A-League threads [Merged] | PUNT ROAD END | Richmond Tigers Forum
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A-League threads [Merged]

AngryAnt

Tiger Legend
Nov 25, 2004
27,017
14,792
What with COVID craziness, no-one cares about A-League but it's City vs Sydney in the GF today. City looking better and just had a nice goal ruled out for offside player blocking the keeper's view.

Hate Sydney FC so much I find myself supporting City which is a bit weird, very 2020
 

Ian4

BIN MAN!
May 6, 2004
22,180
4,679
Melbourne
What with COVID craziness, no-one cares about A-League but it's City vs Sydney in the GF today. City looking better and just had a nice goal ruled out for offside player blocking the keeper's view.

Hate Sydney FC so much I find myself supporting City which is a bit weird, very 2020

I found myself supporting City. Sydney the far bigger rival.
 

Ian4

BIN MAN!
May 6, 2004
22,180
4,679
Melbourne
Me too. What's the latest with new signings? Are the fallandrolli rumours true?

Yes I believe it is true. It all stems from players being stood down during COVID and another pay cut when the A-League returned. The Perth Glory owner is a notorious tight arse with Castro also in dispute with them. Popovic leaving for a job in Greece might mean a mass exodus there.
 

Ian4

BIN MAN!
May 6, 2004
22,180
4,679
Melbourne
A-League in danger of becoming irrelevant

No doubt it’s a very pivotal time for the A-League. The game is undergoing massive changes.

Next season will be the last year of the TV Deal with Foxtel before they (almost certainly) go it alone with their own streaming model. I am 100% convinced leaving Foxtel is the best thing that could happen to the league. It also looks like the league is moving to winter… I am personally against this, but there are many solid arguments as to why they are doing it.

They are finally getting people who understand the game into the major roles (James Johnson is doing a brilliant job so far) as opposed to the likes of Gallop and Ben Buckley. There will be 12 teams next season and 14 teams isn’t far away. Nor is the second division. A transfer fee system and better youth development structure will come with this.

Yes, money is a big problem. Revenue is dropping. The salary cap will reduce next year making it even harder for us to compete in Asia. But this will bring more opportunity for youth. And there will always be corporate support for the world game. Tough times atm, but the A-League will come out of it in better shape over the long run.
 
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waiting

Tiger Legend
Apr 15, 2007
14,058
9,171
Victoria
No doubt it’s a very pivotal time for the A-League. The game is undergoing massive changes.

Next season will be the last year of the TV Deal with Foxtel before they (almost certainly) go it alone with their own streaming model. I am 100% convinced leaving Foxtel is the best thing that could happen to the league. It also looks like the league is moving to winter… I am personally against this, but there are many solid arguments as to why they are doing it.

They are finally getting people who understand the game into the major roles (James Johnson is doing a brilliant job so far) as opposed to the likes of Gallop and Ben Buckley. There will be 12 teams next season and 14 teams isn’t far away. Nor is the second division. A transfer fee system and better youth development structure will come with this.

Yes, money is a big problem. Revenue is dropping. The salary cap will reduce next year making it even harder for us to compete in Asia. But this will bring more opportunity for youth. And there will always be corporate support for the world game. Tough times atm, but the A-League will come out of it in better shape over the long run.
Hope so Ian4.
 

Ian4

BIN MAN!
May 6, 2004
22,180
4,679
Melbourne
Hope so Ian4.

I'm confident in the new direction. Its just frustrating that its gonna take time and its hard to be patient. One of the key lessons the new regime is learning is to not be dictated by other sports. *smile* measuring contests is of no benefit to the A-League. They need to be a bit more insular. And as I mentioned on Monday, Fox Sports has a lot to do with that.
 
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Ian4

BIN MAN!
May 6, 2004
22,180
4,679
Melbourne
The new season starts in 1 month (Dec 27). And despite the lack of publicity (as always), I reckon there is a real positive vibe around the ALeague for the first time in a long time.

Here is a list of things that's getting me excited:
- 26 games plus finals (and the International break in March) compacted into 6 months means there is a feast of Football coming up.
- We'll be one of the only leagues in the world where crowds are allowed.
- 6 games per round for the first time with the entry of Macarthur FC.
- Strong rumours about a new naming rights sponsor.
- The unbundling of the league agreed upon (just not made official yet).
- Talk of an expanded FFA Cup next off-season.
- The second division is likely to start in 15-16 months.
- A proper player transfer system isn't far off.
- While the 30% cut of the salary cap is a negative (but probably a short-term thing), it forces more teams to invest in youth, which is a positive for the Socceroos.

- The fixture has just been released: https://www.a-league.com.au/sites/aleague/files/2020-11/A-League 2020_21 Season Draw 24112020.pdf

- And the best news of all is that Fox Sports are apparently interested in the ALeague again. It’s my understanding that there are at least 5 serious bidders for the next round of TV rights, which we all hope produces a bidding war and bumps up the asking price. Then we have the rumoured prospect of FFA TV.

