I'm with you on this one. So many people knock the game it's just not funny. Even media commentators. I heard a guy on the radio a while back basically bagging the game he went to (QLD v Syd I think) because "it's not the EPL". Well hello!

The English Premier League has been around for a bloody long time (EPL / Div 1) and has had chance to establish traditions and loyalties, which in turn allows the game to exploit the fans to generate cash and continue to improve.

The A-League has been around for 4 years and is working towards building those traditions and loyalties but it can't happen overnight. Using rules like the salary cap at this stage means that clubs don't have the chance to overstretch themselves, go bust and effectively kill the league before it gets out of nappies.

I have been to a few Roar games but I haven't grown to love them in those 4 years like I grew to love Middlesbrough over 30 years (don't ask why, though last night was a timely reminder ) and I suspect the same applies not only to immigrants like us but the locals who have tried to follow the game through its various incarnations for years, without even being able to display loyalty to the same team two years in a row!

A stable A-League with continuous improvement - as has been happening - can only lead more people into the game and ultimately grow its status in the region and the world. Like I said, it will not happen overnight but it will happen.

Even Pim Verwhatsischops slags the A league off as a load of tosh, I have got to agree with him although he should know better.

happy clappers are the devil incarnate at football stadiums, IMHO - esp when they are being enthusiastically clapped in front of you!

but that is sponsorship and i Hyundai are spending all the money then they can have them. Just dont expect me to 'happy clap' along with the rest...!

they are a necessary evil in these corporate driven times. if they are the difference between having a professional league to follow and not, then i will tolerate them...

Pim is lucky - he can piss off to Europe and watch EPL etc when he wants to. I dont have that luxury.

He is right in essence. The league is immature and pretty naive tactically. The teams are all very even mostly due to salary cap restrictions - $1.6m between 22 players!...

He did still pick the same players for the game on Thursday, so that says something.

he has also been grossly misquoted, again, by the (not so hidden) agenda driven media in this country who'll swallow and regurgitate any tiny piece of anti football news to better enhance the profile of the sports they have invested millions of dollars in...

Plenty of people at MV complain about the inflatables as well. You wont see many behind either goal thats for sure.

You missed another option which is of NOT WATCHING A-League almost...at all!

I didn't state my assumption which was that if one is a fan of the game of football one might be bothered to consider attending a live match.

"...a fan of the game of football"??

Please spare me some!

First off, football is something completely different here...You play football with your fists!! (like boxing but you get to beat more than one opponent!!)

Secondly, a fan of football wouldn't be too pleased to watch the game here...I have seen kids at school play better and am being kind...

That final is a fair reflection of the level of the game here: dire game, clueless players and officials and overseen by presenters who'd rather they actually watch a real game!!

Bring on EPL

Thats very similar to my feeling on the local game here. Following your UK club live at 4am on a Sunday morning becomes very tedious after a dozen years or more.

I also believe the people that knock the local game the most, are the ones that follow big teams from the comfort of their armchairs. IE: Customers not supporters.

Fact is I really enjoy and almost need the company of live support. That away game in Adelaide really took me back, it was a fantastic familar feeling that only real followers know, and i've missed so much. I'll be going to an away game next season no matter what. For me it's one of lifes rare and great pleasures.

We're getting it all now, away games, pre pub, mid week anticipation, pre match build up, Sunday paper analysis. The trappings of football that I thought was gone forever.

It's still fragile though, So come on Queensland, Perth and Wellington, get your collective acts together and win something so as to make this league rock solid.



Sydeny, do you realise, that before this Aleague there was 25 years of Nothing, I repeat NOTHING, now anything even this low standard is better than that. So when you wake up to the fact that you will probably never enjoy a live game of high standards again, say in about the 12 years it took me to wake up to tht fact, then you might absorb that fact. So instead of moaning about the situation, might as well jump on board, put your 15 bucks entry fee in, and help the standard grow by participating.

Fact is it's better standard now than season 1, its a slow road, but things are getting better.

I wonder how many times I'm going to have to spell it out for people

I'll put it another way, Sydeny just follow AFL, Following football from the UK at 4 am is a bit like kissing your sister, a claytons way of support. It will get to you.

Whatever - you are obviously in the 'happy to not engage the local game and even happier to sit back and slag it off' category.

Dont expect the quality to improve if you sit on your hands and do nothing about it.

Association football is the name of the game. Even the governing body has the word football in it's name.

I also disagree that the final was a fair reflection on the game - i have seen some cracking contests between two commited and evenly matched teams in the last 4 years.

I can only presume you are Sydney which has obviously clouded your judgement somewhat....

You dont get this sitting at home in front of the TV.

Just wait till the 2nd Melbourne team starts.

With 2010 World Cup qualification almost a certainty, these scenes will start to become regular occurences around the country.

Where is that Eddie?

Thats at the bottom steps to Spencer st Station (Southern Cross) near Lonsdale st The MV fans congregate at the pubs along Lonsdale St, at the Great Western Hotel, Colonial Hotel, Metropolitan hotel and The Carron.

Have to find new watering holes in two seasons as it's back to Swan St, and the Bubble dome, at least it should be sold out every week.

P Dan, I'll just have to agree to disagree with you...I have tried to give a fair go at the A-League and watched few games but each time, the lack of tactiacl awareness of the players, their total naivety and unbelievable devoidness of any technical abilities of quality, I switch over quickly!!

I prefer women's game to A-League in a straight contest!

I don't mean anything about the local support which is tremendous when you think of the quality in view!!

But I'd rather watch paint dry...

I saw the Japan-Australia and Bahrain-Australia games, and boy, they were dire!!

It almost made me feel sorry for Tim Cahill...Those around him were so poor!!

I think the local crowd are wonderful and always loyal and fierecely so...I applaud them very hard.

I don't mind applying for coaching certificates here and get them is shape but boy, there will be some real fireworks first!

Hope Ozzies are fair when it comes to World Cup...I'll be singing "30 years of hurt" and all that and hope they don't get offended by my patriotism...Engerland!!!

fair enough... But i noted the comment i bolded with interest.... Get youreself to a stadium....!!!! Particularly when the champions are playing...!!!!

and yes, i will be hanging up my cross of st george and stumbling into work bleary eyed next June...

In Ger Land.... Would LOVE to get them in a group.... How great would that be?