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paladisious
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+x+xFucking scenes. So much more for all concerned if we were amongst it. I actually think that there would be a pretty positive view to it; unlike the 2015 Asian Cup which was stacked with your Qatars and Barhrains, an AFF Championship would include countries that not only Joe Public has heard of, but also have passionate diaspora in our own country. The Socceroos at home to Indonesia, Thailand etc would be a very sellable ticket, compared to our current Asian selling points of Brisbane Roar vs Muanthong in the ACL or Oman vs Kuwait in the home Asian Cup. Matildas AFC Olympic qualifiers were live on FTA; the wider public are much more keen for Green and Gold action than we give them credit. I think either my mooted extra Australian hosted tourney from this thread or participation in the above suggested home and away format would be an instant hit. I think the benefits would be great. Especially our relationship with Indonesia. Race to the bottom will see Indonesia rise if/when they sort out their manufacturing as the price in China will continue to increase. It could happen quickly given their population and low work cost. Having as many ties in place as possible and "normalizing" having them in our lives and vice versa is imo good. Asia is the future of Australia in many ways, and Australian football has the opportunity to both guide that pivot for the benefit of our entire nation, and also benefit from it ourselves in a way that the AFL can only dream of (ie: their game in China in a few weeks that nobody there will give a shit about)
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aussie scott21
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Yeah. I think it is a no brainier really. Australia has a great opportunity to build ties, especially for the services sector. On the videos, I loved how Vietnam came back from 0-1 to be 2-1 (it was 1-2 I. The first leg). When Indonesia scored and it sounds like about 20k Vietnamese say "f***" under their breathes and the stadium goes so quiet all you can hear is the Indonesian bench celebrating. I agree, we need similar scenes when Sweden came back from 4-0 in Berlin from. Pm. Not AFL hand shakes.
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aussie scott21
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https://player.whooshkaa.com/episode?id=114977This link has Australian AFF related content from 14.45. FFA not interested. Wanted to send a youth team told to get stuffed..... as we should have been.
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paladisious
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Outrageous if true. Worst decision of all by the FFA.
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And Everyone Blamed Clive
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+xOutrageous if true. Worst decision of all by the FFA. Need to.keep enough cash to pay out Gallops entitlements
Winner of Official 442 Comment of the day Award - 10th April 2017
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aussie scott21
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How sport is forging pathways into multicultural communities Iranian matches at the Asia Cup 2015 were notable for the presence in the crowd of 20,000 Iranian women, who would not have been able to go to a game in religiously conservative Iran. Red Elephant Groupby Patrick SkeneWhen the Rugby League World Cup 2017 kicks off on October 27 the organisers hope new groups of spectators will join the crowds cheering on teams from the 14 participating nations. The plan is to introduce the game to migrant groups that don't traditionally follow their ancestral national rugby league teams. The multicultural fan engagement strategy is being spearheaded by our team at Red Elephant, which helped swell the attendees at the region's biggest football (soccer) tournament, the AFC Asian Cup 2015, including a record crowd for the Iraq v South Korea semi final. Iranian matches were notable for the presence in the crowd of 20,000 Iranian women, who would not have been able to go to a game in religiously conservative Iran. One of our proudest moments was listening to Iranian fans fill Australian stadiums with drumming, dancing and singing in support of their ancestral country. The program to attract and engage fans involved a mix of community ambassadors, media, digital, social, content marketing and local area engagement through community roadshows, events and festivals. We utilised native language speakers sourced from our own team and our network of community ambassadors because many Asian communities in Australia consume their news from their own language media and are not reached by mainstream marketing.  Chinese fans at the Asia Cup 2015. Red Elephant GroupWe identified the top five Asian communities based on population size, strength of community media and number of local community organisations: China, Japan, South Korea, Iran and Iraq. Our research with these target communities showed that the Asian Cup had low brand recognition and few players from ancestral national teams were known to Asian Australian communities. Unsurprisingly, a lack of Asian players in the Australian A-League didn't help and due to this factor attending live football matches was not an embedded behaviour in the Asian Australian community. Electric atmosphereThe Asian Cup local organising committee knew the success of the event depended on the buy in of Asian Australians. So our job was to create a strategy that would engage both football fans and 'patriots' – community members who were not football fans but were proud of their ancestry and could be attracted to an experience that transcended football. Our team faced a challenge; we had engaged multicultural communities for the past decade, but never before to this scale. To craft the strategy, we drew on our deep storehouse of research and insights we've captured over a decade at festivals, online, through community groups and our networked pool of community ambassadors who provided crucial insights on community behaviour. We addressed the low levels of tournament and player awareness through community roadshows and weekly community emails in Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Arabic and Persian, video and print profiles of players, and news about teams. Then we worked with our network of Asian community associations to bring community members together and purchase entire fan bays at stadiums.  