2014/15 Transfer Speculation

Doyle is exactly what we need at left back, move Manny to right back. I cant believe we have not offered Doyle a 2 or 3 year deal. Fast, strong, intelligent. 

Tom Doyle certainly didn't disgrace himself against two EPL teams, a huge challenge for a youngster who has never even played professional football before. What a story that is, and I really hope he's signed long term. 

Team looks much stronger - until the opposition pen. Then its same as. Boyd just cannot score.So if Brockie doesn't deliver I foresee lots of low score draws and not enough wins. Nix badly need a proven goalscorer at A-League level if not higher. But you all know that anyway.

Interesting that Doyle never made a national age group side. Great example of working hard and taking his chance

How many more are out there in the same position. In my younger years I knew at least three players who never got regional selection but were pretty good.

Doyle was one of those Nike Academy kids though

I really want to hear Ernie explain, on microphone, Y NO STRYKER?

Mobility- goals from Burns, Cunningham, Rodriguez, WeeMac (touchwood- incidentally are we able to get costs for the missed marketing potential of WeeMac in Football United?), Boyd, Brockie, Ridenton and Hicks...still might leave us a little short- especially thinking about how we shot against Newcastle. Add a couple from Sigmund and then we are away...

Edit: forgot Louis of Tawa freed into an attacking role...following up on his goal and promise in the opening game two seasons ago...also recall that Emmanuel Muscat turned the defence to rifle a couple home last time he was a regular right back.

Mannys was a contender for goal of the season the way he bent it too.

Funnily enough not everyone does. I raised this with a couple of people who felt it wasn't a problem as our midfield is looking epic. Agree we look great in mid but I really think we need someone who scores.

Brockie did a few nice touches, that one where he put the ball in across the goal mouth, but just could not find the net - this really worries me.

I'm with the missus on Fenton - we just don't think he is progressing.

Well, Brocks has got a few months to find his strikers touch again..

I think someone like Stein is needed who has the ability to hold the ball up when needed and distribute. I don't think any of the strikers at the moment can do that (maybe Watson?) and I think we are short on some height up front. I can't see Boyd scoring a header from a corner. 

If he was left in his proper position instead of the Ricki experiment, he probably would be a regular starter there.

Holding the ball up is not our style now..but he would have been good going through on some of the balls from Reira and Gorrin.  Need someone who can better time runs...and Krishna and Boyd maybe can given their speed.

Boyd's pace was one of the things that impressed me y'day.  Having watched him in many games he seemed to have upped it.  Plus seemed physically stronger, came out of a couple of decent collisions better off than the other guy. Over the two games Siggy was the other one that surprised me a couple of times for his speed.  Maybe some targeted off-season training.

I just meant in terms of playing to his feet to hold it up and play one-two's off of him for the guys on the wing like Boyd and Cunningham to allow them to get in behind. Definitely not long ball tactics and that kind of central presence up front gives the opposition problems regardless of football style.   

I thought it was a Ricki style idea? I may well be wrong. It was an experiment that hasn't worked and set him back a season. Mannh is fine there.

Tim Payne used to be a pacy out-and-out striker. Wonder why he got moved back?

As we all know the need for someone to step up and score 10+ will be absolutely critical to our chances. Contrast the way Gamiero clinically put away his two chances for Sydney vs WH with Brockie's botched attempts against Newcastle.

Ernie must see something in Brockie because he has given him loads of chances last season and in this preseason as well. Personally I think the belief that Brockie will suddenly turn into a super scorer is false. Brockie over his career is much more miss than hit. Ernie has got him to be more involved but IMO he still lacks the pace to play Ernies game. Why we used an import slot on Khrisha is beyond me.....he seems to have the skill set and pace to suit Ernies game plan but we will never know unless he plays.

Our plan this year seems to make do with who we have already up front. The hope is that Brockie, Boyd etc are going to start banging them in....if they don't it is going to be a long season

I thought Brockie was a lot better than last year. He worked a lot harder and constantly caused Newcastle problems. He did miss chances but I am convinced goals will come if he keeps playing like that.

Yep. A huge work rate compared with his games last season.

He needs to learn the offside rule. He must cost us at least 5 decent attacks a game because of it.... (now someone with stats will come and say im wrong, it was only 4.73 times a game)

Mind you though, when we had Greenacre (my lord) he lead the league in offsides so I guess a question is, is it the players, the structure or the midfielders who do not release the ball early enough? This is not a new problem for the Phoenix.

Loic Remy's fransfer to Liverool is off. We could sign him. Sticking point being 160k per week though.

It never ceases to amaze me how much you know about grass TopLeft. You're a true asset to this forum!

Ernies idea, but hey, lets blame Ricki anyway #sackRicki

Has Krishna been injured? He's easily got the best goal-scoring record in the squad (albeit at ASBP level) and proved last year he can be a handful for A League defenders. Given his 2 year contract Ernie presumably has faith in him too. 

If he's only going to be a fringe player then it seems a waste of an import spot, and it raises questions about our level of planning regarding the length of contracts we offer (see also Jason Hicks). And if we sign Doyle why do we need both Caira and JBS? This squad still just seems unbalanced to me

Also, fair enough giving Brockie grief for not scoring but if we're going to be fair, surely Boyd should cop some flak too. If he wants to cement a role as a striker scoring some goals might help.