Yeah I'd really hope that football fans who watch overseas football but
never go to local games (that includes me) get behind this league. The
standard has definitely improved and should get better.



Aside from the fact that this is a genuine national league - instead of
a national collection of suburban teams - the thing which I think gives
this league real oxygen unlike all the other ones is our entry into
Asia. From next year, two Australian sides will be in the Asian
Champions League and Australia will play home-and-away world cup
qualifiers.



For the first time, Australia is going to have regular international
football instead of one world cup qualifier every 4 years broken up by a
series of joke 'friendly' internationals against club sides on holiday
and national sides trying out their 'b side'. Once you're getting
regular international football, you should be able to attract tv,
sponsors, better players etc (actually, one of the worrying things for
me is that the commercial networks will move in once the asian champions
league/wc qualifiers get up and running - imagine having to listen to
Eddie McGuire calling the games)



There's a lot of cynicism going round - this'll just be like the last
one, Sydney FC will collapse like Northern Spirit etc. - but I really
think this one is different. If it doesn't work this time round, it
really will kill off the game here. I think so long as they maintain
reasonable crowds in the interim period before the entry into Asia the
A-League is going to work



Chris.



p.s. I went to see Sydney v Melbourne. Dwight Yorke made sure he ran
off by himself at the end of both halves. End of First half he dawdled
around the middle of the pitch so he walked off by his lonesome. Second
half he sprinted off so none of the other players could get in the way
of his ovation.





-----Original Message-----
From: nfsdu@yahoogroups.com [mailto:nfsdu@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of
Todd Street
Sent: Tuesday, 6 September 2005 11:25 AM
To: nfsdu@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [NFSDU] A-League



Paul said:

"I do hope that most of you get into the A-League. I thought Adelaide
United
was a breath of fresh air in the last season of the NSL and I went to
nearly
every home match. Hindmarsh Stadium is a genuine built-for-football
stadium
so the atmosphere was terrific.

There has been a definite lift in standard with the A-League."

TS: I agree. For those in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne you should
definitely get along to see a few games - those three sides play some
really
excellent passing football (the Roar and Melbourne in particular).
Adelaide
also has a decent side.

I'll be getting along to the Jets game this weekend (even though Yorke
won't
be there). It'll be interesting to see how things have improved in
person.

I feel sorry for our Kiwi friends though - that's one dodgy side you
have
over there! Sean Devine is good for comedy value though!

Catchya later,
Todd.




NFSDU Website: http://members.optusnet.com.au/~toddstreet/index.htm




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