Japanese fans at the Asian Cup 2015 Red Elephant GroupThe electric atmosphere generated by these communities was the signature of the Asian Cup tournament. Little did I realise that this would become one of most rewarding experiences in my professional career. The program metrics were impressive: we inspired over 100 Asian community media partners, 300 community ambassadors and 100 community partners, including cultural associations and international tourist agencies. We engaged at 200 community events and produced over 200 unique stories across all media. The pre event attendance target of 350,000 attendees was eclipsed and stadiums and cities came alive with 650,000 fans and patriots uniting in a pan Asian-Australian celebration. Domestic and international tourists flocked into and across the country. So unexpected was the financial windfall that more than $20 million was returned to the event's government funding partners, some of which was invested back into grassroots football facilities. This was the first time Australia had hosted a major event as an Asian country, which resulted in a nation building exercise in social inclusion. We polled our community ambassadors after the event and more than 90 per cent said they had never felt more proudly Australian than during the event, a result that no one in our team had dared to predict.  Patrick Skene, founding executive director of Red Elephant. Fox FotosCommunity needsFor brands looking to engage multicultural audiences, one of the key lessons is that investing and engaging around a passion point is central for sustained long term success. The multicultural market is clearly fragmented and a one size fits all model inevitably fails, delivering a poor return on investment. Segmentation is crucial to identify your high value and most relevant target markets and enables targeted community strategies that address the different needs of each community. The 2016 Australian Bureau of Statistics Census results clearly reveal that Australia's capital cities are becoming increasingly multicultural: 65 per cent of Sydneysiders have one or more parent born overseas; 33 per cent of Sydneysiders and 25 per cent of Melbournites have Asian ancestry; the Australian Chinese and South Asian communities are both more than 1 million strong. Australian multicultural hearts and minds will be won by sports and brands that use data to segment smartly, engage consistently around a passion point, are culturally competent, communicate in first language and dedicate the appropriate resources that reflect the acquisition cost. Our team is primed to use the lessons from the 2015 Asian Cup and the Rugby League World Cup to boost multicultural fan engagement at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in April 2018. Patrick Skene is founding executive director of Red Elephant, a data-driven multicultural marketing and community engagement agency.
How sport is forging pathways into multicultural communities | afr.com
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paladisious
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+xBump. I'm on a couple days' stopover on the way back from Europe in South East Asia right now (unlike certain others, my resort has wifi) and it's blatantly obvious that this part of the world is as absolutely bananas for football as ever. The South East Asian countries are emerging not just as football nations but as major economic players, and I would say the FFA's lack of action over the last decade in integrating Australian football more with ASEAN is such a blatantly missed opportunity that ranks as high amongst their biggest fuckups one can name. I would say their taste in the game has also matured since I first came here eight years ago for Chonburi v Victory in the ACL; while coverage for the big Euro leagues abound, especially Leicester given the local ownership, today I saw young people getting around in Buriram, Muangthong and national team shirts, and the local rag on my table at the place I just had dinner was cover to cover with the local game. If they can get over Eurosnobbery in South East Asia, anyone can! We're also about to get a huge dose of the passion they have for the game here with the Socceroo's WCQ away in Bangkok next month, can't wait for that one! If I was in charge, I'd be looking at engaging single states to host a special AFF Championship every four years including and hosted by Australia, Copa America Centenario style (which was a special centenary edition of the South American Copa America, hosted by the USA) in August in the years after Asian Cups, eg 2020, 2024, etc. That would not clash with the current schedule of WCQs, and be early enough in preseason for Euro based Aussies to come, but if we have to go with mostly Australia/Asia based and young gun squad then no harm done, far from it, actually. I think it would actually have greater appeal than the Asian Cup proper did, which hosted a majority of inaccessible teams like Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, etc, and instead not only capture the local diaspora's passion but also the wider population's comprehension in playing "real" countries like Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia on a regular basis. My ideal comp would have the top eight AFF countries (ideally after a playoff comp for the minnows) play in the obvious two groups of four with semis and final in the last two weeks of August in "Olympic" years, making it five matchdays in say sixteen days for the finalists, segueing nicely into the FIFA window WCQs which have stayed solidly scheduled for the first two Tuesdays/Wednesdays of September for a while now, to say nothing of the neat segue into the A-League season, all while still getting cleanish air before the AFL and NRL finals. It would be a relatively cheap event for state governments to pull off with 100% already existing infrastructure, and I imagine they'd be keen on it. Victoria, for example, could easily host it with the Final and major Socceroos games at Etihad, second tier games at AAMI and Kardinia Parks and third tier games at Lakeside Stadium and Morsehead Park in Ballarat, while NSW and Queensland will have no trouble at all with rectangular venues that fit the bill. Adelaide could swing it with fixtures between Adelaide Oval, Hindmarsh and a modestly upgraded Marden, while even Perth could make do if their turn comes with nib and the new stadium. Major broadcasters would be more behind it than you might think. They're just coming around to the A-League now, but anything in green and gold and wins for Australia has FTA written all over it, especially against countries that their audience can actually find on the map, and have probably been to. Call me a dreamer but I think there's a huge, huge opportunity that has gone completely begging. /Rant. Blame the cheap booze here. Good time to bump this after we all saw what a good game Thailand brought to us in Melbourne.
