A-League in the Media Thread

el-capitano · Apr 16, 2008

This can be for any report you find in the media on the A-League which doesnt need a whole thread dedicated to it, ie:

Call to relax yellow cards

THE players' association has called for an urgent review of the A-League yellow card regulations, which they believe are too stern.

Players must accumulate just four yellow cards during the regular season to earn a suspension under the current rules, which is virtually in line with most European leagues, though the 21-round A-League season is almost half the duration of most leagues.

Professional Footballers Association chief executive Brendan Schwab said they will propose to increase the number of cautions from four to five, and eight instead of seven in the case of a two-match ban.

"We want the rules to reflect that it is a 21-game season, it's short," Schwab said. "So when players are suspended, a one or two-game ban in the context of a 21-game season is serious.
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el-capitano · Apr 16, 2008

$150,000 boost for A-League clubs buying Olyroos

A-LEAGUE clubs have effectively been handed a $150,000 cheque each to spend on their brightest young prospect.

An Olyroos marquee player will be the feature of a radical overhaul of the A-League salary cap, designed to ensure clubs do not lose their best young talent.

Each club will be allowed to nominate an "Under-23 marquee", with up to $150,000 of his wages to be excluded from the salary cap.

There is no limit to what the player can be paid but he has to be Australian - or Kiwi in Wellington's case.

The new rule will increase each club's spending budget to $2.525 million for season IV, up from $2.25m last season - that does not factor in a marquee player, such as Sydney FC's John Aloisi.

Football Federation Australia yesterday confirmed that the model would come into effect next season.

"The concept is to ensure that talented younger players, who might otherwise be tempted to go overseas, stay in the A-League for as long as possible by offering them a competitive salary," an FFA spokesperson said.

"It's not going stop a really talented player going overseas but it will encourage them to stay a here a bit longer and consolidate themselves as players."
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great news!

epris · Apr 16, 2008

That is great news

Glory08 · Apr 17, 2008

Good news. Will be interesting to see which teams use this and on which players though . The likes of Burns and Djite at Adelaide and Zullo and Kruse at Queensland especially. And who knows, maybe this might free up some cap space for Sydney, if either Musialik or Mark Bridge are slotted in as Marquee Olyroos? Nick Ward too at Melbourne. Those 3 Olyroos stars command pretty decent wages already, so it might be handy for Sydney and Melbourne to have some of those guys eligible for this.

el-capitano · Apr 17, 2008

Clubs diverge on foreign muscle

As it stands, the Mariners are likely to be the only club heading into the next domestic season without an import. Executive chairman Lyall Gorman admits he's surprised by the statistic, but on the evidence of the first three seasons of the A-League it's no great shock - German midfielder Andre Gumprecht and Scottish striker Stewart Petrie are the only visa players to have worn the yellow and blue.

Certainly the A-League's track record in the international transfer market remains a chequered one. For the first two years of the competition there were no restrictions on the number of imports, and clubs largely focused on British players.

Last season, Football Federation Australia tightened the regulations to limit each club to four visa players, a ceiling which will again apply next season. That makes 32 visa spots across the league. Last season only 25 were taken up, almost half of them Brazilian, and results were mixed.

FOREIGN LEGION (currently)

Sydney FC: Mike Enfield (US), Terry McFlynn (N. Ireland)

Central Coast: None

Newcastle Jets: Song Jin-Hyung (South Korea)

Adelaide: Diego, Cassio (Brazil), Jonas Salley (Ivory Coast)

Queensland: Hyuk Su-Seo (South Korea)

Wellington: Daniel (Brazil), Leilei Gao (China)

Perth: James Robinson (England), Eugene Dadi (Ivory Coast)

Melbourne: Carlos Hernandez (Costa Rica), Joseph Keenan (England), Grant Brebner (Scotland)
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el-capitano · Apr 21, 2008

News on Wellington's new signing, Gao- sounds like a character!

Through an interpreter, Gao said he was pleased to be back in New Zealand and keen to mould his game to suit the A-League.

He said the style of football in the league was significantly different - and a step up - from China, where he played for Super League club Beijing Guoan before a recent stint in Finland's premier league.

