2015/16 Transfer Speculation

We have 4340 to choose from:

http://www.goalface.com/player/showplayersbyalphab...

So this article seems to say that Appiah won't be back for next season?

Is that confirmed?

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/a-league/777...

Also confirms Barbarouses has signed for 3 years and Roly will be here for at least next season

I'm assuming it's an assumption. Piney was saying on twitter yesterday that he didn't think A-Rod would get a contract either.

Wouldn't be surprised. Just don't think he brings enough for an import when we have guys like Ridenton and Rufer coming through who could potentially be molded the same way. (lets hope Rufer comes back from injury well - thought he just started to get going)

I like A Rod, and he will only improve over the next few years

and unlikely to be an expensive import. 

Jeez, have we not been round the merry-go-round enough on this topic (A-Rod usefulness) over the last few days?

Yeah.It's bullshark.Rodriguez stays.Move on

We could at least consolidate all the A-rod debate into one thread if we're going to keep at it...

thank heaven. Someone who can pass it forwards would be good.

What if it was a choice between A-Rod and Alex Jones? Or someone of the kind?

I think I'm swayed by the A-Rod fans- but as of yet I don't know that I'm convinced he's as solid as Riera. Though I also think that McG has had something of a slow season by his own standards.

Again though- Roly and McG looked good last year when there were other attacking players the opposition had to mark, sometimes with multiple players. They haven't looked as good this year without anyone making space for them. 

Ernie also has often subbed A-Rod and not always shown confidence in him. 

However, runs his legs off, good pedigree. Look at him hit a pass and the way it zings along the turf. He's probably our best at putting good pace and control on passes on the deck, which is important if we want to play a swift passing game or one touch football.

Also- if Roly may be gone at the end of the season it would be good to have A-Rod ready to move into midfield super stardom. 

Will he improve or show more of his game? Will he perhaps get more opportunities in the attacking 3rd? Or be called on to deputise for Riera?

hmmm...(also please note the Alex Jones thing above counts as transfer spec!)

Sure, maybe he would, maybe he wouldn't but could we go out tomorrow and sign a better player than him?  Pretty sure we could and that's what matters right.

Fact is in his time at the club he's barely had a goal or an assist, barely played a "key pass" - his passing really is nothing special.  Sure he has played defensively some of that time but not exclusively.  He's tidy and fairly mobile but ultimately he doesn't really affect the game much.

Because its so easy to go out and find great players and that is why every team in the competition has statistically amazing players (in all facets of the game) across their entire lineups... right? Unfortunately this is real-life and not Football Manager.

I'd rather take a player that is at or above a-league level and has room to grow than a player who may be better but going by the history of imports has a good chance of being worse.

2 points:

- has he improved in the past 2 seasons, had more impact, better performances, showing that he is capable?  I'd say no, not really so why hold on for another season.  It's not about potential for imports, it has to be about impact

- above A-League level, as an import midfielder - disagree.  He's the third best midfield import in our team and basically fighting for a spot against Vinnie Lia. 

1) Stats already suggest he performs better or at least as good in his position as most other imports in the league.

3) If all three midfield imports are good players, who cares which one is 'third best'. If you have 5 imports playing well would you still want to get rid of the worst one just because the others are better? Who are you going to replace them with. Also Lia is 30, A-Rod is 22.

A Rod has a lot going for him and will develop in a top quality player.

He has a great engine, his touch is far better than Lia, Ridentons etc, plus he has a greater range of passing.

This year has been pants, which makes it a little harder to judge players... but he is clearly better than any current NZ players we have in and around his age.

This import thing needs to be put into context, you can't spend marquee wages on all 5 imports - we're spending marquee money on Kosta and marquee-ish money (according to Rob) on WeeMac and for us they don't count as imports so then you have to start thinking about value for money/fitting under the cap for your other players - import or not an import is not a question then when our higher paid players are locals.

I think A-rod makes what he does look easy so that people think other players could do it, but the thing is he reads the game so well that he's always in a good position to receive a pass or make an interception, and when he does get the ball he's great at taking a first touch which opens up space for him to pass into. So it just looks like he's receiving simple passes and making simple passes, but it's the other facets of his play which make it look simple. I wish New Zealand could produce young midfielders who could do that.