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aussie scott21
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2018 will be a big year for ASEAN Football With the new year upon us, FOX Sports Asia football editor Gabriel Tan looks at the players and teams in ASEAN football who are set for a big 2018. 1) Trio flying ASEAN flag at AFC U-23 Championship It won’t take long for the first major tournament to kick off with Asia’s best Under-23 teams competing at the AFC U-23 Championship in China. For the first time since the tournament’s inception in 2013, Southeast Asia will have three representatives (four, if you include fellow ASEAN Football Federation member Australia) present. Thailand and Vietnam are back again after qualifying two years ago and will be looking to improve on their group-stage exit, while Malaysia – under the stewardship of the experienced Ong Kim Swee – are preparing for their tournament debut and will face Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Jordan in Group C. Vietnam look to have been handed the toughest task as they are in Group D with Korea Republic, Australia and Syria. On the other hand, Thailand will be quietly optimistic in their chances of reaching the knockout round from a Group B that contains defending champions Japan, but also two very beatable teams in DPR Korea and Palestine. 2) Local leagues overflowing with ASEAN flavour The decision by Thailand and Malaysia’s domestic leagues to introduce a foreign signing quota specifically for ASEAN imports already looks to be a brilliant masterstroke, both on and off the field. While the dream for every Myanmar or Cambodia fans is to one day see Aung Thu and Chan Vathanaka grace the biggest stages, taking a smaller step in the right direction is not always a bad thing. On the field, a premier talent from a neighbouring country can easily be better than a B or C-grade foreigner from Europe, South America or Africa. And off the field, the benefits reaped could be equal if not far greater. Imagine how many Cambodian fans will now be following every Pahang match? Or how many Myanmar supporters will now be eagerly trying to get their hands on a Police Tero jersey with “Aung Thu 10” on the back? Either way, the T1 League and MSL will have added intrigue and excitement purely because the likes of Hariss Harun, Evan Dimas, Kyaw Ko Ko, Thierry Chantha Bin and Hoang Vu Samson will be gracing them. And, should the ASEAN import rule prove to be a success, it would pave the way for competitions like the Liga 1, S.League and V.League 1 to follow suit. 3) Can Indonesia, Philippines maintain momentum? 2017 saw a rebirth for domestic football in two Southeast Asian countries as Indonesia’s Liga 1 and the Philippines Football League had their inaugural campaigns. While there is still room for much improvement – the PFL especially was plagued by several administrative and scheduling issues – there is no denying that both were a success. The Liga 1 title race went down to the wire and, while traditional heavyweights like Arema and Persib Bandung faltered, potential powerhouses emerged in the form of Bhayangkara and Bali United. And, although it may not be everybody’s cup of tea, the PFL’s Finals Series led to a thrilling and fitting conclusion as Philippines’ top four teams faced off for top honours, with Ceres-Negros ultimately emerging triumphant. The first year is always expected to be a learning experience and expectations were never going to be too high. In 2018, however, the pressure will be on both organisations to only replicate, but better, the success they have had. 4) Asia beckons as Thailand lead the way Few would argue that – right now in ASEAN football – Thailand are leading the way on all fronts. They are the strongest national team at the moment, both at senior and age group level, have clubs regularly competing amongst the continent’s best in the AFC Champions League, and are now exporting homegrown stars like Chanathip Songkrasin and Teerasil Dangda to a top Asian competition such as the J1 League. 2018 will be another platform for Thailand to show that they continue to make progress. Buriram United would do well to reach the knockout round of the Champions League, while it’s high time Thailand had more than one representative in Asia’s premier club competition. Honourable defeats to Chinese, Japanese and South Korean clubs in the final qualifying round should no longer be seen as acceptable. This year, provided they advance from the second preliminary round, Muangthong United and Chiangrai United have to strive to beat Kashiwa Reysol and Shanghai SIPG respectively at the final hurdle. And it’s not just the future of Thailand on the line. Instead, they can set the example for the others to strive for. Don’t forget that Malaysia will also have a team qualifying automatically for the Champions League group stage. Whether it be Johor Darul Ta’zim, or another one of the teams that have tried but failed to catch them for the past four years, Buriram – over the next six months – could show them that teams like Guangzhou Evergrande, Cerezo Osaka and Jeju United are to be respected but not feared. 5) AFF Suzuki Cup is up for grabs again Yes, in the grander scheme of things, the AFF Suzuki Cup should not rank as the biggest of prizes in Southeast Asia. Teams should be setting their sights on loftier targets like qualifying for the AFC Asian Cup, Olympic Games, FIFA U-20 World Cup, FIFA World Cup… the list goes on. But, there is just something about ASEAN supporters and the Suzuki Cup that can be simply traced back to the pure tribal nature of being a football fan. Put simply, the Suzuki Cup is the one chance each team gets to claim the status of Southeast Asia’s best team for the following two years. Everyone wants that. The new format introduced for this year’s edition also adds a different dimension as the group stage will now be spread across the region, meaning each team will get to host at least two matches. While it promises to be a logistical nightmare for all involved, it is a brilliant move for passionate fans all over who deserve to watch their heroes in action. Thailand have conquered all that have come before them since 2014, but they were no longer as untouchable in 2016 as they were two years before as Indonesia gave them a real run for their money. With Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines and Myanmar rapidly closing the gap, while former champions Malaysia and Singapore will be determined to regain their pride, the 2018 edition of the Suzuki Cup promises to be the most exciting yet. http://www.foxsportsasia.com/football/asian-football/770061/2018-will-big-year-asean-football/