Gao, 27, was aware of his comparatively slight frame.

He admitted he could pump iron all day and never obtain the physical presence of many of the players in the A-League, but would work around any issues that may present on the field.

That would involve using his "technique and brain" to their full extent.

Gao also talked up the New Zealand beef and lamb he tried when he lived in Auckland while at the Knights.

He said it was so good it could replace Chinese food and that it made sense to eat it if he was to give himself any chance of bulking up for the season, starting in August.

"He said he's interested in other business in New Zealand that could be transferred to China, for example, sheep shearing," his interpreter said.

"Very fast," Gao said as he mimicked a shearer.
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http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/a-league/size-no-issue-for-new-phoenix-man-109936/

el-capitano · Apr 29, 2008

Stop gagging us: Farina

FORMER national coach Frank Farina has launched an impassioned defence of the A-League coaches' right to speak out, in the light of what he fears is "almost a dictatorship" where no critical views are permitted.

The Queensland Roar coach was fined several times last season by Football Federation Australia for his comments after games, and fears that the effect will be to rub out any debate within the game.

It comes as The Daily Telegraph has learned that a code of conduct has been put in place by the FFA which bans any critical comments from coaches about the FFA, referees or opponents.

Farina said that match officials had to be strong enough to accept criticism when they erred, just as coaches had to be, and independent voices had to be permitted.

"It almost seems like they want to control everything - what you say, what you do, maybe even what you think. It's crazy," he said.

"Let's be honest, punters don't want to read boring stuff all the time, but the way it is at the moment you can only say positive things. It almost seems like a dictatorship.

"I got in trouble last year when we played Melbourne and the ball hit Kevin Muscat on the arm," he said.

"After the game I said I thought it was a penalty but the FFA told me I'd had a go at the referee, said he was incompetent.

"If I'd turned round and said the referee was terrible and cocked up all his decisions, then you might expect a fine. But to say simply that I thought an incident was a penalty - well you have to be able to give your views.

"It got to the stage last year where at a press conference, before there were any questions, I told the media that unless they were ones I could answer in a positive way, or put praise on someone, then they needn't bother asking them.

"The classic was when Branko Culina just kept saying 'no comment' in a post-match interview. I'm not saying it should be a free-for-all but you have to be able to express your opinion."
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For a change- I agree with Frank Farina!

el-capitano · May 2, 2008

A-League GF Sat night

The A-League is to switch to a Saturday night grand final next season.

Launching the draw for the league's fourth season in 2008-09, Football Federation Australia chief executive Ben Buckley said the grand final would be played under lights on Saturday 28 February.

Previous grand finals have been played on Sunday afternoons.

"We have moved this season's finale to Saturday night to allow more fans to attend the event no matter where the match is held," said Buckley.
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Buckley said the rationale behind moving the grand final from its usual Sunday afternoon spot to Saturday night had all to do with the fans.

"This gives the opportunity to players and fans to reflect on the game on the Sunday,'' he said.

"It will be a great way for families to come out and celebrate the achievements of their team.''

"On a Monday people have to go to work and children have to go to school so we felt that a Saturday night would be a better time for such a marquee match as the grand final to take place.''
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el-capitano · May 2, 2008

This one is worth a read- lots of little bits in it!

Hyundai backs A-League till 2012

Hyundai has endorsed the rapid rise of Australian football by extending its rich sponsorship of the A-League by four years.
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The FFA also released the draw for the Pre-Season Cup that will start on July 19 and will take the game to such centres as Campbelltown, Mandurah, Launceston, Bunbury, Cessnock and Sunshine Coast.

Adelaide United, Melbourne Victory, Perth Glory and Newcastle Jets are in Group A while Sydney FC, Queensland Roar, Wellington Phoenix and Central Coast Mariners are in Group B.

The winners of the two round-robin groups will meet in the final on Wednesday, August 6.
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And for the first time it will also have three breaks during the season on September 6, October 11 and November 11 to accomodate the Socceroos' World Cup qualifying campaign.

The national youth league will start in round six of the A-League. Three senior players from each club will be allowed to play in each youth match.

