Never understood the argument that other teams spending more money is a bad thing for the league. League needs to keep improving if the TV deal is to keep getting bigger and bigger
I never made the "argument" that other teams spending more money is a bad thing for the league. Nor that improving the league on the back of a increasingly bigger TV deal is a bad thing either.
My point is that whilst there are issues around the sustainability of clubs in the smaller cities/markets (and Brisbane), creating a need or perception of clubs to spend more will further erode the viability of those clubs. The end result will be an equivalent of the EPL where larger teams in bigger markets can (and do) generate increasingly more revenue and spend it on getting better players (or, keeping existing ones). This is great in and of itself but it doesn't create a competitive league, particularly in a market the size of Australia, and particularly where you do not have the depth of clubs willing and able (sometimes questionably) to step into the league when another club fails (either on or off the field).
You will always have imbalance in clubs and budgets - however, the FFA's immediate focus (in my opinion) should be to create a sustainable competition. And when we can go a few years with some stable clubs (and owners), then look to grow.
The "argument" that we're missing out on players to the MLS/J-league/CSL, etc to me is a red herring. We can't compete with them as a general rule (yet). The marquee spot in most instances has been used to get the highest paid player outside the cap - that's great, but with a few exceptions (Del Piero, Fowler, Heskey, VilOla) isn't used in the intent in which it was created. ie: to attract players who would put bums on seats. The current international marquee players are good players - but they're hardly household names that'll bring in a thousand or two per game.
Instead of lifting the ceiling which the rule changes do, make the marquee rules tighter, attract the right player/s as was the original intent and get them spread around the league - so everyone wins. Especially the league, as a whole.
Yes, the league needs to keep improving. Not just Mel/Syd - particularly whilst others seemingly struggle to sustain themselves. Lift those at the bottom up, and the league will improve... then lift the ceiling a little, rinse, and repeat.