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Nachoman
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+x2018 will be a big year for ASEAN FootballWith the new year upon us, FOX Sports Asia football editor Gabriel Tan looks at the players and teams in ASEAN football who are set for a big 2018.1) Trio flying ASEAN flag at AFC U-23 ChampionshipIt won’t take long for the first major tournament to kick off with Asia’s best Under-23 teams competing at the AFC U-23 Championship in China.For the first time since the tournament’s inception in 2013, Southeast Asia will have three representatives (four, if you include fellow ASEAN Football Federation member Australia) present.Thailand and Vietnam are back again after qualifying two years ago and will be looking to improve on their group-stage exit, while Malaysia – under the stewardship of the experienced Ong Kim Swee – are preparing for their tournament debut and will face Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Jordan in Group C.Vietnam look to have been handed the toughest task as they are in Group D with Korea Republic, Australia and Syria.On the other hand, Thailand will be quietly optimistic in their chances of reaching the knockout round from a Group B that contains defending champions Japan, but also two very beatable teams in DPR Korea and Palestine.2) Local leagues overflowing with ASEAN flavourThe decision by Thailand and Malaysia’s domestic leagues to introduce a foreign signing quota specifically for ASEAN imports already looks to be a brilliant masterstroke, both on and off the field.While the dream for every Myanmar or Cambodia fans is to one day see Aung Thu and Chan Vathanaka grace the biggest stages, taking a smaller step in the right direction is not always a bad thing.On the field, a premier talent from a neighbouring country can easily be better than a B or C-grade foreigner from Europe, South America or Africa. And off the field, the benefits reaped could be equal if not far greater.Imagine how many Cambodian fans will now be following every Pahang match? Or how many Myanmar supporters will now be eagerly trying to get their hands on a Police Tero jersey with “Aung Thu 10” on the back?Either way, the T1 League and MSL will have added intrigue and excitement purely because the likes of Hariss Harun, Evan Dimas, Kyaw Ko Ko, Thierry Chantha Bin and Hoang Vu Samson will be gracing them.And, should the ASEAN import rule prove to be a success, it would pave the way for competitions like the Liga 1, S.League and V.League 1 to follow suit.3) Can Indonesia, Philippines maintain momentum?2017 saw a rebirth for domestic football in two Southeast Asian countries as Indonesia’s Liga 1 and the Philippines Football League had their inaugural campaigns.While there is still room for much improvement – the PFL especially was plagued by several administrative and scheduling issues – there is no denying that both were a success.The Liga 1 title race went down to the wire and, while traditional heavyweights like Arema and Persib Bandung faltered, potential powerhouses emerged in the form of Bhayangkara and Bali United.And, although it may not be everybody’s cup of tea, the PFL’s Finals Series led to a thrilling and fitting conclusion as Philippines’ top four teams faced off for top honours, with Ceres-Negros ultimately emerging triumphant.The first year is always expected to be a learning experience and expectations were never going to be too high.In 2018, however, the pressure will be on both organisations to only replicate, but better, the success they have had.4) Asia beckons as Thailand lead the wayFew would argue that – right now in ASEAN football – Thailand are leading the way on all fronts.They are the strongest national team at the moment, both at senior and age group level, have clubs regularly competing amongst the continent’s best in the AFC Champions League, and are now exporting homegrown stars like Chanathip Songkrasin and Teerasil Dangda to a top Asian competition such as the J1 League.2018 will be another platform for Thailand to show that they continue to make progress.Buriram United would do well to reach the knockout round of the Champions League, while it’s high time Thailand had more than one representative in Asia’s premier club competition.Honourable defeats to Chinese, Japanese and South Korean clubs in the final qualifying round should no longer be seen as acceptable. This year, provided they advance from the second preliminary round, Muangthong United and Chiangrai United have to strive to beat Kashiwa Reysol and Shanghai SIPG respectively at the final hurdle.And it’s not just the future of Thailand on the line. Instead, they can set the example for the others to strive for.Don’t forget that Malaysia will also have a team qualifying automatically for the Champions League group stage.Whether it be Johor Darul Ta’zim, or another one of the teams that have tried but failed to catch them for the past four years, Buriram – over the next six months – could show them that teams like Guangzhou Evergrande, Cerezo Osaka and Jeju United are to be respected but not feared.5) AFF Suzuki Cup is up for grabs againYes, in the grander scheme of things, the AFF Suzuki Cup should not rank as the biggest of prizes in Southeast Asia.Teams should be setting their sights on loftier targets like qualifying for the AFC Asian Cup, Olympic Games, FIFA U-20 World Cup, FIFA World Cup… the list goes on.But, there is just something about ASEAN supporters and the Suzuki Cup that can be simply traced back to the pure tribal nature of being a football fan.Put simply, the Suzuki Cup is the one chance each team gets to claim the status of Southeast Asia’s best team for the following two years.Everyone wants that.The new format introduced for this year’s edition also adds a different dimension as the group stage will now be spread across the region, meaning each team will get to host at least two matches.While it promises to be a logistical nightmare for all involved, it is a brilliant move for passionate fans all over who deserve to watch their heroes in action.Thailand have conquered all that have come before them since 2014, but they were no longer as untouchable in 2016 as they were two years before as Indonesia gave them a real run for their money.With Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines and Myanmar rapidly closing the gap, while former champions Malaysia and Singapore will be determined to regain their pride, the 2018 edition of the Suzuki Cup promises to be the most exciting yet. http://www.foxsportsasia.com/football/asian-football/770061/2018-will-big-year-asean-football/ All of this.... cant wait to see football take bigger steps in SEAsia
