Phoenix Ownership - Rob says FTFFA (Part 2)

NZF cant organise an email let alone how to determine eligibility.  So what qualifies them to help run the Phoenix in an intelligent and positively go forward manner. 

Maybe he means investment in things like the recording equipment and expertise sky has for filming games so the FFA has more options.

Maybe he means that darn football stadium.

Maybe...

Perhaps if Foxtel scheduled. ...errr... if the FFA, scheduled all our games for a Saturday or Sunday 3pm kick off, then perhaps crouds and viewership numbers might improve too. But then that would mean positive action from Foxtel....errrr, the FFA and we can't have that from Gallop. or the dementured one. I knew I had met these two before. Eccleston &  Briatore. They behave just like them. Watch "The Four Year Plan".

It's the fact that NZF staff are discouraging junior kids from moving to Wellington.  It's Nix Youth vs Wanderers.  It's NZF having a fudgeing original thought beyond "let's get the ASBP on the telly - that will solve things".  It's the garbage that ACFC are the standard bearer for NZF but have hardly any kiwis.  It's recognising that he Phoenix are keeping the game afloat in this country.  It's the whole bloody lot

Sounds to me like he wants someone from Welnix on the NZF board. Or vice versa.

Edited

Simon Hill is the only one who bothers to do any kind of research. Ignore the rest.

Here some idea what it could be that NZF and Welnix could do. What about a NZ pre-season, post-season Nix tour around NZ to bring the Nix brand into towns. What about mid week games against ASB teams around the country. What about inviting potential kids to train with the A, B and kids team? What about local trainers joining the Phoenix for a week or two from the master? What about sending players to football schools and talk about the job, similar what Siggy is doing.

So pretty much what the Phoenix do then?

As JD said.

I think the NZF thing is more to do with them making an effort, or more accuretly stop making an effort to counter the Phoenix.  Hay and Zorocich pressuring kids to go to their schools instead of the Phoenix, including the Phoenix in planning around developement, maybe even just include the Phoenix in the NZF awards even as guests.  

It wouldn't be hard for NZ football to do more, it would be difficult for them to do less.

Nah. He specifically requested from NZF "leadership", and action (unspecified), and soon, rather than "strategy". But what?

We have a long enough off season for plenty to be done between the two parties.

Yeah because the Nix players never go to schools, never go to clubs, never play against club teams or ASB teams, Ernie never engages with other coaches or runs clinics and of course the never ever invite young players in to trial with them.

If the Phoenix fold, I won't simply follow another NZ team. I barely even follow the All Whites (unless they start playing decently again). 

I didn't really go to football games before 2007, except for occasionally as a kid.

"We need leadership. There's no point strategising about it - they need to move quickly". - RM

It's very clear that they want to find synergies in the academy systems and to merge those programs. They probably would also like NZF to promote the Phoenix more to their constituents. 

If I recall correctly there were seven players from the Phoenix in the squad that played in the under 17 world cup, including pretty much all the players that people said were standouts. That is very impressive for a program that is only a couple of years old. It is clear that the Phoenix are doing something right, and to be honest I would trust them over NZF at the moment.

Those who are interested in knowing what was said last night, I can honestly say if you read, watch and listen to the following three interviews with Rob then you are pretty much up to speed:

Rob Morrison interview with Simon Hill - Fox Sports

Rob Morrison interview with Simon Hampton - TV3

Rob Morrison interview with Jason Pine - Radio Sport

Time for me to exit, Terminator X-it (what he said)

What's that. Song? "Baby Please Don't Go"

Yeah, Rob Morrison was certainly emphasising the need for greater alignment/collaboration with NZF around youth development/pathways and I can see the logic in that although it will leave some other "stakeholders" feeling bruised. We need to see the big picture here though. The Phoenix is now the biggest brand in youth development in NZ. NZF can either try and work with that or against it.

It's another weird one in terms of the license negotiations though because just like the crouds and memberships I can't see why the FFA are that bothered about it. Youth development is a potential money spinner for Welnix, not the FFA, and it specifically benefits NZ football, not Australia.

