Wellington Phoenix Men

Contracted Players - Return of the Long Pins

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about 8 years ago

Song option

We've got Burns,
Super Nathan Burns,
I just don't think you understand,
He's here at the Nix,
We want to make the Six
We've got Super Nathan Burns.

Repeat...

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about 8 years ago · edited about 8 years ago · History

Ryan wrote:

He and Krishna obviously had a great partnership, I'm hopeful that that existing relationship will mean he fits in quickly.

And, since Burns is signed for 2 years, it hopefully means that Krishna stays at the Nix past this season!

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about 8 years ago

chemi wrote:

Have been mulling this signing over, from a management perspective it makes a lot of sense. Clubs under pressure, needed something and something familiar (& good) is better than something untested.

From the player's perspective, my guess is Burns was looking for somewhere he could get playing time in advance of the World Cup. He's 29 so a desire to be in that squad makes sense to me. The Nix are a perfect fit given familiarity with the club and fair certainty of getting minutes.

Does anyone think its different?  To be fair, we seem to have the "2 year deal" although its unclear if that means to the end of the 2019 season - one assumes it is

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about 8 years ago

chemi wrote:

Have been mulling this signing over, from a management perspective it makes a lot of sense. Clubs under pressure, needed something and something familiar (& good) is better than something untested.

From the player's perspective, my guess is Burns was looking for somewhere he could get playing time in advance of the World Cup. He's 29 so a desire to be in that squad makes sense to me. The Nix are a perfect fit given familiarity with the club and fair certainty of getting minutes.


All in all I think this can work out for all. A highly motivated Burns is a great boost for us, him and the club!

Hate to sound like a negative nelly but I'm worried people are setting their expectations for Burns too high. He hasn't played much in the last year & is rumoured to have been passed on by City after failing to impress their coach in a time trial. He might take awhile to get up to fitness & may never reach the heights of the pre-Asian Cup again. I really wouldn't expect much out of him this season (Don't get me wrong, I really want to be wrong about this).
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about 8 years ago

RR wrote:

chemi wrote:

Have been mulling this signing over, from a management perspective it makes a lot of sense. Clubs under pressure, needed something and something familiar (& good) is better than something untested.

From the player's perspective, my guess is Burns was looking for somewhere he could get playing time in advance of the World Cup. He's 29 so a desire to be in that squad makes sense to me. The Nix are a perfect fit given familiarity with the club and fair certainty of getting minutes.

All in all I think this can work out for all. A highly motivated Burns is a great boost for us, him and the club!

Hate to sound like a negative nelly but I'm worried people are setting their expectations for Burns too high. He hasn't played much in the last year & is rumoured to have been passed on by City after failing to impress their coach in a time trial. He might take awhile to get up to fitness & may never reach the heights of the pre-Asian Cup again. I really wouldn't expect much out of him this season (Don't get me wrong, I really want to be wrong about this).


Sort of like how i felt about Finkler

Oi Oi Edgecumbe... lets have a clean sheet

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about 8 years ago · edited about 8 years ago · History

RR wrote:

chemi wrote:

(----)

Hate to sound like a negative nelly but I'm worried people are setting their expectations for Burns too high. He hasn't played much in the last year & is rumoured to have been passed on by City after failing to impress their coach in a time trial. He might take awhile to get up to fitness & may never reach the heights of the pre-Asian Cup again. I really wouldn't expect much out of him this season (Don't get me wrong, I really want to be wrong about this).


Sort of like how i felt about Finkler

I think Finkler was already on the way out of Victory because he has "peaked" and basically the club was happy to do a two-for-one deal with Kosta.  However, I expect that we will be more likely to give Burns leeway to get back into shape than we gave Finkler. 

Burns has a good reason to perform (the WC 2018 squad) and also he has a past association with us so we might be more forgiving, especially that it is a different coach now so it might all take a while.  

On the other hand, I suspect that Gui Finkler wanted to have a secure club deal in a less competitive setting than the Victory, and we looked like a decent fit for him. Shame that it did not work out.