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newton_circus
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+x+x2018 will be a big year for ASEAN FootballWith the new year upon us, FOX Sports Asia football editor Gabriel Tan looks at the players and teams in ASEAN football who are set for a big 2018.1) Trio flying ASEAN flag at AFC U-23 ChampionshipIt won’t take long for the first major tournament to kick off with Asia’s best Under-23 teams competing at the AFC U-23 Championship in China.For the first time since the tournament’s inception in 2013, Southeast Asia will have three representatives (four, if you include fellow ASEAN Football Federation member Australia) present.Thailand and Vietnam are back again after qualifying two years ago and will be looking to improve on their group-stage exit, while Malaysia – under the stewardship of the experienced Ong Kim Swee – are preparing for their tournament debut and will face Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Jordan in Group C.Vietnam look to have been handed the toughest task as they are in Group D with Korea Republic, Australia and Syria.On the other hand, Thailand will be quietly optimistic in their chances of reaching the knockout round from a Group B that contains defending champions Japan, but also two very beatable teams in DPR Korea and Palestine.2) Local leagues overflowing with ASEAN flavourThe decision by Thailand and Malaysia’s domestic leagues to introduce a foreign signing quota specifically for ASEAN imports already looks to be a brilliant masterstroke, both on and off the field.While the dream for every Myanmar or Cambodia fans is to one day see Aung Thu and Chan Vathanaka grace the biggest stages, taking a smaller step in the right direction is not always a bad thing.On the field, a premier talent from a neighbouring country can easily be better than a B or C-grade foreigner from Europe, South America or Africa. And off the field, the benefits reaped could be equal if not far greater.Imagine how many Cambodian fans will now be following every Pahang match? Or how many Myanmar supporters will now be eagerly trying to get their hands on a Police Tero jersey with “Aung Thu 10” on the back?Either way, the T1 League and MSL will have added intrigue and excitement purely because the likes of Hariss Harun, Evan Dimas, Kyaw Ko Ko, Thierry Chantha Bin and Hoang Vu Samson will be gracing them.And, should the ASEAN import rule prove to be a success, it would pave the way for competitions like the Liga 1, S.League and V.League 1 to follow suit.3) Can Indonesia, Philippines maintain momentum?2017 saw a rebirth for domestic football in two Southeast Asian countries as Indonesia’s Liga 1 and the Philippines Football League had their inaugural campaigns.While there is still room for much improvement – the PFL especially was plagued by several administrative and scheduling issues – there is no denying that both were a success.The Liga 1 title race went down to the wire and, while traditional heavyweights like Arema and Persib Bandung faltered, potential powerhouses emerged in the form of Bhayangkara and Bali United.And, although it may not be everybody’s cup of tea, the PFL’s Finals Series led to a thrilling and fitting conclusion as Philippines’ top four teams faced off for top honours, with Ceres-Negros ultimately emerging triumphant.The first year is always expected to be a learning experience and expectations were never going to be too high.In 2018, however, the pressure will be on both organisations to only replicate, but better, the success they have had.4) Asia beckons as Thailand lead the wayFew would argue that – right now in ASEAN football – Thailand are leading the way on all fronts.They are the strongest national team at the moment, both at senior and age group level, have clubs regularly competing amongst the continent’s best in the AFC Champions League, and are now exporting homegrown stars like Chanathip Songkrasin and Teerasil Dangda to a top Asian competition such as the J1 League.2018 will be another platform for Thailand to show that they continue to make progress.Buriram United would do well to reach the knockout round of the Champions League, while it’s high time Thailand had more than one representative in Asia’s premier club competition.Honourable defeats to Chinese, Japanese and South Korean clubs in the final qualifying round should no longer be seen as acceptable. This year, provided they advance from the second preliminary round, Muangthong United and Chiangrai United have to strive to beat Kashiwa Reysol and Shanghai SIPG respectively at the final hurdle.And it’s not just the future of Thailand on the line. Instead, they can set the example for the others to strive for.Don’t forget that Malaysia will also have a team qualifying automatically for the Champions League group stage.Whether it be Johor Darul Ta’zim, or another one of the teams that have tried but failed to catch them for the past four years, Buriram – over the next six months – could show them that teams like Guangzhou Evergrande, Cerezo Osaka and Jeju United are to be respected but not feared.5) AFF Suzuki Cup is up for grabs againYes, in the grander scheme of things, the AFF Suzuki Cup should not rank as the biggest of prizes in Southeast Asia.Teams should be setting their sights on loftier targets like qualifying for the AFC Asian Cup, Olympic Games, FIFA U-20 World Cup, FIFA World Cup… the list goes on.But, there is just something about ASEAN supporters and the Suzuki Cup that can be simply traced back to the