Tegal Fan Club Member #1.5
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From 442

FFA CEO David Gallop will deliver a “State of the Game Address” at 11:00am AEST this Thursday. http://t.co/bJJkjh9BfF

Part of the address was in the smh today

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/unity-player-development-money-top-the-agenda-for-aleague-20140916-10htfd.html#ixzz3DY56m0iZ

Unity, player development, money top the agenda for A-League

Bringing "old soccer" back into the tent – and making some money – are top of the agenda for the A-League's boss in season 10.

On Thursday Football Federation Australia chief executive David Gallop will make his annual state of the game address.

He sees the empire he and many others have built finally achieving stability.

After years of excitement and expansion, of establishing the code as a major player in the Australian sporting scene, Gallop believes now is the time for introspection.

He has identified three key challenges for the season: reunifying the top tier with the grassroots, fixing youth development and making some money.

"The development of the A-League was a critical step, but we've now evolved to the point where it was important to go back into the state league system and develop opportunities to make sure that those clubs and the players they develop feel connected to the top tier of the game," the Sydney-based Gallop told Fairfax Media during a whistlestop visit to Melbourne, where he announced the winners of this year's NPL finals series would gain automatic qualification to the FFA Cup.

That announcement, and the Cup – which sees A-League and grassroots teams competing against each other in a knockout format – are important parts of a strategy to heal a 10-year-old wound.

The league's founding in 2004 created bitterness among established clubs in the old National Soccer League.

"A lot of great soccer people become a little bit disengaged with the A-League," says Peter Kokotis, general manager of the NSL's oldest and most successful club, South Melbourne.

"It was quite devastating obviously for most of our fans. It'd be no different for any huge club that's used to playing in the top league and then finds itself in another league."

Through the FFA Cup, Gallop is hoping to bring the disengaged back into his tent.

"I think that disconnection has been there, but certainly in the last couple of months we've seen a really great spirit developing through the FFA Cup.

"It's an important connection point between the grassroots of the game and the professional level."

Bringing the clubs back into the fold is important because, like it or not, the A-League is almost totally reliant on them to develop talent.

The FFA has so far chosen to have its premier competition focus almost solely on winning fans and sponsors, with few clubs putting time and money into operating serious youth development pathways.

That has meant the clubs have had to lean on NPL teams to develop and nurture talent. The lower leagues in effect act as a feeder system for the A-League clubs.

If that is to continue, and the quality of A-League players is to improve, Gallop knows the lower-league feeders need to feel like they're a valued part of the main game.

"It's an important part of developing players. The more high-quality competitions you have the better players you produce. That'll produce better players for the A-League and ultimately for the Socceroos.

"It's recognised by the technical experts that having development pathways from under 12s right through to senior ranks within one club is the right way to go.

"We don't have that across all 10 of our A-League clubs. Those junior pathways at NPL level remain a really important way of bringing players through; and ultimately we want to see those types of development academy systems in our A-League clubs as well."

If Gallop has plans afoot to deal with his first two problems, his third is a little less in his control – how to deal with the A-League's unlikely collection of private owners.

The owners inject the revenue the A-League needs to run – but in exchange, Gallop finds himself captive to the whims of a group that includes mining magnate Nathan Tinkler and Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Gallop surely will be thankful Clive Palmer is no longer involved, but he still has many balls to juggle and many people to keep happy. And the best way to do that is to make sure they realise a return on their investment.

"Our priority at the moment is to continue the commercial consolidation of the competition and making sure that the investment that the owners have already made continues to bear some fruit," Gallop said.

"We will certainly look at expansion down the track but it's not on our current agenda."

Stage Punch
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Interesting.

There'll be ongoing disconnect I reckon between what the FFA wants to achieve with the league for Australian football more widely and what the Phoenix want/need.

Tegal Fan Club Member #1.5
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Smithy wrote:

Interesting.

There'll be ongoing disconnect I reckon between what the FFA wants to achieve with the league for Australian football more widely and what the Phoenix want/need.

