2016/17 Transfer Speculation

Some recently released defenders from English Championship level. Plenty of experience, not too old either.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shane_Cansdell-Sherr...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karleigh_Osborne

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Turner_(football...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Wootton

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelvin_Wilson

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_Buxton

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lloyd_Doyley

Also Neil Kilkenny

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_Kilkenny

Some interesting options there. I probably wouldn't want a 32 or 33yo, so that's a couple of them out. I think Wootton seems like he could be a good call - only 24 but with plenty of first team experience already and can player anywhere across the backline. Plus the A League commentators would love being able to reference the fact he's ex-Man Utd every time he touched the ball.

Dunno about that. If Wikipedia's highlights of last season are true....

On 31 July 2015, Wootton was given the number 4 shirt for the 2015–16 season.[28] On 12 August 2015, Wootton started in a new role under Uwe Rösler as a defensive midfielder against Doncaster Rovers in the League Cup; Leeds lost 4–2 on penalties after a 1–1 draw in regulation time, with Wootton giving away a penalty in the first half.[29]

On 20 February 2016, Wootton scored a memorable own goal in a 1-0 defeat against Premier League side Watford F.C. in the FA Cup, to send Watford through to the Quarter Finals of the Competition.[30] Wootton was also made a high profile error in the final game of the 2015/16 season on 7 May 2016 against Preston North End in a 1-1 draw, when he tried to usher the ball out of play only to fall over, and Preston to score in added on time in the 2nd half.[31]

I thought it just sounded like his Wikipedia article had been edited by someone who didn't like him. I mean, conceding an OG and a penalty in a season isn't unusual for a defensive player. There other fudgeup sounds bad though, I'll give you that.

Any Leeds fans on here seen much of him?

send Chris Wood a tweet?

Victory release players we knew about as well as Jesse Makarounas, Dylan Murnane and Giancarlo Galifuoco

http://www.melbournevictory.com.au/article/melbour...

Gallifuoco a decent shout for us? U23 international, and we only have twos CBs. Still not the visa CB we're crying out for.

You just described Durante too. These things happen from time to time but the age thing is a good point. Please, no one over 30 so we can look long term.

I've been told many a time that if you aren't conceding own goals as a defender you aren't doing it right. No attempts to make blocks, get back for line clearances etc etc.

Let's not pretend Dura had a great season either though!

I think he'll be hitting the books after last night

The penalty was stupid, naive. Other than that I thought he was solid.

he was getting skinned by Krishna every time. 

I though, as someone else has said, Krishna was by far the most dangerous player out there on the ball. Far better players than Brotherton have been made to look silly by him and hopefully far better players will next A league season. Good pen too ffs.

I was impressed by him in Under-20s. But got suckered in there completely. Hopefully he'll learn from it.

Krishna's pen v Wood's pen. hmmmm

We have a long term CB... if we got someone in their early 30's who could hit the ground running and give us a quality season and a bit whilst Fox improves and tales over we'll be sweet.

having typed that, I've just described Dura. 

I'll get me coat...

I'd like the new CB to be in the 25-30 age range. Experienced enough to slot straight in with Dura. Fox will get games covering injuries and suspensions and then when Dura retires we will have continuity in our backline. Another guy in the twilight of his career will just make the transition harder as they both lose pace and pick up niggles with age

92 posts since I last came in here.

Not one decent piece of speculation.

Gutted.

92 posts since I last came in here.

Not one decent piece of speculation.

Gutted.

off season sucks

Most contracts in Europe won't expire until the end of June. July/August/September will be when the transfer speculation gets good

Ironic that you double-posted a post about there being too many pointless posts

Irony was not missed!

It was even left as a tribute by the moderators.

Thing is 25 - 30 year old A-League starting CBs that are Australian are very much wanted in Asia.  Good A-League players will always field offers overseas after 1 decent season.  Sometimes I think you're better off not trying to plan to far ahead, just try and get a good team on the pitch each season and keep bringing good youngsters through and hope some of them have an impact - you can't really plan long term cause if you win the title your best players will inevitably be targeted. 

We have an import slot free now that Riera has gone though. I get the general point though.

Ideally I'd like to see Boxall back but he's still got a season to run on his contract

I heard boxy was on good money in SA. Not sure we could afford to get him back.

Less chance of violent home invasions or carjackings in Wellington though

Insert joke about dangerous bathrooms here

Some of them have not had as much success at home as they had once they went to Asia.

Eddy Bosnar and Sasha Ognenovski are probably the two most obvious examples. 

Alex Wilkinson has also done well in Asia but one can argue he already had a decent career with CCM behind him by then.

It will be interesting to see if Adrian Leijer has the same late blooming. If he does, Ernie has his phone number.

Signed a 2 year deal in Korea during the January transfer window, so wont be coming back any time soon.

It seems like Boxall has played a lot at FB again.

What annoys me about the search for CB's is that we already have, by most accounts, a decent young CB ready and waiting (Fox). It a mystery why he wasn't starting games when we were mathematically out of playoff contention, and it was known the Siggy was leaving. He could be a starting CB by now, not just cover.

Kinda agree, despite the sentimentality surrounding Siggy. Though I think when we were mathematically still in it, Siggy was still the better option than Fox. 

would be great if we could snare  Themi. Would then leave us an import spot for other problem positions like right back.

Surely we could compete with the Greeks on wages?

Doesn't matter. We only have two A league CBs, one of which is mid thirties, the other 22. We have no Manny to fill in anymore. We need a new CB, even if it is just to sit on the bench. But we have a visa slot, so why not make a go of it and sign a late 20s CB who can match the quality we have upfront. With Kosta, Gui, Krishna, Roly and WeeMac, we must be one of, if not the best team going forward. I say lets make a real go of this season, sign a quality CB and win as much as possible to try and get the first year of our four on the license of to the attendance-wise start we need.

Also, MLS runs mostly in our off season. Would Kip Colvey work as a loanee at full back? Can he play RB?

Is he at the required level though.  Nothing against MLS but not sure he would cut it at A-League leve.

Agree we need the cover... though wasn't Roly supposed to have been a CB in a past life?

In terms of the visa spot, I'd like to see it used on a talented fullback - an outstanding FB can make (arguably) a greater contribution to a team than a CB, particularly a team that likes to attack.

Worth a punt though. He's domestic and young, as well as a current international. Then again, other current internationals include Luka Prelevic and Luke Adams.