NEW A-League franchise, the Wellington Phoenix, are ready to make
an offer to Conference National club, St. Albans City, for their
captain, Lee Clarke. Clarke, 23, has represented Northern Ireland
at youth level and also boasts an impressive scoring record for The
Friars in the lower leagues of England. New teammate Malik Buari,
formerly of New Zealand Knights, has convinced Clarke to try his
luck in the newly formed A-League, saying that Clarke has all the
attributes to succeed in the highly physical competition. Lee is
also the son of Colin who represented Northern Ireland 38 times,
played at the 1986 World Cup and turned out for English sides
Southampton, Q.P.R., and Portsmouth. Meanwhile, the Phoenix were
knocked back by Chilean midfielder Pablo Diaz. Diaz currently plays
for Argentina's Quilmes and rejected the offer to be Wellington's
marquee as he did not wish to leave South America as well as the
franchise being unable to meet Diaz' wage demands.
Taken from FourFourtwo rumour mill and written by someone
living in Buenos Aires of Argetina
After doing some research I found that Clarke has an
impressive record in the conference. Scoring 66 goals from his 118
appearances. His also picked up 5 caps for Northern Ireland
U21's.
DannyPHOENIX2007-04-17 14:39:39
Well researched Danny. Looking forward to hearing more if this
rumour has any substance to it.
phil_style2007-04-17 14:47:52
LC at wikipedia here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Clarke
LC at the St Albans website here: http://www.sacfc.co.uk/tpl/player.php?id=29
Well researched Danny. Looking forward to hearing more if this
rumour has any substance to it.
LC at wikipedia here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Clarke
LC at the St Albans website here: http://www.sacfc.co.uk/tpl/player.php?id=29
Sean Devine had a good goalscoring record in league Two, above the conference. Now he's playing Northern League First Division for Auckland Metro.
Good Luck to Lee Clarke but I'd hate to think this is as high as we are aiming.
As much as i dont want players from the lower leagues of England,
Clarke looks alright. His goal scoring pedigree is alright and is
of course alot young than Sean Devine and still has alot of
improvement in him also Lets not forget the A-League isnt that
much better than the conference. DannyPHOENIX2007-04-17 15:07:53
There are players that have come from a higher standard than the
conference that have failed to make it in the A-League.
Well researched Danny. Looking forward to hearing more if this
rumour has any substance to it.
LC at wikipedia here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Clarke
LC at the St Albans website here: http://www.sacfc.co.uk/tpl/player.php?id=29
Sean Devine had a good goalscoring record in league Two, above the conference. Now he's playing Northern League First Division for Auckland Metro.
Good Luck to Lee Clarke but I'd hate to think this is as high as we are aiming.
I don't rate this guy either. Am still looking forward to
hearing if this rumour has any substance to it though.
"Lets not forget the A-League and that much better than the
conference."
(I assume you mean aint that much better.)
Are you serious???
Perhaps the Knights weren't much better than the conference
last year, but the rest of the league sure was. I'm pretty sure if
Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Newcastle or Queensland played
any conference side we'd win easily. The others probably would
still win but if they had a bad day might not. The ones
I've mentioned would probably beat most of
League-two sides and clubs like Melbourne and Sydney would
beat even some League-One and Championship (maybe
Premiership) sides.
That could be an interesting friendly actually, Sydney FC
versus Leeds, or Melbourne Victory versus Crystal Palace.
tintin19892007-04-17 15:36:11
I think the A-League is better but i dont think its at Championship
level. I take Michael Kightly as good example. At the start of
this season was playing in the conference for Grays Athletic
and playing quite well, on par with Clarke. His now with
Wolverhampton and from all reports has stared and is quite a key
figure behind them now being in a position to do well in the
playoffs.
Melbourne + Sydney are league one sides at best.
"Lets not forget the A-League and that much better than the
conference."
(I assume you mean aint that much better.)
Are you serious???
Perhaps the Knights weren't much better than the conference
last year, but the rest of the league sure was. I'm pretty sure if
Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Newcastle or Queensland played
any conference side we'd win easily. The others probably would
still win but if they had a bad day might not. The ones
I've mentioned would probably beat most of
League-two sides and clubs like Melbourne and Sydney would
beat even some League-One and Championship (maybe
Premiership) sides.
