If Phoenix somehow made the final from here, there would be absolute spasms of disbelieving joy from the Yellow Fever crowd, and trans-Tasman plane flights would be booked solid within 10 minutes. You've got to remember that Danny Townsend is very complimentary towards NZ's role in the A-League and is the biggest fan of getting an Auckland team here. The absolute hatred in which Australian active support holds him doesn't extend to Wellington; and Sydney is closer than any other Australian city.

(Meanwhile, actual Phoenix fans are actually furious with how the season's gone and many were actually hoping we'd miss the finals to punish the underachieving players, not to mention Talay on his way out after 4 years of mediocrity.)

But even if Nix make GF (finishing 6th on table) the game would be played in Australia anyway, before this Apl cock up.
are Nix fans cashed up for traveling/staying in Sydney? Most Aussies certainly aren’t 

Well, it's closer than Perth.
Seriously: going to any away games is a big expense for Nix fans (including the 2 home games every year in Auckland). Which is why we're always hospitable to any away fans who get over here. So one more away game, at the most convenient Oz city to get to, is much of a muchness.
There is of course grumbling at the removal of the possibility that a GF might one day be played at the "Ring of Fire" in Wellington, but get real, that would never ever happen anyway

You never know with Nix - they have done better than the 6 other Aussie teams who missed out on finals at least. Respect to Nix fans that travel to another country just to watch their club play. When Auckland are in AL that will be 1 less trip to Aus at least

Agree.

Thanks for your confidence and your respect, but the Nix will never make a GF for two reasons:
1) Wellington will never, ever be able to recruit like the big Sydney or Melbourne teams because the country's poorer and the weather isn't as good; 9 times out of 10 if someone has a decent season at the Nix they'll be gone somewhere better immediately (we developed Barbarouses, Rojas and Oli Sail; look where that got us)
2) it is well known that A-League refs systematically (albeit perhaps unconsciously) do down the Nix. Both Rudan and Talay confirm that they didn't believe it until they were on the receiving end, but then it's all too obvious.

The more I think about this the more I respect the Cove.

Well done them.

RBB need to sit in the room of mirrors for a few hours.

I don't understand why fans would boycott the entire finals series. Isn't the problem the grand final? Why would you punish the clubs that are playing the elimination and semi finals in the city that earned the right to host it? What message are you sending to APL, that you don't like Sydney hosting the grand final, or you don't like finals at all? Almost seems like a trojan horse for those who want to abolish the concept of finals altogether.

It's really weird - since when did RBB put anything above their own egos - 'Supporting the team'? The majority of their songs are about themselves. 

Maybe they've got some Instagram photoshoot concepts ready for posting and sending to Ultras Tifo etc

To be fair, the last time they made finals was 16/17. They've been rubbish for so long that WSW in the finals has become a rarity. Probably makes it a tougher decision to boycott.

What if you don't make the final? Can't really make a statement then.

In fact it shows more go than waiting in case they make the final.

Shows the state of the A-League when a few facebook groups dreams of self importance manages to become vaguely relevant

haha fun
The city didn't earn anything but paid for it and the apl luv that.
Suppose knock off effect re the semis to the supporters barring wsw I suspect having good numbers for they have only made up the numbers the last 5/6yrs.
Msg hopefully is all you mention to them.
Fingers crossed finals finish one day not taking the shine off the Prem winner but for a mickey mouse round robin knock out series to appease those linking a Cup style finish to a competition over a short 26 round comp.
Like the trojan horse theory hope it works :)

This is about winning a Prem title -
https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2023/may/04/you-must-never-give-up-underdogs-napoli-reach-the-summit-again-serie-a
Not a play off GF - thats fine for a Cup but wheeez merican

Spot on re ‘phoney Grand Final winner = Champions’. 

I know this has been done to death but the A League does have a 'PREMIERS' champion and a 'FINALS' champion.

I can't see why we can't have both. The best team is clearly the team that finishes the league on top and this year that's City. The finals are now another tournament where the best team on the day wins. 

The issue is not the finals but the general public's indifference to the premiership. The public loves finals and, to be fair, it's a bit of a cash cow for the FA/APL which is only a good thing for a busted arse outfit league like ours.

In defence of the FA they have never (at least I don't think) called it the MINOR premiership when you win the league and always called it the 'Premiership'. 

Small steps.

I can't see how getting rid of the finals will add anything to the league. What they need to do, if they're going to continue with them, is keep emphasising the importance of finishing top of the league and slowly change people's perceptions.