"We think that is a good way to help the youth team players grow and learn and more importantly provide the opportunity for senior plaeyrs who are not playing regularly in first grade to get some more game time,'' Buckley said.

The FFA confirmed that the salary cap for each club will increase to $1.9m and that each club will be allowed and extra $150,000 to sign a marquee under-23 player.
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el-capitano · May 9, 2008

A-League players kick a goal after finding common ground with FFA

FOOTBALLERS playing in the A-League will now have access to increased injury, relocation and education allowances and a higher minimum wage after the announcement of a collective bargaining agreement between the players' union and Footballers Federation Australia.

The agreement is designed to protect players for the next five years, at which point the Professional Footballers Association will set its sights on a lucrative new agreement as the FFA negotiates a fresh media rights deal, tipped to be one of the most substantial in Australian sport.

While the salary cap will continue to increase by only $100,000 a year until season six, and then be indexed to inflation (CPI) until 2013, the minimum wage for players under 21 has grown to $35,000 for season four (and then by CPI), with players over 21 now guaranteed at least $42,000 for this coming season and $45,000 for the 2009-10 season, then with CPI increases until the end of the agreement.

Players will be eligible for relocation grants of $10,000 to $25,000, with the FFA also set to offer substantial contributions for education and career development programs to help players develop skills away from the pitch.

"Our philosophy is very simple: we want footballers to leave the game as better people and we want them to leave the game in better shape," Schwab said.
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el-capitano · May 9, 2008

Sydney to bid for Club Cup

SYDNEY could get the chance to host some of the world's best soccer teams after the city was chosen to be the centrepiece of a bid to bring the Club World Cup to these shores in 2009 and 2010.

The eight-team tournament includes the winner of Europe's Champions League and could mean the likes of Manchester United or Barcelona playing here.

Football Australia has to submit its bid to host the event to world governing body FIFA by next week and it's believed its application will be based around the ANZ and SFS stadiums.

With the decision to be made on Tuesday, May 27 - when FIFA's bigwigs are gathered here in advance of the annual Congress that week - the FFA hopes the city's attractions can give the bid last-minute impetus.

The CWC is for six teams from each of FIFA's continents plus the reigning champions and a host-country team, and has been held in Japan for the past two years.

Japan and the United Arab Emirates are set to be the rival bidders once FIFA receives the formal applications next week. It is awarded as a two-year package and the prizemoney pool this year will be around $17 million.

The subtext to an Australian bid, even if it is unsuccessful, is to concentrate the minds of FIFA's executive on soccer in this country, preparing the ground for a formal bid for the 2018 World Cup.

It's also expected that a decision on who will host the 2015 Asian Cup will be made that week, with Australia earlier this week submitting a strong case.
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el-capitano · May 20, 2008

NEWCASTLE Jets coach Gary van Egmond has been approached by Football Federation Australia officials to gauge his interest in the head coaching job at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra.

Van Egmond revealed last night that he had fielded an "informal" inquiry about the AIS position, vacated recently by Steve O'Connor, who was also coach of the Young Socceroos.

FFA officials were rumoured to have sought out van Egmond for the dual roles, but Newcastle's A-League championship-winning coach said he had not pursued the approach and had no plans to do so.

"They asked me a long, long time ago about it, but I've had no correspondence about it," van Egmond said.

"I guess they're just looking at who is available.

"My mail is they're getting someone from overseas."

He was surprised by rumours linking him to the positions and said he had no plans other than preparing the Jets for their title defence.

"I've got two more years at the Jets, and I'm very happy where we are," he said.

"I've got no plans of doing anything, other than getting the team organised."
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http://www.smh.com.au/news/a-league...-for-dual-roles/2008/05/21/1211182808823.html

el-capitano · May 26, 2008

Kewell: A-League needs stars

Socceroos captain Harry Kewell believes an injection of around six star European-based players is needed to lift the A-League to a new level of success.

The former Liverpool midfielder, who has returned home for Australia's World Cup qualifying campaign, said Australia's domestic league was gaining increasing attention overseas approaching its fourth season.

But he said continued recruitment of European-based players was the key to future growth.

