2019/20 Part II A New Beginning

We should definitely do that.

Interesting Taylor, Hooper, and Ball were all watching the Phoenix play WestHam last night, they were answering fan questions - Hooper said he's planning to come back to Wellington to start training before then going to Australia rather than meeting the team in Aus.

Wonder if that's a hint we may be able to get him for another season. Can but hope

In the comments or did they have their own livestream?

Football again from July 18. I hope everything falls into line to make it happen. COYN

In the live chat/comments.

Makes it sound likely... why come back... technically his contract will end on Friday and he is a free agent.

32 Games in 36 Days - Game on

Maybe not a done deal just yet...https://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/fox-sports-multi-million-dollar-roadblock-to-a-league-restart

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That is a very major roadblock, and won't be resolved overnight. George Pell's ex barrister may yet be called upon.

If I was FFA/NLWG meet Fox half way, ie take a 25% haircut on the TV rights for remaining 3 years - but negotiate that a certain number of games can be sold to other media outlets, incl free to air TV channels.

Also take a punt that with NLWG running the A League, the comp will be run better and overall income somehow increased.

Risky, but could end up a best case scenario for the next 3 years.

After all club owners (NLWG) have been stating they can generate more income than the FFA - lets see if that's true.

Also player salaries (main cost to the clubs?), are likely to be lower for next 12 months at least.

If it does resume then the government is allowing critical workers coming through the border and have approved 200 so far including people in the film industry and a chairlift installation specialist. Hopefully Davilla and Hooper fullfil the same criterea.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/film/1216436...

There's also rumours swirling around that the Aus/NZ bubble will be happening in July.

I hope it doesn't, unless the bubble still has quarantine and/or compulsory testing, we don't know how seasonal the virus is yet.

First Trans Tasman flight proposed for July 1st.

https://7news.com.au/news/tourism/timetable-for-po...

If approved, the first flight on July 1 will carry government officials, media and business representatives, Hart said.

Passengers will not need to go into mandatory 14-day quarantine and will be cleared to go home.

Go back a step or two. 

The current TV Deal is linked to the FFA. 

Could the twelve club owner groups now step in accept the new deal as the Independent Owners of the Australasian-League and (leaving out the possible breach of contract) the tip  toeing around. 

I expect Sky to pay more at the next round of negotiations for the A League... they have lost too much already to let another sport go to Spark.

Actually, we could be the only club in the comp with a TV deal...

I believe the Sky TV deal money was paid pre season. I imagine Sky would produce the NZ content and supply free to FOX.  

FOX most likely pay for their coms team to travel to NZ. 

So with x number of home game cancelled Sky have got a good deal. 

FOX knows it has the league in a predicament and will use it, the same way the FFA did to get the payment made.

Can only see going forward club owner have to biting the bullet and enter direct discussions with FOX to gain the control over the future of an Independent Australasian-League. (Secure their investment)

I read a while back that part of the deal was that Sky produced all the content in NZ which added a couple of million in services on top of the 250k cash or whatever it is.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/a-league/300023526/ffa-players-reach-pay-deal-to-move-a-step-closer-to-aleague-return

Sauce

Dome said 23 players and 10 staff would cross the Tasman including two star imports - Mexican playmaker Ulises Davila and English striker Gary Hooper - who were both presently overseas.

However, the proposed month-long finish to the season still needs sign-off from broadcaster Fox Sports.

"Just needs sign off from the broadcaster " makes it sound easy and within reach...

Because why would they try and do that to the HAL and not Super Rugby?

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/rugby-union/signs-of-hope-for-super-rugby-reboot-as-fox-ponders-broadcast-deal/news-story/7f4645a3911fe59d0e56bfc2b7e15656

1. Fox's existing deal with Rugby Australia (RA) expires this year. Unlike Fox's deal with FFA which still has 3? years to run. So much less incentive for Fox Sports to ask RA to reduce the value of a deal running out in a few months, as opposed to another 3 years to run..

2. Fox Sports has still to agree to broadcast Australia's domestic Super Rugby comp, due to kick off in July. So they may yet play the same game as they are with the FFA and A League.

3. There were definitely big squabbles between RA (when Raelene Castle was in charge) and Fox a (bit like with FFA & Fox), with RA rejecting an initial offer from Fox re the next 2021-2025 TV rights cycle. Even more openly than the FFA, RA were pursuing other broadcast options.

Ran into both Libby and Stevey T in a very packed Wellington city this arvo! Really feels like things are starting up again

Any chance of Louis Fenton being ready to join the fray again when we restart?

I heard somewhere that he has recovered from his injury and will be ok to play again if the A league continues.

Can't remember where I heard that tho.

I would rest him. As much as I love him, we want to make sure he's 100%. If he has a sub role for the rest of the season, I'd be happy with that but the poor guy can't have any other setbacks.

If he's fit, I imagine he won't be that keen to be rested. 

If the A league starts up and there are 3 games a week. It will be very valuable having him avialable to play.

Sports crowds will be allowed in L1 - should finish off the season here in the Wellington hub!

thoughts on Fenton vs Payne for right back assuming both are fit? Talay doesn't seem to want to upset the balance much so could be Payne continuing for the most part

think Payne is far better in a 4atb formation. Playing in the wing-back role Rudan had last year, i wouldn't know but Fenton did very well

Both offer something different but I think Payne suits the current system better for now but hard to tell as the last time Fenton played was the start of season. When Fenton finds that form from last season it would be pretty close. I'd like to see him playing further forward as RW but I also like how we finally have some decent depth at RB. Going back to the Rudan era Fenton was sorely missed when he got injured and it seemed like our team really struggled to maintain the Rudan style of play. Hoping he gets back on the field and plays a big part for the club.

payne better defensively that fenton I think, both are pretty good at getting forward and delivering the crosses