Torn Asunder

Great news for the league and the FFA will move hell and earth to get it to work ... otherwise it will be a worse failure than the World Cup bid. I wouldnt be suprised if Harry Kewel is poached from Victory to give the new club its profile. Maybe GCU could be kept around as a Youth League club. They seem to be very successful in this regard. They could move to a smaller stadium, so their handful of diehard supporters would be able to generate some atmosphere and still have a club to follow, and they could continue to be a good feeder resource for players for the rest of the league. Then, in a few years, they may grow enough in support to get back into the senior level comp.

For a National Comp featuring the most popular sport in the world, $50k per year, per club really should be considered chicken feed. Unfortunately for us fans, given the financial state of the game and the ecomomy in general, I guess that just isnt the case. That being said, I am sure that there would be some financial whizz who could produce some numbers in terms of benefit cost for an extra annual investment (note the term, investement) with regards to blooding new players AND winning additional games (by having greater tactial options with more players on the bench). Can a price be put on experience, and what would a home final be worth?? Think about some of the Heart games late in the season where Hamill sat on the bench only as cover for Colossimo. If JVS had one extra player, say Williams, Goodwin or Sarkies, perhaps results may have differed.

The A-league must increase bench numbers. I think 5 plus a keeper. This would give a Manager plenty of options and flexibility to deal with situations unforseen AND it would give more young players the oppurtunity to gain match time. For example, if a game is clearly won or lost you could bring on a first gamer to see how they go. Hope the club execs raised this at their recent meeting with FFA.

I would like to see Babalj play as a number 10, similar to what Sibon did in our first season. When he has dropped into the AM area he has looked dangerous (and selfish, but this is a maturity thing) and he has the abilty to create and beat players. You could then play Williams as an out and out striker and hopefully the two would develop a lethal partnership.

Contracted till July this year - value is 1.8 million Euro http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/liedson/profil/spieler_13952.html

Wow Micha! just chill dude ... Toogood did not say that players from Asia are no good, or that Australian players are the best ... he just said that he'd prefer a youth player to an average J-League player. You are right that an average J league player (provided he adapted to the higher levels of physicality) would star in our league and I am sure that if the club can find one they can afford, they would be a great signing. The fact that the J-league existed before the A-league is a statement of fact, but I am not sure what your point is. The A-league (even in name) aspires to the J-league, which is leap years ahead of our league in most facets.

Just goes to show how highly Fred is rated by the players. Congrats to Aziz and Marrone - well deserved. If Mate had kept up his good early season form for most of the year he would be in there as well.

Brisbane has less members than Heart at 4459, but their average home game attendances is much higher at 13,157 http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/a-league/news/1099283/Brisbane-announces-record-growth What can be read into this in comparison to the Heart??

"Big decisions loom for Melbourne Heart in coach search" - article on Goal.com http://www.goal.com/en-au/news/4026/opinion/2012/03/21/2981180/opinion-big-decisions-loom-for-melbourne-heart-in-coach

The key for A-League clubs is to add a clause for the any future sale of the player, say 10-25% of the next transfer fee. Then if the player goes onto bigger and better things and they are able to command a million plus transfer fee, the club will get their percentage, which will probably be similar or even more than the original sale price.

Here is my attempt to summarise the key points and issues raised thus far: Memberships and Ticketing Members and memberships are to be highly valued, however the Club needs to do some serious work with regards to: Pricing & Membership / Ticketing Flexibility - i.e. some AFL clubs provide excellent packages and options for members that are aimed to catch as many supporters as possible. The Club could look at 3 games, 5 games, 7 games, etc memberships, Derby (and throw in Sydney) packages, value packages (i.e. Wellington / Perth / CCM, etc) Better Seating oppurtuinities and more Seating Flexibility Freebies and discounted tickets or memberships need to be considered carefully and with caution so as to not de-value the Melbourne Heart brand The Team & Match day Experience The team needs to be succesful & consideration should be given to signing a high profile marquee player to attract new fans (a Socceroo would be great!) When first timers or casual attendees come to a game, the whole experience (win / lose or draw) should on balance be an enjoyable and memorable experience that ultimately results in more members and casual attendees. Engagement The Club website and facebook page (social media) needs improvement & should be modern, fresh and engaging. The Club should look at oppurnistic engagment with: minority / target groups (i.e Asian & Greek communities) and ensure follow up non football groups like the Arts Universities Corporate The Club needs to determine if there is any benefit targeting members geographically. The Club needs to engage with as many Victorian soccer clubs as possible (without formal affiliation in the interest of not being tied to any particular club), whilst still building relationships with clubs at all levels. Marketing More advertising! Free to air TV / Foxtel / Radio and Print - Important, important, important!! Link offers / memberships / tickets, etc to Foxtel subscriptions or specific pay TV oppurtunities. Get more merchandise out and about. Get better reciprocation with regards to marketing / deals / cross promotion with major sponsors and tap into their markets, espically with regards to their employees. Pray that the FFA get an awesome TV deal in the coming years!! Members Provide a rewards program (even if it was just formal recognition) for members who: bring people to games (encourage, encourage, encourage!) get new members signed up Offer members the oppurtunity to run a promotional program or provide resources for: Local / junior clubs Corporate occasions Members through Yarraside / Red and White Unite to form a committe that is formally recognised by the Club to work with the Club on matchday and marketing ideas / campaigns to be undertaken by the Club and Yarraside / Red and White Unite (web, gorilla marketing, viral) - This is one I have added and am interested in peoples thoughts!!! Other Things Socceroos / World Cup - promote as much as possible through the Club and ensure that when the socceroos have a match in Melbourne, the Heart have a noticable presence A-League in general - the Club to push for better representation with respect to high level decisions for the A-League Anyway, thats it so far. I have probably missed a few things, and taken the liberty to add a couple of suggestions based on a critical assessment of comments... Not sure how to formally make the Melbourne Heart exec's aware of these ideas .... any suggestions?

