Contracted Players - Return of the Long Pins

I hope fenton gets released...

still got to be better than being a squad player who gets very limited or no game time. 

Don't disagree with you there holeinone and there is some good football played in Sydney and Melbourne NPL. Aside from the pay cut involved, the chances of moving to an A league club from NPL for non Aussie players is very limited due to small number of clubs and being an import player. To move beyond Australia from NPL - unlikely. 

if that is not going to work they will end up working in mcdonalds or burger king (unless they have other qualifications from school or varsity). not going anywhere as a squady, not much if any chance to go from state league then equally no where to go from weenix. football can be so cruel to youngsters not just here but world wide.

What's this rumour about Glen Moss being looked at by Super Sport United?

I think Oli Sail is worthy of being a back up, has been good for the Wee Nix. But who would be number one? Surely not Marinovic..

Nothing wrong with Italiano.  Has been with us for a while, did not disgrace himself when playing (or off field for that matter) and is young enough to develop further. 

Can we see Italiano playing for us every game though? Admittedly he's had very few opportunities (a couple??) to play for us and prove his worth, but I would personally like us to sign an established A-League GK if we could.

That isn't to say Lewis wouldn't do well if he were given the chance.

Also, we should consider that if Mossy goes and we sign a different #1, Italiano may well leave.

Or a decent goalkeeper from any country.

If by "established" you mean "first choice" keeper from another A-League club, I'd say you're dreaming.  We might be able to make an offer to another club's second choice keeper if he's a proven quality and plays reasonably regularly. The thing is, he may not be any better than our own second choice keeper.

Moss staying on unlikely http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/sport/2017/02/glen-m...

They want to give him a pay cut?

Jeez.  Not exactly confidence inspiring, unless he's on the famed Terry wages.

Re: getting an established goal keeper, if Reddy is true to form he'll be on the move in the off season :P

Otherwise, I know people rate Italiano quite highly but whenever I've seen him he's been very shaky, not to mention he let seven goals through last week against amateur opponents. 

But then Young was famously terrible when he first started playing for the roar, but by the time Theo came back he was fairly good, in fact I'm surprised that he isn't the number one with the form that Theo's been in.

Surely though Marinovic would be the best option if he can't pick up a pro gig in Europe.

Yeah but Moss let five goal in as well in that weekend with arguably a better team in front of him. I think Italiano should be given a chance full time if Moss does leave us.

I can see Moss going if he's been asked to take a pay cut. Why on earth would he stay when he's spent a good part of this season picking the ball out of the net. He'll know he's not getting any better so why not take a massive pay rise in SA as opposed to getting smashed week in week out for less. Unless we strengthen the defense we'll need a bit of luck to sign an decent keeper.

EXPIRES END OF 2016/17:

Roly BONEVACIA (f)
Louis FENTON
Lewis ITALIANO
Vince LIA
Ryan LOWRY
Glen MOSS
Alex RODRIGUEZ GORRIN (f)
Oliver SAIL (u21)
Shane SMELTZ
Jacob TRATT (+1)
Hamish WATSON

EXPIRES END OF 2017/18:

Andrew DURANTE
Gui FINKLER (f)
Roy KRISHNA (f)
James McGARRY (u21)
Michael McGLINCHEY
Matthew RIDENTON
Logan ROGERSON (u21)
Marco ROSSI (+1) (f)
Alex RUFER

EXPIRES END OF 2018/19:

Kosta BARBAROUSES
Tom DOYLE
Dylan FOX
Adam PARKHOUSE

Three keepers, Moss likely going and Sail no longer U21 will be meaning some interesting calls made. Do we sign Italiano as our 1st Keeper and Sail as back up or let one of them go (Sail) and get someone new in? Like maybe Olympics U17 keeper who played and got golden gloves at recent OFC u-17 championships, Zac Jones as our new U21 keeper signing.

Personally, I wouldn't mind seeing Italiano becoming our number one should Moss leave, and if Marinovic gets a gig in Europe. Feel like the Welnix would be stupid not to offer Sail a new contract to become our number two. He's a young, promising, kiwi goalkeeper.

That would be a good move.

I just haven't seen enough from Italiano to see him as our first choice GK next year. He hasn't played for the first team much at all - but I have seen him play for Wee Nix several times and I have not personally been impressed.