That could be an interesting friendly actually, Sydney FC
versus Leeds, or Melbourne Victory versus Crystal Palace.
Cookoo
You are dreaming if you think that Sydney would beat League
One or Championship sides.
All I do is make the stuff I would've liked
Reference things I wanna watch, reference girls I wanna bite
Now I'm firefly like a burning kite
And yousa fake fuck like a fleshlight
Just look at he A-League sides performance in the O-League. That's
a pretty good comparison. If Sydney are good enough to beat
championship sides then the Urawa Reds are goof enough to be in the
premier league. . .
I'd say the A-league clubs compare to the lower English league
1 or upper Englsih league 2 clubs.
Exactly my thoughts and thats why i stated above the A-League isnt
a mile ahead of the conference.
...Perhaps the Knights weren't much better than the conference last
year, but the rest of the league sure was...
Still good enough to beat you 1-0 in Sydney once we got a decent manager. Sydney - Conference South quality.
For those not involved in the inevitable pissing competition here, we need to look at what level the players being added to other A-League sides is, and most of them are coming from well above Conference level.
Hard News2007-04-17 15:56:23
tintin, remember at the end of last season a very poor knights side
beat Sydney,Queensland and drew with Adelaide. So if a team
that poor can beat these teams a championship team would be able to
as well. I agree with phil style. sanday2007-04-17 15:57:57
Sydney - Conference South quality.
LOL, that'd make a good forum signature ! 
"tintin, remember at the end of last season a very poor knights
side beat Sydney,Queensland and drew with Adelaide. So if a
team that poor can beat these teams a championship team would be
able to as well. I agree with phil style."
"For those not involved in the inevitable pissing competition here, we need to look at what level the players being added to other A-League sides is, and most of them are coming from well above Conference level."
tintin19892007-04-17 16:47:47
Sure, in whatever football game is played there is always the
chance of an upset, look at things such as the FA cup. However, if
the A-League clubs were playing in the FA cup, I think that most of
them would still be around for quite a few rounds after
all the Conference clubs had been eliminated, depending on the draw
of course.
"You are dreaming if you think that Sydney would beat League
One or Championship sides."
Again, look at the FA cup, there have been some massive
upsets, so why couldn't Sydney beat them.
I'm not saying we would beat them consistently, but we would
have a chance. People thought we would be getting smashed by
Shanghai Shenhua let alone Urawa Reds and we've got a win and a
draw against them so far. In the Club World Championship no one
thought we'd even get a point but we beat the African "Team of the
Century" and didn't do too bad against our round one opponent
either.
"Still good enough to beat you 1-0 in Sydney once we got a
decent manager. Sydney - Conference South quality."
Yes, I was talking about the Knights before you got Herbert being Conference quality, at the end of the season you obviously were playing a lot better.
Yes, I was talking about the Knights before you got Herbert being Conference quality, at the end of the season you obviously were playing a lot better.
"For those not involved in the inevitable pissing competition here, we need to look at what level the players being added to other A-League sides is, and most of them are coming from well above Conference level."
"There are players that have come from a higher standard than
the conference that have failed to make it in the A-League."
EXACTLY. And it also goes the other way around. Look at
Sarkies pretty much rejecting the contract with Leeds, he thinks
the A-League is better than (probably) a League-One side. Look at
Filan, a Premiership keeper who can't get an A-League contract.
Look at Skoko and Moore, Premiership players who will probably
be coming back to A-League clubs. Look at Robinson, a League
One and Conference player who rarely got a game for Melbourne
and is now playing for Adelaide Galaxy, in the SA state comp. There
are many many more example I could give as to why the A-League is
definitely not conference level.
"Melbourne + Sydney are league one sides at best."
"I think the A-League is better but i dont think its at
Championship level."
I'd agree with those comments. If we were playing in the
actual leagues, eg, consistent week by week performances and having
to avoid the threat of relegation etc, I'd say we'd be mostly
League One, but occasionally be promoted (very occasionally) or
relegated (much more commonly) depending on form each season.
I think I've got to everyone's comments.
In summary, anyone who thinks Sydney (and other A-League
clubs) is conference level is dreaming, as is anyone who
thinks we'd have no chance to beat Championship clubs, but I'm
dreaming if I think we'd consistenty be in the Championship, which
I don't.