I think that is a very astute obversation .. 

Tegal
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Head Sleuth
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which is why midfielder posted it. 

It is a fair point, though you'd think they can still achieve it with the Phoenix in the competition. Doesn't seem like an either/or thing.

Stage Punch
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Tegal wrote:

which is why midfielder posted it. 

It is a fair point, though you'd think they can still achieve it with the Phoenix in the competition. Doesn't seem like an either/or thing.

 

I wasn't even remotely suggesting they want the Phoenix out of the league. More a case of the things they will want to roll out will not be ideal for the Nix, and so we'll have to either like them, lump them, or spend a lot of time negotiating exceptions. More of the same really, but I think it'll get worse.

Tegal
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hopefully they can work with us along the way. They have no incentive to mind you (other than out of 'fairness') so am not holding my breath. 

Finally getting youth spots in our squad is at least a start. Think we will have to continue scrap for everything we get. 

Tegal Fan Club Member #1.5
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Smithy wrote:

Tegal wrote:

which is why midfielder posted it. 

It is a fair point, though you'd think they can still achieve it with the Phoenix in the competition. Doesn't seem like an either/or thing.

 

I wasn't even remotely suggesting they want the Phoenix out of the league. More a case of the things they will want to roll out will not be ideal for the Nix, and so we'll have to either like them, lump them, or spend a lot of time negotiating exceptions. More of the same really, but I think it'll get worse.

Agree Smithy ... why I think its astute is because since the birth of the Drive Bys [western Sydney] the media and social acceptance of Football in Australia has changed and not by a small amount ... in fact some commentators can see Football challenging RL especially in NSW and certainty in Sydney within 5 to 7 years... Union has already been left light years behind Football in Australia and is struggling ..

This means Gallop can roll things out in Australia in a totally different environment to what the Nix's sit in...  resulting in as you said a greater difficulty for the Nix to meet what are assumed to be very aggressive targets by FFA for the next media deal due in 3 years but more than likely signed off in 2 years. 

Perth could have similar issues TBH ... The Mariners as well because just  keeping up in what is still a RL heartland area presents its own challengers... 

Gallop wants a 100 million plus media deal next time and to get it he wants certain KPI's ... SFC, WSW, Roar, MC, Jest & City should have no issues the other clubs for different reasons will each have challengers they need to overcome.. 

Marquee
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They still can't keep 9 teams in Australia stable, the nix aren't as much of a headache as a revolving list of Queensland teams.

Marquee
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Political union would solve the issues btwn FFA direction and nix reality. Vote NO to key, cunliffe, the fat guy, Winston et al and YES to a truly even playing field for the Phoenix ;)
Maybe we could retain All whites identity and play in AFC too?

Marquee
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One thing I think is really interesting is the relationship between the traditional clubs and the A-League clubs in developing players.  In Aus, they have accepted that players will come through the NPL into the A-League.  

We've been reticent in seeing the ASBP as a development league for the A-League, and I still think we're a bit confused whether we want to develop our own players or rely on the franchises to do it for us.  

Personally, I'd say we'd be better off looking at closer ties with the franchises, and potentially incentives for them to develop players, rather than starting our own franchise to compete with the complications and compromises that involves.  But that's just my view and clearly there are others.  I fear we're setting up this team without a proper coaching structure and plan behind it - but we'll of course see how it works soon enough!

Appiah without the pace
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Pretty hard to develop players in a 14 week competition. IIRC most of the NPL competitions are twice that. 

Marquee
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2ndBest wrote:

Pretty hard to develop players in a 14 week competition. IIRC most of the NPL competitions are twice that. 

And I don't think that the NPL runs over summer in Australia. Are there instances of players being involved in the NPL and then HAL youth teams? Our reserve/youth team is also important for our first team squad members getting game time.

RR
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Bossi Insider
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Bullion wrote:

2ndBest wrote:

Pretty hard to develop players in a 14 week competition. IIRC most of the NPL competitions are twice that. 

