O League

O League

I don't know if Phoenix want to be in the O League - but I know we shouldn't take crap from Auckland and Waitakere if we want to be in it. 

Team Welly will win it anyway

(disclaimer - I may not actually believe this and the opinion could be based on blind faith and hope rather than any actual proof).

Team Welly versus Phoenix final at the stadium !!

It wont be Team Wellington in the O-league, it'll be Canterbury United.

I think the best NZ based team should represent in the O-league. Phoenix are Wellington based so should be in there as well. LondonChris2007-07-17 00:45:06

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.

Jesus, a reasoned post Rodger.  Did someone else use your signon ?

At present that is how the O League works but who is to say in the future they might not invite the Phoenix into the O League - there is nothing to stop it.

I meant to say English competition - not premiership - a bit of wishful thinking perhaps on my part. But theoretically all those clubs could play in the Premiership and a top seven position would give them a shot at Europe if they were English. But they are not and they aren't.

If Auckland are good enough to beat Phoenix then good luck to them - but they should at least have to play them. You can't have only one team in the world who can't play in it.

but aren't the All Whites a new zeland based team?

We aren't the only ones.  Cardiff, Swansea and Wrexham can't as Dai said.

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.

Yeah, fair enough..... but I would still back Auckland City to beat the Phoenix.

You kind of have to say that though, don't you Wodg ?  How would it look for you to say, hell no, they would tank us ? 

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.

Here is an object lesson for both the NZFC clubs and their followers re the O League.

What the hell - we'll let Wrexham and Swansea play in our league. Cardiff though is dangerous - Captain Jack lives there. 

Yeah its dangerous being a Jack in Cardiff at the best of times.