(BTW there are bound to be a couple of mistakes in here, not
to worry, you'll rip it apart I'm sure.)
hey rin tintin could you perhaps paraphrase or link to other
peoples comments? i see that big swath of text and skip it and
perhaps miss the golden nuggets of commentary that you have placed
within. that would be a great shame. great great shame.
Christo2007-04-17 16:56:53
St Albans are in dire financial strife and close to closure
following their relegation from Conference National. My
contacts tell me that Clarke was expected to move on to a League
side as St Albans cannot afford his wages and need to sell him
on.
He would make a useful reserve player for Phoenix, but would not be seen as a first choicer I wouldnt think. I understand he is a committed player with a strong following at his current side.
He would make a useful reserve player for Phoenix, but would not be seen as a first choicer I wouldnt think. I understand he is a committed player with a strong following at his current side.
"
please wake me i've been asleep far too long it seems
Sure, in whatever football game is played there is always the
chance of an upset, look at things such as the FA cup.
like port vale beating everton or spurs ??
like port vale beating everton or spurs ??
In summary, anyone who thinks Sydney (and other A-League
clubs) is conference level is dreaming, as is anyone who
thinks we'd have no chance to beat Championship clubs, but I'm
dreaming if I think we'd consistenty be in the Championship, which
I don't.
please wake me i've been asleep far too long it seems
giddyup2007-04-17 17:21:43
Oi Tintin... learn to quote or we'll all stop reading everything
you post... that's illegible. Hard News2007-04-17 19:05:16
a-league is not far above conference(bull) thats the same thinking
that came out of the knights and look at the sh^t side they had.
and so will you. trouble with nz football it looks down not
up
i wish people would read other peoples comments so we dont keep
going over the same ground.
It's an argument that will run for decades Christo. The teams
never meet each other so no genuine comparison can ever be made,
it's just subjective prattling with no evidence. Some players
from both leagues go on to higher things, some players have come
from the conference and been good, some have come from higher and
been rubbish.
Far wiser people in Australia than most of those that visit here have debated it for two years but still it will fire up constantly.
Incidentally, I can find no record of a Chilean named Pablo Diaz at Quilmes... now or at any time in the past. Quite possible he goes by another name though. The only Chilean I can find at Quilmes (who are incidentally stone motherless in the Argentine First division) is a youngster named Fernando Saavedra.
Hard News2007-04-17 19:55:29
Far wiser people in Australia than most of those that visit here have debated it for two years but still it will fire up constantly.
Incidentally, I can find no record of a Chilean named Pablo Diaz at Quilmes... now or at any time in the past. Quite possible he goes by another name though. The only Chilean I can find at Quilmes (who are incidentally stone motherless in the Argentine First division) is a youngster named Fernando Saavedra.
Hard News2007-04-17 19:55:29
As someone who grew up in the UK, regularly attended Crewe games
(League One, usually), frequented Anfield and is now a
season-ticket holding, away travelling Sydney FC supporter (and EA
Sports' new fountain of A-League knowledge), I can comfortably
say...
Top four HAL sides = Top 10 League One sides
Bottom four HAL sides = Bottom 5 League One sides
This is also reflected in the pedigree of most players. Dwight Yorke was a class above when he tried, Danny Allsopp/Archie Thompson/Kevin Muscat/Grant Brebner all being extremely solid, with lower div players like Dave Carney and Leo Bertos stepping up and able to do well, whilst other lower league players like Adrian Webster making for OK squaddies at best.
Top four HAL sides = Top 10 League One sides
Bottom four HAL sides = Bottom 5 League One sides
This is also reflected in the pedigree of most players. Dwight Yorke was a class above when he tried, Danny Allsopp/Archie Thompson/Kevin Muscat/Grant Brebner all being extremely solid, with lower div players like Dave Carney and Leo Bertos stepping up and able to do well, whilst other lower league players like Adrian Webster making for OK squaddies at best.
...and Zdrillic
...and Zdrillic
If Leo Bertos is the thesis as to players stepping up from their prior level, boy is GodZdrilla the man to step down... :(
tintin, remember at the end of last season a very poor knights side
beat Sydney,Queensland and drew with Adelaide. So if a team
that poor can beat these teams a championship team would be able to
as well. I agree with phil style.
