Quote Originally Posted by Thomas477 View Post
The gulf has changed things, but that may only be a short term thing like China was. The money isn?t in China the same way it was 15 years ago. Their economy is in much worse shape. Japan and the MLS are competitors, but they were also there 10 years.

Some of the foreigners at the moment are very good, but they don?t have the same crowd pulling power that those 3 did back in the day. Just a quick look at transfermarket shows players like De Gea, Mata, Lingard (I?m a Man U fan :shrug: ), Sakho, Douglas Costa, Chicharito, Carlos Vela are all free agents. I know it wouldn?t be easy, but it?s the only short term solution to crowd numbers I can see. I don?t know what else the APL can do except charge Townsend with malicious mismanagement, but that ain?t happening.
Some interesting points, I agree we need someone next level to add interest. Please no ex Man United players, apart from being a Liverpool fan the club is a shadow off the one of the one in Ferguson's time. The players coming out of United aren't of the calibre required apart from Mata. I think he would be a good signing, he is quality.

I really think Germain is top quality and his talent is underestimated. It's a shame he is at Macarthur, he needed to be at one of the big clubs.

Channel 9 and channel 7 are also giving the A League no airtime on the news. They haven't done it for years. It's funny how channel 7 jumped on the Matildas bandwagon during the World cup, but aren't interested in football at any other time.

The Big Bash is major competition. But that league is facing similar challenges to tge A League. The leagues in UAE and South Africa have blown the league the big Bash out of the water and are taking all the better players.