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A-League Mens 25/26 - Elimination Finals

My concern is always player welfare. They fucked up his recovery last time by bringing him back too early so even if he does come back it probably wouldn't be for a full game.
Probably not a starter, but still could introduce problems for MV.
My prediction would be that he is on the bench and they only bring him on if SFC are down a goal or two and they need to try and equalise. If SFC find themselves in the lead, I reckon they leave him on the bench for the next game.
 
Probably not a starter, but still could introduce problems for MV.
My prediction would be that he is on the bench and they only bring him on if SFC are down a goal or two and they need to try and equalise. If SFC find themselves in the lead, I reckon they leave him on the bench for the next game.
Stama, Arslan and Campuzano have proved themselves to be fairly ineffective as forwards, providers and even goal scorers. I mean the central defender Popovic has more goals than all of them. That tells you how much Lolley has been missed. If he is fit he'll get game time, he needs it.
 
Can't help but feel the finals are increasingly an afterthought after the real title has been won. That's the way the finals attendances have been trending too imo for some years now.
Still, the knockout element always adds something different.

Its tough for the A League at this time of year. The EPL is peaking, the Champions League is peaking. We can all see the games and the highlights. Turning on the A League after the Champions League semis and their like...well, it can't help being a bit deflationary.

I know its our comp and all that comes with it, but the A League has some really tough competition. Particularly for people like me who can't attend games live. If someone - me as an example - has very limited time to watch football, do you choose the best the planet has to offer or the local comp? That's why there is no point reviling "Eurosnobs". They aren't snobs. They are simply making a choice based on quality. Personally, I manage it by being very selective and viewing local and international. I have a deep loyalty to the A League and have had a sub every year since the first season.

The value in a local comp is live attendance, which is why, if the APL ever does anything, they must find a way to bring back active support. TV is global entertainment business and the gravity of European comps is inexorable and undeniable.

The NRL and AFL never have to face this problem. They are tadpole sports that exist in their own tiny ponds. The A League is just one fish in a very large ocean.
 
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The value in a local comp is live attendance, which is why, if the APL ever does anything, they must find a way to bring back active support. TV is global entertainment business and the gravity of European comps is inexorable and undeniable.
For me, the responsibility to grow attendances falls more on the individual clubs themselves rather than the APL itself. Especially when it comes to active support. APL have "big picture" responsibility, they don't really have much power over whether people join the The Cove, Red Army, North Terrace, etc. That type of thing is very much specific to the clubs.
 
For me, the responsibility to grow attendances falls more on the individual clubs themselves rather than the APL itself. Especially when it comes to active support. APL have "big picture" responsibility, they don't really have much power over whether people join the The Cove, Red Army, North Terrace, etc. That type of thing is very much specific to the clubs.
nah can't agree entirely.
Its works all together, one the head needs to provide the support to the clubs - be it operations/guide lines, funding, get these principles in line with your customer <<< the Club/owners and staff then it aligns to help them grow support - Franchise systems rely first up on the Franchisor, its their responsibility providing all the tools the Franchisee needs to go out and grow it own side of the business.
It's in the best interest of the Franchisor to provide above and beyond so as they in turn get a better kick back from multiple Franchise's not just a few.
IF they don't have it together like Maccas/HNormans etc you have a staggered/broken retail business.
Pretty simple really.
 
nah can't agree entirely.
Its works all together, one the head needs to provide the support to the clubs - be it operations/guide lines, funding, get these principles in line with your customer <<< the Club/owners and staff then it aligns to help them grow support - Franchise systems rely first up on the Franchisor, its their responsibility providing all the tools the Franchisee needs to go out and grow it own side of the business.
It's in the best interest of the Franchisor to provide above and beyond so as they in turn get a better kick back from multiple Franchise's not just a few.
IF they don't have it together like Maccas/HNormans etc you have a staggered/broken retail business.
Pretty simple really.
I get where you are coming from, but one key difference is that unlike a Maccas, the aleague franchisee is also the franchisor as the clubs are the majority shareholder of the APL.
 
Can't help but feel the finals are increasingly an afterthought after the real title has been won. That's the way the finals attendances have been trending too imo for some years now.
Still, the knockout element always adds something different.

Its tough for the A League at this time of year. The EPL is peaking, the Champions League is peaking. We can all see the games and the highlights. Turning on the A League after the Champions League semis and their like...well, it can't help being a bit deflationary.

