Contracted Players - Return of the Long Pins

Doyle and Tratt hadn't had 7-8 seasons in the A-League to prove themselves already...

Mullen is a known quantity. He trialed at Adelaide and was not picked up, despite him being a local player. They picked up Lia instead. Make of that what you will.

Adelaide wanted a DM who can play right back at a pinch; the Nix wanted a RB backup who can also backup at CB?

Lowry, Fox and Mullen all seem like very similar players to me though. Just seems a little strange.

Adelaide wanted to pay a low amount for a midfield squad player and we wanted a defensive player who would challenge for a starting spot?

Squad still needs 2 attacking players if they're to do anything.  Defence looks solid with good depth and means fenton  and parkhouse most likely will move to be attackers vidosic will be good in attack aswell.  Paracki is a good replacement for Lia.  Starting line up looks alright but needs a good target man up front.  hopefully the final import spot will be for that.

Isn't the rumor that a current international European has been signed?

Maybe hes from Gib, Andorra, Litchenstein, Monaco, Faroe Islands etc.  Loads of rubbish European national teams out there

Malta

He's much younger than Dura. And surely can't be any worse than him.

Direct quote from Domey this morning on TV 3 - "There is a Striker coming" - Excellent news!

We've both banged on about this for a long time.  It's been such an obvious weakness for so long.  Signing actual A-League experienced defenders is something we've just not done.  This team already looks so much better as we're not relying on players stepping up from lower levels

So, what's everyone's pick for our starting back 4?

Mullen - Rossi - Doyle - Galloway?

Galloway - Dura - Rossi - Doyle?

We can only pick 2 starting out of Mullen, Doyle and Dura.

Do we know how long it will be until Dura and Rossi will be back? That could have a huge bearing on the lineup for the season

I've found it really puzzling how neither the previous club management nor the fan base appeared overly worried about this. Even now we have people saying that we have 'seasoned' pros in that position and that this isn't needed, even though it's some of those seasoned pros who have played a big role in our shambles of a defence over the last few years.

Surely shaking things up there by bringing in a guy with over 100 A-league appearances, and who played for WSW when they won the Asian Champions League, can only be a good thing?

The Phoenix organisation is full of sacred cows...Dura is one of them  

Dura has been a great servant but its great to see someone who can step in there who wont be a step down. Still think Lowry and Fox are a step down. Mullen is ready made.

Ernie's way.  Score more.  'Cept we didn't.

Happy to see the defensive end no longer relying on two greenhorns, at least one of whom was playing out of position.

In my experience, shipping easy goals is a morale killer.  Admittedly that's experience with higher grade womens teams, but we pretty much saw that on the field from the Nix.  No matter how professional the attacking midfield and attacking players are, I can't see how it does not get to them if you feel every time you start a goal down, or you get a goal ahead and leak a bad mistake at the back.  Or you cannot close out games with a hard won single goal lead and minutes to play against a good side. And we've been doing all that for years.

I'm a firm believer that a decent backline which is hard to break down is also worth 15% or more in confidence at the attacking end.

Just need that quality striker now.  And, ideally, a bit of experienced cover for Krishna/Dario?

Do we know who the captain is for the new season yet, would it just default to Dura even under new management?

it's Dura

McGlinchey appears to be VC

Anyone considered that the reason for so many defenders is that we are expecting to pick up a few suspensions and cards this season?

I was wondering too with the rhetoric if we might be encouraging our defenders to make the opposition forwards feel challenges a bit more! Anyway- so Lowry, Fox, Dura, Galloway, Mullen, Doyle, Rossi. Could be it's 3 at the back with Doyle and Galloway wing backs. Hope Rossi isn't badly injured and that he is getting on OK with the new boss! Absolute key player

Would like to see Rossi sign a new 2 year deal TBH.

Haven't heard a peep out of the club regarding his injury - it's a bit worrying.

I wouldn't mind us switching to three at the back, the reality is we lack natural wide players, so this might play into our strengths a little more.

Was there some mystical component to this ceremony that enabled them all to be healed like this?

Competition for our defenders is a good thing and probably a first for a very long time. I really hope this brings out the best in them. Over the years we have let in far too many easy goals or even own goals.

That's not a show of confidence for the player. We don't have any visa players signed beyond this year!

And if he'd got more than a year the same people would be whining "what if he sucks, we can't get rid of him"

No, the Nix would just use “Personal Reasons” 

You can't really overcommit to players in a salary-capped league. Don't think it's necessarily a bad move.

Prrety sure most foreigners generally get one year A-League deals