interesting, touting less drag (I suppose that's the way the world is moving unfortunately) which might make it more jabulani like than last season's ball.
Mata would need to be the front man for group of wealthy backers.
In the current A-Leagues climate, ownership groups need to be able to cope with losing at least probably $5m a season. That is way too much to ask one person to front up with (unless they are mega rich, which Mata isn't).
Mata would need to be the front man for group of wealthy backers.
In the current A-Leagues climate, ownership groups need to be able to cope with losing at least probably $5m a season. That is way too much to ask one person to front up with (unless they are mega rich, which Mata isn't).
Money makes money. If Mata has his 60mill invested wisely he'll be making another 6 - 10 mill on it annually. Quite apart from what he's actually earning annually. But yes, investing in football clubs is high risk. Sure gives your profile a boost though. Terry S probably felt he was Wellington's Main Man when the going was good. Edit: just read he expressed interest in buying into CCM. Didn’t follow it up apparently. NB that reported net worth may be in US dollars, which then becomes 100mill NZ.
There are clubs with lower operating costs and then there are those that are a persistent money drain. Buying a decent stake in a decently organised club like CCM would make more sense to a committed punter like Juan Mata provided it gives him enough say.
Actually, getting outplayed quite a bit these days
Feel like he’s spot on the money here. Let’s get behind Eze, Rufer, Jaushy, Armiento, Hughesy…all of them and tell a positive story about our successes. I remember listening to Mark Reason after the derby and he clearly hadn’t watched it. Just said the story was Auckland and their continued dominance and didn’t mention a thing that happened in the game.
Good on Stajcic for being passionate about football and the A League.
I do wish there was more positive talk about all the great young player talent that started out in the ALM, and where those players are now. Acknowledge it for being a development league in the bigger pyramid structure, and embrace that.
Have some Singh, Cacace, Old, Paulsen & Surman large banners plastered around the ROF.
And I worry about when you hear how much Auckland talk down the Nix. It’s great for them, but doesn’t really help football overall if you have convinced your fan base and the general public your rival is terrible.
There’s a lot of attractive football being played in the league this season and a lot of attacking young teams coming through.
Last years finalists are currently bottom because of how close the league is and that the strong defensive teams are being replaced by attacking teams. coochiee
Good on Stajcic for being passionate about football and the A League.
I do wish there was more positive talk about all the great young player talent that started out in the ALM, and where those players are now. Acknowledge it for being a development league in the bigger pyramid structure, and embrace that.
Have some Singh, Cacace, Old, Paulsen & Surman large banners plastered around the ROF.
2nd placed Brisbane ain't playing attractive football, but are setup as a very tough defensive unit under Valkanis. It's what he promised to deliver when he arrived.
They got 8,218 to their VUC game, a good crowd by their standards in recent years. So the QLD fans are maybe starting to believe.
They have only conceded 3 goals in 6 games, with 4 clean sheets! They are the anti Nix who haven't kept a clean sheet in a very long time. Brisbane have yes played 4 home games (all clean sheets), only conceding in their two NZ away matches.
I forecast the Roar as a dark horse top 6 side at season start, who knows they maybe dark horse Premiership contenders. Two seasons ago the Nix went very close to finishing first, based off a very tough defense.
Good comments on Brisbane. My own take on the transformation of the Roar under Valkanis into a hard-to-crack unit (so far), is that Valkanis has always been a CB in his playing days and this must have influenced his overall reading of the game.
Actually, getting outplayed quite a bit these days
Good comments on Brisbane. My own take on the transformation of the Roar under Valkanis into a hard-to-crack unit (so far), is that Valkanis has always been a CB in his playing days and this must have influenced his overall reading of the game.
He came from coaching in Greece, where 1-0 wins & clean sheets are prized.
Recently read an A Leagues article where he stated, the defensive part of the game doesn't receive enough focus in the ALM in his opinion.
It's official. NZF have announced they wish to see a Sth Island team in the A-League within the next ten years. I know because they just sent me an email telling me so.
New Zealand Football (NZF) has unveiled its ambitious strategy to supercharge the game for the next decade, taking Aotearoa’s biggest team participation sport to the next level.
