A Football Analogy to demonstrate the riskiness of the NSW Opposition's defensive strategy in the run up to the State Election

The latest polls in NSW on the weekend of January 16-17th 2010 indicate that whilst the opposition holds a commanding 56 to 44 percentage lead over the Government, the voters have warmed up to the newly installed Premier Keneally, whilst they are still lukewarm towards opposition leader Barry O'Farrell.

I am going to use a football (soccer) analogy to demonstrate the risks involved in the timid & defensive strategy the opposition has used since it became obvious that Morris Iemma's position was becoming untenable.

As an avid & lifelong football (soccer) fan, for years I have had to defend the game regarding justifiable criticism about defensive football teams which play for a 1-0 win. The main strategy employed by defensive teams is to cautiously defend at all costs, and wait and take advantage of the opposite team's mistakes in order to win the game.

The are however several risks involved in defensive tactics. The main risk factors are:

1. If the opposing team throws in a creative player who scores, a defensive team selection may not have the capability to attack to score back, or it may be too late to rearrange the team to an attacking formation.

Football analogy: The Government seems to have used its last substitution opportunity before the next election well, by throwing in a new Premier who does not remind the voters of the labour powerbrokers they so intensely dislike, even if she is tagged their puppet.

2. Defensive teams are universally loathed by all but their own hardcore supporters. They lack creativity & vision and are usually uninspiring.

Football analogy: The boring quiet NSW opposition is starting to annoy the voters as much as the incompetent Government is! Bored voters, like bored spectators can & will switch off & stop following uninspiring leaders.

3. Defensive teams' players are not as popular as attacking teams' players amongst fans and are usually unknown because of this.

Football analogy: I have even written to Mr O'Farrell & asked him at what stage prior to the next election he proposes to increase the public profiles of the members of his shadow cabinet? No matter what the issue of the day is, health, transport, education, community services etc etc, not many voters know who the shadow ministers are! Given the opportunity by the media, Mr O'Farrell seems to be the spokes person for all issues

In other words, in a football analogy, the opposition in NSW is taking all of the above risks & more by sitting back and hoping that the Government continues to stumble towards the March 2011 election.

Barry O'Farrell is trying to score on the election night & get elected! Whilst this may be the most reasonable strategy considering the "Foot in the mouth" previous two election campaigns by the opposition, it exposes the classic negative aspects of a defensive team strategy to the voters.

It is universally acknowledged that most NSW voters are fed up with the Government's lack of policy and vision, incompetence, cronyism & poor management of the state. But are the voters ready to cheer & get excited for the 1-0 kind of win the opposition is gearing itself for? Or will they find the team uninspiring & boring?

The answers to the above questions will be the main determining factors of the result of the next NSW state election.

The opposition risks getting overwhelmed by its lack of attacking ploy & its seemingly "sit back & wait" strategy more than ever before. The Government has used its last available substitution wisely by installing a Premier (puppet or no puppet) who does not

a) look like, or

b) talk like or

c) behave like the stereotype self serving tainted labour politicians everyone dislikes.

So, the opposition could clearly see the weakness in the Government as a result of the overwhelming influence of the likes of Obeid & Tripodi, but instead of attacking to score, they may have allowed the Government to fill the gap by installing a new Premier who at least so far has remained a popular fresh face in the eyes of the voters.

Mr O'Farrell & his coalition partners must start to employ a more exciting, open & attacking style of play, or risk being labeled boring, defensive & unadventurous by the Government, and most importantly by the voters. In football analogy, the fans simply switch off & stop following defensive teams when they find an exciting player elsewhere!

And last but not least, as for those optimists who might think there is a long time left between now & the next election, my answer in terms of football analogy is this:

a) The referee has already looked at its watch because the final whistle is getting closer,

b) Some fans have already started to leave the stadium in total frustration & disgust by the inept display by both sides

c) Those frustrated yawning fans who are staying are feeling totally ripped off by the price they have paid to be witnessing a boring 0-0 so far.

d) However, most crucially, whilst still damning both teams, the spectators seem to be getting excited by the new American import substitute who has just entered the field in the pivotal position of Premier & seems to be breathing some life to the game!

There is a risk the excitement of watching a new player with a fresh approach to the game will encourage fans to abandon their support for the defensive uninspiring team they had initially hoped was going to win the match!