Ufuk Talay (Western Sydney Wanderers | A-Leagues)

Personally I think he's best as an attacking LB and it suits his skills, and we don't have a ton of LB cover, but I wouldn't be opposed to seeing him play a game in another position, he looks a very tactically astute player so wouldn't surprise me if he can do it.

Erm, he played similar positions just a couple of years ago - the only reason he was stuck at LB was because we had a lack of personnel there. Young players change positions all the time.

we are not allowed to start comparing Bale to Cacace... if we ever get to that point then our young NIX lad goes on to be better than any of us could have hope for.

Why the heck would he or any coach want to convert him to anything other than the outstanding left back that he is?

'someone else did it once' is not a reason

I wouldn't say "He's good enough as he is" is a good enough reason to not try it, surely we're looking for continual improvement?

'Trying it' carries the risk of delaying or cancelling the progress that has and is being made, both of which are career threatening.

Like any change, it carries risk and to be honest I would not trust any coach operating at A-League level to be qualified or experienced enough to make a proper call on any change for such a promising young player.

Cacace's future lies well beyond the A-League and the last thing he needs is someone doing a Merrick / Fenton on him.

It's all very well saying, 'he'd make a great AM'. he may well, but I've yet to hear why and for the reason of safe guarding his progression I hope that any change is carefully considered with external advice coming from outside of vested interest. 

Furthermore, there is no implication that remaining a left back would halt improvement

Playing 10 isn't just about having the skillset. We've seen him be very quick with the ball, great delivery from wide and physical defensively. That touchline is an ally though, whole different kettle of fish playing as an attackimg midfielder. Its a lot harder to do all those things that Cacace does when you're in the middle of the park, being closed down by midfielders behind you and the defenders in front of you. You have to not only be good on the ball but calm and have excellent awareness of where everyone is and where they will be in a few seconds. Not saying he couldn't do it, but its just not that simple to move him there. Bale was a left back sure, but he was moved up to the wing which is a lot more similar than playing centrally in midfield

Bang on re: the touchline @Jeff

@nelfoos, I'm not saying he couldn't reinvent himself, I mean he's so damn talented I understand why the discussion would start

And I'll also admit to being a little paranoid regarding our player development because of years of under achievement; hence my miserably conservative outlook

Funneeee.... :- )

This was the first interview I'd seen with Talay. I knew he was Australian, but with his name I was expecting a totally different accent. 

Anyone else in a similar boat?

He's right too (Talay), no point in signing a striker for the sake of it but sign one whom will do the job required of them.

... hmmm, no SACK UFUK posts yet, Sunday must not have been a total disaster

Dry sense of humour D.

Well done Uffie, an amazing job for the first few months as a head coach in the A League. Your import slots are all producing - must be one of the best sets of contributing imports yet, with Hooper set to chime in. The local NZ and Aussie players are all performing and making a difference. Your tactics are well thought out against the opposition. Ka pai!!!

Aweseome Hatter. I hope the club are already looking at extending his contract.

JUST NO 

UFUK TALAY

Just as former Sydney FC teammate Mark Rudan did at Wellington Phoenix last season, Talay has caught the eye in his first A-League coaching job across the Tasman. Talay's team has moved into the top six on the back of a nine-game unbeaten run playing some slick and attractive football. The lure of a bigger budget and Victory's history could be enough to bring Talay back to Australia.

We haven't given him the same contract out as Snakes Rudan, surely?

It is simply an opinion. Unlike an actual contract, media speculation and spin are completely free.

you'd hope that Welnix have learned from the burn they received from Rudan, Talay is (like Rudan) saying the right things about long term vision etc and unlike Rudan he is actual re-signing players for the coming seasons which speaks to him working on a vision. He also hasn't spoken of missing home and any issues he is having with his wife (nor does he have a history of stalking TV personalities).

I'm no legal expert, but employment agreements in NZ (and likely in Aus) usually dictate notice terms for both employee and employer. I don't think it's legal (or ethical) to 'lock' people into employment contracts.

The only saving grace would be that WelNix put controls in place (penalty if he resigns before X date or giving less than Y notice), but again if he really wanted to leave there would be little we could do I think.

This being said, he's done tremendously in his first few months in charge and you'd hope he'd want to continue on until at least next season, especially if the club continues to meet his needs in terms of recruitment (I mean, we signed Gary Hooper!).

Uffie isn't stupid and will know the value in what he has built and what this value could increase to next seasons with a few targeted improvements to the squad.

He's been involved up close with a title winning squad. He will know what the player squad budget of Sydney FC was.

He can effectively use that as a bargaining tool with the Welnix owners, if they are serious about pushing for the title - but also knowing the Nix is a smaller club. 

Being the 4th coach in 4 seasons, he further knows Dome & Morrison would be terrified if he threatened to walk after one season - though Morrison doesn't seem the type to roll over to every request. You can have another Hooper, but not a Hooper & a Rojas (if was ever viable option).

Talay also knows the league inside out, and exactly what players he needs to mimic Sydney as good as, or better. 

Plenty of argy bargy happening behind doors no doubt, but good signs big portion of the squad now locked in beyond this season. 

He relocated his family here and not everyone is as cut throat as Rudan.

We ain't getting kicked of out the league for one, and I Ithink Melbourne Victory will take a safer route and go for someone with a greater cv then signing a Coach with One year of Managerial experience at a professional club. 

Plenty of people in both NZ and Aus 'locked' into fixed term contracts. 

C'mon Uffie, we're backing you to bring home points from Brisbane this weekend. Do that and you'll be a record holding coach.

They normally have a two week notice period.

Can we give one to Royz? Two weeks before our Grand final will be fine.

They should also have restraint clauses that prevent you working in direct competition. This is why you would normally see an exit settlement reached

If working in direct competition means not coaching another A League team, no sensible coach-candidate would accept that condition, except possibly for those who leave of their own accord midterm (like Rudan), but not for those who get sacked midterm (like Merrick or Kurz). Otherwise a "restraint of trade" clause would make it impossible for an unfortunate coach who gets sacked to find a place to work even if one is offered at another HAL club.

you'd add a "get sacked clause" to contract the restraint of trade one, ie if I leave then fine enforce the restraint of trade that I can't leave to another competitor, however if I get saked I can go where I choose.