David Edwards
NormA League, Version 2?
August 25th 2006 11:25
Well the Hyundai A-League is upon us again. After how it was received with open arms last season, it could not have received a better start for the season. During their break, not only did Australia get into the biggest stage of soccer, the World Cup, after 32 years of trying, they were also able to make a huge impact on the global stage, and bar from a whistle and penalty shot, could have made it further against the best of the world.
However, that was then and this is now. The domestic league is starting up again, and already the marketing campaign has gone into full swing. The big names are back, and this time this will definitely have a bigger audience base to impress, not to mention a whole nation just waiting to be brought around fully on this notion of soccer (the use of the term of ‘football’ that everyone is using is to be debated another time).
Yet I still have a problem with how they are promoting it. The fantastic ad campaign is bigger and better this year, but to my surprise they have added the tag line ‘version 2’. Now I know it’s meant to represent the second year of the competition, and on paper it seems a good way to promote it, but I still have a problem with it. The term ‘version 2’ implicates that it has been changed, modified or revamped from its first season, and personally I think that was a wrong way to go.
The success of the inaugural season of the A-League was bigger than anyone could have anticipated. The action was constant, the pace was fierce, and in no way did it resemble anything like its predecessor, the NSL. Stating that they have changed or modified the season in any way since 2005 seems the wrong way to go, and in fact I believe they should have highlighted the beauty that it held in 2005, and promised much more action and excitement, something that all soccer fans know will happen this time around.
But I digress. The season is new in front of us, and I believe that it is my duty to try and implicate not only the frontrunner of the season, but also who will be the surprise packet, and who will ultimately win the whole competition. So here we go on the first
A-League Crystal Ball (Version 1.1)
First of all, I believe that Adelaide will once again become the team to beat. Their squad is theoretically one of the toughest to overcome, and many teams will be digging deep to score goals of them. The surprise of the season will in fact not come from Australia, but across the sea. New Zealand have made significant changes in their side, and after a great start in the pre-season, they will move considerably up the ladder.
And last but not least, the winner of the competition will be… Adelaide. Even that it pains me to say it, I think that Adelaide have the tempo and strength to go all the way this year, and I think that this will not be changed by any of the other finalists this year.
Until next time sports fans.
However, that was then and this is now. The domestic league is starting up again, and already the marketing campaign has gone into full swing. The big names are back, and this time this will definitely have a bigger audience base to impress, not to mention a whole nation just waiting to be brought around fully on this notion of soccer (the use of the term of ‘football’ that everyone is using is to be debated another time).
Yet I still have a problem with how they are promoting it. The fantastic ad campaign is bigger and better this year, but to my surprise they have added the tag line ‘version 2’. Now I know it’s meant to represent the second year of the competition, and on paper it seems a good way to promote it, but I still have a problem with it. The term ‘version 2’ implicates that it has been changed, modified or revamped from its first season, and personally I think that was a wrong way to go.
The success of the inaugural season of the A-League was bigger than anyone could have anticipated. The action was constant, the pace was fierce, and in no way did it resemble anything like its predecessor, the NSL. Stating that they have changed or modified the season in any way since 2005 seems the wrong way to go, and in fact I believe they should have highlighted the beauty that it held in 2005, and promised much more action and excitement, something that all soccer fans know will happen this time around.
But I digress. The season is new in front of us, and I believe that it is my duty to try and implicate not only the frontrunner of the season, but also who will be the surprise packet, and who will ultimately win the whole competition. So here we go on the first
A-League Crystal Ball (Version 1.1)
First of all, I believe that Adelaide will once again become the team to beat. Their squad is theoretically one of the toughest to overcome, and many teams will be digging deep to score goals of them. The surprise of the season will in fact not come from Australia, but across the sea. New Zealand have made significant changes in their side, and after a great start in the pre-season, they will move considerably up the ladder.
And last but not least, the winner of the competition will be… Adelaide. Even that it pains me to say it, I think that Adelaide have the tempo and strength to go all the way this year, and I think that this will not be changed by any of the other finalists this year.
Until next time sports fans.
| 52 |
| Vote |
