It does sort of have a nose about it .........although ....... what could be wrong with players being retired out of the league at 25 ........ apart from the fact that they are not old enough yet to be selected in holger's socceroos.




What do you think about the FourFourTwo article McMaster: NPLV saga a shambles?
EXCLUSIVE: Former Brisbane Roar goalkeeper Griffin McMaster has labelled the entire National Premier League Victoria saga a “shambles” as the state league clubs’ futures remain unclear.

Have your say.

Go and get a real job. Or try harder or look for other options. Griffin McMaster is a nobody and if he can't ply his trade in his chosen career path, whatever the reasons, then find another. Just like everyone else in the real world. We can't waste places in these teams for players who are not going to add to the game. I'd rather see a keeper with equal ability but 18 years old in the team. Then there is potential for growth. Players like McMaster don't add anything. And don't sprout experience blah, blah. He's not Peter Schmeichel or Buffon. He adds nothing and is looking for sweetheart deals from old friends. A good stance from head office, I say.

@Scorcher80 - What the hell are you sprouting on about? It doesn't matter what sport you play - any athlete (elite or not) wants to compete at the highest level possible. If a player has worked hard to make it to any representative team - they should not be denied the opportunity because they are over 25. There are enough teams in the country to support our number of players. Allowing players over 25 does not stop a youngster from breaking into the ranks. That decision should rest with the coaching staff. If an 18 year old is good enough - they will be selected and play. 25 is not old! Especially for a keeper. Was Mark Schwarzer a better keeper at 25, or 35? As with any successful team - you need a good blend of young and experienced players. If you have a whole squad of 18 year olds running around, the quality of the league will diminish, not improve.

The over 25s ban is a moronic idea.

Totally agree with you Scorcher80

So should the A-League have the same restrictions?

If not, why?

I don't think it's a ban, it's just the older the player is the more 'points' they cost in the system.

It's Griffin McMaster. The very definition of journeyman, he's spent his career playing for semi-pro clubs, he's only managed 20 games in the A-League, he's never going to improve at his age. Does football owe a player like him a career for another 3 or 4 years? Or should we be pushing to get more kids like Mat Ryan, Birighitti, Lawrence Thomas, Tyson or Langarak into first team action?

If they restrict the players from over 25 in the VPL than FFA should do it to the A- league and all the international players representing Australia ! ( Than will see if the general people like )???

The FFV is a bloody joke, they have no understanding of the needs of the game at local level. Have a look at their front page today, or any day and see how much airplay they give to the minority bodies in our sport, its not worth even reading. When I ask them what is available in the 'off season' for a team of under 9's they don't bother even replying to an email.

The FFV should be dismantled and real football people take up the roles, Victoria is lagging behind all the other states like NSW and QLD, have a look at the National sides and where the players come from!

Agree with Mr. Macmaster
Absolute shambles

The younger players need to earn their spot by beating the better player at any age, not be handed it just because of their age. How will the the cream rise to the surface if you take away the milk? Frikin morons the FFV!!

Well said Edda! Someone said Kewell is too old to me on Friday. I mentioned Ive watched a couple of his games and he turned the younger kids inside out, so when they can stand toe-to-toe with him they aren't deserving...yet. Earn your stripes ///

Soilent Green is people!

There is no ban on Over 25s, this is the age that point pentalies start kicking in. Every team in the new NPLV would still have several Over 25s in the squad.

People complain endlessly that the clubs play old hacks at the expense of youth and then when a system is introduced that would encourage (force) teams to promote youth you complain again. The reality is the best over 25s will not be affected by this points system, its the marginal Over 25s who really shouldn't be there anyway that will be cut as they cannot afford them in the points cap and a up and coming 18/19 will take their place.

The point cap is a good system, have they got it right, maybe not and it may require a little tweaking but the principle is good.

Brendan Schwab and the PFA don't think its a good idea.

And if proven to be discriminatory and against employment laws then is definitly not sound in principle.

The PPS is not a Victorian criteria - it is a national FFA one. This aside, I agree with Bendo51 above on the PPS.

With respect to the broader NPLV dispute - clearly a magistrate thinks the clubs case has enough 'legs' for the Supreme Court (not his court as the FFVhave maintined) - so the stakes are getting higher.

Whatever ones opinion on the proposed NPLV model, this aint going to be resolved quickly in a superiour court. If it is to be resolved quickly it will be resolved by the parties or the FFA. The FFA may go all 'intervention' on the Vic football community if it decides, as it did in NSW - that enough is enough!

I have no problem with the age weighting in the PPS - as others have said, the top players will continue to get deals, those who aren't pulling their weight are more likely to find themselves being moved on, etc.

Nor do I have any great objection to the points weighting against visa players - if a backpacker wants to make some money playing whilst he's here there's plenty of state league sides outside the top level who are willing to pay decent match fees...

My issue if with the 'restraint of trade' caused by the transfer penalties... It's unfair that a player moving from one club to another is penalised - and it's a real problem for an older player at a top side, who still has something to offer a smaller side, but will carry such a high number of points due to being over-aged AND a transfer.

"and it's a real problem for an older player at a top side, who still has something to offer a smaller side, but will carry such a high number of points due to being over-aged AND a transfer."

I agree with Benjamin on this. My overall support for the NPLV model is qualified, as I have stated a number of times, with concerns about a number of specifics. While I like the PPS (but wonder about its legality) I think details like this raised by Benjamin are examples of the sorts of issues that need to be worked through. I think the FFA will be forced to at some stage.

I am not prepared to throw the ‘baby out with the bathwater’ however.

I hope the dispute gets resolved (one way or another) and a fully national, coherent, 2nd tier that develops younger players and closes the gap to the A-League emerges from this important reform.

Arthur
When push comes to shove the PFA don't like the Salary Cap either. Its their job to dislike anything the wouyld restrict a player earner as much as they can.

The question is will they take it to court. Don't forget the salarly Cap in the A-league also has ever been tested in a court of law.

In terms of the PPS there is not that much difference with mandating that 3 players of your squad have to be Under 21s (as in the A-league). Its just putting into place a system that favors home grown youth over buying in players. I agree with the posters above however that the penalties for a player transferring across teams seem very high but the FFA and state comps can tweak that by raising the Points cap if its found to be too low.

It remains though that the teams that will rise to the top in this type of system will be the ones that can develop youth from within. This is a good thing

PFA actively encourages the salary cap - they just want it higher.