And I don't think that the NPL runs over summer in Australia. Are there instances of players being involved in the NPL and then HAL youth teams? Our reserve/youth team is also important for our first team squad members getting game time.

A few A-League teams have their NYL over summer and have a side in the NPL during winter. So their kids player more games at a higher level than ours.
Tegal Fan Club Member #1.5
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Excellent article on the Roar today about what may be in the address but covers many aspects of the game in Australia..

http://www.theroar.com.au/2014/09/17/state-of-football-in-forward-motion-springing-more-into-australias-sporting-fabric/

Tegal Fan Club Member #1.5
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Live stream of the address

http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/article/david-gallop-state-of-the-game-address/zjuknq0hyo251ghbgby9iajhv

Still Believin'
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james dean wrote:

One thing I think is really interesting is the relationship between the traditional clubs and the A-League clubs in developing players.  In Aus, they have accepted that players will come through the NPL into the A-League.  

We've been reticent in seeing the ASBP as a development league for the A-League, and I still think we're a bit confused whether we want to develop our own players or rely on the franchises to do it for us.  

Personally, I'd say we'd be better off looking at closer ties with the franchises, and potentially incentives for them to develop players, rather than starting our own franchise to compete with the complications and compromises that involves.  But that's just my view and clearly there are others.  I fear we're setting up this team without a proper coaching structure and plan behind it - but we'll of course see how it works soon enough!

If I was NZF I would be much more aggressive about saying to the FFA that we see NZ as a key part of the A-League and that sometime in the future there will be at three franchises based here in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. That will be the top (and professional) tier of club football in NZ. The role of the ASB Prem is then clearly as a development league for the NZ A-League teams, and so on down the leagues we go. The NZ football development pyramid is then very clearly:

All Whites

A-League x 3 (approximately 75 fully pro players in total, about half Kiwis)

ASB Prem x 8 (or 10 or whatever, approx. 200 amateur/semi-pro players in total, mostly Kiwis)

Regional club x lots

As now, a few exceptional players will be good enough to exit that pyramid as they move up and go pro overseas.

What I've always liked about the idea of having three A-League franchises here is that I think that's actually realistic and sustainable and allows NZ to create a professional tier of football that leverages off the A-League infrastructure, as opposed to pipe-dreams of having a fully pro league of our own. The advantages far outweigh any concerns about sovereignty. It would mean that NZ had an almost identical model to that of New South Wales or Victoria. And that's how you sell it to the FFA. If they could get three viable A-League franchises in every Australian State they would jump at it. In fact, after NSW and Victoria, NZ might be their next best option to do that (us and Queensland? Will they go back to the Gold Coast and Townsville?).

Tegal Fan Club Member #1.5
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Couple of key points I pick up was he expected crowds in the A-League to pass the 2 million mark, weekly ratings 660 K I think he said and to develop with all stakeholders a national plan for football after extensive consultation.

I wonder aloud does the consultation include NZ aside from the Nix's.

From FFA on the National plan  http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/article/nation...

Football Federation Australia (FFA) CEO David Gallop has today announced that the game will embark on a National Plan for the Whole of Football.

Speaking at a State of the Game address in Sydney, Gallop said the time was right for the stakeholders of Australian football to join forces over the challenges and opportunities for the sport.

“Everywhere you look at the moment, you can see that Australian football is enjoying a golden period,” said Gallop. “A lot of our current strength is down to the unity of purpose in the game.

“It’s time for a National Plan for the Whole of Football that will set us on our way towards making football the biggest and most popular game in Australia.

“This is not a plan just for FFA driven by the national body. As the name says, it's a plan for the Whole of Football and everyone in the game will have a role to play.”

The National Plan will cover all facets of football, including;

  • Elite player and coach development
  • National teams
  • Community football
  • Facilities development
  • National competitions
  • Fan connections
  • Commercial revenues

Gallop said FFA would lead a major consultation process with all the game’s stakeholders. The National Plan will be completed by the conclusion of the AFC Asian Cup Australia 2015 in January next year, with implementation set for July, 2015.

