Despite what Jets owner Con Constantine has been telling people, it feels like the Coal City will always be a Rugby League Town.

However, to it's credit, the Joey Johns daily, aka the Newcastle Herald, ran an interesting article comparing crowds for the Jets and the Knights.

Although some of the logic is flawed - comparing the last 5 home matches for each team in a way that presents as if they were played at the same time, the bottom line result is very interesting....

Jets past 5 home crowds-----------Knights past 5 home crowds
v mariners 14026---------------------v Raiders 11349
v Sydney 20980-----------------------v Rabbitohs 16320
v Mariners 14828---------------------v Roosters 15171
v Victory 19601------------------------v Dragons 12573
v Sydney 24338-----------------------v Panthers 14351

Total: 93773----------------------------Total: 69764
Average: 18754-----------------------Average: 13952

Before we get all hot and bothered though, it's worth remembering that the Jets last 5 home games were in a run up to trying to get a spot in the semi's (including the last game that was a semi). whilst the last 5 from the Knights have have seen them wrestling to avoid the wooden spoon - not exactly the type of run to the end of the season that makes you want to go out on a cold winters night and watch rugby league.

Speaking of not going anywhere, the new rugby comp is not doing well.......despite the spin.

Michael Enfield, USA International and former member of team Galaxy, aka known as the team that David Beckham plays for now, may have had a few regrets when he joined Sydney FC right before David Beckham rolled into LA and put the entire LA Galaxy in the world spotlight, and potentially, in the world football shopwindow.

Doesn't sound like he is too worried though.

Enfield is a great example of a phenomenon that is starting to emerge as a feature of the A-League, and is a sign of a healthy future - the comp is a haven for those about to be great, or those who were great and want to be great again. The football is quality, there is exposure around the world and the crowds are decent. In fact when Dwight came here in year 1 A-League the talk was of 'retirement village', sunny weather and nightclubs - a great place to wind down the career.

All of a sudden of he goes to the north of England again - so much for the retirement village theory. The real story was he was struggling for form, came to Sydney, picked up some cash and enough confidence to captain his country in World Cup 2006 and is now back in the top flight EPL as part of Roy Keanes Sunderland.

Other examples of career resurrections are also there to behold - Alex came to Melbourne Victory, stayed a season despite the weather, and has now grabbed a nice little earner state side for FC Dallas.

This year we have Juninho - out of sorts with clubs in Brazil, and Super Mario Jardel, who so far seems on song and here to do the business. Even youngsters who left our shores are coming back to cut their teeth - I would've tipped Kaz Patafta to come back to Australia in twenty years, not just two, even on a loan out.

So what is Enfield thinking? He probably would have been surprised to find out that his new club was all of a sudden lined up to play his old club half way around the world, in November, when Sydney FC take on the Galaxy in a soon to be sell out fixture.

He'll get his exposure all through the A-League season, get to see the bright lights of LA in November, and maybe even learn a thing or two from a Samba King. Don't expect him to be here next year if he goes well though...

Before yesterday there are some pretty good reasons to go out and watch Sydney FC in Hyundai A League Season 3. A new coach that demands a more tasteful approach to football in Branko Culina. World class defenders in Tony Popovic, young up and comers like Mark Milligan and Alex Brosque, and war horses like Steve Corica.

But yesterday, Sydney was gifted Juninho Paulista by Frank Lowy (to be recouped in part by a Carney transfer fee no doubt). To most of us he is a name on the roll of players that got rattled out as Brazil slowly geared up into the World Cup 2002 and, right under everyones noses pulled off yet another World Champions trophy.

And Juninho Paulista was integral. You don't just play 50 times for Brazil's national team and play 5 out of 7 games in a World Cup finals campaign because there is no one else around to take your spot. Brazilians demand blood. This guy was good.

That alone is a reason to pack the stadium at the first home game. The fans deserve better than what they were given last season, and the club now deserves the fans to come back, because they have delivered on a true marquee player. Other clubs may boast a marquee who is a name in Australian football and perhaps known to a a few overseas - Stan Lazaridis for Perth, Craig Moore for Queensland and....Ante Covic for Newcastle(?). But Sydney have taken the notion of what a marquee player is meant to be and stepped it up a notch. As frustrating a wait as it has been, they have got their million dollar man.

Whether he will perform on the field is another matter. The signs are good . He looks fit and trim, and he has a distinctive lack of ego about him.

The chance to see a truly world class player, to swing to the samba rhythms provided by the Sydney Brazilians who will undoubtedly show up with their drums, whistles, and dancing girls and boys, and the promise of an attractive passing style of football encouraged by Culina should be reason enough to get off the couch and get to the games.

Attendance Stats for Sydney FC in the Hyundai A-league

2005/06 Sydney FC Average Crowd 19,647
2006/07 Sydney FC Average Crowd 17,449
2007/08 Sydney FC Average Crowd ?????

Ole!