A-league Expansion - Derbies

Probably got a bit to go to beat Argentina 

of their 28 Premier division, 15 are from Buenos Aires, 2 from La Plata, 2 from Belgrano, 3 from Santa Fe and 2 from Rosario

South Melbourne  have spent at least the last 3 years broadening their player base, adding a women's division and trying to move away from a label of Ethnic base club. Have secured an easy to get to stadium. Be have to pass them up.   

Think you missed teams from Tucuman and Córdoba but your point is made. In fact many of the South American countries are like that, with one big capital city dominating the country, and many of the teams therefore coming from there.

Latvian Higher league I think 4 of the 8 teams are from Riga. But, I think you'll be hard pressed to beat the Hong Kong or Singapore premier leagues.

There are exceptions but the best derbies are in cities where there are only two teams. That way you have a line down the middle and people are either on one side or the other.

are you trying to say that the long distance derby isn't one of the best!!!!

Cronulla Sharks are in with Southern Expansions Bid

Gold Coast United back from the dead, and ready to have another crack at the A-League. 

http://www.news.com.au/sport/football/gold-coast-u...

What's next for a resurrection? The New (Zealand) Knights?

There's more chance of Knights being resurrected than GCU having a successful bid.

This is such a weird bid. Seems they will be playing out of three different stadiums in three different suburbs.

Yet cannibalising the fan base from just one existing club.

Considering St George Dragons NRL team play games at both Kogarah and WIN stadiums it’s not that strange, for local sports fans in Sutherland shire.

Also the NRL and A League seasons overlap for a few months, and no doubt the NRL teams (Cronulla Sharks & St George) as long standing stadium tenants will probably be favoured re scheduling. 

Smart from the football bid to have alternative stadiums still within southern shire greater region, so if first choice stadium is not available, not far for fans to travel to be at 2nd choice stadia. I'm sure most Wellington based Nix fans, preferred those 3(?) games at nearby Hutt Rec a few seasons ago, as opposed to trekking to Auckland say for 3 games in a season.

When we move to 12 teams, will it be a 22 game or a 33 game season? I haven't seen this addressed. 27 games is a bit of a struggle when you team isn't playing well & at the bottom of the table, so keeping interest up over 33 games would be difficult. Add in Finals and FIFA windows, it would be close to a 40 week season unless you have a few midweek rounds.

That's because it's an amalgamated team though. Not a new team. 

Yes but principle is that sports fans in that part of the world, are familiar with utilising more than one home ground.

For any football fan in Southern Sydney travelling to any of those 3 grounds mentioned in the bid, is probably a lot more favourable than making likely 4 hr round trip to watch Sydney FC at Moore Park on a Sunday arvo. I think they could be an instant success not far behind  Wanderers. Large catchment

we have not got Contact. FFA open EOI for new 2019/20 Clubs

Is there a hint in that article that some new team bids may come ‘internationally’ ie from outside Australia?

What hint? 

Cannot see how this can proceed until representation matters are resolved. Wtf is Fifa doing allowing Ffa to unilaterally announce this?

Whoops, didn't read Gallop's statement. Yes, a couple of mentions of Asia in there. Odd. Although probably easier for an Asian team to get into the A League than a Kiwi team as Australia is part of the Asian federation. 

Existing Clubs want congress sorted before expansion

Or a shock bid from Auckland City, given is by far the biggest city not represented in A League, and a 2nd NZ side creates a ‘derby’ across the ditch. FFA loves derbies.

Sadly probably fanciful stuff, and is more a hint to possible bids from Asia.

Fumming

What a shambles. And I thought Australia rugby was a mess.

442.au The contenders

Good to see they at least consider Auckland City

I would love to see Auckland City in the A-League, but suspect it will only happen if the HAL really, really needs another club to make up the numbers. In other words, we'd be well down the pecking order with a bunch of keen Aussie clubs in front of us. BTW, has ACFC ever said it even wants to be in the A-League, or is this wishful thinking by Auckland fans? 

If, as seems likely, FIFA pulls the pin on Club World Cup, are ACFC more inclined to put some hard yards into an A league bid? 

Good question. Didn't realise that about the Club World Cup.

Oooo'Rourke fires a shell

can’t find FFA Govenance so here will doFIFA have spoken with a Rush

"FFA supports expansion of the congress to reflect the evolution of football in Australia and balance the interests of each part of the game. This should include significant movement towards gender equality at all levels of governance," FFA chairman Steven Lowy said. "FFA also welcomes the reference to governance of the A-League because we want to work with the clubs and other stakeholders on a new ownership and operating model for the league that will benefit the whole of the game."

Someone found reverse

Four Four Two opinion

Another Aussie pundit suggesting the league get rid of the Nix unless things improve, including our on-field performance. Winning a bunch of games next season would be a great way to show we're making progress. And hard to dump us if we suddenly become one of the top teams in the league.

It's all just a snow job being perpetrated by Lowy, Gallop and which ever lap dog took over from Kyle Patterson to distract from the fact that they are on borrowed time and trying to fleece the game for as much as they can before FIFA chucks them.

Time line      FIFA/AFC                         FFA

24th May                                        Close of EOI (expression of Interest)

June 2018                                       Short List Released

11th June                                        Request for submission of Proposals

31 July        FFA Reform

                   proposal submission

                   goes to FIFA/AFC

31 August                                         Close date for proposals

7th of September   FFA Special General Meeting for restructure of Congress etc

31 october                                           Extra teams announced for 2019/20

Seems to suit both parties, subject to out come of SGM