[FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]why do you think they succeeded in getting the fans behind them when others didnt? Arent Newcastle sturggling financially? Did the gold coast have a team that failed?[/SIZE][/FONT]
The Gold Coast had a team that were shite and Clive Palmer financed them, when he pulled out, they died. They had crowds of less than 2000 at games. Same kind of thing with Newcastle, that fat billionaire lad Nathan Tinkler put loads of money into them and Newcastle Knights, but he’s gone belly up, so they’re dodgy, but will survive. Thats if they start to succeed again on the field though, this is the third year in a row they’ve missed the finals. They’re a horrible club who play shite football with skangar supporters. I reckon Wellington could be in serious trouble soon and Perth look dodgy enough as well if their billionaire owner pulls out.
WSW have succeeded because there was a massive fan base there ready for them to happen. Huge following for football in western sydney among the ethnic communities and they’ve come together. They are going to be the biggest club in the league and an amazing first season has heightened the excitement and interest. They are now where they planned to be in 5 years time, so the big thing for them now is to consolidate and make sure that what they have now is sustainable.
The knock on effect for the rest of the league from WSW has been great though, as it demands that the media sit up and take notice. It’ll be a packed house on Sunday at the football stadium in Sydney. They’ll damage the Giants and Swans more so than the NRL teams, but will still take away revenue from all the sports competing for that huge market in western sydney. The concentration on the national team is waning a bit, especially with them looking not bright for the WC. But I don’t think that will have a huge effect, as grassrootrs football is getting stronger and stronger as more and more kids play. The natural beneficiary of this will be A League teams.
Its been a great season, the standard has improved hugely. I’ve seen every team this season and everyone is playing well (apart from Newcastle who are appallingly bad), some inconsistently, but most trying to play the game well. There should be some interesting marquee overseas signings for next season. Word is spreading in Europe that Australia can be a nice earner and great experience for players nearing the end of big careers. ADP will be here again next year and he’s been magnificent all year, despite playing for a club that were utterly hopeless for most of the season. A good few young players are looking to go overseas as well. Tom Rogic is a great example of what can be produced here.
All in all, exciting times for the A League. Just have to get more people to the games. Only 10600 at the Mariners last night.
[FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]Its a very attractive league for Marquee players coming to the end of their career[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]the number of games, the facilities and the weather are hugely attracive[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]Del Pierro staying another year shows its attractive to play here[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]So basically WSW have the ethnic community which is great while the gold coast wouldnt. TBH the league and AFL teams in the gold coast get shit crowds too so maybe as an area its not an attractive place to have a team[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]Roll on nexts eason[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial][SIZE=2]the AFL must be seething at the difference between WSW and GWS[/SIZE][/FONT]
I’d say the AFL are pretty pissed off about it alright, especially as they cannot afford to have GWS fail, but that will mean a huge investment by them. Build it and they will come will only work for one code and its obvious who its working for.
Just saw Shinji Onos strike there, it was a beaut.
Fitzy, what do you know about Terry Antonis? He is close to signing for Parma.
Looks like he’s on his way alright Bomber. He’s only 19, he’s played at a number of underage levels for Australia and a few games for the Socceroos. Very good player, not big, but very skillful, good passer, good vision and a very good finisher. He hasn’t had a lot of protection with Sydney FC this season as they’ve chopped and changed their team and they’ve been very unstructured. He should thrive in Italy though with an organised team around him, can see him running a midfield in a few years with experience and once he’s bulked up a bit.
Just to confirm, the Central Coast Mariners are the 2013 A League Champions. Victory parade just kicked off in Gosford for our heores.
Some transfer news - Marco Rojas is leaving Melbourne Victory to go the Europe, destination unknown at this point. Trent Sainsbury of the Mariners looks to be on his way to Bolton Wanderers after a brilliant season capped off by an excellent performance in the final.
The close season should be interesting, there will be a lot of movement and hopefully some very high profile marquee names coming here, though hopefully not Frank fucking Lampard.
Raven, I reckon you might lose Broich and possibly Bersiha. Mitch Nicholls could be on his way as well which would be a big loss for you. A fair bit of rebuilding needed at the Roar.
