Encouringly sounds like lots of European clubs have given up on him.
I know its a 5% chance he will come, but man that excites me. I'd rather look at this one postitvely tbh. I would love if our CEO ever showed this much ambition publicly. Total respect for TP
Encouringly sounds like lots of European clubs have given up on him.
I know its a 5% chance he will come, but man that excites me. I'd rather look at this one postitvely tbh. I would love if our CEO ever showed this much ambition publicly. Total respect for TP
I don't think it's a CEO/GM showing interest thing as much as a Russian owner willing to biff $2m Aus a year on him vs our owners who don't have the same inclination.
I'm hearing reports that Del Piero to Sydney is a done deal. Just waiting for word from TonyP or the club before I start getting too excited.
...Aaaand, it's official. http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/sydneyfc/news-display/Alessandro-Del-Piero-Agrees-To-Finalise-Sydney-FC-Contract/48831
Sydney official twitter says he has agreed and will sign
It's done. Wow. What a signing
Please let it be true. Please let him debut at the RRrrrriiiing of Fire on 6 October. Would be great for the game here.
This is absolutely truly awesome.
I have to say it - would David Dome and our management ever have the balls to do something comparable? I know, different market, different economics etc. And they have a destination that other A-League clubs just aren't going to match. But this is what the big time looks like
Way to make a statement with West Sydney coming into the league haha. I bet the FFA are stoked on the one hand but also quietly spitting tacks on the other
It's a pretty decent sales pitch they ran with - if you're not worried about cash then a southern hemisphere summer has to be a lot better than a European winter or even playing in the middle east with no crowds in the middle of the desert. The strong aussie dollar must help as well.
ROF Sell out??
I just love how ambition has paid off in this instance. Sure he was more than likely to say no, but you have to applaud Tony P for doing this
Please let it be true. Please let him debut at the RRrrrriiiing of Fire on 6 October. Would be great for the game here.
I just love how ambition has paid off in this instance. Sure he was more than likely to say no, but you have to applaud Tony P for doing this
It's a bit like the Beckham thing that Tony and Terry managed. It sounded like a pipe-dream and then it just happened!
pwf.
Don't see it. New Zealand doesn't have the ex-Italian population base that the Australian cities have.
Also, I suspect the general sports public of New Zealand don't know him as well as the football fans do. He didn't play in the Premier League which is all is ever covered by the mainstream media here.
Should be a good boost but I don't see it getting us 30k, unlike what it will do in the likes of Melbourne.
[quote Tancredi Palmeri @tancredipalmeri]
Del Piero's brother/agent:"Alex hasn't take still any decision".Next meeting with Sydney set for monday[/quote]Sydney jumped the gun?
pwf.
Don't see it. New Zealand doesn't have the ex-Italian population base that the Australian cities have.
Also, I suspect the general sports public of New Zealand don't know him as well as the football fans do. He didn't play in the Premier League which is all is ever covered by the mainstream media here.
Should be a good boost but I don't see it getting us 30k, unlike what it will do in the likes of Melbourne.
One thing it will do is give the Phoenix a way to promote the first game of the season which is good seeing as we're a bit light on pre-season stuff in Wellington
Juan Martin Del Potro
Theres only Juan Martin Del Potro
Juan Martin Del Potttttttro
There's only Juan Martin Del Potro
WHO ARE YA !!!!!
One thing it will do is give the Phoenix a way to promote the first game of the season which is good seeing as we're a bit light on pre-season stuff in Wellington
The marketing team should have a field day with this, great opportunity.
Salary cap of $2.48M, plus Marquee player $2M. (also Tony Ps' $925K)
Surely Sydney need to at least double last years average crowd of less than 12K to come anywhere close to making money, or will FFA be bailing out again before the end of the season?
p.s. One or more of the above mentioned salary figures maybe incorrect 
Tony P is fucking awesome.
:)
Tony P is fucking awesome!!!!
D'oh!!
“@tpignata9: To clarify our initial release stated that ADP agreed to finalise the contract He has not signed. I am flying to Turin to get his signature.”
Sydney FC Chairman Scott Barlow would like to clarify the status of Alessandro Del Piero, who today agreed to enter into final discussions with the Sky Blues.