As for Melbourne Victory, I am much more optimistic about the upcoming season. I feel like we have a much better balance in our squad with multiple signings from the English championship, which I believe will suit the physical nature of the league.
 
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ThePercies

Tiger Superstar
Apr 8, 2007
1,871
70
Bendigo
The new season starts in 1 month (Dec 27). And despite the lack of publicity (as always), I reckon there is a real positive vibe around the ALeague for the first time in a long time.

Here is a list of things that's getting me excited:
- 26 games plus finals (and the International break in March) compacted into 6 months means there is a feast of Football coming up.
- We'll be one of the only leagues in the world where crowds are allowed.
- 6 games per round for the first time with the entry of Macarthur FC.
- Strong rumours about a new naming rights sponsor.
- The unbundling of the league agreed upon (just not made official yet).
- Talk of an expanded FFA Cup next off-season.
- The second division is likely to start in 15-16 months.
- A proper player transfer system isn't far off.
- While the 30% cut of the salary cap is a negative (but probably a short-term thing), it forces more teams to invest in youth, which is a positive for the Socceroos.

- The fixture has just been released: https://www.a-league.com.au/sites/aleague/files/2020-11/A-League 2020_21 Season Draw 24112020.pdf

- And the best news of all is that Fox Sports are apparently interested in the ALeague again. It’s my understanding that there are at least 5 serious bidders for the next round of TV rights, which we all hope produces a bidding war and bumps up the asking price. Then we have the rumoured prospect of FFA TV.

As for Melbourne Victory, I am much more optimistic about the upcoming season. I feel like we have a much better balance in our squad with multiple signings from the English championship, which I believe will suit the physical nature of the league.
Still think the same after last weekend?
 

kyuss

Tiger Superstar
May 13, 2012
1,031
1,138
Mcmanaman a good inclusion for victory. Aside from that we had a dirty night.
 
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AngryAnt

Tiger Legend
Nov 25, 2004
27,017
14,792
yeah, standard has improved leaps and bounds from the early days. Brisbane played well, hopefully Rojas is ok, we need him on the park.
 

Ian4

BIN MAN!
May 6, 2004
22,180
4,679
Melbourne
Still think the same after last weekend?

Yes. The unbundling is done. player transfer system white paper has been released. I’m hearing talk information about the second division will be released this week. good standard of games so far.

Although I believe the FA (now called Football Australia, not Football Federation Australia) stuffed up by not relocating the Sydney based teams after all the other states closed their borders. it has made the start of the season problematic. I'm supposed to be going to Sydney for WSW away on Jan 30, but thats now not gonna happen.

Victory's first game was disappointing. But we now have all of our squad together. No one in quarantine and we should have a full squad to pick from for our next game against Adelaide (including Rojas and Kruse). We were underdone against Brisbane and the extra break will benefit us.

Edit: And congratulations to Melbourne City on deciding to relocate to the South East. Now we have 3 teams with clear geographical differences. It should have happened 10 years ago, but better late than never. Now CFG have no excuses… Its time for them to leave a legacy for the game in Melbourne (and Australia) by building Dandenong Stadium.
 
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Ian4

BIN MAN!
May 6, 2004
22,180
4,679
Melbourne
Didn't western United promise a stadium out Werribee way that now won't be built?

Tarneit stadium is coming. the 5,000 mini stadium (as part of the project) was approved prior to Xmas. the 15,000 main stadium is still awaiting the appropriate permits, but I'm hearing its very close. announcements are expected soon.

If construction hasn't started now, no chance by 2023 season.

Its a 21 month build from start to finish. So as long as construction starts in the next 3 months, it should be ready by february 2023.
 

Brodders17

Tiger Legend
Mar 21, 2008
17,661
11,699
Tarneit stadium is coming. the 5,000 mini stadium (as part of the project) was approved prior to Xmas. the 15,000 main stadium is still awaiting the appropriate permits, but I'm hearing its very close. announcements are expected soon.



Its a 21 month build from start to finish. So as long as construction starts in the next 3 months, it should be ready by february 2023.
construction is due to start "early 2021".
 

AngryAnt

Tiger Legend
Nov 25, 2004
27,017
14,792
Last night a 1:0 loss to Adelaide in Adelaide, fairly ordinary but not helped by a hamstring injury for our key striker and another man down later in the game.

Amazing performance by the goal-scorer Toure who is apparently 16 years old, must be over 6 foot and built like Usain Bolt. Outran and outmuscled the Victory defence for most of the game.

_DSC7807.jpg


Goal here.


In Geelong it was 1:0 to Western United over Perth at half-time. Finished 5:4, watch the second half on Iview if you want some laughs.