I do think he would be expendable if Ernie wanted to play a more direct, long ball game, but that WSW game aside (which A-rod didn't play) Ernie seems to want to control possession and the tempo of the game. A-rod is invaluable in that style of play because he's so good at linking play and finding a teammate even when he's under pressure.

Saying he doesn't make enough assists is kind of funny - he's only one behind WeeMac and Roly in assists this season, who have both been playing in more advanced roles. If he's not making enough assists then neither are they.

Can I be one of the few that says we should keep Lia?

I feel like reading some comment, there are some lessons from this year that we have not learned yet. The last offseason and coming into this season as we subsequently found, depth was our Achilles heel. We let go of some players that we may have been better off keeping.

Why then would we let go a serviceable HAL midfielder because, and as some people have said 'RYdenton is doing ok'. 

Right now, is RYdenton better? I think on the balance, not at the moment but potentially would overtake him next year. So why let Lia go? RYdenton has to be better and until he is, then I would keep Lia because when we get injuries and suspensions, and we will get them, then person that is behind RYdenton if we do not have Lia, is going to be a rookie.

(This is assuming that we don't look at other midfielders)

I just think there is a bigger picture than the 11 on the field and this year, our discipline is poor and injury rate is high so we need to consider numbers 12-20 as well. For that reason, I would keep Lia because letting him go and signing a cheaper alternative, would be very difficult to do to improve squad depth.

I think we should keep Lia for experience and leadership within the squad, even if he's mostly a bench warmer. With Manny and Siggy going our squad looks light on leadership and I think Lia seems like he provides a bit of it. WeeMac and Moss are both experienced A League players but neither strikes me as a leader as such, which really only leaves Dura.

I have also been saying we should keep Lia, obviously he needs to accept that he's not going to be a guaranteed starter, and also the pay cut that comes with that. The first two years under Ernie were Lia's best so if he's injury free he can still do the job for us, he doesn't take up a visa spot, is experienced and seems well liked, and as said above has the leadership qualities that Dura said the side is lacking.

Didn't WeeMac play a game as AW captain? Or was he just talked about as a potential captain? Either way it's hard to have leadership qualities if every time you yell at a player to do something different they have to stop and ask you to repeat yourself because they didn't catch it.

I see Moss screaming a lot.

If we do want to play quick transition or one touch football I think we should keep A-Rod. 

He hasn't been the player I'd hoped he would be, a light footed attacker like a supedup-Felipe, but I think Ernie has said this year he doesn't think there is a problem with the midfield. If there isn't a problem, then why fix it? Attackers and defenders.

Makes perfect sense. We need someone experienced even if not as fit / fast on the bench if we're getting younger defence / DM line.

I think we can keep everyone in our current squad, but one, to leave room to pick up a RB, CB and another striker/attacking mid. That assumes Kwabena goes, along with Sig and Manny, and that Watson is not signed.

Also Sail and Ridenton both become senior players next year, I think? Both turn 21 during the season iirc. So Rufer, McGarry and Rogerson would become the required three u21s. I'm assuming Rufer and Ridenton get resigned.  The other three already are.

With Riera, A-Rod, Roly and McGlinchey, plus Rufer and Ridenton presumably all kept and Fenton already signed for next year, that's a lot of midfield. 

That leaves Gully, Lia and Danaskos as the currently unsigned players   Danaskos is your specialist LFB cover and I doubt we'll let him go.  So it's Gully or Lia? That is unless you let A Rod go to free up another import spot. Or perhaps you let Italiano go and rely on injury cover out of the ASB Prem (or the academy) for your third keeper.

Just thinking out loud, but I think that's where you get to.

Can't wait to see if Singh is up to it as well. Another midfeilder with a bucket load of promise!

Actually Ridenton will turn 20, not 21

I must be watching a different Alex Rodriguez. 

Here's a prediction.  A-Rod will not be re-signed and the A League will be the highest level he ever plays in his career.