Contracted Players - Return of the Long Pins

Merrick said we're looking for another striker so must have a slot still open

Apparently this is our strongest 11.....

This guy

http://www.foxsports.com.au/football/a-league/studs-up-your-aleague-clubs-possible-best-xi-for-the-20162017-season/news-story/2fa3336aff83c5c0f07a46db1c9291dd

Also has McGarry as one to watch.

Ridenton should be watching out for McGarry already.

sigh

Maybe they edited out the rest of the sentence: one to watch begin a long and slow rehab process following serious injury?

EXPIRES END OF 2016/17:

Roly BONEVACIA (f) 
Tom DOYLE
Louis FENTON
Ben LITFIN (+1)
Adam PARKHOUSE
Alex RODRIGUEZ GORRIN (f)
Lewis ITALIANO
Vince LIA
Ryan LOWRY
Glen MOSS
Oliver SAIL (u21)
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
Marco ROSSI (+1) (f)
Logan ROGERSON (u21)
Alex RUFER

EXPIRES END OF 2018/19:

Kosta BARBAROUSES
Dylan FOX

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/oct/21/e...

Interesting to compare our team to Merrick's best Victory side, when he had Muscat at the base of midfield, and a front three of Fred, Thompson and Allsopp. Merrick reckons that team would be mid-table in today's A-League. Our equivalents in those positions are Lia, Finkler, Barbarouses and Krishna, none of whom are as good as that Victory quartet IMO. 

How many more seasons is Ernie contracted for? I seem to have forgotten.

mid 2018

However...! 

I would say that McG/Roly/Roy/Kosta could have been good enough to be in that Victory team. Not all of them would have been starters. Lia is at the end of his career and Finkler is not at his peak either. Though we're hoping Finkler will show a bit more than he has...

Sure, we would all like him to be a game winner. However, even if he clearly has slowed down since his MV time, I would like to see he can contribute for us in other ways, for example as a dead ball specialist, and by reading the game and providing distribution (where Lia now needs help).

This all makes sense if his was an affordable contract for us - he might be an excellent pickup for the price, and I don't know what that price is.

Good to see Tratt named as an up and coming youngster in the Hyundai A league Young talent time

Jacob Tratt (Wellington Phoenix) - Earned a deal with the Nix after impressing with Sydney United 58 in the PS4 NSW NPL. And he’s made the most of the opportunity, producing a string of consistent performances at right-back in the first three rounds.
Read more at http://www.a-league.com.au/photo-gallery/hyundai-a-league-young-talent-time-bkcnqay20syd15x3yxhmkr31m#furWxJDZTDiSXkwZ.99

At least a new coach will have a bit of squad to play with.

Chance of Roly staying past this season? 0? Less than 0?

If he stays on, A-Rod will have to go (depending on Roy's citizenship application)

Judging by this seasons performance I wouldn't mind if he went, but then apparently he's not happy with Ernie so maybe a change in gaffer will re-invigorate him.

Unless we know for sure that a player was absolutely discontented with Merrick, we should avoid putting words/rumours/innuendo in the mouths of said players cause if we are incorrect... Plus its our team

No player is going to come out and say it but it's been widely rumored for some time and the media has been talking about it since Mericks resignation.

Come on then, who. If you can spread innuendo, then name these players. Its not been widely rumoured by anyone on this forum so I certainly challenge you on that.

Bonevacia, as I said. It's been mentioned on here, and also in the press. 

And you know, smoke = fire.

But I have no doubt that most players love him, just read that passage in siggys book.

Edit: if you listen to that interview with Merrick in the other thread then he was asked about players not being happy and he said he was surprised because he never had any inclination, but that no one is happy when they're benched and when they're loosing and that it's easy to talk anonymously rather than to someones face.

No doubt whatever rumor there was existed but was blown out of proportion by the press.

To be honest, if Roly has been unhappy with Ernie, I'm not surprised. If I was Ernie I'd be bloody unhappy about Roly's performances.

Pretty much those last two posts. A fair bit blown up and the media never does that.

Roly is not happy? Shock. Find someone in football that is happy with Roly and his performances right now.

Link plz? The only thing I heard was the commentator in the last game saying he'd been approached by Citeh.

If Roly is not picked perhaps he should be looking at his own performances of late.

I can't quite remember, after the resignation I just turned on radio sport and listened at work. They had interviews with Piney, Ifill, and of course Sam Malcomson as well as their own speculation, but the archives are just too hard to navigate through unless you know the time that you're looking for.

There was also talk last year around the time Bonevacia signed an extension which a few people were surprised at.

I heard there was an almost complete breakdown in the relationship between Ernie and Roly and that, despite that and Roly's performances, Ernie was loathe to drop him which annoyed some senior players.

Its no coincidence Roly was back to almost his best last night.

Mind you, he can't be in top form, after watching Vinnie do it to perfection, Roly's long shot wasn't so well hit!

One question, If all these players are supposedly unhappy, what are the media who are close to the squad, in particular Piney and the Hampster doing when they spend all that time in and around the team?

Or maybe the sauce is talking a bit of shark (or doesn't have the full story) and there isn't as big a problem as it is making out. I very much doubt the news people like Piney or Hampster would miss the opportunity to break the story of trouble in the Nix camp.

This

I get the feeling that if there was reak discontent, there would be people reporting on here more about it. Those who are in the know or go to training do not allude to anything. Roly is not happy, not big surprise but would not have said anyone else was based on what goes on these forums. Call that naive but there are no leaks or rumours to the contrary.

Someone asked about the squad dissatisfaction in the press conference and Ernie reacted with surprise but said something like It's easy for them to complain anonymously. But Piney (I think) did say that the senior playing group bought into Ernies Philosophy wholesale, maybe they just shut up shop when the press is there or maybe the situation was very complicated and no one answer was correct. You can respect a coach, buy into his philosophy, but still be frustrated by the inflexibility of it.

http://www.wellingtonphoenix.com/article/parkhouse...

Interesting that they are signing someone without a coach. Guessing he had some interest elsewhere and better to sign him that yet again scout for another squadie for LB cover. 

Had he really proven himself?

Certainly not opposed to it as he has improved with every game. Just kind of odd timing