Actually, getting outplayed quite a bit these days

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about 8 years ago

Ernie seemed to get the best out of Burns and obviously knew which buttons to push. Hopefully the current coach can so the same. 

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about 8 years ago

We know that Burns can score at this level and we also know that teams at this level were able to find ways to prevent that later on. What we don't really know is whether or not he would of continued to score goals for us if our coach had made changes to the way we played to make sure he kept scoring. Can our new gafferovic find a way for him to score plenty of goals within his system?

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about 8 years ago

RR wrote:

chemi wrote:

Have been mulling this signing over, from a management perspective it makes a lot of sense. Clubs under pressure, needed something and something familiar (& good) is better than something untested.

From the player's perspective, my guess is Burns was looking for somewhere he could get playing time in advance of the World Cup. He's 29 so a desire to be in that squad makes sense to me. The Nix are a perfect fit given familiarity with the club and fair certainty of getting minutes.

All in all I think this can work out for all. A highly motivated Burns is a great boost for us, him and the club!

Hate to sound like a negative nelly but I'm worried people are setting their expectations for Burns too high. He hasn't played much in the last year & is rumoured to have been passed on by City after failing to impress their coach in a time trial. He might take awhile to get up to fitness & may never reach the heights of the pre-Asian Cup again. I really wouldn't expect much out of him this season (Don't get me wrong, I really want to be wrong about this).

I share your concerns. Three goals in 30 appearances since he left us (unsure how many of them are starts). No game time whatsoever and has been without a club since July so at best training by himself.

At the very least it will take a month to get anything like Match fit, bearing in mind he has glass knees and can't train the house down.

Maybe he will be right by the end of the year and into next season.

Also have a concern what his motivation levels will be l7ke if he misses out on Aussie WC squad

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about 8 years ago

Iif his motivation to get into the Aussie WC squad is anything like it was last time we'll be sweet.

Queenslander 3x a year.

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about 8 years ago

Surely his job here will be providing goals, and occasionally chipping in a few. Quite different to playing with a false nine. You would also think he'd be better than Parkhouse, and would be able to help him with his development. 

It's a positive development. Plus a good name and an association with a time when clubs feared the 'Nix. 

When we had Bonevacia and squad disharmony it festered. Here is some decisive action and we'll see what the results are. 



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about 8 years ago

sthn.jeff wrote:

RR wrote:

chemi wrote:

Have been mulling this signing over, from a management perspective it makes a lot of sense. Clubs under pressure, needed something and something familiar (& good) is better than something untested.

From the player's perspective, my guess is Burns was looking for somewhere he could get playing time in advance of the World Cup. He's 29 so a desire to be in that squad makes sense to me. The Nix are a perfect fit given familiarity with the club and fair certainty of getting minutes.

All in all I think this can work out for all. A highly motivated Burns is a great boost for us, him and the club!

Hate to sound like a negative nelly but I'm worried people are setting their expectations for Burns too high. He hasn't played much in the last year & is rumoured to have been passed on by City after failing to impress their coach in a time trial. He might take awhile to get up to fitness & may never reach the heights of the pre-Asian Cup again. I really wouldn't expect much out of him this season (Don't get me wrong, I really want to be wrong about this).

I share your concerns. Three goals in 30 appearances since he left us (unsure how many of them are starts). No game time whatsoever and has been without a club since July so at best training by himself.

At the very least it will take a month to get anything like Match fit, bearing in mind he has glass knees and can't train the house down.

Maybe he will be right by the end of the year and into next season.

Also have a concern what his motivation levels will be l7ke if he misses out on Aussie WC squad

"He left the A-League to join FC Tokyo, then this year joined Sanfrecce Hiroshima in July." So has been in a club environment if not playing games.
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about 8 years ago

Bullion wrote:

sthn.jeff wrote:

RR wrote:

chemi wrote:

Have been mulling this signing over, from a management perspective it makes a lot of sense. Clubs under pressure, needed something and something familiar (& good) is better than something untested.

