http://twg1.sbs.com.au/home/index.php3?id=67773
Jacquet: A-League fair standard

So What do people think about the A-League's first season?

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It's hard enough to remember my opinions, without remembering my reasons for them!
Nietzsche

Haven't really seen much of it; though by the looks of it, the New Zealand Knights have been totally outclassed throughout the whole season. Its very difficult to judge the success of a competition after one season, but the crowd sizes speak for themselves. Also, if Jacquet is saying its up to the standard of French Div 2 after one season, I'd be fairly happy with that appraisal, despite the French leagues being damned as sub-standard by pundits in England, Italy and Spain.

Coincidentally, I've just started a game in Football Manager as the New Zealand Knights and New Zealand national team manager. I just beat Australia 6 - 1 in a World Cup Qualifier thanks to a hat-trick from Christian Boogenooghe (sic.). Not very realistic . Also, the Knights are top of the league on goal difference from Perth Glory (thanks to a 6 - 0 thrashing of Queensland!). Once again, not very realistic!

New Zealand have had a horrible season... they only won a single game and finished 16 points behind second last. One has to wonder what they we're thinking in importing that sorry excuse for a striker!

Interestingly, the team that has been the most sucssesfull is Australian coached Adalaide who've signed well- a few talented Asians and South American players with a core of Aussie players. This opposed to Sydney who came quite a few points behind and had the big name signings such as Littbarski as coach and Yorke (who was deffinetly a sucsess despite)... Really any team that has as much power going forward as Sydney does must be dissapointed in not proforming better.

I'm still playing CM4 ... I know who to buy so well now that I have'nt lost a game for three years.

__________________
It's hard enough to remember my opinions, without remembering my reasons for them!
Nietzsche

Do you mean OAP Journeyman, Sean Devine? I haven't really been able to watch much other than the highlights on the TV. They seem to score some decent goals now and then, but having looked at the team sheet, the squad is full of OAP English lower league journeymen - Neil Emblem, Darren Bazeley, Simon Yeo.

Incidentally, did you know that Ian Smith (former Kiwi wicket keeper)'s son (Jerrod Smith) has been called up to play international football for the All-Whites? That's a little bit of Football Trivia for you!!

In the words of Johnny Carson: I did not know that...I was not aware

The NZ Knights, having a look at my embarrasing pre predictions in the Football thread, I said they may be able to challenge.

Bazeley is actually quite good, Emblen is ok and Simon Yeo was quite good until he departed and rejoined Lincoln City. Devine though is worse than useless and is there on the strength of one game: vs. Man U in the FA Cup where he scored in the draw.

The tired teams thing that Jacquet was talking about comes from squad lists. At present it stands at 20, and some teams are reduced throughout the year and don't replace players, which they can do on loan or with short term signings. If the FFA were to up the squad numbers to 25, it'd make it a less tired game. On trips to New Zealand, for example, Perth wouldn't have to bring Bobby Despotovski and Damian Mori, leaving fresher legs for the rest of the season.

My beloved Melbourne Victory, who I went to see 8 times this year had a disappointing year. There were calls to sack the coach and even a petition which gathered some steam but they were terrible. They beat Sydney 5-0, with the great Archie Thompson scoring a fantastic double and took top spot. From then on they were able to achieve only one draw and three wins.

Danny the donkey Allsopp is terrible and I can't see why Merrick plays him for the full game. Victory's style throughout the season got to a stage where it was as boring as the SPL; for the first part though, we saw exciting football. And the return of Andy Vlahos on the left flank will make it more interesting football for the eye. The style, at the moment, is at the standard of the old NSL. The NSL was good; but we should be aiming for a step ahead of that.

Andy, go along to the odd Knights game next year if you're anywhere near North Harbour Stadium, as the standard is quite good.

Adelaide's Chinese International Shenging Qu is absolutely sensational. As a marquee player not known to the Western World, it's a risk getting him in. But he's proved his worth. As has their Brazilian, Fernando Rech. Adelaide have potency in the form of Qu and Rech. Word has it they're after Stan Lazaridis and Tony Vidmar. The latter would help Melbourne Victory i reckon.

The A-League was a great success apart from in NZ. The recruiting will improve this year, and lets hope that another Brian Deane isn't brought out! But apparently three A-League clubs: Melbourne Victory, Queensland Roar and Perth Glory, are in the market for Andy Cole, who'd be a massive signing. I still think he can play another year of Premiership Football.

There have been some real finds in terms of players and I'm sure a couple will go overseas in the not too distant future. Alex Brosque, who's finishing has dramatically improved lately, could land himself a move overseas next year. As could Archie Thompson who is already at PSV Eindhoven.

If Melbourne sell Archie, we could be in the market for a top class striker. I've been quite impressed with the debut A-League season, very organised. I'll by myself a season ticket next season and even join the "Union", the clubs official supporter group!

Unfortunately, being as I'm in Wellington with no car and NZ public transport (at least between cities) sucks, I doubt I'll be able to get up to Auckland enough to watch the Knights. I find it hard to get enthusiastic about a league where you're playing the same teams week on week and there's no threat of relegation. There should be a lower league where you could get relegated. NZ should have at least two teams (Auckland and maybe 'rest of the island' sort of job) and I'm sure other Aussie cities could put out teams. I guess I've just grown up on British football where every town has a league or decent semi-pro club.

Still, there are a few decent names in the teams, but I can see it becoming another home-from-home for 30+ players looking to wind their careers down with a decent pay-day and environment. Europe will, and always will be, the place for the best players to congregate to. This is the real limiting factor for the A League.

There is not enough money for another division. There is also no Football League structure, where teams join etc...

We will hopefully get high profile names down who are winding down their careers. Believe me, I'm not hoping to get Ronaldinho, but I'd like guys like Cole, Yorke, Shearer, Vieri to come down to wind their careers down. They have massive marketing ability and are still decent footballers.

You're dead right on your last point but John O'Neill and Frank Lowy weren't born yesterday. They wanted to make this league a good breeding ground for young Aussies rather than sending them overseas straight off. Either gentleman had no intention of this becoming an EPL overnight.

Being a lower league supporter in England i have seen a lot of the likes of Yeo and Devine over the years.They are typical journeymen who are making a quick buck.As for Emblem and Bazeley they are past it players getting their last payday.

I hope that the A-League doesn't become a last stop for old players looking for that last big cheque as it would harm the league in the long run.The teams need to start some decent youth schemes and then the national side can benefit in the future.

New Zealand is the only team to have done that though greg. Manager John Adshead thought that seasoned lower-league pros would be better than these youngsters. In the end, his only find was 18 year old local lad Jeremy Brockie, who scored five wonderful goals in the season.

Bazeley is actually a decent player Greg, as was Yeo. Emblen may stay, but they've already and rightly gotten rid of Bull. They should move Devine on too.

Dwight Yorke is a massive coup and he is pulling his weight on the pitch. I'd say it's between him and David Carney for Sydney FC player of the year.