Andrew Durante (Melbourne Victory | A-Leagues)

Fudge! Rudan steals our talismanic captain.....what an arse!

I don't begrudge Durante going and I think there have been more than enough people that said he should have retired in the last offseason.

What irritates me is that he has followed Rudan. If he had gone to Sydney to win a title, I would have said 'no worries mate' but not going to join Rudan

a lot more went down on the practise field then we were led to believe by Mr Dome Head

Have no probs with our club legend moving on, and wish him and his family all the best.

As for the snake !!

best of luck ,thanks for everything, I hope we smash your team

COYN

Thanx for service and hope it goes well for u and family at new club.

There is a reason he didn't go to Sydney

All the best to Dura. I appreciate his detailed letter to the fans. He owes us nothing. We owe him heaps for helping to keep our club afloat.

For him to go to Sydney, Sydney would need to want him. He can't just say he's off to Sydney to win the title and go. 

And if Sydney want the title, they are likely to find better options than an ageing Durante.

Just remember the various social events Durante did, representing the club. The school visits etc, before castigating him too much. At the end of his playing career etc. Yes, he was being a professional and did things the club and fans expected of him as such but when you engaged him in conversation, he always made time, signed autographs, posed for selfies. Us adults might not appreciate the true worth of this but our kids certainly do.

Thanks Dura, You had some good seasons, some not so good but you stuck around for 11 years and that has to be respected.

Is it comfirmed that he's off TO Western UTD or whatever they're called? 

I have given Rudan the benefit of the doubt for so bloody long, but taking our cappy?

Fudge him.

Damn I really wanted Dura to go from playing, straight into management at the club.  Crossed fingers he comes back after he finishes playing.

Bit conflicted over this one. Happy for Dura but the lingering issue of Rudan tuning up our players while he was coach doesnt sit right. Feel like Dura going could've influenced the decision of a few others towards the end of the season. 

It always amazes me what the A league/FFA can get away with, no other league in the world would you see this kind of carry-on.

Cheers for the memories Dura.

pulled a sickie for my clubs kiddies event

You mean he went sick so he could turn up?

Dura could have snubbed before a CCM game but came over and said hello and shook my hand and posed for a selfie. Good on him and good luck to him.

Will always be a club legend.  Disappointed he's going with Rudan, but can understand the appeal.  New club, new challenge.

Durante talks with Mark Stafford from TAB. (I believe it was recorded just before his announcement, so they moved it forward to play it now) https://open.spotify.com/episode/6xLfVCTOzix7YRy0y...

It was recorded 10 days ago but he knew then what he was going to do.

talked to andrew many many times over the years and all i can say is i am gutted.

going to be hard to get motivated to travel next season with so many players gone so hopefully we sign some good ones but not sure we will be able to replace the quality leaving with just as good quality new zealanders/australians.

I won’t miss him in the backline (hopefully) but I always fancied him in the role as link between players and owners. It’s a shambles that Nix could not offer him something to stay. Maybe they thought he is not up to the task. He plays for our new rivals and I hope they will suck and loose many of their game due old age :-)

https://www.a-league.com.au/news/durante-signs-for...

Officially signed for Western now.

Nothing but love for the man, served us incredibly, but Mark can go fuuuuuck himself

...ultimately, I couldn’t pass up an opportunity to move closer to my family."

But you could with the other 37 contract renewals in the last decade... turn it up Dura, we aren't that silly!

(are we?)

And move this thread into the A League thread with all of the other Judas’ too please.

Someone’s been getting PR lessons from Rudan 

Yes. Alot of people playing the emotive family card these days. Its an easy one to pull out when your've already made a decision and want some sympathy. 

I was dissapointed to hear that one from Durante considering the circumstances.

TBF to Durante, he had always said he'd head back to Australia once he finished at the Phoenix

yeah but he also said he'd be at the club after he retired from playing, he's made noises about getting involved in the back office and management. Hence the nix paying for the trip to the states to see and learn how it's done at the MLS clubs.

I get that he has to look after his career and the uncertainty with us is a massive issue but this is sharke!

yeah can sort of see your point but not really, he's been the clubs best servant 

reality was he should really have finished playing a couple of seasons ago - he got a new lease of life thanks to having Taylor in the back line and covering for the pace he's lost

Given what I've seen \ heard about the backroom at the Nix and also teh doubt around the future, not really that surprised he took another opportunity

He hasn't retired from playing. 

And Talay may have told him he's not in plans for playing squad, so....

He has been talking about retiring form playing for the last two seasons, this season he even said as much and wanted to take time to decide on his future. Talay may has said "you're not in my starting 11" but I expect the club would have said "hang around and we'll find a job for you". If that is true then fine go play a bit part for Rudan, but given the defenders WU already have I'd not expect to see Dura playing a lot of game time.

he could get enough ?

Dome said they basically went - tell us what you want and we will make it happen for you and apparently offered his similar money to what he was on this year as player/captain.

Dome was good about the Rudan situation which was touched on as well saying there isn't much that can be done about this sort of thing - but it is disappointing - was quick to point out, there is no evidence he approached a NIX player prior to his departure, although he can't rule it out.

love that he still has a nix pic on insta

Made the TOTW for his efforts against us

Made thew TOTW for the attention he got against us

He actually played very well. Played the ball often and well. Good distribution, defended well. Lost the ball once when he tried to dribble out of his half but that's about it.