Mariners could lose 4 top players through transfers, Zwaanswijk might retire and Graham Arnold will probably be going overseas, so we’re going to struggle after such a successful season.
Kev, whats the feeling in WA after a poor season? The new coach seems to have done a very good job after the disaster that was that hun cunt Ferguson. Liam Miller has left Glory as well, not sure where he went. He looked totally disinterested the last time I saw him play.
I will be attending a training session for the Australian based socceroos today in Gosford.
Our beloved Mariners play Guangzhou Evergrande from China (Chinese Super League Champions for the last two seasons) in the knock out stages of the ACL next week (first leg) at home. This is a seriously rich team. Their manager is Marcello Lippi. He won the world cup with Italy. Our team is worth about $2mil. If we get any kind of result it will be a miracle, but we are so proud of these boys. They’re meant to be on holiday at the moment, but are busily training.
I’ll say hello to Lippi for you @ilbomberdestro
[quote=“Fitzy, post: 769553, member: 236”]I will be attending a training session for the Australian based socceroos today in Gosford.
Our beloved Mariners play Guangzhou Evergrande from China (Chinese Super League Champions for the last two seasons) in the knock out stages of the ACL next week (first leg) at home. This is a seriously rich team. Their manager is Marcello Lippi. He won the world cup with Italy. Our team is worth about $2mil. If we get any kind of result it will be a miracle, but we are so proud of these boys. They’re meant to be on holiday at the moment, but are busily training.
I’ll say hello to Lippi for you @ilbomberdestro[/quote]
You are some mong- Lippi is the greatest football manager of all time so we dont need your shitty explanation of who he is
I detest you fisty
[quote=“FingalRaven, post: 769554, member: 80”]You are some mong- Lippi is the greatest football manager of all time so we dont need your shitty explanation of who he is
I detest you fisty[/quote]
You Roar supporters really are taking hard aren’t you? Pretty exciting stuff though Raven, Lippi coming to Gosford, its the equivalent of him coming to Tallaght stadium.
I doubt he’s the first guinea to visit gosford,are you goin to get his autograph
I will certainly try Massey, our seats are not far behind the dug outs.
Apparently the boys have gone off the piss after some legendary partying on the coast after the last ACL game, to celebrate our historic A League success. Focused and ready now.
sigh - madrid ,Juve and the like have all been visitors to tallaght recently
So tonight we play Lippi’s Chinese team. Shitting myself about it, if we eek out a draw it would be a stunning achievement. We are the Wigan of Asian football (except we actually won our league and weren’t relegated) playing a multi multi million dollar team.
TASE, Mitch Nicholls has signed for Melbourne Victory. Broich will be gone soon. Long rebuild ahead for you after a dismal season.
[quote=“Fitzy, post: 772359, member: 236”]So tonight we play Lippi’s Chinese team. Shitting myself about it, if we eek out a draw it would be a stunning achievement. We are the Wigan of Asian football (except we actually won our league and weren’t relegated) playing a multi multi million dollar team.
TASE, Mitch Nicholls has signed for Melbourne Victory. Broich will be gone soon. Long rebuild ahead for you after a dismal season.[/quote]So ye aren’t anything like wigan then fisty :rolleyes:
Went 1-0 up after 8 minutes and then lost 2-1. Very good game. We’ll get knocked out in the second leg next week in China and then our season is done. It was a privilege having Mr Lippi at Gosford yesterday and he was most gracious in victory. Best bit though was watching Fitzy Jnr and his Academy team mates feeding crisps to both sets of subs on the sideline throughout the game.
A well deserved break for the boys when they get home next week after a long and very very successful season. Some pleasant news this morning with former Mariners favourite and local boy Matt Simon re-signing after a year in South Korea, we’ll have a brilliant forward line next season.
the marinaders have begun their decline mate
I’d be more focused on the Brisbane Roar decline mate if I were you. It seems to have progressed to a very advanced stage. You’ll be fighting it out with Newcastle for the wooden spoon next season.
2-0 and you fucked it up