pure tribal nature of being a football fan.Put simply, the Suzuki Cup is the one chance each team gets to claim the status of Southeast Asia’s best team for the following two years.Everyone wants that.The new format introduced for this year’s edition also adds a different dimension as the group stage will now be spread across the region, meaning each team will get to host at least two matches.While it promises to be a logistical nightmare for all involved, it is a brilliant move for passionate fans all over who deserve to watch their heroes in action.Thailand have conquered all that have come before them since 2014, but they were no longer as untouchable in 2016 as they were two years before as Indonesia gave them a real run for their money.With Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines and Myanmar rapidly closing the gap, while former champions Malaysia and Singapore will be determined to regain their pride, the 2018 edition of the Suzuki Cup promises to be the most exciting yet. http://www.foxsportsasia.com/football/asian-football/770061/2018-will-big-year-asean-football/ All of this.... cant wait to see football take bigger steps in SEAsia Looking forward to Vietnam, Thailand and Aus doing well. Theres also the ASEAN Cup (AFF Suzuki Cup) this December, so its a big year for South East Asia. I still think the Socceroos should be involved in the ASEAN Cup, albeit an A-League Socceroos side. Geographically we belong in the ASEAN sub-category of AFC, but I'm not sure what the FFA think about this? It can only be a good thing to participate in the ASEAN Cup, especially this year as its the perfect preparation for the Asian Cup in early 2019. This is what it means to win the AFF Cup. I want in!
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OldCodger
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They actually make the Suzuki Cup sound fairly exciting. I'd love to catch a match or two.
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paladisious
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+x+x+x2018 will be a big year for ASEAN FootballWith the new year upon us, FOX Sports Asia football editor Gabriel Tan looks at the players and teams in ASEAN football who are set for a big 2018.1) Trio flying ASEAN flag at AFC U-23 ChampionshipIt won’t take long for the first major tournament to kick off with Asia’s best Under-23 teams competing at the AFC U-23 Championship in China.For the first time since the tournament’s inception in 2013, Southeast Asia will have three representatives (four, if you include fellow ASEAN Football Federation member Australia) present.Thailand and Vietnam are back again after qualifying two years ago and will be looking to improve on their group-stage exit, while Malaysia – under the stewardship of the experienced Ong Kim Swee – are preparing for their tournament debut and will face Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Jordan in Group C.Vietnam look to have been handed the toughest task as they are in Group D with Korea Republic, Australia and Syria.On the other hand, Thailand will be quietly optimistic in their chances of reaching the knockout round from a Group B that contains defending champions Japan, but also two very beatable teams in DPR Korea and Palestine.2) Local leagues overflowing with ASEAN flavourThe decision by Thailand and Malaysia’s domestic leagues to introduce a foreign signing quota specifically for ASEAN imports already looks to be a brilliant masterstroke, both on and off the field.While the dream for every Myanmar or Cambodia fans is to one day see Aung Thu and Chan Vathanaka grace the biggest stages, taking a smaller step in the right direction is not always a bad thing.On the field, a premier talent from a neighbouring country can easily be better than a B or C-grade foreigner from Europe, South America or Africa. And off the field, the benefits reaped could be equal if not far greater.Imagine how many Cambodian fans will now be following every Pahang match? Or how many Myanmar supporters will now be eagerly trying to get their hands on a Police Tero jersey with “Aung Thu 10” on the back?Either way, the T1 League and MSL will have added intrigue and excitement purely because the likes of Hariss Harun, Evan Dimas, Kyaw Ko Ko, Thierry Chantha Bin and Hoang Vu Samson will be gracing them.And, should the ASEAN import rule prove to be a success, it would pave the way for competitions like the Liga 1, S.League and V.League 1 to follow suit.3) Can Indonesia, Philippines maintain momentum?2017 saw a rebirth for domestic football in two Southeast Asian countries as Indonesia’s Liga 1 and the Philippines Football League had their inaugural campaigns.While there is still room for much improvement – the PFL especially was plagued by several administrative and scheduling issues – there is no denying that both were a success.The Liga 1 title race went down to the wire and, while traditional heavyweights like Arema and Persib Bandung faltered, potential powerhouses emerged in the form of Bhayangkara and Bali United.And, although it may not be everybody’s cup of tea, the PFL’s Finals Series led to a thrilling and fitting conclusion as Philippines’ top four teams faced off for top honours, with Ceres-Negros ultimately emerging triumphant.The first year is always expected to be a learning experience and expectations were never going to be too high.In 2018, however, the pressure will be on both organisations to only replicate, but better, the success they have had.4) Asia beckons as Thailand lead the wayFew would argue that – right now in ASEAN football – Thailand are leading the way on all fronts.They are the strongest national team at the moment, both at senior and age group level, have clubs regularly competing amongst the continent’s best in the AFC Champions League, and are now exporting homegrown stars like Chanathip Songkrasin and Teerasil Dangda to a top Asian competition such as the J1 League.2018 will be another platform for Thailand to show that they continue to make progress.Buriram United would do well to reach the knockout round of the Champions League, while it’s high time Thailand had more than one representative in Asia’s premier club competition.Honourable defeats to Chinese, Japanese and South Korean clubs in the final qualifying round should