AFTER watching the Mariners' less than exciting performance against Roar, two things trouble me.

1. Where are The Mariners going to find more firepower upfront ?
2. What are we going to do about A-League crowd numbers ?

While the Mariners have undoubtedly found the answer to their defensive problems of last season (and how good was Vukes ), it sometimes seems to be at the expense of getting the ball up to their forwards. One shot on goal is a fairly bleak statistic whichever way you look at it.

Matt Simon looked strangely quiet and it seems we're missing that midfield flair provided by the still injured Caceres. McGlinchey has proved to be an excellent addition to the squad, but I'd also like to see Nicky Travis given a chance in the starting line-up. He showed his ability as a creative playmaker after his late substitution in Brisbane, offering the versatility we need to start showing we can attack as well as we've been defending.

No doubt Lawrie will do some more tinkering before we meet Perth, but one thing is for sure : we need to find goals sooner rather than later.

More worrying to me than the Mariners' goal drought was the sight of the lowest Suncorp crowd ever. At this stage in the season, it's sad to see the size of some A-League crowds is dropping.

For what it's worth, I believe clubs need to focus on several issues if they want to pull in crowds :

• Timing of Games
Is a 3pm weekend kick-off really the best time for games ? Many people play their own games in this time slot plus parents have kids sport commitments. Are game times based on what clubs/fans want or to fit in with TV coverage ?

• Pricing of tickets
Surely it's better to sell more tickets at a lower price than put off the crowds. While Mariners tix start at $17 or $41 for a family, Roar tix start at around $27 or $75 a family - this is a big difference.

• Respecting The Fans
Reminder: without fans you are nothing! Some clubs act like they are Man Utd and their fan base will be there regardless of what happens on or off the pitch. Try asking our opinions sometime and don't treat us like idiots.

And just to be fair, fans need to ask themselves what they can do for football. That's simple : just be there. Become a member if you can afford it, but more importantly support your club through all the highs and lows now and in the years ahead.

It's one thing to get angry about the performance of your team or the tactics of your coach, but it's another to stop going to matches because of it. When you commit yourself to a team it needs to be for better or worse, otherwise being a "fan" is completely meaningless. A bit like getting married and walking out after the first time your partner forgets to do the washing up.

For so long, Australian football fans lived in the wilderness. Our game was mismanaged, maligned and mangled by commercial TV. If you are too young to remember this era, simply look at the smile on Paul Trimboli's face and listen to Harps' rampant enthusiasm for the game. It's like watching two thirsty desert survivors enjoying a long-awaited beer.

They remind us never to become cynical about just how far we've come.

Last year I caused some outrage when I suggested that it was rather snobbish to wear European football shirts to A-League matches. When we wear a club shirt it shows that we admire and respect what that club has achieved. Perhaps we need to stop and think that none of the European clubs we all admire would be there without the unwavering support of thousands of incredibly dedicated fans over many decades.

People like Rocky, the elderly Burnley fan I saw on TV this week, whose well-earned joy at his club's recent giant-killing results brought tears to my eyes.

To state the bleeding obvious, many European football clubs are wealthy and powerful and will survive without our support. In comparison the A-League is still in its infancy, and like all infants needs nurturing if it is to thrive and grow strong.

So let's wear our A-League shirts with pride and encourage friends to join us at the games. Let's dedicate ourselves passionately to our team, even when they're losing, it's raining and the coach has had a brain-snap