Here's my question:
we have a lot of attacking talent and I don't think we have used it to its full potential this season so far. Much more than in previous years.
Which coaches in the league would be sure to get more out of this bunch of players, particularly in our attack, than Ricki?
I think Ange, maybe Popovic- otherwise I think that Ricki is at least as good- or the other coaches are just as poor.
And HECK YES people come to see Dura, Siggie and Huysegems! They have to know they are in the team- but yes I think these guys are crowd pullers and loyalty creators for sure.
Die hards sure, but I really don't think fair weather supporters are pulled into Westpac stadium by the likes of Sigmund, Durante and Huyssegems. The media certainly aren't much interested. The first two seasons of the Kingz were the most successful because of the pulling power of seeing Wynton Rufer finishing his playing career. The drop off since Del Piero featured in that opening game has been noticeable and it's not just down to the weather.
I admire your loyalty but you don't think of excitement and the Phoenix in the same breath. There's a flatness this year that's down to a lot of things but if you're not going to win anything then you have to entertain. We don't have the deep loyalties and traditions of European football to pull in punters despite results. I think you guys have done well in normally staid New Zealand but The Phoenix is an ambitious project and needs to step up a level. If ACFC didn't have its NZ/Croatian base who turn out no matter what, it would have small crowds like other ASBP teams too.
It's all about what you put out there. Look at the Breakers. A few years ago they got crowds in the hundreds. Now as two time champions they can draw upwards of 7,000 to big games at the Vector arena. They're winners and the crowds love it, so do the fickle media. We're talking about boring basketball! There's something wrong if the biggest most exciting sport in the world can't do better than that here.