“After almost two years as CEO, I’m excited and ambitious for the game,” said Gallop, “but I've come to understand that Australian football suffers from a ‘burden of opportunity’.

“Football in Australia has a huge growth trajectory and massive potential, but we don't always have the capital, the resources and the structures to harvest the opportunity.

“The National Plan will set our sights on making football bigger and stronger much sooner.”

First Team Squad
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terminator_x wrote:

james dean wrote:

One thing I think is really interesting is the relationship between the traditional clubs and the A-League clubs in developing players.  In Aus, they have accepted that players will come through the NPL into the A-League.  

We've been reticent in seeing the ASBP as a development league for the A-League, and I still think we're a bit confused whether we want to develop our own players or rely on the franchises to do it for us.  

Personally, I'd say we'd be better off looking at closer ties with the franchises, and potentially incentives for them to develop players, rather than starting our own franchise to compete with the complications and compromises that involves.  But that's just my view and clearly there are others.  I fear we're setting up this team without a proper coaching structure and plan behind it - but we'll of course see how it works soon enough!

If I was NZF I would be much more aggressive about saying to the FFA that we see NZ as a key part of the A-League and that sometime in the future there will be at three franchises based here in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. That will be the top (and professional) tier of club football in NZ. The role of the ASB Prem is then clearly as a development league for the NZ A-League teams, and so on down the leagues we go. The NZ football development pyramid is then very clearly:

All Whites

A-League x 3 (approximately 75 fully pro players in total, about half Kiwis)

ASB Prem x 8 (or 10 or whatever, approx. 200 amateur/semi-pro players in total, mostly Kiwis)

Regional club x lots

As now, a few exceptional players will be good enough to exit that pyramid as they move up and go pro overseas.

What I've always liked about the idea of having three A-League franchises here is that I think that's actually realistic and sustainable and allows NZ to create a professional tier of football that leverages off the A-League infrastructure, as opposed to pipe-dreams of having a fully pro league of our own. The advantages far outweigh any concerns about sovereignty. It would mean that NZ had an almost identical model to that of New South Wales or Victoria. And that's how you sell it to the FFA. If they could get three viable A-League franchises in every Australian State they would jump at it. In fact, after NSW and Victoria, NZ might be their next best option to do that (us and Queensland? Will they go back to the Gold Coast and Townsville?).

I really like that sort of pyramid structure. If we had 3 A-League teams then you could do it so that each A-League team had 2-3 ASBP teams aligned to them. Getting more A-League teams in NZ requires a money man if anything. I think Canterbury/Auckland could be successful as us if they were done properly.

Maybe the Phoenix should look at setting up a relationship with an Australian NPL side? It would be great if we could loan Rufer and Ridenton to the NPL over winter. I'm sure the players would prefer to play in Sydney in the off season.

Tegal Fan Club Member #1.5
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T & R

In the speech Gallop said the next expansion teams would be in large population areas ... my guess is Auckland meets this .. however there is the AFC issue .. If NZF can get the AFC to allow another NZ team in the A-League I think Auckland is a very good chance of getting a team... not sure about a third as a third Sydney, second Brisbane, third Melbourne are in large population centres...

Marquee
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Midfielder wrote:

T & R

In the speech Gallop said the next expansion teams would be in large population areas ... my guess is Auckland meets this .. however there is the AFC issue .. If NZF can get the AFC to allow another NZ team in the A-League I think Auckland is a very good chance of getting a team... not sure about a third as a third Sydney, second Brisbane, third Melbourne are in large population centres...

Population of Illawarra ('gong plus Shoalhaven & Kiama) as of 2012 was 450,000 plus and climbing. They're definitely keen on a team based at WIN Stadium. And of course Auckland is 3 times bigger still...

