Contracted Players - Return of the Long Pins

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article...

Cam Devlin and Ben Waine are the other two, both signed for one more season after this one. 

Unless Gilly got it wrong, it hasn't been announced as he was down as off contract at the end of this season.

I think now you could make a good argument that if everyone performs to their potential, this year's squad is better than last.

De vere should be an upgrade on Dura

Marinovic should be similar to Kurto

Hooper is potentially a better player than Roy, although he will have to stay fit

Steinmann looks an upgrade on Mandi

Ball I'm not yet convinced on but we'll see.  Thought he had some good touches on Sunday, not sure why he got subbed so early

Davila is the same, but has pedigree.  Probably needs to work out how to operate in a more physical league.

Sotirio, Piscopo, McCowatt and Waine all handy bench options.

"The Marshall must stand against the enemy alone....the sharpest shot in the West...he bides his time for the killing blow..."

 "Gary Cooper portrayed a new type of hero—a champion of the common man..."

Can we make a song out of this??

(Note, a very young Lee Van Cleef in this scene)

Do not forsake me, oh my Gary

On this, your debut dayaaayy
Do not forsake me, oh my Gary
Wait, wait along to see how you play.

Do not forsake me, oh, my Gary
On this, our big match day
Do not forsake me, oh, my Gary
Make,make that run

"I do not know what fate awaits me
I only know I must be brave
And I must face a defence who hates me
Or lie a coward, a craven coward
Or lie a coward in my grave"

"Oh, to be torn 'tweenst power and placement
Supposin' I lose my scoring touch?
Look at that big hand move along
Nearin' kick-off"

"He made a vow while in Australia
Vowed his tackle would take me down
I'm not afraid of the convicts, but, oh
What shall I do if my touch deserts me?"

Do not forsake me, oh, my Gary
You made that promise when you signed
Do not forsake me, oh, my Gary
When you're scoring, it's never boring
Now that I have you on my side

What a goal (what a goal), what a goal
What a goal (What a goal, what a goal, what a goal, what a goal)

Brilliant Pete. That tune is now stuck in my head. Excellent film by the way.

Cacace has a contract next season. 

Since when?

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/a-league/116696283/new-signing-gary-hooper-potentially-a-striking-star-for-the-wellington-phoenix

that's the second piece of good contract news in two days 

Actually it's fantastic news if true 

Fantastic piece of business really -

https://youtu.be/BshxCIjNEjY

Everyone likes ABBA, right!? What about a looping ,Suuper Hoo-Hoo-Per’

Thats awesome about libby hopefully he has another amazing season and we sell him to a Serie A team. awesome for him, awesome for nix, awesome for NZ football as a whole.

Just looking at those WSW boys coming up through their acadamy and its exciting to see what these acadamies can do when invested in.

Can't remember what thread this was last discussed on, but earlier on as usual there was a lot of concern with how we will score enough goals. Roughly 40 goals throughout the season gets you into the top six, and I genuinely think with the addition of Hooper that is attainable. Of course it's impossible to predict with any real accuracy how many each player will score, but the following breakdown doesn't seem unrealistic on paper: 

• Hooper - 14 goals
• Ball - 7 goals
• McCowatt - 6 goals
• Davila - 5 goals
• Piscopo/Sotirio/Waine/Devlin combined - 4 goals
• Steinmann/Rufer/Payne - 2 goals
• Defenders combined - 5 goals.

I don't think on paper this looks completely unrealistic, and this would give us 43 goals. The addition of Hooper will have so much impact on the rest of our attacking players, as a) the pressure will be less on Ball and McCowatt to score and b) those two will get more space when on the ball as Hooper will draw defenders in. I also think he will score a bucketful in his own right, the guy is a gun. I think we can score more goals from set pieces too this year, Taylor is a handful in the air and Steinmann and DeVere are much taller than Durante/Kopa/Mandi were. I don't necessarily predict this, but the bones of a potentially great season are definitely there.

If Hooper stays fit, I think we've got a very decent season to look forward to. My main concern now is Davila, as if he doesn't fire at all we will lack creativity to push for the 6

I think McCowatt will score plenty, if he's played in striker

Any updates on Hoopers visa?

Based on how dangerous Davila looked last night he could be good for more than 5. Not sure Ball has 7 in him either.

I reckon Ball does; he's been desperately unlucky.

Talay said he should be OK for round 3 in his post match presser, so I assume things are OK

"Ripping *smurfs* to bits"

* insert snakes, cakes, Perth, jets, vuck, roar as needed.

(Struggling for 1-syllable names for the rest)

Reds... Blues... That's all I got. 

Wellington signing Gary Hooper had interest from Western Sydney, until his injury record sparked concerns. Markus Babbel got a letter from Sheffield Wednesday detailing the injuries that ruled Hooper out for all of 2018, and the Wanderers weren't taking any chances.

[Telegraph]

— A-League Hub (@AleagueHub) October 24, 2019

That sounds just like how we got Ifill (CCM pulled out of a deal cuz Sheffield United gave an unfavourable opinion about his injuries), lets hope it turns out the same way.

Great to see Callum McCowatt inspiring the next generation at Ole. 

Reports from Oz say Hooper is out for 3 weeks?

Didn't quite believe him when he said it tbh

Looks like Piscopo got 15min off the bench for the Aus U23 last night.

So Reno Piscopo has been listed in this seasons off contract players (with triggers for extensions note). We might have to start playing him more often now, he is gonna be away for a few weeks in January so that won't help any appearance trigger clauses.

God, imagine a complete squad overhaul for a third season in a row... I don't think my poor heart could take it. 

Hopefully you're bang on about the clauses, because it would seem rather counter-intuitive to sign a bunch of youngsters only to have them snapped up, or have them leave for nothing.

Originally thought Davila & Ball (possibly) were signed on 2 year deals? Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

EXPIRES END OF 2019/20:

Liberato CACACE [u21]
Luke DEVERE
Callan ELLIOT [u21]
Gary HOOPER [V]
Te Atawhai HUDSON-WIHONGI
Liam MCGING [u21]
Callum MCCOWATT [u21]
Tim PAYNE
Alex RUFER
Walter SCOTT [u21]
Jaushua SOTIRIO
Matti STEINMANN [V]
Steven TAYLOR [V]

EXPIRES END OF 2020/21:

David BALL [V]
Ulises DÁVILA [V]
Cameron DEVLIN [u21]
Louis FENTON
Stefan MARINOVIC
Oliver SAIL
Ben WAINE [u21]

EXPIRES END OF 2021/22:

Reno PISCOPO [u21]