Most clubs have struggled to consistently attract overseas talent since former Manchester United striker Dwight Yorke's stint with Sydney FC set the standard in season one.

Brazilians Romario and Juninho, former England under 21s striker Michael Bridges and Australian John Aloisi are others who have been lured from abroad and Kewell has urged clubs to continue pursuing foreign talent.

"The A-League is firing up, it's creating a stir," Kewell told AAP.

"A lot more people in Europe, you know a lot more players are questioning it and thinking 'what's it like?'."

"It's a beautiful country to play football in and it's got the weather, it's got the fan base, it just needs about half-a-dozen European stars to come over here and then maybe it can really kick on."

Kewell has always left the door open to the possibility of playing in Australia in the twilight of his career.
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ferreira86 · May 28, 2008

wel you can start by coming back kewell. im sure the victory will make space for you.

el-capitano · Jul 25, 2008

Promotion should be elementary for Watson

Mention the name Cameron Watson to even the most learned Australian football fan and you're likely to get a blank stare.

But just how Watson has slipped under the radar is quite the mystery, especially considering his impeccable pedigree.

If you do happen to know the 21-year old Melbourne native, this is probably why: after starring at the Australian Institute of Sport, he spent 18 months with one of the most famous clubs in Europe, Portuguese giants FC Porto.

"One of their scouts was in the crowd for an AIS match in which I was playing, he said he liked what he saw, and the next thing I knew Porto was asking me to join them for a trial," Watson recalls. "But it wasn't as easy as that. Celtic wanted me too."

Watson wasn't just an average talent. He'd starred for Australia's underage teams and was considered to have arguably the most potential of a crop that contained the likes of Kaz Patafta, Shaun Ontong, Evan Berger, Tando Velaphi, Nikita Rukavytsya, Nathan Burns and Bruce Djite. He had some pedigree, however, with his father, George, forging a career in the Scottish first division with Stirling Albion before emigrating to Australia in the early 1980s.

In July 2005, an 18-year old Watson accepted the invitation of a extended trial, but the 2003 Champions' League winners didn't need convincing. They signed him after just three days of training.

"When I arrived on my first day for training ground there it was like a fortress, but I was just buzzing and I played out of my skin. It was an amazing experience," he says.

"The intensity, the skill, the quality - it was unlike anything I've ever seen. Some days players like, say, Diego (now starring with Werder Bremen) would train with us. In my first week, I got chatting to (Ricardo) Quaresma and (Raul) Meireles. It was that kind of place and the coaching was phenomenal."

Watson signed for one year with the option of a two-year extension. Everyone was happy enough with how the union was progressing until Porto, like many top Portuguese clubs, decided to disband their reserve team. His dream of running out with the first team at Estadio do Drago were dashed.

"My Canadian teammate was looking through the paper and there it was - they were ending our teams. We couldn't believe it. It was heartbreaking," he says.

"The coaches were really positive about keeping me and extending my contract, but then the news came. There was nothing any of us could do.

"I spent some time with Rocky (AIS coach Steve O'Connor) in the months after, and he says my touch had gone up 100 per cent since he'd seen me last. So yeah, I was disappointed to leave. Gutted. But that's football."
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el-capitano · Jul 31, 2008

Little bit of news.....

Elsewhere, former Sydney FC coach Pierre Littbarski - sacked last month by Japanese side Avispa Fukuoka - has accepted a short-term deal with Iranian champions Saipa FC, who have been drawn against big-spending Uzbek side Kuruvchi in the Asian Champions League quarter-finals in September.
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http://www.smh.com.au/news/football/reinaldo-adds-grist-to-the-miller/2008/07/31/1217097434331.html

el-capitano · Jul 31, 2008

Sonny Bill of rights won't hit A-League

A-LEAGUE players may not be the best-paid footballers in the world but they do have world-class conditions, and, according to players' union boss Brendan Schwab, the likelihood of a disaffected player taking the lead of Sonny Bill Williams and threatening to challenge the the salary cap is remote.

Three months ago, the union, the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA), signed the competition's inaugural collective bargaining agreement, a deal that preserves the central role of the salary cap through 2013 and is tied to a percentage of "game" revenue.

