2014/15 Transfer Speculation

They can squeeze more out of him but its a cost to benefit ratio thing. 

Players want increases because they have a history of long service and 'hey I have done this'. Its a classic trap in American sports where a team has a superstar that has been there for years and has performed. They then get re-signed and have an expectation of a contract based on that history of performance. If they don't get that, its disrespectful and 'how can they insult me, and the fans by not paying me what I am worth and given to this team'. The GM then gives them a stupid offer based on that history and not what they are going to produce in the future over the life of that next contract. The superstar then ages and does not perform at the level they use to or commensurate to their pay and the team is left with a former superstar that has aged and not producing with a massive contract and hamstrung the teams salary cap.

If you do the exercise...

Can you get more seasons out of Sigmund at 33-34? Yes.

How many? 1 maybe 2. 3 at a massive stretch

Will they be improved years? Unsure although history on him says yes but history in general says unlikely.

Best option: 1 year at the same he is on now. You then evaluate the following year and whether the team still want him based on his performance and whether he still wants to play for the amount offered, you offer him a new deal based on that.

The club has a history of being smart with situations like this and Leo is the one that comes to mind coming off Terry money and being offered a deal more in line with his use/role in the team. I do think if Ben and the club are smart/realistic, he is a 1 year deal guy now. To offer him a 2 year deal would be crazy.

Did we make any money of brockie?  Or did we release him from his contract?

One year at a time deal makes sense at that age simply because the injury risk is arguably greater at that age (more prone, longer recovery time, less time left after recovery). Examples are aplenty.

On the pod Dome said they made a little. By the sounds of things the offer came in and Brockie wanted it, probably knowing he didn't fit into Ernie's plans very well so the club pushed it over the line and negotiated a token payment.

More money saved by releasing them the transfer fee I'd wager.

We can also look at from a perspective of what improves the squad and the starting 11. You'd have to say our  midfield is amazing and will not need additional recruitment next year seeing as they are all on contract anyway.

Our strike force is great but as Ernie has already said another great striker would improve the squad, a replacement for Kenny.

Then we look to our defence, a good left back would be ideal, failing that a right back would also be good. But outside of foreign spots, hell even with them, good wingbacks are almost impossible to find and there aren't many on the market. Maybe we could get Storm Roux, maybe Tuiloma.

If we can't find wingback options better than what we have that leaves a new CB. And since I imagine we want to keep Dura for his leadership and organisation that would mean replacing Siggy.

To be honest that probably indicates we would keep him for another year because we should be looking for a wing back but failing that it might be Siggy on the chopping block.

Not saying any of this because I don't like Siggy I'd be more than happy for him to re-sign. Just speculating on next seasons recruitment because... Godamm mid-season pre-season!!!!

Why would you break up an established CB pairing that has leaked the fewest goals in the league so far this season?

It's noticeable how much more game time Boxall is getting this year compared to previous seasons, my guess that's an effort to create a bit of depth in the back line.  As it stands right now, and indeed for the last few seasons, if Dura or Siggy get injured/suspended/called up we're pretty much stuffed for a replacement CB.  We can't keep relying on a CB pairing in their early thirties week in week out.  Having said that, we're still using a makeshift LB and our RB option is a guy learning on the job.  Bottom line is, we're doomed.  

Ahhh, finally a sense of balance returning to our posts. 

Relentless cheerfulness of late was really getting me worried.

Erm, Boxall played much more last season. He's barely got a sniff except for the last 5-10 minutes of games this season..?

While I don't buy the argument one might say because they leaked 100 goals in the past two seasons. Admittedly their midfield cover was poor in those seasons but one might equally say that they are very well protected now which must be a factor in their success if it was a factor in their failings in previous seasons. Also Ernie might prefer a CB with great distribution for the possession style game like Malik at Adelaide. Not that our backs haven't played some lovely passes this season.

Personally I'm quite happy for both of them to stay for as long as they can play but they are coming up 34 and 33, next season 35 and 34. Can we afford to have two ageing CBs?  

If you were a centre back as good as Siggy or Dura would you be happy to sign for team and then sit in the youth team in the ASBP for a year? I very much doubt it. Unless we're talking about developing a youth player but that is way down the line and Boxall and would be a better option. Having four CBs also seems a little excessive.

I think it is fair to say Ernie has earmarked Boxall as the go-to guy if a defender has to come off. This to date (this season) usually meant a fullback rather than a CB that Boxall apparently is. Hopefully this is enough time for Boxall in the role you are discussing as needing someone to be bedded in.

While I do not disagree with the need to eventually have a younger replacement for either Siggie or/and Dura, please bear in mind they played full games this season while the fullbacks were often subbed (stats, anyone?). This may not mean that fullbacks needed change due to physical reasons (OK, Fenton) but - conversely - neither of our CBs needed changing for physical reasons. So the argument about "ageing CBs" surely needs to be taken with a grain of salt.

Is 34/35 considered old for a CB these days?

Not if your name is Ivan Vicelich

Grant Elliott got called up to the black caps at 35

Not a striker Not a CB

Personally I think we're well placed at CB for the next 2 seasons if we keep Siggy, Dura and Boxall on the books, with Manny or Roly as the 4th choice option.

Perhaps we want to be looking at some youngsters blooding through the weenix, and perhaps make a major CB signing in 2016/17.

Probably not but I guess the real question is: is it too old for two CBs. It might not be, we might be fine for another season, maybe two.

A left back is probably more important

On a completely different note: Just heard on the radio that we are in negotiations with Roly for an extension already. Does anyone know if there is a press release for this or did they just get it from the podcast? God I hope we get that over the line, he is worth a bit of spending outside of the cap and I really hope the Welnix agree.

They got it from In The Zone's interview with David Dome.

That is fantastic news.

We could stand to make a serious bit of coin from a transfer fee for Roly if we're able to tie him down for a couple more years.

That would be unusual but very welcome - Roly always said that he was firm on staying here for the contracted two years only.

.

Someone else said that too but where was this mystical quote?

Just following the general consensus that he's too good for the A-League and will likely be here for a limited amount of time.

Don't get me wrong, I'm keen to sign him and keep him as well. 

Just if he does eventually leave, I would love for us to get a financial boost out of it like the mckain sale etc.

Definitely much better protected, but we were also under the pump vs Adelaide and Perth and dominated by the Tards, yet we only conceded 2 goals in each of those games and Dura and Siggie have made some amazing last ditch tackles, interceptions and deflections.

The only other team that has not conceded 3 goals in a game so far this season is Perth (ooh look!  They are first!).

Can you find a quote for me. Can't recall this.

To be honest i cannot find the quote. It is something I read (an interview with Roly, or an attributed quote?) 

If I was wrong apologies.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c...

"I came here to make myself important and put myself back on the map for clubs in Europe and everywhere."

Sounds like a pretty standard line. 

To openly say upon arriving at a club that you don't intend to hang around for long?

To be honest, if we can keep him for 2 seasons I'll be stoked. Anything more would be amazing.

Plenty of players have said that they want to springboard back to Europe when arriving in A-league. 

All I'm saying is that let's not all assume he will only be here for two years. 

I think Burns said something similar as well.

It's no surprise that every footballer has higher aspirations, really.

that's where we as fans come in, sow him the love and it will be hardy to leave us.