Absolutely. Even the Guardian, with no ties of ownership to any code, never reports on regular season A League matches. The extent to which the competition does not exist in the mainstream media landscape is extraordinary. Of course, the fact that never in its history, excepting the season 1...

It's business. There is only the deal that offered. Fairness in in the eye of the beholder. What we need is a deal that makes it possible to survive while maximising exposure for the competition. 9 offers the second, but whether it offers the first, only APL will know. Fairness = market...

Seriously, folks, if APL goes with Ten again, the A League will be condemned to sporting irrelevance - because that is what Ten is in viewing terms - an irrelevance. I can only assume that Paramount thought they could turn it around. Well, they haven't been able to do that - a $322 million lost...

On your last point, we were clearly watching a different smash and grab win against a markedly superior Japan B team.

Ten is a black hole for ratings and Paramount is in upheaval. Because Ten is a black hole for ratings it is losing money ($322 million in the last calendar year alone), and, there has been reporting that Paramount want to divest themselves of the network. Nine offers a signficant audience and...

Yeah, I enjoy the banter too :)

Oh, sorry - I thought I was on the pointless conversations thread.

There are some good ones around. Kirabati is pronounced Kirabas. The wh you see in NZ Maori names is in fact a very soft sort of whooshing f sound, but it's a point of pride with the more reactionary populace to pronounce it as in when.

Thank you!

Ah, ok, I've managed to open it. What a shambles. But I see the door is not completely closed on the bailout by the Americans.

Its locked. Don't suppose you could copy and paste into the thread?

Serious question - I didn't know the H was silent. Is Heracles then pronounced Eracles? And Hera would be Era? Mind you, when I pronounce the French name Barthes correctly to my students, they look at me as if I'm deranged.

Our "talent" is put into perspective by a cursory glance at the England U21 team sheet.

We need a specific thread for pointless arguments.

IMO it would be a wise investment in the future of the professional football in this country if the APL accepted a bid of less monetary value from 9 over an extension with Paramount. Ten is a basket case. The long term value in sitting the A League alongside the EPL on a service with...

Mono, I understand your reservations, but if South come in the back door, I would still be delighted. It would be a first step to uniting the A League with the history of football in this country. It would be fantastic for the A League - but not Melbourne City, who would sink further into the...

Western United have done the A League immeasurable harm. Steve Horvat should hang his head in shame, and so should anyone at FFA involved in approving their licence. An absolute disgrace. Only the players and coaching staff are blameless.

I very much hope South succeed if this is the case.

I looked into them at the start of all this. I am not at all surprised that this decision has been made by APL. I would have been amazed to see it approved.

😁