The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

It has now been more than two months since the all-new A-League kicked off. More than 240,000 fans have seen twenty football matches in the new competition and some comments can now be made on the good, bad and ugly points of the competition.

The Good

There are many good things to say about this League. First and foremost, the standard of play is much better than the previous NSL. This is only to be expected, given the fact that there are fewer teams to share the talent and that there is a lot more money available. All teams are all full-time professionals. Naturally the fitness levels will be higher, the game faster and skills better. "Marquee" players increase fan's excitement levels and bring up the overall quality. That has been a winner.

The television advertising has been superb.

We have seen some great goals. Even though the quantity may not be enough, only averaging a tick over two goals per game. I love the spectacular long shots, smashing volleys and power headers as much as the next person. But, to me, no goal has illustrated the strikers' art better than Dwight Yorke's fourth round goal. A sweeping move from deep in defensive territory, two long passes of the finest quality, a magnificently timed run from deep, topped off by a Dwight Yorke finish so sublime, of such simplicity, grace and touch. It was truly world class. As far as I am concerned that alone was worth the price of admission. Oh yes, it really was "The Beautiful Game" in that moment.

Now for The Bad

I don't like to quibble, but if this experiment is to turn into a long term success, there are some things that are far from perfect.

New Zealand Knights are not good enough. Something has to be done to make them competitive. Surely a team representing four million people, with such a proud sporting tradition could put together a better squad. They should have the entire resources of New Zealand Soccer behind them. Very disappointing so far.

An Australian national competition without a strong, credible Melbourne presence is unthinkable. This is the self-styled "Sporting Capital of Australia" that could not put together a cohesive bid for A-League and had to be given concessions by FFA to ensure their entry. On field, they have been less than impressive, making their unfortunate choice of name even more risible. But more on club names later.

The 21-round draw makes for an unequal distribution of games as well as a very short season. I understand the thinking behind the decision, but surely a 28 round competition would be more fair. Each team would play each other four times, two at home and two away. More games also means more value for sponsors and advertisers. Maybe when finances are more reliable we can move to that format.

While on the draw, why on earth is there a long break in December? If Sydney have to go overseas to play in the Club World Championship, let them play mid-week catch-up matches. These are full-time professionals. They should be able to carry that workload. It happens all the time in the European leagues. Adelaide United did it last season, and finished third. The A-League started the season during AFL and NRL finals, resulting in a diluted impact on the general sporting public. Then just when momentum should be building we will have a break in the action. Except for Sydney FC supporters, the effect will be for the public to lose interest. I don't understand it at all.

Another strange decision by FFA was to insist all away teams play in predominantly white strips. Can anyone explain this to me? The result of this decision is to make it difficult to tell who is playing, particularly on television. If there is a clash of colours, by all means have a white change strip. But if not lets see the teams in their chosen colours. Travelling fans and television viewers would be grateful to see their teams in their normal colours.

And finally ... The Ugly

Being "The Beautiful Game", the A-League cannot have too much ugliness associated with it, can it? But it is supposed to be football, and these are supposed to be football clubs. Sydney FC and Adelaide United can hold their heads high, but really, "Victory", "Roar", "Glory" and "Mariners" are, to me, ugly names for football clubs.

Oh, and one last ugly thing. The scoreboard at Hindmarsh Stadium is a disgrace, a relic from prehistory. Maybe it is heritage listed. Even so, surely a full set of working light globes is not too much to ask for?

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