Knights last year had a decent side they were just very poorly
coached. Once Rikki had them holding the ball and breaking
down defences they proved a handful for the rest of the
competition. Don't beat yourself up.
tintin, remember at the end of last season a very poor knights side
beat Sydney,Queensland and drew with Adelaide. So if a team
that poor can beat these teams a championship team would be able to
as well. I agree with phil style.
Knights last year had a decent side they were just very poorly
coached.
Also worth noting they were ravaged by injuries for large portions. They signed three good strong midfielders in Salley, Johnson and Gemmill and managed to lose all three for decent portions of the year.
Not to mention losing the man who was supposed to be their #1 defender (Carbon), and the GK debacle with Milosevic stopping Nevin from signing a true goalscorer they were always behind the 8-ball.
If Melbourne had lost Leijer for the whole year, then Muscat, Brebner and Fred for similar lengths of time they'd not made the finals, let alone romped the league.
Gemmil is not a good midfielder, very, very, very poor. Oxford
United.. c'mon....
Carbon is/was class. I saw him a few games and was rumoured to sign for Notts County before the Knights.
Milosevic was a big, fat liability. Waste of space, should have put Bazeley in goal, would have done better
Carbon is/was class. I saw him a few games and was rumoured to sign for Notts County before the Knights.
Milosevic was a big, fat liability. Waste of space, should have put Bazeley in goal, would have done better
It's an argument that will run for decades Christo. The teams
never meet each other so no genuine comparison can ever be made,
it's just subjective prattling with no evidence. Some players
from both leagues go on to higher things......
dont think it was me arguing this point but thanks for the mention anyways
Hard News2007-04-17 22:56:20
i wish people would read other peoples
comments so we dont keep going over the same ground.
It was more to demonstrate an understanding of your point above... now I read it, that isn't clear. Sorry.
oh i thort you was replying to someone elses comment about the
comparison between a-league and the championship or whateva and got
the names wrong. all good, let us speak of this no more and consign
it to history and make up words as i go along.
Due to popular demand (ie Christo) i will paraphrase my
previous post. Though to gather the full impact read the previous
one.
There are often massive upsets in football. eg FA cup. But
nevertheless, I think most A-League clubs would still be around in
the FA cup long after the Conference teams are all gone.
There is no reason why A-League teams couldn't beat even
Championship teams. I'm not saying we would beat them consistently,
but we would have a chance.
Our results in Asia have been above what was expected, so our
results in Europe probably would too.
Many players above conference level have failed to make it in
the A-League. And it also goes the other way around.
Only read this paragraph if you want example. (Look at Sarkies
pretty much rejecting the contract with Leeds, he thinks the
A-League is better than (probably) a League-One side. Look at
Filan, a Premiership keeper who can't get an A-League contract.
Look at Skoko and Moore, Premiership players who will probably
be coming back to A-League clubs. Look at Robinson, a League
One and Conference player who rarely got a game for Melbourne
and is now playing for Adelaide Galaxy, in the SA state
comp.)
These all show that most players in the A-League are above
conference level.
Overall I'd say we'd be mostly League One, but occasionally be
promoted (very occasionally) or relegated (much more commonly)
depending on form each season.
It would appear that this view is backed up by someone with first
hand knowledge, ie Jaza.
"If Melbourne had lost Leijer for the whole year, then Muscat,
Brebner and Fred for similar lengths of time they'd not made the
finals, let alone romped the league."
The same goes for the last season of the A-League for the
Mariners, lots of injuries to key, key players.
ok now that i have you paraphrasing quotes tintin can you
paraphrase your posts? or release them as audio novels?
That previous posts were actually supposed to be the
paraphrase of the post before that.
But if you want it cut down even further:
"The A-League is at a standard of at least League One, and
definitely much, much higher than Conference level as some have
claimed."
If you want to know the reasons, I'm afraid you'll have to
read the posts.
got a short attention span i do lol but dont do what i say just cos
i say to do it, im no prophet...
yet.
yet.
"dont do what i say just cos i say to do it, im no
prophet...
yet. "
yet. "
I don't quite, you'll note I didn't
"release them as audio novels? "
as you wanted me to! I realised that it probably was still a
bit long, so did it for everybody, being the considerate guy that I
am.