Former Socceroo says new West Sydney A-League team should try to sign Alessandro Del Piero

by: Mark Bosnich From: The Daily Telegraph May 05, 2012

THE race is on, and the prize is huge. A new coach and CEO are expected to be appointed next week for the new A-League club in West Sydney and they have just weeks to pull together a squad and a staff that can build this club virtually overnight.

That prize might be huge but so are the risks of getting it wrong. It's absolutely essential that this team is successful from the off - we've seen in recent weeks that all the NRL teams in western Sydney, let alone GWS, are struggling for form and points.

Imagine how a western Sydney A-League team could claim the high ground if it put together a potent mix of experience and young talent that proved a force on the pitch from the get-go.

After hearing what the people of western Sydney are saying about their new side, here is a rough outline of two teams, two coaching staffs and even a board that I feel offers a multitude of views, skills and passions for this new club.


I must emphasise though that I will not be involved in any official capacity - my job is with Fox Sports as an analyst.

But as a football fan, and a passionate believer that a west Sydney team can bring so much to the league, I offer these ideas as pieces for the jigsaw puzzle that the powers that be must put together.

THE PLAYERS

WE need a mix of superstars, work horses and young talent from the state league. Of the two teams on the graphic, I believe these six would be essential targets:

Alessandro Del Piero

Italian superstar with skill and charisma in abundance. Is about to retire for Juventus, and would bring the crowds rolling in.

Lucas Neill

Socceroos captain would offer leadership, gravitas and ambassadorial skills.

With a stated aim of playing in the 2014 World Cup, this could be his platform.

Ben Halloran

Gem of the Gold Coast side

that by the end was full of talented youth, and in demand across the league. Has the youthful talent to attract kids through the gate.

Michael Beauchamp

Not showy but has the experience of two World Cups, and knows how to organise at the back. A strong defence will be essential to make the team successful from the off.

Marcos Flores

Johnny Warren medallist two years ago, he was a shining light in the A-League with wonderful dribbling, shooting and vision. Also very popular with the female supporters.

Scott Chipperfield

As down to earth as they come, vital in the new club, but has an incredible nine titles with Basel in Switzerland and would be a superb leader for the younger players.

THE COACHES

I've offered Tony Popovic but also Peter Tzekenis in case Poppa decides against.

Tzekenis is west Sydney through and through and knows the state league backwards.

THE DIRECTORS

The board should contain a wide variety of representatives covering the major associations: Southern Districts, Granville, Nepean, Macarthur and Blacktown.

From that clubs such as Blacktown, Sydney United, Marconi, Bonnyrigg, Sydney Olympic, Parramatta Power, Bankstown, Granville, Macarthur and Mounties would also have a voice. Football NSW has to be represented, and there needs to be a powerful women's figure. Choosing from this pool of people, I honestly believe they won't go far wrong.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/former-socceroo-says-new-west-sydney-a-league-team-should-try-to-sign-alessandro-del-piero/story-e6frexni-1226347372281

Name and colours of new Sydney A-League club taking shape

by: Tom Smithies From: The Daily Telegraph May 09, 2012 12:00AM

THE brand A-League chiefs hope will be adopted by soccer fans across western Sydney is close to taking shape, with a shortlist of names and colours for the league's new club open to a public vote from today.

Five names have been put forward based on the suggestions made at the seven community forums held across the city's west in recent weeks, and also on an online poll that last week gauged sentiment on every facet of the new club.

Each of the names put forward today - Athletic, Wanderers, Strikers, Wolves and Rangers - will be prefixed with either West or Western in the final name for the new club.

There will also be the option for would-be supporters to suggest further names, though the five put forward were comfortably the most popular in last week's more wide-ranging survey.

Three colour schemes are similarly on offer: red and white, black and white, plus a mix of all three, with a clear sentiment expressed among supporters to differentiate the club directly from Sydney FC's sky blue.

Though the results of the poll, which runs until Friday, will not be a direct and binding plebiscite, A-League bosses have made clear they dare not risk ignoring the weight of public opinion that has been carefully cultivated so far.

The results of this poll will be weighted with the feedback from the forums before the final choice of name and colours is unveiled, potentially within days.


The new club will enter the A-League next season.

A stadium base will be one of the next staging posts, with Parramatta seemingly a popular choice, while a CEO and advisory board will also be appointed shortly as well as a head coach.

Football Federation Australia has committed to spinning the new club off at that stage and allowing to operate it at arm's length.

JOHN Aloisi has declared he wants to win the A-League title in his first season after being appointed coach of Melbourne Heart yesterday.

"I'm going to be under pressure no matter what, so I might as well be under pressure knowing that I'm going to try to win it," Aloisi said.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/soccer/name-and-colours-of-new-sydney-a-league-club-taking-shape/story-e6frey4r-1226350476313

Each of the names put forward today - Athletic, Wanderers, Strikers, Wolves and Rangers - will be prefixed with either West or Western in the final name for the new club.

a]Each of the names put forward today - Athletic, Wanderers, Strikers, Wolves and Rangers - will be prefixed with either West or Western in the final name for the new club.

big fan of these two. are the birds (crows?) symbolic of anything?

not sure on the stars in the bottom one though. possibly leave that space free for when (if) ws win the toilet seat, and possibly look at changing the star?

Edited by pv4: 4/5/2012 08:57:22 AM

Honestly needs more Unicorns.

Well I am glad some of those crap names like Pulse, Crew, etc have not been popular

Here is your options for voting.

http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/newsydneyclub/vote

Here is your choice of colours red black white combinations. How fucking limited and boring does it get.

Here is your choice of names wanderers atheltic rangers wolves strikers...There all rubbish without one scrap of originality.

And the name has to include west or western ?...Imagination and IQ of bowling balls.

The above options have BOGAN and YOBBO stamped all over it.

Sounds like the west needs to engage their gay community to get colour, pizazz and originality into the process.

So far it's looking like complete RUBBISH.............

. I've already peeked at the American Franchise Experts final decision.

I am prepared to offer a mars bar for this information, just saying

Edited by spfc: 9/5/2012 02:53:29 下午

Here is your options for voting.

http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/newsydneyclub/vote

Here is your choice of colours red black white combinations. How fucking limited and boring does it get.

Here is your choice of names wanderers atheltic rangers wolves strikers...There all rubbish without one scrap of originality.

And the name has to include west or western ?...Imagination and IQ of bowling balls.

The above options have BOGAN and YOBBO stamped all over it.

Sounds like the west needs to engage their gay community to get colour, pizazz and originality into the process.

So far it's looking like complete RUBBISH.............

Pulse might have appealed to those of a Middle Eastern or South Asian background...

Red and Black Wanderers

"International" Milan to convince everyone it's 'the peoples team'


.

I voted Red & Black,

and Athletic.

I love Athletic in a name mmmmmmmmmmmm