From the player's perspective, my guess is Burns was looking for somewhere he could get playing time in advance of the World Cup. He's 29 so a desire to be in that squad makes sense to me. The Nix are a perfect fit given familiarity with the club and fair certainty of getting minutes.

All in all I think this can work out for all. A highly motivated Burns is a great boost for us, him and the club!

Hate to sound like a negative nelly but I'm worried people are setting their expectations for Burns too high. He hasn't played much in the last year & is rumoured to have been passed on by City after failing to impress their coach in a time trial. He might take awhile to get up to fitness & may never reach the heights of the pre-Asian Cup again. I really wouldn't expect much out of him this season (Don't get me wrong, I really want to be wrong about this).

I share your concerns. Three goals in 30 appearances since he left us (unsure how many of them are starts). No game time whatsoever and has been without a club since July so at best training by himself.

At the very least it will take a month to get anything like Match fit, bearing in mind he has glass knees and can't train the house down.

Maybe he will be right by the end of the year and into next season.

Also have a concern what his motivation levels will be l7ke if he misses out on Aussie WC squad

"He left the A-League to join FC Tokyo, then this year joined Sanfrecce Hiroshima in July." So has been in a club environment if not playing games.

sorry, citation: https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/a-league/100260221/socceroo-striker-nathan-burns-arrives-back-in-wellington-to-bolster-ailing-phoenix
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about 8 years ago · edited about 8 years ago · History

Some players only score a lot of goals at one club in their career when things align for them in terms of manager, tactics and teammates.

They struggle when they leave for another club (e.g. Ian Rush and Luther Blissett when they went to Italy)

Burns looks to be one of those.

I don't know if he'll recapture that old Phoenix form under a different manager - at least a handful of the players are the same (Krishna, Wee Mac, Durante, Doyle). There's also his long history of injuries to consider (Burns has only played 128 league games in his 12 year senior career).

If you look at his career stats outside that one season with the Phoenix, its not impressive:

https://us.soccerway.com/players/nathan-burns/1749...

https://www.transfermarkt.com/nathan-burns/leistun...

https://www.transfermarkt.com/nathan-burns/detaill...

http://www.ultimatealeague.com/player_detail.php?p...

(The sites above are incomplete but you can work out career stats from them together)

League games (not including cup games):

Phoenix 2014-15: 24 apps 13 goals 6 assists

AEK Athens (Greek Super League) 2008-12 : 21 apps  1 goal 1 assist 

AOK Kerkyra (Greek second tier) 2009-10; 31 apps 8 goals 0 assists

FC Tokyo 2015-17: 26 apps 3 goals 6 assists

Newcastle Jets A-League 2013-14 12 apps 2 goals 0 assists

Adelaide United 2006-08: 35 apps 9 goals

Total games and goals excluding his previous brilliant season with the Nix (adding 3 apps for Incheon in the K-League where he filed to score): 128 league games   23 goals

Big Pete 65, Christchurch

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about 8 years ago
Burns scored for the Nix loads in the front half of his time here, teams then seemed to work us out a bit, shut him down and slowed his scoring. Reckon having a front 3 of NB AK RK, will at least keep defenders honest and hopefully let all three operate with some degree of freedom.
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about 8 years ago · edited about 8 years ago · History

MetalLegNZ wrote:

Fc TOkyo okayish

Huh?

FC Tokyo 2015-17: 26 apps 3 goals 6 assists

Tokyo bought him to score goals based on his Phoenix form, but he didn't (leading to Tokyo scoring at only about one goal per game while he was there) - so they didn't give him much game time after mid 2016 and eventually off-loaded him to Sanfrecce Hiroshima midway through the 2017 season, where he didn't play at all.

I wouldn't exect too much of Burns initially - he hasn't started a game for 18 months  - since 22 July 2016 (J-League vs. Kawasaki Frontale)- except for 26/4/17 when he was dragged after 21 minutes.

Since 22 July 2016 only scant time as a sub:

30/9/16 J-League on as 65 min. sub

4/10/16 J-League Cup 82 min sub

8/10/16 J-League Cup on as 46 min sub

21/10/16 J-League on as 93 min sub

28/10/16 J-League on as 80 min sub

2/11/16 J-League on as 86 min sub

26/4/17 J-League Cup started but subbed after 21 min.