A tune that pretty much everyone knows, and which is punchy and may sound good on mass is Eye of the Tiger.... Da! Da, Da, Da Da, Da, Da Da, Da, Daaahhh- Go Heart!

So based on that article and the words of Scott Munn .... Heart chief executive Scott Munn said his club was not looking at new coaching options at this stage, although he was full of praise for what Postecoglou had achieved. "I was in Albury until 11am today, so unless something has happened in the last 48 hours then that situation (regarding Postecoglou) is news to me," Munn said. "We have made it pretty clear that our intention is to appoint (a coach) from within and we see John (Aloisi) and Ante (Milicic) as coaches in waiting. "We have also said we want to see what is available in Australia and that we won't be involved in a worldwide search for a coach. "We will look at the options as soon as the season finishes but our focus now is on making the finals." ... if it isnt Ange, then it will most probably be JA or AM ...

If we don't re-sign Terra (and i think that we shouldn't), I would not be suprised if he went to Victory or another A-league club ...

Currently the club has a model of community engagement, a corporate program, youth development and attractive exciting football as the cornerstones of building membership. The club was targeting 10,000 members this year (which i believe has not been achieved ) and there were a number of deals such as buy one ticket get one free, half price tickets, free tickets for members and 5 game memberships to encourage more people to attend games. Attendance for 2011/2012 to date average 9,724. The derby averaged 26,482 and against interstate / NZ clubs the average stands at 6,372. Last season the average was 8,315, the derby average was 24,478 and against interstate / NZ clubs the average was 5,828 I have read quite a few posts where people have put forward great ideas on how to get more people through the gate and ultimately turn them into members. I thought it would make a good stand alone topic and maybe even provide the marketing area of the club with an avenue to good ideas from current members. So post away....how can the club (and we as members) help increase the Melbourne Heart membership number? What initiatives have worked well and what has bombed?

Speaking of not having an idea, amazingly, a light bulb just lit up right above my head.... Lets go with the severed goat head concept ... and in addition, at half time the club can organise a live performance by Satanic Death Metal band Deicide, or maybe Morbid Angel... Given its JVS's last home game, maybe Scott Munn can arrange to have him scarificed to the Dark Lord, and then, to finish off the occasion, Yarraside can sell its soul to the Devil in return for a Melbourne Heart Grand Final victory!

im sure that would be a great way to promote the club, attract more members (and families) to the game and not create any negative press on prime time TV national news ...

simple... same tune as the start of Metallica's Frayed Ends of Sanity (which is actually from the Wizard of Oz)... Oh-waaaay-Oh! Ger-maaan-o!

This game is arguably the biggest test for the club since the 1st derby, and making the finals could very well depend upon the result. There is already an expectation that we will win and each time this has happened we have been flat and dropped points. It is also an early kick-off and for some crazy reason in the past we have struggled with early games, although we bucked that trend two weeks ago against CCM. I predict the boys will come through with flying colours, score first, and then smash Wellington 3 nil.

it would be hard to convince one of the Saudi's to join. They get paid a fortune at home by the club's oil rich owners and are treated like rock stars...

FFA acted correctly. Palmer had to go. With his "I can do whatever the f#$% i want" egomanic attitude, he personalised issues and started a war with the executives of the FFA and was deliberatley sabotaging the league and the game. There was no telling how much damage he would have wreaked over the last few weeks of the season if the FFA waited till seasons end to make their decision. The FFA would not have revoked his licence without sound legal advice and they will not fear him in court. Given Clive's ego and the possibility that he will lose at court due to his unquestionable breaches of licence, I have my doubts that he will challenge. To those who think he has raised some sound points about the state of the game, this may be the case, but it doesnt matter because it is impossible to deal with someone like him. He is a bully and he will always he think he is right and that he knows better than everyone else. With regards to the clubs and their owners, issues should always be raised proffesionally in an environment of respect and partnership. It is terrible for the A-League, the people of the Gold Coast and their players. I compare this situation with the stricken Italian Cruise Liner that crashed into the shore in Europe a little while back - Palmer is the captain (a know it all who is unprepared to take responsibilty for his actions), the players are the crew (a bunch of guys who run ths ship and did their best but were ultimately ruined by the actions of their leader) and the fans are the passangers (who just picked the wrong cruise). The A-league is like the cruise industry ... ultimately tarnished by this whole mess... back to business though...we should go after Thwaite

http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/233098,ffa-strip-palmer-of-gold-coast-united.aspx

An imposing, experienced Centre Back, 24-29 yrs of age who can calmly and consistently distribute the ball effectively and continue to teach Hamill and Good, AND who can score at set pieces... This type of player should be a top priority for the new Manager. Such a player could be found in Seria B or in Budesliga 2. In terms of experience, look at the value defensively of Colossimo, even though he lacks a little bit when compared to Madaschi. Nothing against Simon, however, if the club could secure a new CB, then he would be the back-up to that player, whilst you would continue to develop and rotate Hamill and Good (or play them both, depending on the team set-up). Does anyone know how the club has tradionally scouted its players, including overseas?

i bet you have lots of firends...

dont get me wrong Braveheart, I love what you guys do....it was just that the sha la la during the first half wasnt doing you guys the justice you deserve ... and this was the feedback from the folks around me