And Winton's Academy?

One of the biggest takeaways of the night for me was around the broadcast rights.

Points of interest:

1. Rob specifically kept talking about "broadcasters" plural. He wasn't exactly bagging Sky but it's clear they are open to other options.

2. The key driver is obvious - increasing viewership. That either means Sky coming up with a much better package of content (and actually promoting it) or maybe going free-to-air. Or a bit of both? Internet streaming?

3. Welnix are talking to potential broadcasters on behalf of the FFA, effectively acting as their local agents. There's some commercial value for you right there FFA. Rob Morrison doesn't exactly work for $20 an hour.

4. So much was said about the need for NZF to "step up" that although it wasn't explicitly stated I wonder if packaging the Nix, other A-League games, the All Whites, other NZ international teams and the ASB Prem together could possibly be on the cards? That would have the reach that everyone seems to be looking for, not so sure about the commercial value (although it would be hard to think of a more valuable NZ football package than that). That would bring the Nix, NZF and FFA together in a true commercial partnership that could be good for everyone.

5. Fudge me, what if Welnix were able to get hold of the EPL rights and then use that as leverage?

Points 4 and 5 are total speculation by me btw.

Thanks Terminator.  I couldnt go because of work, but Im glad there wasnt a lot of hush hush things I missed.

EDIT: stupid typos

So... what we've got here is obstructionism from a bunch of JAFAs in NZF who never wanted the Nix in the first place (eg Hay)? Well shark, if NZF don't love the Nix we can't expect the FFA to love them either.

Rob is reassuring in his public composure fronting Welnix; and what the club has built to date, on all fronts, is absolutely positively wellington is wonderful.

BUT...

...any thoughts of trying to create some sort of player pathway infrastructure 'monopoly' is downright dangerous talk, and fudgeing stoopid.

Also..

"Broadcasters plural". I can broadcast via periscope, livestream or any other number of platforms. Today's rights-owners simply sell to  a company that distributes the content to an audience. It could be sold to Maori TV, Prime, SKY, Vodafone, Sparc, NZME and others.

Given the importance of the two organisations to each other I think they should each have a member on the other ones board.

Vodafone is in bed with Sky so I doubt they have plans to launch their own streaming service, the only options are the three free to air networks, Sky (including prime), Lightbox Sport, or someone else coming out of left field like coliseum did.

Maori TV is an interesting idea, one of the things is if your on a free to air channel you need to be on one that is also on the sky platform, the 60% of households that have sky probably have never bothered to plug in their aerial into their TV for freeview or bought a freeview box. So the TVNZ popup channel while good will miss all those sky subscribers.

One of the biggest things to get around with New Zealand football is the same thing that has held football back in this country for what seems forever. That is EVERY BODY is so dam focused on their own little patch and scared their own self importance might in some way be down graded that they actually loose sight of what it is they are meant to be doing.

I think it was on the album Apocalypse 91.  Chuck D said it from memory, but can't remember the actual track.

Which is what Gareth had mooted a couple of years back (him giving NZF some dosh for a seat on the NZF Board or a say in how they ran the sport).

Does this mean the current Nix's academy and school of excellence are not recognised by the governing body NZF as a legit football operation?.

I know NZF hardly gives out there seal of approval on any kids academy / holiday football camps etc.

They assist in funding some of it so it defenitely is.  It's also never going to be a monopoly.  Even in Wellington Ole are widely seperated.

one last post 

For those who want an Asian view on the Nix.

The Roar in their Football tab have an article written by one of Asia's best Football journalist.

No way - you can get info and co-operation without board representation.  Board's are about governance and leadership, different purposes

"We need leadership [from NZF]. There's no sense strategizing it. They need to move quickly." Rob M

Sadly leadership is the very thing that is missing in the NZF.....well, intelligent leadership,  not self serving or self centered leadership. 

^ Yeah well, maybe that's why RM is having a dig.