Based on transfers, and where players are going - if anything the league is getting better.
Technically I think the players are better than in the past and we have shown an improvement in understanding how to play - teams seem to have clearer playing identities than in the past.
and journeyman don't seem to be getting a look in now!
Technically I think the players are better than in the past and we have shown an improvement in understanding how to play - teams seem to have clearer playing identities than in the past.
and journeyman don't seem to be getting a look in now!
I think the league is maturing and sort of finding it's place more as a development league, ie the better younger players having a couple of seasons and then going up north. That was one of the early criticisms of the ALM compared to the NSL - younger players not getting a look in. Lots of comparisons to the Golden Era Socceroos (2006 Germany World Cup) nearly all of whom had gone through the NSL as young kids.
Clubs like the Nix getting their Academies well established, and focusing more on bringing through their own younger players, than high profile marquees. But alot of this just had to evolve. The current TV rights deal is like 30-40% of what Fox Sports were playing? So for the clubs & league to survive this simply had to happen.
With very good owners, a well run Academy, and excellent facilities at NZCIS, the Nix could consistently be a top half of the table ALM club going foward, as all the Aussie clubs go for more modest player expenditure. Biggest challenge to Nix in the future could be Auckland, and losing their long standing monopoly on young NZ talent.