If FFA said we're in then Im going with that. I wouldnt trust anything Sky have to say on football, so not going with what Fox are saying at this stage. Its quite possible whoever wrote that up just forgot about us. Aussies are good at that.
Matt Windley, Herald Sun.
"At the end of the drive the lawmen arrive...
I'll take my chance because luck is on my side or something...
Her name is Rio, she don't need to understand...
Oh Rio, Rio, hear them shout across the land..."
This whole thing is getting confusing now. This article on FOX Sports (http://www.foxsports.com.au/football/a-league/victorian-teams-embark-on-dream-of-playing-against-aleague-clubs-in-the-ffa-cup/story-e6frf4gl-1226817990730) makes a point of not including the Phoenix.
"It is understood Victoria will have four representatives alongside two from northern NSW, eight from the rest of NSW, four from Queensland, two from Western Australia, one each from South Australia, Tasmania and the ACT, as well as the nine Australian A-League clubs."
Doing the maths, that makes 32 teams. Adding the Phoenix makes the maths for a knockout tournament kinda tricky.
Why have 8 from the rest of NSW? They could handle just 7 as that would give NSW a total of 9 clubs in the running. I thought Melbourne would have more as it is a sgrongish football area, not just ARL AND NRL.
If we weren't in it I'd be FURIOUS. Yes, not just grumpy, but furious.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qe_B5CzbTJo - Caceres winning penalty v Perth - footage from the Fever Zone
I tweeted the FFA/A League earlier this evening. I was thinking about this independently. There has been some leaked stuff going around from State Feds that has no mention of Nix involvement (Similar to the Fox story). But there is also so much infighting here, intra and inter state looks like we'll be waiting a bit longer to hear anything definitive.
This whole thing is getting confusing now. This article on FOX Sports (http://www.foxsports.com.au/football/a-league/victorian-teams-embark-on-dream-of-playing-against-aleague-clubs-in-the-ffa-cup/story-e6frf4gl-1226817990730) makes a point of not including the Phoenix.
"It is understood Victoria will have four representatives alongside two from northern NSW, eight from the rest of NSW, four from Queensland, two from Western Australia, one each from South Australia, Tasmania and the ACT, as well as the nine Australian A-League clubs."
Doing the maths, that makes 32 teams. Adding the Phoenix makes the maths for a knockout tournament kinda tricky.
One way they can do that is by allowing the 'Nix to compete in the NYL. The only question remaining is the money, on which note, larger crowds at the Cake Tin would certainly help swell the coffers at Phoenix HQ."
So, along with former Christchurch Star football reporter Michael Cockerill (started his journalism career in NZ), there's a solid core of support for the Phoenix being an integral part of Aussie competitions. (Cockerill is both a Fox match commentator and editor of the FFA websites, including the A-League website).
Big Pete 65, Christchurch
That would be quite interesting. I would trust Simon Hill or Mike Cockerill to know what they're saying, while someone from Herald-Sun (a Sunday edition of the SMH) is not necessarily as close to the story.
I don't think Aussie journos are specifically "forgetting" us. They're simply as dim-witted as many of our own. For them football is a minority sport, as seen from the top of their tiny molehill.
Actually, getting outplayed quite a bit these days
So we have to play all our games in the FFA Cup in Australia. That's a real shame and I don't really understand why. Does Perth have to play all their games in Eastern Australia?
I'm glad we're in it, but this takes a lot of the gloss off of it for me, although if it's only for the first year I can handle it I guess.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/9735680/Wellington-Phoenix-confident-of-an-extension
it's only for the first iteration of the comp though right? I guess it has to do with the extra travel costs for the smaller clubs. But then the same should apply to Perth, they should have to play all their games in sydney.
Queenslander 3x a year.
Why regionalise the Chatham Cup? Same principle and same reasons apply.
Why regionalise the Chatham Cup? Same principle and same reasons apply.
So we have to play all our games in the FFA Cup in Australia. That's a real shame and I don't really understand why. Does Perth have to play all their games in Eastern Australia?
I'm glad we're in it, but this takes a lot of the gloss off of it for me, although if it's only for the first year I can handle it I guess.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/9735680/Wellington-Phoenix-confident-of-an-extension
Supporter For Ever - Keep The Faith - Foundation Member - Never Lets FAX Get In The Way Of A Good Yarn
Maybe it is the cost we had to pay to be involved in it.
Yeah, but it's such a shame. Playing all cup ties over there will severely lessen any interest in it from supporters. We won't get the proper feeling of knockout football that could really spark some interest in the nix from casual supporters if we manage to do well in it.
Considering they are midweek games, can't see many casual fans attending if they were here.
Think it is just the later stage games when A-league teams enter.
Considering they are midweek games, can't see many casual fans attending if they were here.
Yep, I even think 9000 is low considering it was our first final of sorts. Even though it was just the preseason cup. Can't see midweek cup games doing much better.
Just thought it was a good yardstick to use, wasn't suggesting it meant we would get good crowds.
Having said that, it would have been good to have them in NZ. I also don't think we should have to 'pay a price' to be involved in the competition. I can also understand the travel issue of a state side...but only if the same applies to Perth.
Could it be a passport issue for the Australian state teams?All their players who didn't have one would need to get one just in case they drew the Phoenix.
Then again i suppoes most people have a passport.Saying that i did meet a 50 year old Canadian who had never been outside Canada.
More likely a cost issue. Phoenix aren't going to subside travel to NZ and nor are the FFA (understandably).
We.
Are.
Guests.
This is clearly just a deliberate effort by the nix to ramp up the fairytale factor for when we inevitably win.
FFA will launch the FFA Cup at 11:00 am Monday. See their twitter account.
I hope you guys are in it, I guess you'll find out Monday.
West Island - Central Coast Mariners
I thought I read it was just this first year we had no home games? Let's win this thing!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qe_B5CzbTJo - Caceres winning penalty v Perth - footage from the Fever Zone
I thought I read it was just this first year we had no home games? Let's win this thing!
Normo's coming home
Travelling away for cup games much more fun anyway!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qe_B5CzbTJo - Caceres winning penalty v Perth - footage from the Fever Zone
Think of the away trip WSW, Sydney fc and a cup game on a Wednesday what a week it could be.
Live stream of the launch http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/livestream
The bottom 6 A-League teams face each other in the first round.