I know its our comp and all that comes with it, but the A League has some really tough competition. Particularly for people like me who can't attend games live. If someone - me as an example - has very limited time to watch football, do you choose the best the planet has to offer or the local comp? That's why there is no point reviling "Eurosnobs". They aren't snobs. They are simply making a choice based on quality. Personally, I manage it by being very selective and viewing local and international. I have a deep loyalty to the A League and have had a sub every year since the first season.

The value in a local comp is live attendance, which is why, if the APL ever does anything, they must find a way to bring back active support. TV is global entertainment business and the gravity of European comps is inexorable and undeniable.

The NRL and AFL never have to face this problem. They are tadpole sports that exist in their own tiny ponds. The A League is just one fish in a very large ocean.
I think it's the opposite people care about the finals more then the season like look at the hype we are getting. If Newcastle don't win the final most people will forget about this season
 
Can't help but feel the finals are increasingly an afterthought after the real title has been won. That's the way the finals attendances have been trending too imo for some years now.
Still, the knockout element always adds something different.

Its tough for the A League at this time of year. The EPL is peaking, the Champions League is peaking. We can all see the games and the highlights. Turning on the A League after the Champions League semis and their like...well, it can't help being a bit deflationary.

I know its our comp and all that comes with it, but the A League has some really tough competition. Particularly for people like me who can't attend games live. If someone - me as an example - has very limited time to watch football, do you choose the best the planet has to offer or the local comp? That's why there is no point reviling "Eurosnobs". They aren't snobs. They are simply making a choice based on quality. Personally, I manage it by being very selective and viewing local and international. I have a deep loyalty to the A League and have had a sub every year since the first season.

The value in a local comp is live attendance, which is why, if the APL ever does anything, they must find a way to bring back active support. TV is global entertainment business and the gravity of European comps is inexorable and undeniable.

The NRL and AFL never have to face this problem. They are tadpole sports that exist in their own tiny ponds. The A League is just one fish in a very large ocean.
very Frankly spoken FS !

I agree re the active support recovery, mind you in this country its frowned upon even back in the NSL days.
Today its even worse due to the political correctness and how we have become such a OTT regulated country makes it even harder to loosen up the shackles.
Therefore I hate bringing up my ongoing argument - in numbers we can grow, open the game up.
The APL and its supporter base need to suck it up - is it going to recover back to its fandom days whilst it just stays in its recycle and repeat mode ???.
You hit the eurosnob angle on its head and imagine how many there are.
The local fanbase could only find some reason/bant to vent their frustration of the local game towards them.
Whilst its a closed comp I and many will never support as it currently is.
Sure I watch a token game here and there by chance and I'd sooner be at my local grounds/NPL and then watch my evening to early morning games - I'd luv our game here to grow to its underlying potential.
I get where you are coming from, but one key difference is that unlike a Maccas, the aleague franchisee is also the franchisor as the clubs are the majority shareholder of the APL.
Ah yes therefore its a no Brainer they do better together but here we are - plodding along (for me its not about spectator numbers its about the games format) and I expect they are entirely focussing on its new Broadcast deal as the fall back in the hope the $figure provides more purse strings - but is it prudent relying on bigger purse strings ?
As far as I'm concerned its not just about the $.
 
I think it's the opposite people care about the finals more then the season like look at the hype we are getting. If Newcastle don't win the final most people will forget about this season
and there in lies the afl/nrl outlook here as it currently stands and followed..
You keep having a similar like for like as them there's your scenario recycle repeat.
 
I think it's the opposite people care about the finals more then the season like look at the hype we are getting. If Newcastle don't win the final most people will forget about this season
I respectfully disagree. Attendances and viewing figures for the finals have been trending downwards for years, and I will be surprised if the downwards trend ends this season.
 
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I respectfully disagree. Attendances and viewing figures for the finals have been trending downwards for years, and I will be surprised if the downwards trend ends this season.
Not correct. Apart from the “Golden years” of 13/14, 14/15 (25,982 & 27,565), and Covid years (19/20, 20/21, 21/22), finals crowds have been quite consistent and not “trending down”: 24/25 15,075, 23/23 19,715, 22/23 17,773, 18/19 23,124, 17/18 14,887, 16/17 18,231, 15/16 23,424.
*transfermarkt
 
Not correct. Apart from the “Golden years” of 13/14, 14/15 (25,982 & 27,565), and Covid years (19/20, 20/21, 21/22), finals crowds have been quite consistent and not “trending down”: 24/25 15,075, 23/23 19,715, 22/23 17,773, 18/19 23,124, 17/18 14,887, 16/17 18,231, 15/16 23,424.
*transfermarkt
Also partially influenced by which teams make the finals: Western United won the GF one year, Melbourne City in finals 2020-2024 and so on.
 
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