2/5/17 JL Cup on as 91 min sub

9/5/17 JL Cup on as 89 min sub

Sanfrecce Hiroshima from July 2017: no appearances

Big Pete 65, Christchurch

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about 8 years ago

Bullion wrote:

Bullion wrote:

sthn.jeff wrote:

RR wrote:

chemi wrote:

Have been mulling this signing over, from a management perspective it makes a lot of sense. Clubs under pressure, needed something and something familiar (& good) is better than something untested.

From the player's perspective, my guess is Burns was looking for somewhere he could get playing time in advance of the World Cup. He's 29 so a desire to be in that squad makes sense to me. The Nix are a perfect fit given familiarity with the club and fair certainty of getting minutes.

All in all I think this can work out for all. A highly motivated Burns is a great boost for us, him and the club!

Hate to sound like a negative nelly but I'm worried people are setting their expectations for Burns too high. He hasn't played much in the last year & is rumoured to have been passed on by City after failing to impress their coach in a time trial. He might take awhile to get up to fitness & may never reach the heights of the pre-Asian Cup again. I really wouldn't expect much out of him this season (Don't get me wrong, I really want to be wrong about this).

I share your concerns. Three goals in 30 appearances since he left us (unsure how many of them are starts). No game time whatsoever and has been without a club since July so at best training by himself.

At the very least it will take a month to get anything like Match fit, bearing in mind he has glass knees and can't train the house down.

Maybe he will be right by the end of the year and into next season.

Also have a concern what his motivation levels will be l7ke if he misses out on Aussie WC squad

"He left the A-League to join FC Tokyo, then this year joined Sanfrecce Hiroshima in July." So has been in a club environment if not playing games.

sorry, citation: https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/a-league/100260221/socceroo-striker-nathan-burns-arrives-back-in-wellington-to-bolster-ailing-phoenix

fair enough got my times a bit muddled  but that said if you go to a club and are released inside 6 months without playing a game, it is hardly setting the world on fire is it
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about 8 years ago

sthn.jeff wrote:

Bullion wrote:

Bullion wrote:

sthn.jeff wrote:

RR wrote:

chemi wrote:

Have been mulling this signing over, from a management perspective it makes a lot of sense. Clubs under pressure, needed something and something familiar (& good) is better than something untested.

From the player's perspective, my guess is Burns was looking for somewhere he could get playing time in advance of the World Cup. He's 29 so a desire to be in that squad makes sense to me. The Nix are a perfect fit given familiarity with the club and fair certainty of getting minutes.

All in all I think this can work out for all. A highly motivated Burns is a great boost for us, him and the club!

Hate to sound like a negative nelly but I'm worried people are setting their expectations for Burns too high. He hasn't played much in the last year & is rumoured to have been passed on by City after failing to impress their coach in a time trial. He might take awhile to get up to fitness & may never reach the heights of the pre-Asian Cup again. I really wouldn't expect much out of him this season (Don't get me wrong, I really want to be wrong about this).

I share your concerns. Three goals in 30 appearances since he left us (unsure how many of them are starts). No game time whatsoever and has been without a club since July so at best training by himself.

At the very least it will take a month to get anything like Match fit, bearing in mind he has glass knees and can't train the house down.

Maybe he will be right by the end of the year and into next season.

Also have a concern what his motivation levels will be l7ke if he misses out on Aussie WC squad

"He left the A-League to join FC Tokyo, then this year joined Sanfrecce Hiroshima in July." So has been in a club environment if not playing games.

sorry, citation: https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/a-league/100260221/socceroo-striker-nathan-burns-arrives-back-in-wellington-to-bolster-ailing-phoenix

fair enough got my times a bit muddled  but that said if you go to a club and are released inside 6 months without playing a game, it is hardly setting the world on fire is it

Correct, but better than not having a club at all.