Tegal Fan Club Member #1.5
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Jerzy Merino wrote:

Midfielder wrote:

T & R

In the speech Gallop said the next expansion teams would be in large population areas ... my guess is Auckland meets this .. however there is the AFC issue .. If NZF can get the AFC to allow another NZ team in the A-League I think Auckland is a very good chance of getting a team... not sure about a third as a third Sydney, second Brisbane, third Melbourne are in large population centres...

Population of Illawarra ('gong plus Shoalhaven & Kiama) as of 2012 was 450,000 plus and climbing. They're definitely keen on a team based at WIN Stadium. And of course Auckland is 3 times bigger still...

The only thing standing in the way [and maybe its not] of Auckland is the AFC issues...

My understanding and please correct me if I am wrong is The Nix's are an Australian team who play in NZ, which results in the Nix's not being able to take part in any Oceania events, while the AFC has also said  they can't compete in AFC events neither.  

So the AFC need to accept a second Australian side playing in NZ ... 

Or has NZF been allowed to play in the A-League ...

But to your point yes Auckland has more than 3 times the population of the Gong and would be preferred over them.... The Gong's claim which is true is it is a football heartland and could support a team if crowds where measured ... however these days its the TV ratings that rule and Auckland would you think get more eyes on the telly than the Gong. 

Still Believin'
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Yes, AFC/Oceania issues always there in the background but at the end of the day pro football is about money, and I reckon the money will take precedence over any perceived national or confederational sovereignty issues.

Football might not be the #1 sport in NZ but as pointed out above NZ basically gives the FFA another NSW or Victoria to develop. Auckland on its own is surely the biggest population area in Australasia that doesn't currently have a franchise. They simply can't ignore that.

Putting past history aside, as long as its done right and in the right place Auckland can definitely sustain an A-League franchise.  FFA should be looking to go there in a 5 year timescale and maybe Christchurch in 5-10 year timescale.

Marquee
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Midfielder wrote:

Jerzy Merino wrote:

Midfielder wrote:

T & R

In the speech Gallop said the next expansion teams would be in large population areas ... my guess is Auckland meets this .. however there is the AFC issue .. If NZF can get the AFC to allow another NZ team in the A-League I think Auckland is a very good chance of getting a team... not sure about a third as a third Sydney, second Brisbane, third Melbourne are in large population centres...

Population of Illawarra ('gong plus Shoalhaven & Kiama) as of 2012 was 450,000 plus and climbing. They're definitely keen on a team based at WIN Stadium. And of course Auckland is 3 times bigger still...

The only thing standing in the way [and maybe its not] of Auckland is the AFC issues...

My understanding and please correct me if I am wrong is The Nix's are an Australian team who play in NZ, which results in the Nix's not being able to take part in any Oceania events, while the AFC has also said  they can't compete in AFC events neither.  

So the AFC need to accept a second Australian side playing in NZ ... 

Or has NZF been allowed to play in the A-League ...

But to your point yes Auckland has more than 3 times the population of the Gong and would be preferred over them.... The Gong's claim which is true is it is a football heartland and could support a team if crowds where measured ... however these days its the TV ratings that rule and Auckland would you think get more eyes on the telly than the Gong. 

I thought that we could compete in AFC events legally but not practically because we couldn't field a team with enough Asian confederation players? Most of our team would count as foreigners in that case.

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I really think an Auckland team especially would need a new stadium. There are a fair few sports codes in Auckland who would surely like an appropriately sized stadium. Still don't know if it would happen though.

Tegal Fan Club Member #1.5
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terminator_x wrote:

Yes, AFC/Oceania issues always there in the background but at the end of the day pro football is about money, and I reckon the money will take precedence over any perceived national or confederational sovereignty issues.

Football might not be the #1 sport in NZ but as pointed out above NZ basically gives the FFA another NSW or Victoria to develop. Auckland on its own is surely the biggest population area in Australasia that doesn't currently have a franchise. They simply can't ignore that.

Putting past history aside, as long as its done right and in the right place Auckland can definitely sustain an A-League franchise.  FFA should be looking to go there in a 5 year timescale and maybe Christchurch in 5-10 year timescale.