While Australia and the US remain the only FIFA members to operate a salary cap, Schwab, a qualified lawyer, believes the chances of a player wanting to rock the boat are remote, at least in the foreseeable future.

"The players know how far we've come in the last few years, and I sense they're pretty satisfied with where we are at the moment," he said.

"What we're about is creating a stable employment environment across Australia. The salary cap is a centrepiece of that. The players support it, and the chances of an individual wanting to challenge it is highly unlikely. Obviously, if Sonny Bill Williams did challenge the cap it would be an interesting case, but it's not a given that any decision would flow on to other sports. In fact, the cap is probably more vulnerable to a challenge from a club than a player, and that's even more unlikely."

Certainly the average A-League player now enjoys a huge improvement not only in wages, but more significantly in terms and conditions, compared to the old NSL, which closed down in 2003.

In the A-League collective bargaining agreement:

* This season, the average player will earn - taking service agreements and under-23 marquee status into account - $114,773;

* A marquee player or guest player can earn an unlimited amount;

* And other benefits include relocation costs [up to $25,000]; bonus for finals series and Asian Champions League; two years' wages for a career-ending injury; hardship fund, education grants; and transition program.
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Glory08 · Aug 1, 2008

I'm looking forward to the Salary Cap being raised again, next season, even if it's only by like $200k.

With the quality of imports we bring in and more and more young Aussie talent, State league aswell as returning overseas Aussies, looking to break into these expanded first team squads, combined with the 2 new expansion teams, with their likely un-limited quota of foreign players, I think this will mean a natural increase in the cap.

el-capitano · Aug 5, 2008

Captains given peacemaker role

SYDNEY FC skipper Tony Popovic has welcomed a Football Federation Australia initiative to have captains more involved in controlling on-field dissent this season, but isn't sure whether the referees have absorbed the new directive.

Last season the A-League was plagued by the unseemly sight of players swarming around the referee - most famously in the dying stages of the grand final - and FFA is determined to protect match officials by clamping down on dissent.

After studying the various ways that overseas leagues deal with the problem, the governing body wants referees to use captains to try to defuse situations rather than automatically hand out cards, and Popovic welcomes the responsibility.

"In other sports you don't generally see players approaching the officials - it's well known you don't question anything, even if you might want to do it," Popovic said. "The culture in football is probably different, so I don't think it's a bad thing if they want to come down hard on dissent. Nobody wants to see players running towards the referee. But obviously there are going to be times when a decision will create a bit of tension, and if they want to pull over the captain and have a word, I'm all for it.

"In Europe, as captain, you feel comfortable talking to refs without any hostility, but here it can be a different. So this is a good initiative - it keeps more players on the park, and it can create a better relationship between the players and the referee."
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el-capitano · Aug 12, 2008

Phoenix's rise adds weight to push for O-League inclusion

THE sudden emergence of Wellington Phoenix as legitimate title contenders has brought a renewed sense of urgency to the dilemma of their qualifying route for the FIFA Club World Cup - and the Oceania Football Confederation wants the issue resolved "one way or the other" by the end of the year.

As it stands, the A-League champions and minor premiers are given spots in the Asian Champions League - which acts as the conduit to the lucrative Club World Cup. But the Phoenix remain in no-man's-land because, although they are registered in Asia, they are situated in a different confederation - Oceania.

While Asia doesn't want to open the door to the riches of the cup for Wellington, Oceania does through its own qualifying tournament - the O-League.

Oceania general secretary Tai Nicholas said: "Basically, they're still stateless and we need to sort this out one way or the other. We want to find a way for them to play the O-League, possibly as soon as next year. That's what we're working towards."
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el-capitano · Aug 13, 2008

A FORMER Manchester United junior player was awarded more than STG4.3 million ($A9.28 million) damages at the High Court in London today over a tackle that ended his career.

Ben Collett, described by United manager Sir Alex Ferguson as an "outstanding" player, never fully recovered from breaking his leg in two places in a tackle by Gary Smith of Middlesbrough during his first reserve match in 2003.