Yellow Fever - Misery loves company

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about 8 years ago

Hopefully it's a Rojas situation. Struggle overseas, come back to a club which is comfortable, light up the league.

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about 8 years ago

Dario was also struggling in Asia before coming here and did alright, it's fair to say that Burns is the better player of the two and sometimes the A League is simply a players level. Burns has always looked class at this level.

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about 8 years ago

I guess we will all just have to wait and see

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about 8 years ago

Big Pete 65 wrote:

MetalLegNZ wrote:

Fc TOkyo okayish

Huh?

FC Tokyo 2015-17: 26 apps 3 goals 6 assists

Tokyo bought him to score goals based on his Phoenix form, but he didn't (leading to Tokyo scoring at only about one goal per game while he was there) - so they didn't give him much game time after mid 2016 and eventually off-loaded him to Sanfrecce Hiroshima midway through the 2017 season, where he didn't play at all.

I wouldn't exect too much of Burns initially - he hasn't started a game for 18 months  - since 22 July 2016 (J-League vs. Kawasaki Frontale)- except for 26/4/17 when he was dragged after 21 minutes.

Since 22 July 2016 only scant time as a sub:

30/9/16 J-League on as 65 min. sub

4/10/16 J-League Cup 82 min sub

8/10/16 J-League Cup on as 46 min sub

21/10/16 J-League on as 93 min sub

28/10/16 J-League on as 80 min sub

2/11/16 J-League on as 86 min sub

26/4/17 J-League Cup started but subbed after 21 min.

2/5/17 JL Cup on as 91 min sub

9/5/17 JL Cup on as 89 min sub

Sanfrecce Hiroshima from July 2017: no appearances

So you’re saying he will be on FIRE?

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about 8 years ago

I remember around this time because he played Sainsburys team in the ACL and Sainsbury commented on Burns’s form. They then changed manager and he seemed to be frozen out by the new guy. Suppose it’s all about managers style of play. Either flavour of the month or riding the pine. No different to the marquee guy at City etc or even to Cahill. Either way we don’t have a player of this quality.

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about 8 years ago

number8 wrote:

Big Pete 65 wrote:

MetalLegNZ wrote:

Fc TOkyo okayish

Huh?

FC Tokyo 2015-17: 26 apps 3 goals 6 assists

Tokyo bought him to score goals based on his Phoenix form, but he didn't (leading to Tokyo scoring at only about one goal per game while he was there) - so they didn't give him much game time after mid 2016 and eventually off-loaded him to Sanfrecce Hiroshima midway through the 2017 season, where he didn't play at all.

I wouldn't exect too much of Burns initially - he hasn't started a game for 18 months  - since 22 July 2016 (J-League vs. Kawasaki Frontale)- except for 26/4/17 when he was dragged after 21 minutes.

Since 22 July 2016 only scant time as a sub:

30/9/16 J-League on as 65 min. sub

4/10/16 J-League Cup 82 min sub

8/10/16 J-League Cup on as 46 min sub

21/10/16 J-League on as 93 min sub

28/10/16 J-League on as 80 min sub

2/11/16 J-League on as 86 min sub

26/4/17 J-League Cup started but subbed after 21 min.

2/5/17 JL Cup on as 91 min sub

9/5/17 JL Cup on as 89 min sub

Sanfrecce Hiroshima from July 2017: no appearances

So you’re saying he will be on FIRE?

Burns is the new Watson!
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about 8 years ago

Fenix wrote:

Burns is the new Watson!

Well it's gotta be better than the original plan, where Watson was supposed to be the new Burns.

Actually, getting outplayed quite a bit these days

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about 8 years ago

What % do you reckon Burns is a Kalezic signing vs club ‘influencers’ signing vs Rado signing? 

Kotahitanga. We are one.

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about 8 years ago

Global Game wrote:

What % do you reckon Burns is a Kalezic signing vs club ‘influencers’ signing vs Rado signing? 

I'd say it's 90% Burns wanting to come back to the A-League and he likes Wellington as a city and he knew we had spots available.

