18 January 2009

Take 20 seconds to support a Canberra A-League football (soccer) team

| Sakkerz
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Calling all Canberrans,

The bid to put an A-League football (soccer) team in Canberra is heading for success with a lot of financial support and great organization. But the one vital thing the Football Federation requires to make up their mind is a show of community support.

If you can take 20 seconds of your time to sign the Canberra A-League supporters’ pledge online, we’re almost there!

All you have to do is go to http://www.a-league4canberra.com.au/site/SupportersSignUp1.php and put down your name. You can sign up for your kids and family too.

Forward this to at least five of your friends and by the time the Football Federation meets our bid committee in late February 2009, we’ll hopefully be well on the way to 20,000 signatures!

You can also download paper forms to take to work at http://a-league4canberra.com.au/userfiles/file/support%5B1%5D.pdf

Finally, if you are able to volunteer to help collect signatures for the supporters’ pledge, email b.sakkerkelly[at]ozemail.com.au

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I am not a football fan and I am supporting the bid.

: )

I believe Australia is the only football playing nation in the western world whose professional league does not include the capital city. As Canberrans I think this in itself is good reason for supporting the bid. Assuming you’re a football fan..

As for the salary cap issue (the one that never seems to go away), whilst it will detract players of higher calibre, the flip side is you end up with a competition where the only teams in contention for the title, year after year, are the top 3 or 4 club. For examples look no further than the EPL, Bundesliga etc. That said, there is some merit in arguing for relegation, as that is what often creates genuine excitement towards the pointy end of the season.

One thing the A League also needs to work alot harder on is turning the GF into more of a spectacle. Blink and you would’ve missed it the last couple of years.

20 seconds seems a lot of time out of my life to spend on soccer. I’ll give you 8, hang on no I won’t.

Nambucco Deliria9:26 am 20 Jan 09

On the contrary. I will be taking my ten year old to see it, even though the side will be without it’s best players.

Looks like Canberra will host the Socceroos in an Asian Cup qualifier. That will give Nambucco something more to whinge about.

Nambucco Deliria3:27 pm 19 Jan 09

Holden Caulfield said :

Nambucco Deliria said :

… When I point out a few (as I see them) drawbacks, I get called ‘a miserable’ shit.

Oh well…

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.

I didn’t actually see any bona fide drawbacks pointed out, just a few comments that amounted to not much more than I don’t like the idea so it sucks.

the key is in ‘Like I’ve said in related threads before’

In summary, then, here are the reasons why I think the A-League – not just the Canberra bid- is ‘doomed to failure’

(1) I think we’ve established it’s difficult to really get behind a ‘franchise’ that can be moved at the whim of a Sport’s governing body

(2) The salary cap means that A-League teams will never really be able to attract top drawer players who aren’t past their prime, or retain promising players seeking to further their careers, and bank balances, abroad. This means football fans are asked to fork out to watch second or third rate ‘product’. However this does mean that the Australian media are able to whinge ad nauseam about ‘cashed-up’ foreign clubs at the drop of a hat.

(3) Expanding the league won’t improve matters as it forces franchises to further dilute the talent pool by buying in often inconsistent players from leagues weaker than the A-League. Inevitably the league will struggle to sustain interest as more and more matches become meaningless as teams outside of finals contention play one another at the end of the season. There is no solution to this unless promotion and relegation is introduced- even if this means the bottom two or three clubs play off against regional league winners to provide some form of excitement.

(4) The wave of hysteria that followed Australia’s qualification has now subsided and, even though Australia will probably qualify for South Africa 2010, it will be hard to generate as much interest a second time, not least because the players following in the footsteps of Viduka, Kewell, Cahill, Schwarzer et al aren’t quite as good. The paying public won’t stick around for long if the A-League can’t up the ante entertainment wise.

(5) It’s a cliche but the Canberra sporting public is very fickle. Although attendance figures don’t really pay the wages – corporate sponsorship does- if people stop turning up to see the side, as they do whenever Brumbies and Raiders teams (both, it has to be said, playing in competitions of far higher calibre in their respective sports than the A-League)go through a trough, who is the franchise for? Ivan Slavich?

Holden Caulfield1:36 pm 19 Jan 09

p1 said :

….What I don’t like is the slightly phoney feel of the franchise approach, and I hate the ethnic rivalries that often seem to crop up when soccer is involved…

Erm, that is partly why the “phoney” franchise approach has been taken.

I agree it’s less than ideal, but the philosophy behind the current A-league, despite some inherent failings, is the best approach yet that I’ve seen to getting a viable national league underway in Australia.

The A-league (and the Canberra bid) may not be perfect, but it’s also not completely devoid of potential that it shouldn’t be supported.

Holden Caulfield1:33 pm 19 Jan 09

Nambucco Deliria said :

… When I point out a few (as I see them) drawbacks, I get called ‘a miserable’ shit.

Oh well…

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.