There is no indication that FFA have an anti NZ bias to a new team in fact Frank Lowy is on record as saying he wants another NZ team..

My reading of the tea leafs is assuming AFC issues can be sorted [big assumption but let's assume] it will come down to the bid. My guess is population size, player numbers, media space, current local trends, are the key.

Third Sydney they have a 19K stadium almost unused at Campbelltown, second Brisbane a local council in the western parts of Brisbane has offered to fund a 22 K I think stadium for a joint A-League and RL side ... Canberra want one 600K population but bags of money and lots of history and an 18 K stadium ... plus the gong who have a 20 K stadium ... 

Meaning there are four realistic areas wanting a team plus Auckland so five... Two teams at most ... 

Thus its not going to be handed on a plate and someone or more than likely a group need to plan towards developing a campaign / application to ensure its Auckland + ?????  

Listen here Fudgeface
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Ryan54 wrote:

I really think an Auckland team especially would need a new stadium. There are a fair few sports codes in Auckland who would surely like an appropriately sized stadium. Still don't know if it would happen though.

This thread had better not turn into another "Does Auckland deserve an A-League team" debate.

Still Believin'
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The question that really needs to be asked here is "Does Auckland deserve an A-League team?"

Marquee
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terminator_x wrote:

The question that really needs to be asked here is "Does Auckland deserve an A-League team?"

The question that really needs to be be asked here is: "Does NZF see it's future elite development (professional A league, semi-pro National Premier State leagues) - for starters - in partnership with Australia's game development? Or, at what level in the pyramid of the sport from junior grassroots up, do they join up with Aussie development?

Tegal Fan Club Member #1.5
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Global Game wrote:
terminator_x wrote:

The question that really needs to be asked here is "Does Auckland deserve an A-League team?"

The question that really needs to be be asked here is: "Does NZF see it's future elite development (professional A league, semi-pro National Premier State leagues) - for starters - in partnership with Australia's game development? Or, at what level in the pyramid of the sport from junior grassroots up, do they join up with Aussie development?

Bingo ... but its more than just development some key things taken from the address other than development..

  • Australia to lead rather than follow through Asia (national coaching and development)
  • National teams – contender (for titles) rather than a challenger
  • Recognition of football as being more than just ‘outdoor’ – recognition of football numbers playing indoor, at school…
  • Facilities at critical shortage and the work needed to improve and increase 
  • With national comps football has a 12 month calendar
  • In terms of Asia – work to stay ahead of the digital trend 
  • Commercial revenue strong but FFA needs to get out more and let ‘Commercial Australia’ know how good the game is and invest.

Gallop advised the A-League is live into 30 countries with over 300 million potential viewers ... 

The next bit is cruel, FFA have lots of money today [10 years ago they were broke] they have developed heaps of local, state and federal government contacts .. FFA can afford to make reports and can pressure councils for better facilities ... develop plans, etc.. 

The cruel question is has NZF kept pace with FFA and I think the answer is no .. FFA want a 100 million media deal for 12 teams everything they do and are / will be demanding at A-League level will be at a professional level well beyond what was required in Hal 1. Further they want those involved to drive commercial funding ... 

The Nix's have no issue, they are at the professional level equal to any other A-League club, as long as they can pay the bills there are no issues they have...

The broader issue sits with NZF and its professional ability to market, assist in driving rating increases, develop commercial relationships, increase media presence etc... 

Tis not easy and as I said the Nix's don't have a issue ... the issue if there is one is can NZF lift the profile of Football ... its unreasonable to expect a club side to do it .. but from afar thats what seems to be an issue the Nix's carrying  NZF  ...

So as I said on pure population Auckland is a shoe it... on support from the Chairman in Frank Lowy NZ has it in spades ... the issue is whether can NZF deliver what FFA want for its 100 million dollar media deal.. as FFA have to sell the new teams to the media companies.

Tegal Fan Club Member #1.5
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Full transcript of the address

http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/article/state-of-the-game-david-gallops-address/qpez06pyeqn018g2jywy48r5s

Marquee
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i wonder how much sky pays?

