third-tier clubs in Europe............
WOW who would have through all this was possible 5 or 6 years ago ....
Socceroo/ Mariner / Whangarei
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There are certainly some challenges ahead, such as the A-League being a poor cousin to the Japanese, Korean and Chinese leagues in terms of player salaries, and the disappointment of not qualifying for the World Cup at some point if expectations are raised too high (at least 2010 is looking very safe).
However I think we are seeing a generational change in the Australian sports landscape, with the old image of football being replaced with a new one with much wider support. Some long term football fans (who tend to lament the passing of the NSL) seem to look down upon the 2006 "bandwagoners", but I think they will need to get used to it as the sport has moved mainstream.
Government support also does not hurt, and as such the FFA is able to ride a bit of a wave at the moment. It is really up to them not to f%&k it up rather than having to wonder how on earth they are going to grow the sport or keep it from declining, as per some other codes.
My only hope is that NZ can follow suit. Government support and a move to the AFC are critical.
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