Does anyone know if Heart has plans to set up a W-League team?

looking at it for next season

That will only increase costs for likely little return. Not sure thats a great idea.

Maybe increasing the female fan base is the aim, but it holds little else in strategic value IMHO.

I'd like to see Heart have a women's team. Aside from any personal enjoyment from a w-league team, I think it will only be good for our national women's side to have a bigger w-league.

Towards the longer term a women's team is a must. I agree though that it would be a tough financial burden in the short term, so I'm not sure how wise it would be to start up a team next year.

First season with a modern football club it's to be expected and a person would be naive to expect otherwise. 3rd on the A-League ladder and 1st on the youth league ladder. Hows your 'established' team going?:d

Geoff Lord is that you?

On track for the wooden spoon maybe. Perhaps victory would be suited for the state league, competition they can match on the field.

It's funny and so predictable seeing the victory lot try and smear the heart whilst victory continue to flounder. Console yourselves with crowds and off field matters all you want, because you've got nothing on field.

Such a doucebag Victory fan comment!! You do realise you only get 1 point for a draw don't you? I'll explain that for you; Victory have to score more goals than their opponent in a game to get 3 points for winning. Having fluked a win only once in the last 6 games you may have forgotten how it works!

I'm not defending him, his comments werent exactly needed, but some Heart fans need to realise that its only 3 points, and we will see who the better team is, in 10 days time ;)

And a W-League team is a must imo, it not only helps expand the womens game, but you may even attract more female supporters.

:lol: and when the tv right deals come through we'll be fine

after the derby in round 3 this season, and the way victory have been playing, i'm more confident about next fridays derby. Even though the first one this season was 0-0 JVS quite clearly out-coached the rookie coaches at victory, and will do so again next friday because mehmet and muscat have no idea. Not to mention that we will have Fred, Worm, Babalj and Madaschi that we didn't have last match.

Edited by heart_fan10: 13/12/2011 12:53:49 PM

I wonder if Bubs would come back.

It'd be great if we had a W-League side and it'd be great for the W-League too because it would round up the number of teams to an even 8.

Our A-League Youth team plays out of VPL's Northcote City home ground in Darebin, but perhaps the women can play at Lakeside Stadium!?!? Obviously they'd have to get approval from SMFC and Athletics Australia, but imagine all the athletes around when our women play - they'd stay and watch and maybe even get interested in women's football :)

Lakeside Stadium is still right in the "Heart" of the city and SMFC even get their wish - a national team playing at their stadium ;)

Clarence Seedorf - ex Ajax and Holland player, currently an attacking midfielder at AC Milan!

I reckon he'd be an AWESOME marquee player at Heart after his contract ends at AC Milan! At 35, he's still mixing it up and keeping up with the best.

With his Ajax and Dutch connections, John van 't Schip should be able to sell Seedorf the "Australian lifestyle", relaxed and sunny and bring him over to Melbourne Heart :-)

What do you guys think?

I was thinking of Seedorf about a year ago when he was a fringe player and was losing favour and support from AC Milan, but then he had a few useful appearances and they resigned him, damn! :d

I reckon the A-League should be aiming for marquees like Seedorf now, and I reckon Heart should be trying to get top players of Seedorf quality through JVS's connections, like what we were attempting with Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and Mounir El Hamdaoui.

Despite age, players like Robert Pires and Clarence Seedorf are quality high profile players whom the A-League should be trying to land IMO.

For now I'm happy to focus on our young players like Babalj, Behich and Dugandzic, and Ibrahim and Zahra, who both should be in contention this week or the next.

Just thought i'd share a video I just made on Eli Babalj.

[youtube]UT7YSKNueKo[/youtube]

Thanks for the video. Really good to see that last goal, the one against Adelaide, again. Simply an awesome finish. Signs of things to come.

Babalj is a bit inconsistent but thats to be expected from a young player (only 19 years old!). He sometimes dribbles too much, but I'm sure with more experience he'll perfect the balance of using his great footwork & skills and shooting & finishing well.

Yeah, am very excited about this guy, especially the strength he shows in and around the box.

The comparisons to Viduka may be premature, but that Adelaide goal certainly has a bit of Viduka about it.

With the likelyhood of losing Behich and Hamill/Good to the Olyroos surely it couldn't hurt to look at Trent McClenahan, who's short term deal just finished at Perth Glory.