“Alessandro Del Piero has not signed a contract with Sydney FC as yet. The two parties have agreed to have a meeting in Turin early next week to confirm the possibility of signing a contract,” Mr Barlow said.
Will be massively funny if it blows out.
I am probably in the minority on this one, and have been debating it on Twitter with Tobz this morning.
This is a great signing for football fans, for people who follow European football and who have been sceptical about the A-League.
i don't think it's a signing that make the thousand of eight year olds, who play football, convince their parents that instead of buying a Rabbitohs season pass they are going to buy a SFC one.
if what they are trying to achieve is a change in the mindset of the Euro snobs then maybe it will work. If they are trying to turn Johnny Sydneysider into a football fan with this signing I'm not sure it will.
Sydney FC Chairman Scott Barlow would like to clarify the status of Alessandro Del Piero, who today agreed to enter into final discussions with the Sky Blues.
“Alessandro Del Piero has not signed a contract with Sydney FC as yet. The two parties have agreed to have a meeting in Turin early next week to confirm the possibility of signing a contract,” Mr Barlow said.
Will be massively funny if it blows out.
That's very petty. For the good of the league this needs to work
Reading on the Italian news, it does sound quite likely that he will sign for SFC.
I'm so surprised, I read several interviews and he sounded like he was very keen on MLS. I think he is definitely going to attract good crowds. He is a World Champion and anyone who knows a bit about football, knows him. Sure, he didn't play in EPL but the is a BIG name, and more importantly, despite his age he is fit and still very capable to do lots of damage. He will struggle with the physicality of the game here - but let me tell you, each and everyone of this passes could potentially turn into a goal scoring opportunity.
Now, if he does sign, we need to work on a banner for the opening game. Any other Italian on this forum who wants to help me think of something witty?
I am probably in the minority on this one, and have been debating it on Twitter with Tobz this morning.
This is a great signing for football fans, for people who follow European football and who have been sceptical about the A-League.
i don't think it's a signing that make the thousand of eight year olds, who play football, convince their parents that instead of buying a Rabbitohs season pass they are going to buy a SFC one.
if what they are trying to achieve is a change in the mindset of the Euro snobs then maybe it will work. If they are trying to turn Johnny Sydneysider into a football fan with this signing I'm not sure it will.
Agreed. But it's going to get more casual punters going along for a look, maybe even those Rabbitohs season ticket holders. And hopefully, some of them will come back for another look. And another, and another ...
The biggest challenge in Sydney is getting people who play football to go and watch football. That is what this will target. Plus it's about getting publicity and making it cool to go to football in Sydney rather than the beach or whatever. People for whatever reason want to be part of the zeitgeist - the more people talk about sydney FC the more people will head along.
personally, I think the obsession with getting 8 year olds along and them bringing their parents is a we bit of a myth. Parents just aren't swayed like that and kids of 8 aren't actually that keen on anything. Not enough to be into something that their parents aren't.
If they sign him I'm predicting they'll double the average crowds
Reading on the Italian news, it does sound quite likely that he will sign for SFC.
I'm so surprised, I read several interviews and he sounded like he was very keen on MLS. I think he is definitely going to attract good crowds. He is a World Champion and anyone who knows a bit about football, knows him. Sure, he didn't play in EPL but the is a BIG name, and more importantly, despite his age he is fit and still very capable to do lots of damage. He will struggle with the physicality of the game here - but let me tell you, each and everyone of this passes could potentially turn into a goal scoring opportunity.
Now, if he does sign, we need to work on a banner for the opening game. Any other Italian on this forum who wants to help me think of something witty?
The biggest challenge in Sydney is getting people who play football to go and watch football. That is what this will target. Plus it's about getting publicity and making it cool to go to football in Sydney rather than the beach or whatever. People for whatever reason want to be part of the zeitgeist - the more people talk about sydney FC the more people will head along.
[/quote]
Agree with this - in fact you can apply that to everywhere in the A-League and here in NZ.
[quote=james dean]
personally, I think the obsession with getting 8 year olds along and them bringing their parents is a we bit of a myth. Parents just aren't swayed like that and kids of 8 aren't actually that keen on anything. Not enough to be into something that their parents aren't.
I see a lot of families at the Nix games and the parents (that I know) are definately not football fans for the most part. Sure for those who are regular attendees there are more parents who are footy nutters, but kids do influence their parents!