Collett, who received the Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year award and played in an FA Youth Cup winning team during his time at United, was released by the Premier League club in 2006 and eventually retired last year after brief spells at New Zealand Knights and AGOVV Apeldoorn.

The 23-year-old midfielder then launched his lawsuit against Middlesbrough and Smith in a bid for the compensation he was awarded at the High Court.
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http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,24166127-5006068,00.html

el-capitano · Aug 14, 2008

Some exciting new faces will appear here this year, write Sebastian Hassett and Michael Cockerill.

CRISTIANO

Age 27

Nationality Brazilian

Position Striker

Club Adelaide United

Former clubs NAC Breda, Roda JC, Willem II (all Netherlands), FC Basel (Switzerland)

EDMUNDO ZURA

Age 25

Nationality Ecuadorian

Position Striker

Club Newcastle Jets

Former clubs El Nacional, Imbabura SC (both Ecuador)

CHARLIE MILLER

Age 32

Nationality Scottish

Position Playmaker

Club Queensland Roar

Former clubs Rangers, Dundee United (Scotland), Watford (England), SK Bergen (Norway), Lierse (Belgium)

ADRIAN TRINIDAD

Age 25

Nationality Argentinian

Position Playmaker

Club Perth Glory

Former clubs: Flandria (Argentina), Persiba Jayapura, Persema Malang, Persiba Balikpapan (all Indonesia)
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Storys on all in the article link........

el-capitano · Aug 29, 2008

A-LEAGUE clubs are about to face a new raid on their best players as cashed-up Japanese clubs prepare to launch an assault on the popularity of the English Premier League in parts of Asia.

After 15 years of steadily building a strong foundation in the domestic market, the J-League now wants to spread its wings into Asia, particularly in South-East Asia where the Premier League's broadcasting and merchandising footprint is huge. Bringing in the best players from elsewhere in Asia is seen as a key component of the strategy, and Australian players are expected to be in big demand.

Starting next year, the J-League wants to extend the quota of three foreigners per club to create a fourth spot specifically for nationals from other Asian countries. Having been unanimously endorsed by the clubs, the recommendation is expected to be formally approved by the Japan Football Association early next month.

Historically, J-League clubs have focused on Latin American and European players to fill their visa spots, and only a handful of Asian players - mostly from South Korea - have been recruited. The rule change, however, will see clubs spread their nets much deeper and wider.

While Arab players are widely admired in Japan, for cultural, religious, and financial reasons J-League clubs will find it hard to lure them away from their comfortable lifestyles in the Middle East leagues. Australian players, however, will be excited about the prospect of playing in the J-League, not least because on the field it is universally regarded as the strongest competition in Asia.
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http://www.smh.com.au/news/football...e-aussie-talent/2008/08/28/1219516664894.html

el-capitano · Sep 1, 2008

Queensland Roar coach Frank Farina says his side will face an uphill battle this Hyundai A-League season if it keeps trying to play catch-up football.

For the second week in a row, the Roar fell behind at home during the first half.

Farina offered words of encouragement to first-choice keeper Liam Reddy, who was left stranded at the edge of his box for both the Mariners' first and third goals.

"Liam had a bad game – that's life," Farina said.

"It probably wasn't his first and it probably wasn't his last. But he's been wonderful for us and everyone has a shocker at some stage."

"And I hope that's his shocker out of the way for the season."

Central Coast counterpart Lawrie McKinna was delighted by his side's first win of the new season, but might be left counting the cost of the victory.

Of his two new wide midfield signings, Adrian Caceres did not make it onto the park after injuring his back at training, while Ahmad Elrich suffered a suspected tear of the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee inside the first 15 minutes.

The Mariners were already expected to be without Dean Heffernan for another six weeks due to complications associated with leg he broke earlier in the year.

"We'll have to look seriously about trying to get someone in," McKinna said.

"Who that person is and where they come from, who knows?"
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http://www.a-league.com.au/default.aspx?s=aleague_newsdisplay&id=23430

Wezza · Sep 1, 2008

What's this i heard about Hakan Sukur getting knocked back by a couple of A-League clubs!!??