no longer be seen as acceptable. This year, provided they advance from the second preliminary round, Muangthong United and Chiangrai United have to strive to beat Kashiwa Reysol and Shanghai SIPG respectively at the final hurdle.And it’s not just the future of Thailand on the line. Instead, they can set the example for the others to strive for.Don’t forget that Malaysia will also have a team qualifying automatically for the Champions League group stage.Whether it be Johor Darul Ta’zim, or another one of the teams that have tried but failed to catch them for the past four years, Buriram – over the next six months – could show them that teams like Guangzhou Evergrande, Cerezo Osaka and Jeju United are to be respected but not feared.5) AFF Suzuki Cup is up for grabs againYes, in the grander scheme of things, the AFF Suzuki Cup should not rank as the biggest of prizes in Southeast Asia.Teams should be setting their sights on loftier targets like qualifying for the AFC Asian Cup, Olympic Games, FIFA U-20 World Cup, FIFA World Cup… the list goes on.But, there is just something about ASEAN supporters and the Suzuki Cup that can be simply traced back to the pure tribal nature of being a football fan.Put simply, the Suzuki Cup is the one chance each team gets to claim the status of Southeast Asia’s best team for the following two years.Everyone wants that.The new format introduced for this year’s edition also adds a different dimension as the group stage will now be spread across the region, meaning each team will get to host at least two matches.While it promises to be a logistical nightmare for all involved, it is a brilliant move for passionate fans all over who deserve to watch their heroes in action.Thailand have conquered all that have come before them since 2014, but they were no longer as untouchable in 2016 as they were two years before as Indonesia gave them a real run for their money.With Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines and Myanmar rapidly closing the gap, while former champions Malaysia and Singapore will be determined to regain their pride, the 2018 edition of the Suzuki Cup promises to be the most exciting yet. http://www.foxsportsasia.com/football/asian-football/770061/2018-will-big-year-asean-football/ All of this.... cant wait to see football take bigger steps in SEAsia Looking forward to Vietnam, Thailand and Aus doing well. Theres also the ASEAN Cup (AFF Suzuki Cup) this December, so its a big year for South East Asia. I still think the Socceroos should be involved in the ASEAN Cup, albeit an A-League Socceroos side. Geographically we belong in the ASEAN sub-category of AFC, but I'm not sure what the FFA think about this? It can only be a good thing to participate in the ASEAN Cup, especially this year as its the perfect preparation for the Asian Cup in early 2019. This is what it means to win the AFF Cup. I want in! It's the real deal, it's only going up, and it's right next door.
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johnszasz
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There's the cup named in this thread then there's the EAFF East Asian Cup. We qualified for the latter in a 2012 tournament in Hong Kong with a mix of A League and foreigners. We won 8:0 but I recall Holger naming 8 defensive players for that match. The tournament proper was tough against South Korea 0:0, China 4:3 and Japan 3:2. A draw and two losses. Interesting squad back then https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_EAFF_East_Asian_Cup_Final_squadsCurrently the Gulf Cup is also on. Saudi failed to make the k.o phase in a group. They had an extremely inexperienced squad while UAE had a lot of experience. Oman topped the group and Kuwait were bottom. Saudi Arabia have been using this to get used to their new coach and do some tests. Australia is quite alone when it comes to regional tournaments. I'd love to see us join one at some point.
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camberwelldorjes
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Hahaha we will not be invited into the AFF/Suzuki Cup in a million years.
Not when so many in the Australian football community loudly protest about sending our best players to the AFC U23 Championships. From what I understand every participating country is sending their best players to this tournament with the full support of their clubs and fans.
Can you imagine the uproar from managers, players and fans if we lost players to a tournament against the "likes" of Vietnam, Cambodia and Malaysia (similar to the attitude when many expected to belt the Thais into submission over two WCQ). There will be uproar regardless of whether the AFF/Suzuki Cup is held during or between the A-League seasons.
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aussie scott21
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Barca4Life
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An overall discussion is why the FFA isn't sending its juniors teams to play international tournaments full stop?
Lack of funds or just lack of interest?
International football exposure is vital for the players here.
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melbourne_terrace
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Start the A-League three weeks earlier (We should already be doing this but whatever) and put the competition on a short break like we did with the Asian Cup. There are so many benefits to further integrating into ASEAN (not just for football) and frankly it should be a non-negotiable part of joining the AFC. The blatant lack of respect that we are showing is not going unnoticed in Asia.
Viennese Vuck
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aussie scott21
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+xStart the A-League three weeks earlier (We should already be doing this but whatever) and put the competition on a short break like we did with the Asian Cup. There are so many benefits to further integrating into ASEAN (not just for football) and frankly it should be a non-negotiable part of joining the AFC. The blatant lack of respect that we are showing is not going unnoticed in Asia. And like international breaks if you had a 2nd division running concurrently you also have that content to bring to the fore.