The strategy, Shaping the Future of Football in Aotearoa New Zealand, builds on a recent successes and breakthroughs for the game in New Zealand, including hosting the best ever FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023, a surge in player participation, especially for girls and women, the introduction of Auckland FC and the hotly contested rivalry with Wellington Phoenix capturing the imagination of the country, and the All Whites qualifying for the FIFA World Cup for the first time in 16 years.
Over the next ten years football’s high-performance landscape will be transformed.
This includes targets involving both the All Whites and Ford Football Ferns progressing to the knockout stages of FIFA World Cups and six professional A-League teams (three men and three women) with the development of a South Island based A-League club.
That could read 9 professional teams. 3 A League clubs each with a ALM, ALW and OFC Pro League team.
Maybe the implication is that NZF don’t see the OFCPL being around in ten years?
Maybe the implication is that they do, and read it as a positive factor (if Auckland FC can be in ALM and in OFC at the same time, so can a SI team, and suddenly the synergy works in its favour).
Actually, getting outplayed quite a bit these days
Newly installed A-League chief Steve Rosich won't rule out a Canberra men's side or Western United in the 2026-27 season, whilst confirming more than a dozen formal registers of interest in purchasing the Central Coast Mariners.
2nd placed Brisbane ain't playing attractive football, but are setup as a very tough defensive unit under Valkanis. It's what he promised to deliver when he arrived.
They got 8,218 to their VUC game, a good crowd by their standards in recent years. So the QLD fans are maybe starting to believe.
They have only conceded 3 goals in 6 games, with 4 clean sheets! They are the anti Nix who haven't kept a clean sheet in a very long time. Brisbane have yes played 4 home games (all clean sheets), only conceding in their two NZ away matches.
I forecast the Roar as a dark horse top 6 side at season start, who knows they maybe dark horse Premiership contenders. Two seasons ago the Nix went very close to finishing first, based off a very tough defense.
tthey're a long way from roarcelona. And to think they used the excuse of not conforming to their club playing style as a teason to fire mulvey
I note an Aussie politician wants New Zealand to consider becoming another Australian state as per an open invittation.
There's some Pro's in this idea - Asian Champions League access, Asian Championship access for the Nix & AFC if the win the A League or come second. FAA Cup access restored. No more arguing over 501's. Better defence force. No more 5 rubber dingy's to defend us, but some very good high tech military.
Of course there are Con's too. My question would be "What do they really want from us?"
But an interesting time to discuss.
Proud to have attended the first 175 Consecutive "Home" Wellington Phoenix "A League" Games !!
I note an Aussie politician wants New Zealand to consider becoming another Australian state as per an open invittation.
There's some Pro's in this idea - Asian Champions League access, Asian Championship access for the Nix & AFC if the win the A League or come second. FAA Cup access restored. No more arguing over 501's. Better defence force. No more 5 rubber dingy's to defend us, but some very good high tech military.
Of course there are Con's too. My question would be "What do they really want from us?"
But an interesting time to discuss.
Whilst there is a provision in the Australian Consitution (after the Federation in 1901) for both Fiji and for New Zealand to do so, can you imagine any local politician voting for having to report to Canberra? Besides, Australia already has our best graduates, doctors and nurses, and now also our best public servants and policemen/women, without having to spend a cent apart from some ads on Seek. They already have an effective retail banking monopoly here. What could they gain ? Chance to practice their skills at repairing broken sewage treatment plants? Having to respect native rights? Buying us some interislander ferries? If we were interested in testing this, it could start from us adopting AUD as our currency and see if it works as part of the Close Cooperation Agreement.
Actually, getting outplayed quite a bit these days
Interesting idea NZ joining Federal Australia. Of course no more AWs as we would just be a state of Australia. No more NZ team at the Olympics. Sporting wise it would be a disaster. Financially it would be a huge win for NZ. We would be benefit from the huge OZ budget. Not sure Oz would want to bail out our disfunctional medical system, education system, transport, Superannuation and Councils etc.
Interesting idea NZ joining Federal Australia. Of course no more AWs as we would just be a state of Australia. No more NZ team at the Olympics. Sporting wise it would be a disaster. Financially it would be a huge win for NZ. We would be benefit from the huge OZ budget. Not sure Oz would want to bail out our disfunctional medical system, education system, transport, Superannuation and Councils etc.
