Thursday, August 19, 2010

Victory unveil marquee signing

Melbourne Victory today finally unveiled their international marquee signing. His name, Ricardinho. The Brazilian joins Ernie Merrick's side on a two year deal from Korean based outfit Jeju United.
After a lengthy wait for fans to see another forward brought to the club many are underwhelmed by the appointment and on first glance the signing could be viewed as uninspiring. However, Ricardinho can win the hearts and minds of Victory fans with his performances on the pitch. He is unlikely to feature in Sunday's clash against the in-form North Queensland Fury.

FFA must be frustrated over Palmer's crowd cap

Clive Palmer and Gold Coast officials have reinstated the infamous crowd cap after only one game into the new A-League season. Last season the crowd cap was introduced, limiting crowds to 5,000 at the boutique rectangular stadium Skilled Park.

This was until a revolt from fans, along with deliberations with Football Federation Australia officials, forced the clubs hand to return to ‘normal’ operating procedure.

Once again the decision is quite clearly one made with the club’s (in particular, Clive Palmer’s) financial interests at heart but it will not allow the club to grow and look to build on its currently small supporter base.

Quite frankly, the decision is disappointing and disheartening for the club and the league as a whole, especially after only one home fixture into the season.

One wonders what the Gold Coast have been doing in the off season when their number one priority must have been to seek involvement in the community and create public awareness for those living on the coast.

It seems, once again that they have missed the boat and not learned their lessons from last season where they were at the foot of the table in terms of attendances despite boasting one of the league’s best sides.

Frustration must be growing down at Football Federation Australia headquarters at the situation the club finds itself in once again.

With Canberra very keen on securing a license last time round, and again being pipped recently by the Sydney Rovers franchise for the league 12th license, FFA officials may be wondering what might have been they had put their faith in the capital and handed Canberra entry into the league last season instead of opting for the lure of the glitter strip.

This article first appeared on The Roar

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Salary cap the key to A-League crowds

The A-League’s salary cap has come under serious scrutiny over the league’s short history. However, it is a crucial element for the competition’s success.

After two weeks of season 2010/11, all clubs have appeared at least once and the promising news for fans is that it looks like we have a tight and tense season on our hands.


On any given day, each club can be confident of taking the field and bringing home three points. This has to be a good thing for the fans and by extension crowd figures, which, like it or not, will be used week in week out in assessment of the A-League’s growing or fledgling popularity.

With no salary cap in place, a division will be created between the ‘bigger’ clubs and the rest of the league.

As soon as this happens, especially within Australia’s sporting landscape whereby football is looking to rapidly grow its supporter base, the league is as good as dead.

Over the weekend we saw upsets of the Melbourne Victory and last season’s double winners Sydney FC.
Perth Glory and North Queensland Fury took it right up to and won their respective battles against the two sides who own four of the five league Championships after 5 seasons of the A-League.

The Fury are the perfect example of the type of club who can thrive under the salary cap, promoting equality throughout the competition. On the other hand, they are also a good example of a club who could quickly find themselves on the scrap heap if the league’s powerhouses are allowed to dominate and monopolise the market.

North Queensland have made a habit of defying the odds in their short life and after being written off after three straight losses to start their inaugural season, the then Robbie Fowler led side battled on to finish a respectable seventh in a campaign full of grit and determination.
After a tumultuous off season almost leading to extinction, a largely new playing roster under the tutelage of unknown Czech coach Franz Straka, the boys from Townsville were once again written off by experts before Version 6 of the A-League.

However, once again they have struck back, this time with two extremely promising performances to open their second league campaign.
If this form can continue and lead to a finals berth, I believe the Fury can harness the support of Townsville and the surrounds and build a strong supporter base. The aim should be, by the end of the season, to be bringing in crowds of around nine to ten thousand.
This can be achieved by the ‘smaller’ clubs thanks to the competitiveness of the league where everyone is in with a fighting chance. There is proof in the pudding.

The Newcastle Jets connected with fans in the Hunter and constantly drew crowds of over 10,000 in season 2007/08. This culminated in Major Semi Final berth which saw 22,960 pack into
EnergyAustralia Stadium.

Let’s hope that the Fury under the colourful personality of Franz Straka can do the same.

If they do, it will be a major victory for the club and the Football Federation Australia, not to mention an amazing turn around in the fortunes for a club that was on the canvas.

This article first appeared on The Roar

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Bock leads the charge

Adelaide defender and former All-Australian, Nathan Bock has become the first AFL listed player to defect and join the Gold Coast Suns.

Bock today was released by his former club who will blood youth in their final two games rather than give time to the defender who will play no part in the Crows' future.

It seems inevitable now that more players will come out sooner rather than later and confirm their defection to the league's 17th team. Bock will form an integral part of the spine in Guy McKenna's side which is likely to have a very youthful flavour come Round 1, 2011.