2016/17 Transfer Speculation

I think it's a good signing on paper. I do have concerns about Duras lack of pace and is getting caught square so when you have a slow defender like Dura your line has to be bang on and this requires great communication. So fury few words to learn are step, push and oh phuck get him...

For the other signings if they have to be Aussie or Kiwi I would really prefer it if Ernie picked Kiwis. I really rate Hudson - Wihongi but ackowledhe he is basically a slightly younger version of A Rod. This would be a good thing if A Rod was actually our starting der midfielder and Hudson was simply an understudy but I get the impression Ernie is looking to replace Albert rather than promote A Rod.

For the support striker role surely De Vries is a no brainer. Cheap, keen to go pro, done the Club WC a few times already, wanting to crack the AWs...

Rossi looks like a great signing,  he will be looking to rediscover himself so should be well motivated.  As for the other signing I want the club to sign the best players they can - dont settle just because they are kiwis - if an Aussie lad is better get him in the shirt

We could also call our goalkeeper "Mossi".   That's just one degree of separation from Serie A.

The problem is also if both our starting kiwi's and their replacements get called up for the national squad. If you have squad players to back up your first xi when they play for the national team then you want to make sure those squad players also aren't in the national team! Otherwise it's back to the days of temporary pro contracts and stand down periods for ASB Premiership players.

Hudson said we would play the proper 1st team. If we lose guys like Gulley, Ridenton, Rogerson or McGarry (the kind of players who may come in as back-ups) then that's not a first team.

YES!

I'm glad I don't podcast these days.

Going to enjoy Patrick tripping over that name!

The name at least has some pedigree:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stjepan_Andrija%C5%A1evi%C4%87

Nothing rhymes with...

"We still haven't replaced Manny Muscat, so we're looking for a nutcase." From the Radio Sport piece. Perhaps if Bulut's trial doesn't work out ag WSW.

Let's just call him Boxey too.

Talked future recruitment and Rossi with Ernie this morning - https://soundcloud.com/trackside-radio/ernie-merri...

Cheers mate. Good chat.

At least it doesn't start with M

Ahn-dree-yah-sheh-vich.

Imagine how much it would cost to get that name on the back of your jersey??

He scored for the Knights in the FFA Cup v Cockburn (hehe)

So in the interview Ernie has said he is still after a full back, a DM, an attacking player and a nutcase.

we have a few attackers on trial, so hopefully we get something out of that. What about the others? anyone have any other leads?

Is De Vries in the picture at all?

I believe he still hasn't been confirmed by FIFA as eligible for the All Whites so until that happens he would be an import?

No, just need to be an NZ or Australian Citizen AFAIK to be a local in A-League for us.

Need to be a citizen. Hence why Smeltz/Moss can play of Aussie clubs without being imports.

He just needs to be a citizen of NZ to be considered a local, otherwise players like Ali Abbas etc. would have not been considered locals.

?LISTEN | Today's show with @MelbKnights' Stipo Andrijasevic & @TaraRushton talking @AUSFIFA's Main Event! https://t.co/THj3iquFSe #FFACup

— Daily Football Show (@DFS_AUS) August 11, 2016

Hope he does well - sounds keen to step up 

Good to hear Jason Hicks name in the mix as an ex-nix. Stipo sounds like he can square a ball. Just needs a finisher. Hopefully someone like Krishna. 

personally thought hicks was never really given enough game time to decide if he was up to A League standard. His touch and passing was as good as wee Mac and superior to Kosta but I get the sense he wasn't fit or fast enough for Ernie. He gave the ball away cheaply with some average decision making but that just comes with experience and I just find it odd that Ernie has persisted with Fenton and Ridenton (and playing them out of position so often I don't even know what their best positions are anymore) yet didn't with Hicks.

I struggle with having bit part players in your squad. Understand that with the young guys you often play them as wing backs or wide midfielders to give them experience but both Fenton and Ridenton need to step up this year to become more than injury replacements. 

Good to hear in Ricardos interview that TAHW is being considered as I rate him and think under Ernie he could really develop into a great DM. 

Any word on Alex Rufer?

Fair comments above. Fenton, Ridenton really do need to now step up to the plate and push hard out for continuous starting places, not as bit part squad players. Hicks was and always will be a CM. He just needed to get stronger but then he was 26? Fenton has not kicked on as a RM but hey, being played as a RWB, RB and two shoulder injuries have not helped. Still remember his debut though damn it was good. Ridenton needs to knuckle down. He has potential but how old will he be before it gets him a regular start?

Hicks could take great free kicks!

I think Fenton can still kick on at RM. It's time for him to go back to RM, the 2-1 win over Melbourne City at RoF proved that. He can still attack. And there ain't nothing wrong with being a competent RB. But he isn't the RB we need.

I want to point to our 3-2 loss to Wanderers for a sec. That game showed off the best and worst of the team, the tactics, and in this is in no way more true than the case of Matty Ridenton. He's not a defender. He's a central midfielder, and a promising one, still. That assist for Kosta showed that. 

I would be fine with Fenton dropping to the bench to sub on for Kosta/WeeMac/Krishna late in the game. I reckon he'd do a much better job of running at tired legs than Appiah. As for Ridenton, I'd rather him on the bench than Vinnie, tbh. He's had his moments of brilliance, time for him to prove he can replicate semi-regularly.

Ernie's kidding himself if he thinks he can find an A-League quality RB in our current squad. Fenton was, and still is (albeit presumably slower and more physical) a winger. Ridenton is a CM who cannot play RB and it would be a waste to even try to play him there.

To that end, who are some available Aussie/Kiwi RBs? Do they even exist?

Ive never heard of a trialist be talked up so much. Is that a good thing? I hope so...

I think Ridenton has the makings of a good CM, but playing him as a fullback risks blowing his confidence and stunting his development. I also think that Rufer was looking impressive before his injury and I'd like to see him stick around. In terms of local RBs I reckon Gulley should be given a chance to make that role his own. Maybe bring in an Aussie state league player as another option. Because they're really aren't a lot of established kiwi or Aussie options out there. Unless you went for some fringe A League squad player like Diogo Ferreira to cover DM/FB