Tegal Fan Club Member #1.5
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FFA full transcript SBS was not the full transcript..

http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/article/state-of-the-game-david-gallops-address/qpez06pyeqn018g2jywy48r5s

Marquee
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terminator_x wrote:

james dean wrote:

One thing I think is really interesting is the relationship between the traditional clubs and the A-League clubs in developing players.  In Aus, they have accepted that players will come through the NPL into the A-League.  

We've been reticent in seeing the ASBP as a development league for the A-League, and I still think we're a bit confused whether we want to develop our own players or rely on the franchises to do it for us.  

Personally, I'd say we'd be better off looking at closer ties with the franchises, and potentially incentives for them to develop players, rather than starting our own franchise to compete with the complications and compromises that involves.  But that's just my view and clearly there are others.  I fear we're setting up this team without a proper coaching structure and plan behind it - but we'll of course see how it works soon enough!

If I was NZF I would be much more aggressive about saying to the FFA that we see NZ as a key part of the A-League and that sometime in the future there will be at three franchises based here in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. That will be the top (and professional) tier of club football in NZ. The role of the ASB Prem is then clearly as a development league for the NZ A-League teams, and so on down the leagues we go. The NZ football development pyramid is then very clearly:

All Whites

A-League x 3 (approximately 75 fully pro players in total, about half Kiwis)

ASB Prem x 8 (or 10 or whatever, approx. 200 amateur/semi-pro players in total, mostly Kiwis)

Regional club x lots

As now, a few exceptional players will be good enough to exit that pyramid as they move up and go pro overseas.

What I've always liked about the idea of having three A-League franchises here is that I think that's actually realistic and sustainable and allows NZ to create a professional tier of football that leverages off the A-League infrastructure, as opposed to pipe-dreams of having a fully pro league of our own. The advantages far outweigh any concerns about sovereignty. It would mean that NZ had an almost identical model to that of New South Wales or Victoria. And that's how you sell it to the FFA. If they could get three viable A-League franchises in every Australian State they would jump at it. In fact, after NSW and Victoria, NZ might be their next best option to do that (us and Queensland? Will they go back to the Gold Coast and Townsville?).

Absolutely, even under the current system it should be the goal of all of the ASBP franchises to produce players who get picked up by the Phoenix.  You could incentivise them with a training fee - say 50k, depending on age and appearances for example.

If you start the Phoenix competing with them I'm not sure what message that sends to them.

Tegal
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Head Sleuth
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almost 17 years

midfielder: from a post ages ago...the nix are now classed as a NZ team playing in Australia. Think that is what allows us to have a reserve side in the ASBP now without the stand down. 

Playing in the ACL was never going to happen. Even if we were able to and did qualify, we would never be able to field an eligible team. So this makes more sense. 

Marquee
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over 11 years

... " the issue is can NZF deliver what FFA want for its 100 mill dollar media deal ... " etc.

Well, the CEO of NZF is an ex Barclays Bank executive whose job a few years ago was ensuring that Dubai committed to investing mega petro dollars with his bank and no-one else. Sweet-talking the FFA into taking onboard Auckland's 1.5 million "eyes" after that gig would have to be something of a doddle one would think.

And re the question, does Auckland really 'deserve' an A-League team, well, it kinda comes down to money and money-management don't it? The Kingz then the Knights bombed because of business failure and poor management above just about everything else. The Nix have survived this far through the committment of just two individuals, Terry S and Gareth M, over and above performances on the park and attendance figures on the terraces. IMO NZF CEO Andy should also be using his know-how in seeking/sweet-talking potential wealthy & football-friendly NZ/overseas investors into forming a 2nd NZ (Auckland) A-League franchise as of now. There's not a hell of a lot else on his plate that I can see.

Tegal Fan Club Member #1.5
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over 16 years

Gallop address is getting heaps of attention in Australia and in the middle of RL's and AFL's finals...Roy Masters in the smh today wrote a excellent article and he dislikes both Football and Gallop and for Roy to write what he wrote shows to me anyway a lot.

