On a side note, people get way too hung up on the Nix not being eligible to qualify for the CWC via the ALM and AFC Champions League.
I don't think there has been a season yet in 17 campaigns where the Nix finished high enough in the ALM to get a spot in the AFC Champions League. Even in 2023/24 when they were 2nd to CCM, AFC had formed the AFC Champions Elite comp with the ALM getting just the 1 spot.
Last year in that Champions Elite comp Eastern Conference, the Mariners were dead last, not even close to making it to the playoffs (East verus West). They got 1 point from 7 games. ALM teams of late have consistently been outclassed in the AFC Champions League (East).
Looking back the Wanderers winning the 2014 Champions League under Poppa was some sort of miracle, totally against the odds. And since then the Saudi teams with all the slush money in their league have got manifestly stronger.
Saudi teams have won 3 of the last 6 versions of the AFC Champions League to get to the CWC. Ulsan Hyundai (Sth Korea), Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan) and
Al Ain (UAE) the other winners in that period.
Even if the Nix were eligible I would give them as low as a 1% chance, of being able to win the Premiers Plate and then go on to get past all those AFC teams in their path, to qualify for the CWC. Even monied Auckland FC I'd have as low as 5%. It's just that tough.
This OFC Pro League, is going to offer a far far easier potential path to the CWC.
Hence Dave Dome spitting the dummy.
Though we are yet to find out what the OFC Pro League's regs will be on whether surplus ALM squad players can drop down to play in the OFC League etc etc. It won't be a walk over for AFC at all. Plus need to remember that the CWC is now only every 4 years. So it's associated big pot of qualification gold doesn't come around annually any more.
I don't think there has been a season yet in 17 campaigns where the Nix finished high enough in the ALM to get a spot in the AFC Champions League. Even in 2023/24 when they were 2nd to CCM, AFC had formed the AFC Champions Elite comp with the ALM getting just the 1 spot.
Last year in that Champions Elite comp Eastern Conference, the Mariners were dead last, not even close to making it to the playoffs (East verus West). They got 1 point from 7 games. ALM teams of late have consistently been outclassed in the AFC Champions League (East).
Looking back the Wanderers winning the 2014 Champions League under Poppa was some sort of miracle, totally against the odds. And since then the Saudi teams with all the slush money in their league have got manifestly stronger.
Saudi teams have won 3 of the last 6 versions of the AFC Champions League to get to the CWC. Ulsan Hyundai (Sth Korea), Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan) and
Al Ain (UAE) the other winners in that period.
Even if the Nix were eligible I would give them as low as a 1% chance, of being able to win the Premiers Plate and then go on to get past all those AFC teams in their path, to qualify for the CWC. Even monied Auckland FC I'd have as low as 5%. It's just that tough.
This OFC Pro League, is going to offer a far far easier potential path to the CWC.
Hence Dave Dome spitting the dummy.
Though we are yet to find out what the OFC Pro League's regs will be on whether surplus ALM squad players can drop down to play in the OFC League etc etc. It won't be a walk over for AFC at all. Plus need to remember that the CWC is now only every 4 years. So it's associated big pot of qualification gold doesn't come around annually any more.