Leijer

[matt crowhurst 0]

No surprise considering he couldnt even cut it in the championship. Also makes me wonder what the standard of football is really like over there and concerns me even more regarding Theo"Fulham have allowed Australian defender Adrian Leijer

to rejoin Melbourne Victory for an undisclosed fee after he failed to

make a first-team appearance during two years at Craven Cottage".

[Daphne 0]

Standard is not good. Soccer is pretty low down the list of spectator sports in Oz.

I saw the Brisbane Srikers play a home game a few years back - slow uninspiring game with little talent on show. You get more skill and passion at my local club (Diss Town)!

[catlineker 11]

I would agree that the standard is not good, you have to laugh when Lloyd Owusu is paraded as a marquee signing. The fan interest levels are quite high though, probably only AFL attracts bigger crowds to games. I went to a few Victory games in melbourne and they had a great atmosphere at them, i would probably rate the standard as generally being about conference level  in the UK although after seeing the Colchester game im not so sure about that anymore.

Unfortunately they try an use to many americanisms to sell the game over here and i think it detracts from the league. Silly nicknames, guest signings, finals series that sort of thing all make it hard to take it seriously, plus the premier leagues domination is settling in here the same as in the rest of the world which is rather depressing.

[Patch 0]

Alright here we go:Standard is not good. Soccer is pretty low down the list of spectator sports in Oz.It''s third behind AFL and Rugby League. Cricket is in with a shout too I guess.I saw the Brisbane Srikers play a home game a few years back - slow uninspiring game with little talent on show. You get more skill and passion at my local club (Diss Town)! Brisbane Strikers are a state league side, basically non-league. The difference in quality between that and an A-League side is vast.Unfortunately they try an use to many americanisms to sell the game over here and i think it detracts from the league. Silly nicknames, guest signings, finals series that sort of thing all make it hard to take it seriously.1. Silly team nicknames? Not an American influence, all our sports do it.2. Fair call on guest signings.3. Fiinals series have nothing to do with America. Just like the nicknames, all our sports have a finals series, football is no different.

[catlineker 11]

not really on the nicknames, its starting to creep into rugby, ospreys etc and league has been doing it for a while but we arent listed on the final scores as Norwich Canaries like every sporting team in oz is now.

There is also the franchise element to all sports over here which originated in the US and was so worryingly mirrored at Wimbledon.

[Scooby 0]

[quote user="Patch"]Alright here we go:

Standard is not good. Soccer is pretty low down the list of spectator sports in Oz.
It''s third behind AFL and Rugby League. Cricket is in with a shout too I guess.

I saw the Brisbane Srikers play a home game a few years back - slow uninspiring game with little talent on show. You get more skill and passion at my local club (Diss Town)!
Brisbane Strikers are a state league side, basically non-league. The difference in quality between that and an A-League side is vast.

Unfortunately they try an use to many americanisms to sell the game over here and i think it detracts from the league. Silly nicknames, guest signings, finals series that sort of thing all make it hard to take it seriously.
1. Silly team nicknames? Not an American influence, all our sports do it.
2. Fair call on guest signings.
3. Fiinals series have nothing to do with America. Just like the nicknames, all our sports have a finals series, football is no different.
[/quote]

1.  Yes it is, we got it from America! and no they don''t. We are not called the Norwich Canaries are we, and we don''t play the Ipswich Tractors. (Though that would be funny)

3. Yes they do, that''s where we got it from and no they don''t