Rules of the A-League

I would like to see the FFA be clearer about its unique rules for the A-League. I mean the rules that are in addition to FIFAs regulations. They should clearly set-out:

- the salary cap
- squad size limits
- foreign player limits
- guest player limits
- salary cap exemptions (like Kevin Muscat being excluded from Victory's cap last year because he had passed some coaching courses).
- instructions to referees on acceptable styles of play - tackles and backchat

Further, when there is a planned change to to these rules the FFA should outline the changes, in an easily accessible place in the public domain, provide clear reasons, demonstrate fairness across clubs and facilitate comments from the general public. This is counter any perception that a rule has been developed to favour any club. It would also give the FFA a mechanism to explain how rule changes promote the gain.

For example, it appears that for 2009/10 the foreign player restriction has been changed from 4 players plus a guest to five players plus a guest. This changed was flagged in the media at the end of the 2008/9 season for Fury and Gold Coast but not for other teams. However, now Adelaide have signed their 5th foreign player, a rule change appears to have been made. This is significant because up to this point I had assumed that Brisbane RFC's signing for Bob Malcolm would mean an exit for one of their other foreign players.

Van Egmiond quits Newcastle for AIS

Van Egmond has had great success with Newcastle despite the loss to Pohang last week. It could be argued that he took the poor player selections of others and molded a highly successful club.

However, last season his frustration was clear. And quite a different team was fielded for the ACL after poor results in the A-League.

On the one hand perhaps this paves the way for Van Egmond to go onto Socceroo coaching staff (he will be U17 coach). But realistically it again draws question marks over the way Newcastle is run.

Dutchy we will miss you. You brought some great young players to the A-League.

Branco Culina gets another shot?

Pre-season

Brisbane RFC 4 v Brisbane Wolves 1 - Very wet pitch (most games were canceled this weekend). Sounded even for most of the first half, Wolves went ahead before Craig Moore equalised. Van Dijk scored 4 including a late penalty scored by sub Charlie Miller. See Roar website for details.

Adelaide 1 v Perth 0 - even game with both sides perhaps lacking match fitness.

Gold Coast UFC 5 v New Caledonia 0 - GCUFC play in Singapore and Hong Kong next up.

Sydney FC 4 v Fury 0 - Fury have a long way to go. However, they will get a massive advantage in the summer as the top end warms up.

'The Sky Blues now have eight-straight friendly wins under their belts and are yet to concede a goal, but coach Vitezslav Lavicka is not losing focus.' Sportal.

Adelaide play Fury mid week in Darwin - great move.

Massimo out for up to 4 months but the question is...

who kicked him?

Pohang Steelers 6 v Newcastlle Jets 0: chic chic boom

Newcastle were blown away.

Pohang's Brazilian Denilson was the best player on the park by a factor of two. Going for and winning everything including an early penalty. His running step overs were the best and most dangerous we have seen by or against A-League teams. Could Brisbane Roar get this guy for a guest stint?

Newcastle were just too slow. The five weeks without a professional game were obvious. The change to the ACL structure has worked against the A-League (Adelaide played its stage 2 games mid-season). The FFA need to work on a package to help Melbourne and Adelaide retain their edge in the off-season. Although it is likely the 2010 World Cup will force further scheduling changes.

Egmond's inability to get his best team on the park also told. If you want to play the physical game you need the master Ljubo Milicevic (I am not sure he even plays for them any more). And Jobe Wheelhouse was just a weeks back from an appendix operation, and he paid for it clumsily losing a safe ball near the half way line for the second goal.

Sasho Petrovsksi had a great game and could have scored twice. Jason Hoffman missed two great opportunities. Jin-Hyung Song tried to match Denilson's step overs. Fabio Vignaroli had his worst performance and tried some thuggish tackles and was lucky to stay on the park - ripping a stock in missing breaking a leg. Angelo Costanzo was too slow.

All 6 goals had elements of brilliance and demonstrated the limits of the A-League salary cap when up against teams prepared to buy honours.

Gold Coast FC up anti

Miron complained bitterly that his hands were tied behind his back by a penny pinching board at the Roar. Forced into a young uncompetitive side.

Miron has excelled at start-up two.

And today he upped the anti, maximising the 9 game guest window by announcing Gold Coast Utd FC are close to signing a world class player, former Celtic, Barcelona and Manchester United striker, 37 year old, Henrik Larsson. Even at this age, he seems to have plenty of goals in him.

Miron has built a team that should fill his home stadium and can win the A-League tittle. No small feat. Through Larsson, Miron can cash in on the Roar's game against Celtic - Larsson played 225 times for Celtic for 174 goals.

Miron has been true to his word signing attacking crowd pleasers across his squad. He is right that the professional game is about entertainment first and winning second. And that it is better to gamble and spend, than try to play financially safe and risk an empty stadium.

Even as a Roar fan it is hard not to see the contrast.

Brisbane RFC: Bomber puts 'em back on track

I was concerned about Brisbane RFC announcing that it didn't need FFA money and was going it alone. To be honest, I liked the idea of a new major investor and new dollars and the prospect of a new direction. Perhaps a guest player.

However, more than the announcement that former Channel 9 sports commentor Chris Bombolas is to be the new Roar Chair was the photo. He got a Roar shirt. And which one? Last years. Could it be that the Roar will ditch their proposed new orange strip?

“It’s a chance for us to head in new directions, attract new fans and to increase the fan-base.

“We want people to feel they are part of a club which is going places.”

While more commonly known for his passion for rugby league, the son of German and Greek immigrants said playing the game as a youngster gave him plenty of passion for the sport." Daniel Lato Roar website.