I am probably in the minority on this one, and have been debating it on Twitter with Tobz this morning.
This is a great signing for football fans, for people who follow European football and who have been sceptical about the A-League.
i don't think it's a signing that make the thousand of eight year olds, who play football, convince their parents that instead of buying a Rabbitohs season pass they are going to buy a SFC one.
if what they are trying to achieve is a change in the mindset of the Euro snobs then maybe it will work. If they are trying to turn Johnny Sydneysider into a football fan with this signing I'm not sure it will.
Agreed. But it's going to get more casual punters going along for a look, maybe even those Rabbitohs season ticket holders. And hopefully, some of them will come back for another look. And another, and another ...
If it p!sses Russell Crowe off it must be a good thing.
According to the news this morning he has signed.
Sydney FC Chairman Scott Barlow would like to clarify the status of Alessandro Del Piero, who today agreed to enter into final discussions with the Sky Blues.
“Alessandro Del Piero has not signed a contract with Sydney FC as yet. The two parties have agreed to have a meeting in Turin early next week to confirm the possibility of signing a contract,” Mr Barlow said.
Will be massively funny if it blows out.
That's very petty. For the good of the league this needs to work
Sure it will be good for the a-league this year. Can't see it raising the profile internationally, but will probable get more people to games.
However, if the phoenix annoucned the signing of the player, and then it turned out there will be some talks, then you'd be the first to cricitise them. Given Sydney's CEO issues in the past, you'd think they would try to play this on the safe side.
Sure it will be good for the a-league this year. Can't see it raising the profile internationally, but will probable get more people to games.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2012/aug/31/transfer-window-deadline-day-live
Football fans around the world unite and weep as one. I'm so saddened by this that I can't even bring myself to type it. You are just going to have to click on this link and see what has sullied my sunny disposition.
Have 8 year old kids even heard of Del Piero?? He's done not a lot of note in recent years and while I'd be quite pleased to see him I am unsure if these kids will really care too much.
As for "we are meeting in Turin to confirm the possibility of signing a contract"...what does that even mean? Confirm the possibility? This deal is looking dodgier by the minute.
Tony P seems confident, I would think he is flying over to Italy to get all the I's dotted, and T's crossed.
It has created quite a bit of buzz for the new season, and I think Sydney will get good value from his transfer if it goes thru. Any fans that were on the fence about joining the Wanderers will be drawn back, and it will draw in a large section of support from the Italian community in Sydney. Whether he leaves a legacy in Australian football it is something we will have to judge in the future, but in the meantime I hope he lights up the league against everyone but us.
sure he's 37 but I think his crowd pulling power is exactly what the a-league needs - thankfully we get him here first up!
This is absolutely truly awesome.
I have to say it - would David Dome and our management ever have the balls to do something comparable? I know, different market, different economics etc. And they have a destination that other A-League clubs just aren't going to match. But this is what the big time looks like
Way to make a statement with West Sydney coming into the league haha. I bet the FFA are stoked on the one hand but also quietly spitting tacks on the other
This is excitement!
There's only one Tony P, one Tony P
walking along singing a song
in a Tony P wonderland
Watching with breath held. Dead keen for this for the A-league.
Sounds to me like it's far from a done deal.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-09-01/sydney-fc-jump-gun-on-del-piero/4237626
I am probably in the minority on this one, and have been debating it on Twitter with Tobz this morning.
This is a great signing for football fans, for people who follow European football and who have been sceptical about the A-League.
i don't think it's a signing that make the thousand of eight year olds, who play football, convince their parents that instead of buying a Rabbitohs season pass they are going to buy a SFC one.
if what they are trying to achieve is a change in the mindset of the Euro snobs then maybe it will work. If they are trying to turn Johnny Sydneysider into a football fan with this signing I'm not sure it will.
It might make people who watch world cups and/or have some European heritage get out of their seat and spend some entertainment dosh on seeing Del Piero. It might help FC win back some fairweather fans and then cement them if the performances match.
I doubt kids are getting a jersey before they go to the game, and if their parents want them to have a league career anyway. But if they go along and love it it could be dreaming of a sky-blue christmas??? Who knows
i don't think it's a signing that make the thousand of eight year olds, who play football, convince their parents that instead of buying a Rabbitohs season pass they are going to buy a SFC one.
Lol, I know some that are both.