Who thinks that Heart should try and sign up Raul Gonzalez from Schalke 04 for next season?

I do! He's two year contract runs out this July and although he's turning 35 in June - he'd be an awesome addition to the team.

He'd be the biggest signing EVER in the A-League, bigger than Fowler and Harry Kewell combined! He could be to Melbourne Heart and the A-League what David Beckham is to LA Galaxy and the MLS.

We need a massive shot in the arm - averaging 6,490 fans at home games (exc. Melb Derbies + Regional game) isn't the greatest! If we have a player of Raul's calibre we will not only get massive crowds, but we'll get more wins on the board too.

Thoughts?

Edited by red_or_dead: 6/3/2012 10:32:10 PM

The club is said to report another year of losses totalling in the millions.

Its aim was to break even next season. I think its unlikely, unless we come close to winning the Grand Final this season and tear it up next season. Again unlikely

Getting bigger crowds aside, the government has said A-League clubs need to look at getting better stadium deals.

With AAMI reportedly costing hundreds of thousands to host a game, I think we should look at playing games in other stadiums.

I posted this elswhere:

Lakeside has two stands with seats totalling 7000, on the side of the athletics "oval". Behind the goals there are steps that can be stood on or sat on. Yes there is a running track.

But look at the affordability. They charge $5 per adult entry for athletics meets. So the costs there must be low. Of course Aths Aus would jack that up, but no where like AAMI. Plus the club could say its acting to the recent government recommendations about the A-League seeking better stadium deals. No they won't like AAMI being empty, but that was built without us in mind anyway.

Price the stadium seats from $20-$35. Uncovered general admission $15 Adults (everyone, pensioners students), $5 for kids under 14. At an average of $25 for 7000 attendance thats $175k match day revenue. The club could do its own catering and give itself a second source of revenue, say they get another $35k -try something different here: offer Greek, Italian, Serb Croatian, Sth American Lebanese Asian Indian food stalls. A link to "old soccer". Say match day costs are 60k, that still leaves the club about 150k in the black.

Now I think Fox demands stadiums with 10 k seating and video screens. The FFA should negotiate a wavering of this for new clubs in the first 5 years.

I don't know what the transport is like though.

When we get bigger, we move full time to AAMI.

We played in Morwell for christ sake, the club could at the very least give Aths Aus a call and book a couple of "community round" matches and trial it.

Thoughts?

Edited by stefcep: 18/3/2012 04:18:05 PM

Problem is though stefcup are south willing to let you guys play there? Seeing the ffa chose you instead of sxfc bid.

Raul maybe known to us football fans but to The general public he is unknown . Sad but true

I'm not privy to the contractual deals between Athletics Australia, the State government, and Sth Melb, but I'm willing to punt that all stake holders would be involved in the decision not South Melbourne alone. And the government would not be unpleased to see Heart are taking the recent governement review's advice that A-League clubs live within their means.

In relation to southern cross being rejected, that would have be done on a range of factors, and they would have scored points in having a ground, and obviously not on other criteria.

Creative idea stephcep but never going to happen. Mhfc are committed to aami. last seasons member survey highlighted that the stadium is a big drawcard (compared to etihad I suspect). it also mentioned that cluba philosophy about attractive football is a significant part of the clubs appeal (to members this is).

Newcomers will no doubt be won over by results and the increased attention that comes with it. Aami will become viable as the club continues to grow. south melb would be a nightmare for transport...even if its only 7k.

There's one major issue with Lakeside stadium and that is the lack of adequate corporate hospitality boxes. Without them you Lise potential sponsorship opportunities which will actually be a cash drain.

Trying to downsize can actually have the opposite effect on financial performance.

I don't know what we can do to boost crowds without going out and signing a big name and then actually consistently performing well, particularly at home. Playing good football alone will not get us the cash, but profiting from our youth policy will help alleviate the current losses. Getting those good transfer deals to overseas clubs will definitely help the bottom line.

http://au.fourfourtwo.com/forums/default.aspx?g=posts&t=70669

Bresciano and Grelly could be in heart by 2015^^^^^

Just in time for their 40th birthdays :lol:

Just heard some news that Adrian Zahra is off to Perth Glory next season its sad if true!!