Yellow Fever - Misery loves company

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about 8 years ago

patrick478 wrote:

Global Game wrote:

What % do you reckon Burns is a Kalezic signing vs club ‘influencers’ signing vs Rado signing? 

I'd say it's 90% Burns wanting to come back to the A-League and he likes Wellington as a city and he knew we had spots available.

That doesn’t answer the question. Lots of players WANT to play somewhere but someone at the club has to take responsibility for the signing. Just  wondering. 

Kotahitanga. We are one.

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about 8 years ago

My guesses, Abbas, Lowry & Watto

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about 8 years ago

Yeah I would go those three as well, then after that it is if Rossi has something else and its too early for Dura to retire. He will do that at the end of the season.

I'm an optimistic pessimist. 
I'm positive things will go wrong.
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about 8 years ago

Global Game wrote:

patrick478 wrote:

Global Game wrote:

What % do you reckon Burns is a Kalezic signing vs club ‘influencers’ signing vs Rado signing? 

I'd say it's 90% Burns wanting to come back to the A-League and he likes Wellington as a city and he knew we had spots available.

That doesn’t answer the question. Lots of players WANT to play somewhere but someone at the club has to take responsibility for the signing. Just  wondering. 

Reckon the club influencers more than anything, but makes sense with Vido going.

a.haak

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about 8 years ago

patrick478 wrote:

Global Game wrote:

What % do you reckon Burns is a Kalezic signing vs club ‘influencers’ signing vs Rado signing? 

I'd say it's 90% Burns wanting to come back to the A-League and he likes Wellington as a city and he knew we had cash available.

Fixed

Grumpy old bastard alert

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about 8 years ago

RR wrote:

My guesses, Abbas, Lowry & Watto

Watson will never been seen ever again at any league that ever matters above the New Zealand National League. He got a couple of goals and has a nice story to tell his kids but he is not a professional footballer

Grumpy old bastard alert

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about 8 years ago

Isn't Sail on a pro contract? Could he be one who is cut loose seeing as he's our 3rd choice keeper and with Smith around doesn't look like a future Nix no1?

People like Coldplay and voted for the Nazis. You can't trust people.

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about 8 years ago

Unless we are looking at a keeper then Sail will stay (although i agree, no way he'll ever get game time for us). Abbas was a real Rado signing, so he's definitely leaving. I think the squad list for tonights game speaks for itself: "-OUTS: Ali ABBAS, Hamish WATSON, Ryan LOWRY" 

Annual finals disappointment enthusiast.

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about 8 years ago

Can someone explain to me how can a contracted player (Dario Vidosic) be allowed to leave before the January transfer window even opened and sign up with Melbourne City, just because his Dad 's contract as Assistant Coach was terminated? As far as I know staff contracts are a bit different to player contracts.

Actually, getting outplayed quite a bit these days

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about 8 years ago · edited about 8 years ago · History

Mainland FC wrote:

Can someone explain to me how can a contracted player (Dario Vidosic) be allowed to leave before the January transfer window even opened and sign up with Melbourne City, just because his Dad 's contract as Assistant Coach was terminated? As far as I know staff contracts are a bit different to player contracts.

Contract with Dario was mutually terminated, and the transfer window only counts for signing players. 

Yellow Fever - Misery loves company

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about 8 years ago

patrick478 wrote:

Mainland FC wrote:

Can someone explain to me how can a contracted player (Dario Vidosic) be allowed to leave before the January transfer window even opened and sign up with Melbourne City, just because his Dad 's contract as Assistant Coach was terminated? As far as I know staff contracts are a bit different to player contracts.

Contract with Dario was mutually terminated, and the transfer window only counts for signing players. 

OK, so I guess we do not owe him money, he does not owe us money either, and we have money for Burns.

Actually, getting outplayed quite a bit these days

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about 8 years ago

Yakcall wrote:

Yeah I would go those three as well, then after that it is if Rossi has something else and its too early for Dura to retire. He will do that at the end of the season.

Like Burns, Rossi likes it here. Can't see Darije not strengthening his defence though, including keeper.  

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