O League
(disclaimer - I may not actually believe this and the opinion could be based on blind faith and hope rather than any actual proof).
Ok, That will never happen, for starters, yes the Phoenix are "based" in Wellington, BUT they play in the Aussie League, and Aussie belong to the Asian Confedration, not the Ocenia Confedration. The O-League is for Ocenina Teams that play in the TOP OCEANIA Leauges, not an Asian Leauge.
All this talk, is just that, Talk, Mr Seatter and NZF can not change this....otherwise, why have an NZ National League....why have Central/Northern leagues,....Why Play!!
Let be reasonable here people.
Ok, That will never happen, for starters, yes the Phoenix are "based" in Wellington, BUT they play in the Aussie League, and Aussie belong to the Asian Confedration, not the Ocenia Confedration. The O-League is for Ocenina Teams that play in the TOP OCEANIA Leauges, not an Asian Leauge.
All this talk, is just that, Talk, Mr Seatter and NZF can not change this....otherwise, why have an NZ National League....why have Central/Northern leagues,....Why Play!!
Let be reasonable here people.
We've already been through this in another thread.
The single biggest argument for having the Phoenix in the O-League is that Sepp Blatter has already stated that he doesn't want amateur teams playing in the World Club Champs. The NZFC teams can bitch all they want but if it doesn't happen the O-League will become a competition playing for a share of a big fat nothing and the Oceania Confederation will become increasingly marginalised.
That's why Tai Nicholas gave his tacit endorsement to the idea on the telly the other night (softening the blow by saying it might be a few years away yet). He's being a good politician and trying to keep everybody happy at the moment but ultimately he knows he's got to tell Blatter what he wants to hear.
I think Graeme Seatter is right to put the idea on the table. He knows that NZ is the only reason Oceania remains a viable Confederation and that we have to deliver at both international and club level. Tai Nicholas knows this as well. In fact it wouldn't surprise me at all to find out that Tai Nicholas was the one who put Seatter up to it.
I'd be prepared to bet reasonable money that the Phoenix will have some sort of route to the World Club Champs open to them within the first three years of their existence.
You are correct to some degree but Europe isn't just about the Champions league, there are several competitions below that which are all lucrative money spinners for all the clubs concerned. The parallel between NZ and Welsh clubs is the attitude of the local clubs ie the Barry Towns, Llansantfraid, Llanelli et al and the Team Wellingtons and Auckland Citys, who can spot a cash cow when they see it. It is the Welsh FAW clubs who are keeping out the big three, and the same situation is to some degree happening here. But you are right in that Oceania will want the Phoenix there if only to keep the door open to all the other Fifa tournaments. The situation will be come irrelevant if one of two things happen. Waitakere get beaten 7-0 and the invitation is dropped, or NZ get a second team in the A League which is at least 10 years away.
Yeah its dangerous being a Jack in Cardiff at the best of times.