AND...... emphasise the importance of it at grassroots level because I know from playing for over 40 years no one really cares about winning the league at all. 

Even in 'purist' countries like England they have a playoff for promotion for some spots rather than a straight up, straight down scenario.

Why?

Because people love the drama.

I think the only positive to come out of all of this for the A league is that even the die hard Lowy/APL apologists now understand that their opinion DOESNT COUNT. That they are NOT part of the conversation, just customers to be taken advantage of.. Yes that may very well happen in other parts of the world but at least now we can move past the whole "football but not as you know it" philosophy that uncle Frank Brunoskevic introduced....  Just accept what you have is a Big Bash , KFC bucket hat style pretend league and either accept it and move on or abandon it in droves..... 

I mean, as expected everyone with their face in the trough from Danny Trashcan to idiotic little "Tik tock journalists"  is pushing the barrow, pleading with fans to go to the Syd WSW match... the game needs fans to survive YET the game can also survive without the fans according to APL?!?!?!?... Danny has even promised to arrange cruise ships for fans to be able to travel to Sydney next year .... Crusie ships???? FFS hahahha that is the best thing I have ever heard....  Will the APL 2024 ISUZU Mens but not Womens Subway Socceroos Aleague Grand Final Pty Ltd be played on the shuffle board deck of the SS Loveboat... while Isaac the bartender provided drinks during the commercials???? hahahahahah

Yeah nah. If you took a poll amongst the plebs you'd get easily north of 80% of people saying they love the finals. It's YOUR opinion that doesn't count.

A few purist, diehards, zealots, axe-grinders, 442'ers and that disagree which is fine but I'll walk to Wollongong if they're anywhere near even 20% of all football fans.

I dont mind the finals either big man...I mean I dont love them but it IS the Australian way.
No,  I was talking about all the "angst" by the "McHooligans" over Danny and the APL not listening to them about where the GF should be played and not consulting with their quasi paramilitary groups on private equity policy....... Their "manifestos" are hilarious.... This boycott will be futile... what do they think all of sudden the APL will "ask" a bunch of eshays what to do next regarding scheduling, broadcasting, which licenses to sell etc.... These people are in it to make a buck ffs.... Its hilarious.

Agree with this. I don't see why it is a point of contention with so many. So what if holding finals isn't like other leagues? This is our league and it's popular to have finals, on balance.

Thumbs up.

Wow 🤩 cruise ships to Sydney idea totally makes up for the now cancelled  ‘festival of football’. Danny really believes AL fans are stupid enough to keep believing his BS?! He couldnt organise a root in a brothel 

Champions get automatically promoted so there is the recognition of the league winners.

I have no problem with people getting excited about finals but the lack of acknowledgment of the league winners gets up my nose.
How much publicity have you seen about the  league winners (Champions), runners up, and Australia Cup winners getting slots in various in AFC competitions?
By all means have an end of season cup but to call the winner of that ‘ a league champions’ is truly laughable.

Third place is usually a play-off though. And there's no reason to not have that as automatic too but they do it for the drama and the money.

I'd disagree with lack of acknowledgement of the premiers. It's been pretty well covered. I mean you have to follow the A League to know about it but that's anything to do with the A League.

Do laugh at people (not you) who say 'where's the advertising and marketing?' Well if you watch the broadcast channel they're always flogging it on there. Channel 7 and 9 are hardly going to cover it are they.

Obviously I am not expecting the ‘msm’ to publicising anything about  football but looking at various football media outlets there’s no mention of league winners etc getting the chance to promote the a league in Asia.
Maybe this boils down to the insular thinking in this country.

What do you mean?  The League winners are crowned on Grand Final Day.  They are also known as The Champions. They get a trophy and all. 

Point is the League winners are still over shadowed by the GF itself and winners.
Applies forever here due to gayfl/nrl rhetoric for decades and decades, we follow what they do.
So for eg the League winner isn't in the GF, wow what a reception they get receiving their League trophy with countless other Club fans in the crowd and feck all of their own.
The League Champ isn't revered as the out and out Champion especially by the general public and casuals, media hype over the GF and winners is the click bait.

I have no issue having a Cup/Finals Series but get it in proper order of the football DNA not afl/nrl style of the norm done here.

By the way re the Cove and win against the westies, what were the Cove's numbers any idea fellas ?
Bitter pill for the many RBB there haha

What happened over the weekend, who won? Is it going to be an ALL Sydney final for the APL?

what's this about cruise ships?