I didn’t actually see any bona fide drawbacks pointed out, just a few comments that amounted to not much more than I don’t like the idea so it sucks.

I don’t have a problem with Canberra having a team in a National Soccer Comp. I suspect it would be better for Canberra then the Raiders have been in recent years (unless they hire Todd Carney..). What I don’t like is the slightly phoney feel of the franchise approach, and I hate the ethnic rivalries that often seem to crop up when soccer is involved.

That, and it’s boring to watch. But then I don’t enjoy competitive chess either.

Nambucco Deliria1:13 pm 19 Jan 09

Jammer1 said :

I just don’t understand the passion that the anti-A-league for Canberra listees are displaying. If you don’t agree with the bid, don’t go to the website and vote and when/if we get a team here – don’t go to the games. Simple really.

For those who do love the round ball game get in there and vote as I’ve just done and I will see you all at the first home game – bring it on!

Like I’ve said in related threads before – I don’t really care if Canberra gets a team or not. But when I ask for reasons why the bid is needed, why Canberra ‘must’ have a team in the A-League, nobody seems to be able to explain to me why – ‘it just does’. When I point out a few (as I see them) drawbacks, I get called ‘a miserable’ shit.

Oh well…

I just don’t understand the passion that the anti-A-league for Canberra listees are displaying. If you don’t agree with the bid, don’t go to the website and vote and when/if we get a team here – don’t go to the games. Simple really.

For those who do love the round ball game get in there and vote as I’ve just done and I will see you all at the first home game – bring it on!

Holden Caulfield12:53 pm 19 Jan 09

Nambucco Deliria said :

The A-League concept isn’t anything new at all, merely a continuation of American football’s franchised-based operation whereby ‘made up’ teams with no history or tradition play out sterile ‘sport as entertainment’ matches for a largely uninformed ‘family’ audience. No promotion or relegation = little or no interest for the last third of the season – and the more teams introduced to this league means there will be more teams playing pointless dead rubber matches as each season progresses.

I haven’t seen any ill considered or ill informed comments about players in this thread, or for that matter finances. I went to my first football match in 1973 (the FA Amateur Cup Final at Wembley Stadium), and before coming to Australia in 2003 went to matches all over Europe, so I think I know a little bit about football when I comment on the players currently plying their trade in the A-League. As a brief example, George – let’s look at a couple of players involved at the weekend for the Newcastle Jets – Mark Milligan and (Canberra’s own)Kaz Patafta, both of whom couldn’t leave the A-League quickly enough when they thought they could earn big money in Europe. Milligan, supposedly the best young centre half in Australia, couldn’t get a sniff and Patafta, after an abortive spell with Benfica came home as well. There are many more as I’m sure you’re well aware, George, so please don’t try and make out people ‘naysaying’ this project don’t know anything about football.

I agree that a promotion relegation system would be ideal. I also appreciate your comments in regard to the A-league being a franchise style set up.

However, because you know so much about football you will understand the reasons why neither a promotion/relegation system is workable in Australia and why the franchise style approach has been taken.

I don’t reckon the FFA would claim this is an ideal approach either, but under the circumstances of trying establish the long term viability of a national league I think starting afresh like they did was the best foot forward. This is neither the time or place to go into some of the background issues that saw FFA come to this decision, but you’re sure to know the reasons anyway.

An A-league team in Canberra might fail. But it might just work. Instead of sooking about why it won’t work, either shut up and let it reach the inevitble failure you claim, or just put your hand up to support the bid and enjoy the ride.

Life’s too short to be a miserable shit every day.

Sakkers, good to see you guys are getting some serious numbers behind the bid. I wouldn’t worry about the negative comments as stated above. The new slogan should be “Don’t hate, appreciate”.

Nambucco Deliria12:36 pm 19 Jan 09

The A-League concept isn’t anything new at all, merely a continuation of American football’s franchised-based operation whereby ‘made up’ teams with no history or tradition play out sterile ‘sport as entertainment’ matches for a largely uninformed ‘family’ audience. No promotion or relegation = little or no interest for the last third of the season – and the more teams introduced to this league means there will be more teams playing pointless dead rubber matches as each season progresses.

I haven’t seen any ill considered or ill informed comments about players in this thread, or for that matter finances. I went to my first football match in 1973 (the FA Amateur Cup Final at Wembley Stadium), and before coming to Australia in 2003 went to matches all over Europe, so I think I know a little bit about football when I comment on the players currently plying their trade in the A-League. As a brief example, George – let’s look at a couple of players involved at the weekend for the Newcastle Jets – Mark Milligan and (Canberra’s own)Kaz Patafta, both of whom couldn’t leave the A-League quickly enough when they thought they could earn big money in Europe. Milligan, supposedly the best young centre half in Australia, couldn’t get a sniff and Patafta, after an abortive spell with Benfica came home as well. There are many more as I’m sure you’re well aware, George, so please don’t try and make out people ‘naysaying’ this project don’t know anything about football.

