2015/16 Transfer Speculation

I agree with Whatever. While Lia has improved this season on his previous year's performance, this is largely because Ernie seems to have given him a very clear (and limited) game plan, which Lia was able to stick to.  He was perhaps not so much outmuscled as outsmarted in midfield by Melbourne City who knew how to counteract our midfield sideways movement.  Yes he (Lia) is a hero for the club in that he does what he's told, does not commit reckless fouls and is decent bloke performing to the best of his limited ability.

Rufer and Ridenton are simply too young to "step up" game in game out, and the under-20 WC will be a very useful big-time experience for them which they hopefully apply next season and beyond. Similarly, I think Rodriguez was too young to play constantly game in game out (despite many on this website demanding that from every foreign visa player). Rodriguez has a long term contract so we'll be able to see good value from him over the next two seasons.

Spot on, Mainland.

Looking forward to Rufer, Ridenton and A-Rod developing more over next season.

Last year Merrick predicted that RIdenton would have broken into the first team squad by the end of last season, and while he played regularly last season it was only because of injuries, you can tell he definitely hasn't broken into the first team squad this season.

To be fair, we did recruit two import midfielders.

Wait, did the croud really cheer when Vinnie was subbed? That's mean.

Which 18 to 19 years old working class midfielders you talking about?

People cheering when a sub is made are usually applauding the guy leaving and welcoming he guy coming on aren't they? I'd be more concerned if the croud was booing when we made a sub...

and WeeMac, who at times played in the mids

Sorry I don't remember shedding tears of relief when Lia or in fact any player came off. Did this actually happen or was it in your mind? I was at the game and I don't recall that happening at all. 

In the YF there's about two or three tits who come out with sh*te but that's hardly a croud. So basically just you and your mates then?

Also why would you cheer someone being subbed? As Conan says they are going to think you are cheering them off as that's what we've been doing since 2007. 

You've just made the whole thing up to have a dig at Lia.

Not made up Foretean Times. There is a distinct difference. When someone is subbed and has played well there is applause. At the Playoff Game and on a previous occassion around New Year when Lia was subbed off there was a sarcastic cheer.I do not sit in YF but on both occasions it has been plain to hear.

Why is it we all , we'll at least the vast majority, think Ernie is doing a wondrous job close to the second coming of the messiah.  Yet a reasonable number , albeit a minority, think he is barking mad continuing to play Lia?

Why is he a genius but can not see what this vocal minority do that Lia is a minging piece of turd who is apparently the worst player in the history of football to ever lace a pair of boots?

I mean he works with him six days a week , has known him for a decade,  has stats on everything that it is possible to take a state on, has a lifetime of experience in football way beyond anything we could ever dream of.

Why  oh why can he not see what a waste of space Vincent apparently is?

I thought he was right to drop Lia for A-Rod half way through the season and I thought he was right to drop a faltering A-Rod for Lia at the back end of the campaign. I think A-Rod is an all-round better player, but he perhaps isn't quit up to it phsyically and mentally yet.

Definitely. I think Lia actually had a pretty good season, and was a more than adequate back-up for A-Rod. I imagine over the next season or two as A-Rod develops a greater level of consistency we'll see him taking over that role permanently from Vinny, but I'm more than happy with Lia as a back-up for that central midfield role. And he's undeniably been a great servant for the club.

Anyone else remember this as I don't? Sorry to go off topic.

Transfer speculation?!

Great servant as in he gets paid pretty good money to play football?

Was another mention in a Melbourne newspaper today of Archie being on his way to the Nix next season. Whether based on new info or just lazy repetition of an existing rumour I don't know. I suspect the latter but I suppose it is transfer speculation of a sort.

All flightless Kiwis come home

I really do hope that the Archie rumour is true. Could still do a dam good job for us

So he spent the first 6 months  of his  life here             Please...................

WeeMac = Archie = #alignment.

Well it'd tick the non-import experienced goal scorer box.

Despite his age, I would love Archie to come here.

Hmmm. He's a gloater. I don't like gloaters, though I'm sure I'm like him much more after he scores our second and third ever hat-tricks.

IBAOY

I'm  sick of him scoring goals against us. About time he scored some for us. He is so fit his age can be ignored.

Anyone who has seen Ridenton and Rufer play over the last couple of years has seen improvement there. They have done well in the reserves and when there's been opportunities Ernie has chucked them into the first team.

However, they are behind the best set of midfielders the club has ever seen - there was never a point in the season where we had significant injuries, suspensions or loss of form amongst Riera, Lia, Rodriguez, Roly and McGlinchey to justify sticking a teenager in. I would be interested to hear about some of these 19 and 20 year olds in Europe who are evidence that we should be playing our teenagers ahead of our better, more experienced players. It's also worth remembering that every single one of those young guys in Europe would have spent a lot more than two years in a fulltime professional environment.

Finally, Boyd was consistently outstanding for the reserves and showed talent in all the decent chunks of first-team action he got. He didn't crack a regular place on the bench for non-footballing reasons which have been discussed to death here.

Those guys start when they are 8, they're training like pros from 14 - it's just not a realistic expectation.

Okay. You've just named two of the best academies on the planet and a handful of the very best young prospects in Europe, some of whom have been just as much of a chance in the first team as Rufer and Ridenton at the same age. These are exceptions rather than the rule. You'll notice with the squads that come over for the U20 World Cup that very few players are playing regular first-team football. As for Boyd, I think it's already pretty clear that he's going to be a part of the All Whites for years to come, the other two are pretty likely too given the dearth of decent Kiwi central midfielders.

Ernie reckons Archie will stay at Victory but willing to look at him

https://audioboom.com/boos/3175979-ernie-merrick-on-morning-glory

A few names on this list would be decent signings (just to let y'all get your wishful thinking hats on)

check out the championship released players....

After a quick glance, I'd say maybe Josh McQuoid is the best of the striker options there but slim pickings really. 

Craig Mackail-Smith looked a decent player a few years back.

Jay Emmanuel-Thomas would be absolutely perfect. If we'd had him this year we probably would have won the league.