Defenders

exactly, its good to see Ryan doing well in the EPL, but still...i want the AWs to be competitive

You must know he supports Ipswich.

Get in John Tambouras. His all class as he showed late for the Knights.

Banstick...

Yeah the more I think about it the more i think Right Back will be ourt problem position.

If you were on the coin Nelsen is on at the moment I dont think you would be too worried about the upcoming AW's tour to Europe. Would start Old over Bunce anyday of the week, we have seen how good Bunce is and its not pretty, Steve is only going to get better and has got a good game as it is.

i agree

Michael Boxall ?  He can play ahead of the back four as well.  Maybe Cole Peverley, but he's more a converted midfielder.

a converted midfielder would be fine, would enhance the chances of him being able to play.

Fawkner-Whittlesea in the Victorian premier League.

Got pretty good wraps from the weekend game against Bank's and Flemming's Green-Gulley.

pretty much any of the NZ U/20 boys would be alright (they're obviously quality for their age if they're in the national set up) i'd say Rikki will be waiting to see how that team goes against better opposition before investing in one of those boys who havent played higher than NZFC...


im a bit disapointed Siggie hasnt got a contract with the Phoenix,  (Please wake up Mr Herbert, NO to Hay, YES to Sigmund), he was the glue of the Canterbury United back line and he seemed to go alright at AC aswell

would u take sigmund over smith

Smith ?  Care to narrow it down ?

sorry forget smith i ment pritchett i often get my smiths and pritchetts mixed up

I can see why, the names are so similar 

yes yes they are

Looks like Bunceys fallen out with ricky too after his dropping from the AWs. Is it bye bye Buncey as well as Noah?

I still think Bunce could have done a job at this level.

Yeah totally - a big dominating centre half whose not Danny Hay.

Sounds like crap what Ricki is saying about not picking Buncey."we already know what Bunce can do" then he says hes struggling for players to make the trip. Sense? Nah. I think, very sadly, Buncey's on the outer. He and Tambo would have been in the first few signed if I was coach.

Totally agree with you on Tambouras and Bunce.

What a signing Tambouras would be, rumours have it theyres still a good possibility hell migrate down here. Well have to wait and see.

Tanbo and bunce can't play, particularly bunce, he's to much of a long ball merchant. He can't pass five yards, so no.

Bunce and Tambo would be better than what we have at the moment - and they looked good over the last 4 or 5 games with the Knights last season.

If you had the choice, whom would you pick out of:

dont know ben sigmund. Bunce is sht. Tambouras is good when hes wit a good team. Would be good signing!

I've warmed to Sigmund.

i definatly rate sigmund. he puts the problem into his own hands and most of time deals with it perfectly a good team player. good decision maker..........can sometimes make lunging tackles but 8/10 times will win the ball. His game could flourish in the a-league...i put my trust in him to keep goals out, with ross nicholson in goal youd have to admit hes stopped a lot of goals going in -acting as a 'no hands using on-field keeper' WILL PUT BODY ON THE LINE! i reckon sign him!

Sigmund for sure, for reasons stated above

Sigmund is great coming forward, but the trouble is he often leaves a gap when he does, which was exploited numerous times against AC. His other backs and midfielders have to cover him when he does, and City fell down on that.

Well, if you listen to the commentary from Fred De Jong you may actually believe that Buncy is slow and a "long ball merchant"...

But the facts are Bunce has more than proved he is capable of competing with the best of them, just look at the performance of the Knights Squad formed near the end of last season. The Knights problem was finding the back of the net, not defense. Bunce stood out enough for overseas scouts to persue him.

Obviously when the midfield is weak and the coach tells the defense to kick the ball long then thats what they are going to do - think about it!

Another reason Bunce stands out is that he is a real threat in the air, great for those corner opportunity's.

In saying that it looks like there has been some kind of falling out with Ricki, possibly along the same lines of Hickey due to the shambles at the end of the Knights, so we wont see him in the squad anyway, real shame...but for solid central defense Buncy is the man, period.

totally agree pronz. Bring back Bunce!

There seems to be a dearth of good defenders in Australia and New Zealand at the moment.  A number have been picked up by overseas clubs leaving thin pickings and a number of A-League clubs are struggling to get a solid back four established (though Victory have made a few good signings).  On the other hand there is a plethora of decent attacking midfielders and goalkeepers.