One thing is for sure, Canberra would win hands-down any competition based on pessimism and the art of whinging.

Such ill-considered and ill-informed remarks and stereotypes about the biggest sport in the world (players, financial, crowd) perhaps suggest the naysayers seem a little threatened.

The A-League concept is fairly new and is a part of the continued evolution of football in Australia.

I applaud and encourage those who are working so hard to have Canberra participate in the A-League.

Nambucco Deliria12:12 pm 19 Jan 09

I see in the Canberra Times today John Macnamara pushing the furphy (again) that the Canberra United women’s team’s appearance in the W-League grand final is further proof that an A-League team coming to Canberra is an inevitabilty. But again, like everyone parrotting the nonsense emanating from Capital Football’s always-amusing pronouncements on this matter, he doesn’t waste any time explaining why this is so.

Holden Caulfield10:52 am 19 Jan 09

Sakkerz, is it possible to have Foundation Members automagically added to that list? Presumably stumping up $200 cash is a reasonable sign of support.

Holden Caulfield10:50 am 19 Jan 09

In addition to Primal’s response, and just in case p1 still hasn’t worked it out … A = Australia.

p1 said :

I was wondering last night, are the second and third level Soccer leagues called “B-League” and “C-League”, or is “A-League” simply a name for marketing.

‘A-League’ is a mimic of other major soccer leagues in Asia. Japan’s professional league is the J-League, South Korea the K-League, Singapore the S-League, etc.

I don’t care if we get an a-league team or not, soccer just isn’t my thing..but I’ll specifically avoid anything that includes “Forward this to at least five of your friends”. Errrgg.

Nambucco Deliria10:02 am 19 Jan 09

Pointless waste of time. The A-League is mickey mouse competition full of no-name Europeans and South Americans and young Australians not good enough to get a game in Europe. Oh and ageing Australian internationals looking to screw a bit more cash from the game. I’ll pass on that pledge, thanks.

I was wondering last night, are the second and third level Soccer leagues called “B-League” and “C-League”, or is “A-League” simply a name for marketing. Because if it is, then it is lame, and almost like there are trying to hide the fact that soccer is involved, because they know that the only people that will care are those who use it as a proxy for age old conflicts, whether they be between housing estates or ethnic groups.

Get yourselves an arab or yank with too much money to buy a team. You could pay $220 million and get Kaka.

Who cares about soccer ? How about we get a proper AFL team here?

I do.

I hate aerial ping-pong.

MrPC, as for ‘scum’ at a football match, watch “Green Street Hooligans” and then tell me that the Aussies are bad.

You might even start singing “I’m forever blowing bubbles”….(hubby’s a Westham fan)

pfft…canberra needs an a-league team like it needs a hole in the head….this bid is a total waste of time and money and is doomed to failure anyways…..

MrPC, is there any league you approve of?

Do you seriously think that overnight Canberrans will transmogrify into scum-of-the-earth scum-sucking scum-buckets just ’cause they get an A-league team?

The AFL are only interested in expanding into places with high birthrates and low housing costs (leaving surplus cash to feed their one armed bandits, err, pokies, as well as buy overpriced merchandise, all the while encouraging kids to play their game and perpetuate that cycle of pokies, breeding and despair).

That’s why they are moving into the Gold Coast and Western Sydney.

Canberra is a pretty expensive place to raise a family, and we have a few too many educated people who see through the thin veneer of entertainment and see pokies for what they really are (voluntary taxation of the poor).

I don’t think we’re likely to fit into the AFL’s business plan anytime soon.

Heck, if the Raiders weren’t already here, we probably wouldn’t fit the NRL’s business plan, which is very similar.

canberra towie8:41 pm 18 Jan 09

*YAWN*

Who cares about soccer ? How about we get a proper AFL team here

I’ve lived in Melbourne. The A-League team there brings out the loudest and most annoying scum of the city and brings them all together.

The scum are ruining the relocatable ground level seating at Docklands Stadium (Telstra Dome) by jumping up and down on said steel structure throughout the entire game.

After the games it’s rather scary to be in the same public transport vehicles as them. If I were running the ACTION drivers union, I’d be thinking of encouraging drivers to refuse to do overtime on game nights after the second or third game.

MrPC said :

Do we really want to make it easy for riots to start?

[Yes!! *heh heh heh* Ooops, sorry ….]

Oh, c’mon! I’m sure we’ll survive somehow. If it was going to encourage riots I doubt that all of the politicians would have been so keen to become Foundation members.

Ugh. This is just what Canberra doesn’t need. Do we really want to make it easy for riots to start? (Well, this is the Riot ACT after all). Do we really need a weekly event that brings out louts and hooligans together on a weekly basis?

Too easy!! Hope you get a good response, even though I wouldn’t know one end of a soccer ball from the other …

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