It's a difficult situation. What happens if we re-sign him and give him the no.1 spot and then he's not up to it? His back-up (Sail?) isn't likely to have much more experience than him.

On the other hand, Italiano has been at the club for a while and is definitely itching to get a chance. Big call.

Italiano seems prone to howlers from what I've seen - a bit more Redmayne than Galekovic 

I'd rather Jake Gleeson over Lewis Italiano.

He won't leave the MLS just when he became a starter to come to the A-League

/fixed

Sail has re-signed for two more seasons (via his twitter account)

He not be on the U21 contract anymore eh so either Moss or Italiano (or both and we get a new keeper) will be gone at the end of the season

How do you guys think Sail would gonin the first team? Is he up for it?

At the moment, I personally don't have the confidence in Sail.  He can pull off some good saves but is still a work in progress for me.

EXPIRES END OF 2016/17:

Roly BONEVACIA (f) 
Louis FENTON
Lewis ITALIANO
Vince LIA
Ryan LOWRY
Glen MOSS
Alex RODRIGUEZ GORRIN (f)
Shane SMELTZ
Jacob TRATT (+1)
Hamish WATSON

EXPIRES END OF 2017/18:

Andrew DURANTE
Gui FINKLER (f)
Roy KRISHNA (f)
James McGARRY (u21)
Michael McGLINCHEY 
Matthew RIDENTON
Logan ROGERSON (u21)
Marco ROSSI (+1) (f)
Alex RUFER

EXPIRES END OF 2018/19:

Kosta BARBAROUSES
Tom DOYLE
Dylan FOX
Adam PARKHOUSE
Oliver SAIL

EXPIRES END OF 2016/17:

Roly BONEVACIA (f) - let go (as much as it pains me to let quality go)
Louis FENTON  - let go (better options now)
Lewis ITALIANO - let go (but... depends on Moss situation. Try for Moss, look for best option from NZ/AU including Italiano)
Vince LIA - retain 1+1 on appearances
Ryan LOWRY - retain
Glen MOSS - retain (seems like ball in mossy's court though. Probably unlikely)
Alex RODRIGUEZ GORRIN (f) - retain (looks like he's matured into the role alongside Vinnie)
Shane SMELTZ - offer 1 year deal (The experience in the squad is useful)
Jacob TRATT (+1) - use +1 option 
Hamish WATSON - depends on Smeltzy and the price. Bit limited as a player does a fine job but guessing better Ozzie options might be available at a price. 

Agreed on all!

Watson has been off the boil a little, as has the whole attack...someone help him find his mojo...

Should we be keeping Fox and Lowry? Is Dura a starting CB next year? Be good to find someone who can cover CB/DM/FB tbh. 

Offer Tratt another 2+1 I reckon. Flip sign him up on a 5 year deal!

Roly Bonevacia - get rid

Louis Fenton - Unlucky but leaving will be better for him with Tratt and Riddenton making up our new first and second choice right backs

Lewis Italiano - Depends on Moss situation and who are the alternatives to replace him

Vince Lia - been good all season, keep him

Ryan Lowry - Retain, been solid this season and having another good centre back won't do us any harm

Glen Moss - Try to keep but unlikely

Alex Rodriguez- retain, done well this year

Shane Smeltz - Tough call but get rid as Watson is younger and will mature to be like him in a couple years.

Jacob Tratt - Keep, he's been outstanding 

Hamish Watson - Keep 

My thinking was there's not really many decent Kiwi CB's coming up through SSP so thought it was better to stick with Lowry and develop him more. 

Centre back used to be the position we developed best as Kiwis.

Interesting the different takes on Smeltz v Watson. 

Also, hard without really knowing the coaching situation and the formation that the manager will play i.e. lone striker or not. 

Luke Adams?

Can see that Ridenton is becoming the man of all positions, which is unfortunate, particularly as he seems to have some great passes in him. One last night leading to Krishna's goal.

Can we not keep Smeltz and Watson? Smeltz was great last night. Watson is off the boil just now...

Watson may have an excuse for going off the boil so to speak and he needs to address these so he can perform on a more consistent basis. Did Roly play against his future team last nite