A-League Idol - but can they sing?
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It had to happen!!
SYDNEY FC have turned their youth league recruitment into a TV show with the A-League club teaming with Foxtel to find the next football superstar.
The search for the next superstar of the A-League will be made into a weekly television program airing on Foxtel's FOX8 channel.
In a nod to reality TV shows like Big Brother and Australian Idol, the final round of players will live together in a house while hoping to win the show.
And similarly, players will be voted off, or in this case red-carded, until the last player is standing.
The winner of "Football Superstar" will gain a place in the Sydney FC youth team for the inaugural A-League youth league competition, which starts in August 2008.
Trials will take place across the country - not just in Sydney - starting in April after which around 50 players will be invited to a weekend intensive trial with FC coach John Kosmina.
The best 15 players from the weekend intensive stage will then be invited to a month long trial in Sydney where they will live, breath and eat football while living together in one house.
This will be whittled down to one player who will be crowned winner of Football Superstar.
In a nod to reality TV shows like Big Brother and Australian Idol, the final round of players will live together in a house while hoping to win the show.
And similarly, players will be voted off, or in this case red-carded, until the last player is standing.
The winner of "Football Superstar" will gain a place in the Sydney FC youth team for the inaugural A-League youth league competition, which starts in August 2008.
Trials will take place across the country - not just in Sydney - starting in April after which around 50 players will be invited to a weekend intensive trial with FC coach John Kosmina.
The best 15 players from the weekend intensive stage will then be invited to a month long trial in Sydney where they will live, breath and eat football while living together in one house.
This will be whittled down to one player who will be crowned winner of Football Superstar.
So, what happens to the 14 players who don't win? With the amount of talent on display, will the Nix have any chance of picking up a few of the young finalists?
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Could be great fun for them though
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Could also be hilarious to watch. What they should really do is film the parents though.
Incredible stamina. No shame. Yellow Fever.
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what a joke
Maybe not such a joke.
How about this slightly idealistic scenario?
Some of the young talent unearthed (not the winner!) have Kiwi connections. Enough to make them elligible to play for the national team.
(Once the series starts, everything about the young "contestants" lives will quickly become public knowledge.)
Those with a Kiwi link are asked, discreetly:
* Are you interested in playing for the Nix U-20 side?
* Hooking up with the club further down the line?
* Depending on form, would you make yourself available for NZ selection?
Nothing ventured...
scribbler2008-03-18 11:56:45
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Good revenue stream for Sydney. Increased exposure for sponsors and will help promote the team leading to higher attendances. Also helps build the image that Sydney is the 'biggest' club in the league. Pretty smart move, even if the players that come through never really make it.
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It started in England I think. Chelsea were involved.
As for a title, how about "Bling - Ming or King"
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I seem to remember something like this happening in Africa somewhere maybe Ghana.
Sounds like a piece of marketing to me. They may also find a decent player or two.
Sounds like a piece of marketing to me. They may also find a decent player or two.
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what a joke
Couldn't agree more. Just more embarrasment for an already morally bankrupt club.
Three for me, and two for them.
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I seem to remember something like this happening in Africa somewhere maybe Ghana.
Sounds like a piece of marketing to me. They may also find a decent player or two.
Sounds like a piece of marketing to me. They may also find a decent player or two.
http://www.firstelevennigeria.com/www/
Not the one i was thinking about.
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Could also be hilarious to watch.� What they should really do is film the parents though.
Damn right - that would make for really funny TV for sure - imagine seeing the faces of the parents as their lil Johnnys progress (or not) through the stages .....brings a new meaning to living your dreams through your kids LOL....
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"I always knew Johnny would get in, he was always MEANT for this. He owned the ball"
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"I always knew Johnny would get in, he was always MEANT for this. He owned the ball"
And if he does not get in, he can pick up the ball and.....go home!
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Watch the 'covers' episode, where young players recreate free kicks, penalties and overhead kicks first made famous by Pele, Maradona, etc.
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Watch the 'covers' episode, where young players recreate free kicks, penalties and overhead kicks first made famous by Pele, Maradona, etc.
That could actually be quite interesting if they had a quality coach take them through some moves and then tried to get them to pull them off in a game situation.
It could also get hundreds of kids out in the backyard trying to do it themselves.
In reality there will probably be very little football shown, just lots of drama.
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If anyone who was whittled down to the 'last 10' was that good, why wouldn't they go through the normal trial system? Especially given that only top dog gets the Sydney gig. Have I missed something glaringly obvious here?
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Watch the 'covers' episode, where young players recreate free kicks, penalties and overhead kicks first made famous by Pele, Maradona, etc.
Or the head-butting by Zidane and the diving techniques of Felipe and Daniel? (lol) 
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If anyone who was whittled down to the 'last 10' was that good, why wouldn't they go through the normal trial system? Especially given that only top dog gets the Sydney gig. Have I missed something glaringly obvious here?
Yes, you've missed the glaringly obvious point that this is nothing to do with football or kids or finding a superstar and EVERYTHING to do with money, marketing and television.
Incredible stamina. No shame. Yellow Fever.
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If anyone who was whittled down to the 'last 10' was that good, why wouldn't they go through the normal trial system? Especially given that only top dog gets the Sydney gig. Have I missed something glaringly obvious here?
They are probably just trying to lure some talent away from the other teams development programmes.
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If anyone who was whittled down to the 'last 10' was that good, why wouldn't they go through the normal trial system? Especially given that only top dog gets the Sydney gig. Have I missed something glaringly obvious here?
�
Yes, you've missed the glaringly obvious point that this is nothing to do with football or kids or finding a superstar and EVERYTHING to do with money, marketing and television.
Ha! That's a given.
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