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/given-a-free-ha...

Plus a couple of the better articles 

Also a question and answer on his speech by a Football journalist from News ..

http://www.news.com.au/sport/football/ffa-boss-dav...

Another article on his address from the smh.

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/ffa-boss-david-...

Article on the Roar..

http://www.theroar.com.au/2014/09/19/ffas-national...

http://www.theroar.com.au/2014/09/19/ffa-announces...

ABC

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-09-18/a-league-not...

Marquee
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over 13 years

Jerzy Merino wrote:

... " the issue is can NZF deliver what FFA want for its 100 mill dollar media deal ... " etc.

Well, the CEO of NZF is an ex Barclays Bank executive whose job a few years ago was ensuring that Dubai committed to investing mega petro dollars with his bank and no-one else. Sweet-talking the FFA into taking onboard Auckland's 1.5 million "eyes" after that gig would have to be something of a doddle one would think.

And re the question, does Auckland really 'deserve' an A-League team, well, it kinda comes down to money and money-management don't it? The Kingz then the Knights bombed because of business failure and poor management above just about everything else. The Nix have survived this far through the committment of just two individuals, Terry S and Gareth M, over and above performances on the park and attendance figures on the terraces. IMO NZF CEO Andy should also be using his know-how in seeking/sweet-talking potential wealthy & football-friendly NZ/overseas investors into forming a 2nd NZ (Auckland) A-League franchise as of now. There's not a hell of a lot else on his plate that I can see.

You realise that Gareth M is one of a group of owners and isn't even chairman or spokesman of the group, that is Rob Morrison. 

Gareth Morgan was the most vocal member a couple of years ago, but seems to have other interests ATM.

Tegal Fan Club Member #1.5
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over 16 years

Without [Tegal] any other motive than to simply analyse the differences between the now cashed up FFA and where they have taken Football and NZF..

In all major media outlets Gallop's speech has been covered and in News & Fairfax by my count 7 major articles .. plus sports sites like the Roar there are more..

I opened the NZ Herald no mention, in fact could not find an A-League story even the EPL had only one... I then went to stuff.co.nz the Wellington paper and no mention.

10 years ago the NSL as it was know would have received no coverage.. today the environment Football sits is light years away from 10 years ago. In NZ Football does not seem to have developed the same level of media acceptance.

NZ has a lot to offer close to 5 million people, close, similar time zone, large player base, traditional ties, and hopefully one day also part of the AFC ... Money and influence in NZ all seems to be with RU I am unsure how to address this other than getting your own Frank Lowy to take charge.. hand on heart not the other thing without Frank Lowy and his influence Australian football would be a basket case today ... 

As I was saying a while ago with 1.5 million people and assuming AFC issues can be addressed, Auckland is obvious, but what local environment would it sit in ...  how many additional eyes can it bring to the TV ratings ... its the 100 million media deal,  sponsors and broadcasters need to believe ... In a RWC year it makes it all the harder ...

There is no doubt the A-League will expand to 12 teams, as I said earlier five contenders, two of which have small populations almost ruling them out, of the remaining three it is close nay the third Sydney team has to fark up to miss out so its between a second Brisbane team and Auckland .. 

The balls at the feet of NZF and I hope they have the skill and can lift Football profile ... 

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over 12 years

Having NZ derby games would definitely help raise the A League's profile here IMO

Marquee
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over 13 years

Its interesting comparing the coverage of the A-League vs the NRL where even non Warriors games get plenty of coverage - I guess that is because of the age and traditions of the NRL compared to the A-League. When I was a kid pre-warriors people had the teams they supported, sea eagles lunch boxes at school, etc.

Does someone older than me know why the NRL got popular here (I'm guessing in the 70's and 80's) was it a big advertising push? Was it simply because of isolation and no other sports to watch? Why, for instance, has the ARL never gotten the same sort of traction?

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