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nomates
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The FFA haven't got the funds to send a 3rd rate Socceroo squad over there playing micky mouse games.
Wellington Phoenix FC
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aussie scott21
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+xThe FFA haven't got the funds to send a 3rd rate Socceroo squad over there playing micky mouse games. lol considering you get home games that generate revenue and the potential for a ASEAN sponsor of the team I dont think that is true. ATM we have an FFA that gives savvy deals to Westfield and his mates at California Texas Oil instead...
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nomates
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+x+xThe FFA haven't got the funds to send a 3rd rate Socceroo squad over there playing micky mouse games. lol considering you get home games that generate revenue and the potential for a ASEAN sponsor of the team I dont think that is true. ATM we have an FFA that gives savvy deals to Westfield and his mates at California Texas Oil instead... You would get 5k tops for home matches against them opponents. Its seriously a waste of funds that cant be sort back and who would be fronting up the cash for TV rights. I'm sure it wouldn't be on FTA, It'll be locked away on FOX.
Wellington Phoenix FC
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aussie scott21
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+x+x+xThe FFA haven't got the funds to send a 3rd rate Socceroo squad over there playing micky mouse games. lol considering you get home games that generate revenue and the potential for a ASEAN sponsor of the team I dont think that is true. ATM we have an FFA that gives savvy deals to Westfield and his mates at California Texas Oil instead... You would get 5k tops for home matches against them opponents. Its seriously a waste of funds that cant be sort back and who would be fronting up the cash for TV rights. I'm sure it wouldn't be on FTA, It'll be locked away on FOX. lol Nothing is constant. I would expect more than 5k and tv deal is debatable. I wouldnt expect it to be an outragous success the first time but it is every 2 years. That is the point. It is already a massive comp and will just keep getting bigger. We have a stadium in Western Sydney on the way, probably Ballymore revamp and perhaps a Tas stadium in the future, along with the other states. The main thing I think that will drive success is the hype. Basically all the games are sellouts. When fans see the away matches it will create hype in Australia. When the players are interviewed after the matches it will create hype. One of the main problems with the A/League atm is there is no hype. WSW are waiting for their stadium, MV is doing the usual but SFC is the biggest let down in the league. For all their success they can generate fans. IF..... they were getting 25-35k every game they flow on hype for the league would be amazing. This is how the Suzuki Cup will work in Australia. Playing in warzones, seeing fans mobs team buses and gaining better connections is important. Enjoy OFC playing Kiribati.
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paladisious
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+xStart the A-League three weeks earlier (We should already be doing this but whatever) and put the competition on a short break like we did with the Asian Cup. There are so many benefits to further integrating into ASEAN (not just for football) and frankly it should be a non-negotiable part of joining the AFC. The blatant lack of respect that we are showing is not going unnoticed in Asia. All of the above.
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paladisious
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+x+xStart the A-League three weeks earlier (We should already be doing this but whatever) and put the competition on a short break like we did with the Asian Cup. There are so many benefits to further integrating into ASEAN (not just for football) and frankly it should be a non-negotiable part of joining the AFC. The blatant lack of respect that we are showing is not going unnoticed in Asia. And like international breaks if you had a 2nd division running concurrently you also have that content to bring to the fore. And this.
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Footballking55
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This is on now. Semi Finals.
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paladisious
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+xThis is on now. Semi Finals. 2nd leg of the Semi Finals starting at 11pm Eastern tonight Thailand v Malaysia. 87,000 at the first leg of that one. Vietnam v Philippines tomorrow night.
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playmaker11
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Jeez, Malaysia advance to the final. 2-2 away to Thailand.
By now, American Samoa must have realised that Australias 22-0 win over Tonga two days earlier was no fluke.
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Jeff
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Nice result for Malaysia. I think Thailand's squad is a little weakened though as their Japan based players have remained with their clubs, like Songkrasin at Consadole Sapporo.
Songkrasin has had a very good season btw. I wonder if he's good enough for a decent European league?
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Decentric
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+xNo. We can't send a full strength team. These games are full internationals and effect would effect our FIFA ranking. Better to suck up to South America and try to get an invitation there every 4-8 years. I also don't imagine it would be popular with the other countries if we kept winning with a "handicapped" team. Edited by scott21: 17/09/2016 03:52:41 AM Good to see you post again, Scott. Haven't seen you post for months! After saying this, I realise you've posted this years ago! I disagree with you though. It is always good to try some new players. In our team ATM, it is only players like Milligan, Ryan, Mooy and Rogic, who have played a lot of club football and are guaranteed starters in the Socceroos. The rest are either playing HAL, where there are not too many games; are not playing first eleven club football; or have not consolidated as Socceroo starters. The extra games would be good.
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Decentric
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Send an Asian based team.
As I understand it these players play in Asia.
........................................Langerak
Risdon...............Jurman...............Spira (if fit)............Davidson
.....................Antonis........................Brillante
.......................................McGree
Ikonomidis......................Taggart.........................Goodwin
There will be others I've forgotten, but this team could be reasonable and there would be surprises too.
Nathan Burns is struggling to score, but his other attributes are improving.
I'm not sure if Mitch Nichols is in good enough form?
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