elrich

Aussie youth players are coached way better than NZ youth players - Costa is too raw at the moment.  Aussie youth players have avenues like AIS etc. to go through - we don't really have that. Even Aloisi said that he looked like he had never been coached before.

I think that a major ingredient we are missing is pace though so he will be vital for next season. No one is really that fast in our team.


valeo2007-12-16 00:53:29

The very point I was about to make, valeo. Those guys are way ahead due to the amount of time and money that has been invested in them by the AIS. That's not to say that Costa isn't a talented young player, but as is unfortunatly the case in so many of NZ's sporting codes the Aussie youngsters develop and mature more quickly.

The one thing you are all choosing to ignore is that the names being mentioned here are two years older than Costa.  Perhaps once he's nineteen or twenty he'll be getting the same game time and we can all stop whining.

We currently have 3 fit Centre backs... how else is Ricki going to do it ?

Lochhead doesn't work in a back 3. It doesn't suit his play.

Costa will be given a go in due time. He's only 17 for christ sake! NZ sports (any code) have the habit of chucking young kids in too early and obliterating their confidence. Don't want that to happen to Costa (or Draper). Like HN said - Kruse is 19. Zullo is 19 also. Burns is 20.

When Costa is 19/20 i'm sure he'll be starting. (if he's turns out to be up to it) We can't rush it or it WILL screw him up.

Good point  costa shouldnt be starting because look what happened to burns he played to much to soon and is now paying.

elrich has been absolute poor to be honest and even being 1/4 lebanese myself I'm not afraid to say that haha, I think his delivery has been poor and he lacks commitment in the game, gets beaten or loses the ball and just stands there!

theres always christie as another option, he proved himself at the start of the season, maybe give him some time towards the end of the game next week will make him want to prove again? he's always hinted at wanting to play more towards the midfield?

Auskiwi.. please, this is irritating, u seem to keep repeating the same things over and over, i've seen u say play lochhead completely out of position in back 3, pretty much since hes been put to left mid, etc etc. sigh

A season is a long time for a young developing player. Someone like Costa is likely to improve an awful lot in the next year, as long as he has the right coaching/management. You can't judge next season's players by current standards in that situation. Players change, and someone like Costa is likely to become a more developed player by then. I'm sure Big Rick will monitor that progress more closely than anyone else. Look at him again in a few months, although I hope to see him given more runs before this season ends. 

Costa is too young and not physically strong enough yet to handle the a-league. Maybe in a few years.  He is not a better player than Elrich. Ricki knows what hes doing.  

I'm a huge huge fan of Costa, I've watched him play in Wellington for years so I feel I know his game pretty well. But you do not "develop" youngsters by chucking them in the deep end. I spoke to his father at the start of the season and he said the biggest step for him this year was actually just getting used to training 5 days a week as a professional. The aussie guys we are talking about have been doing that since they are 14/5 years old at the AIS.

I'd be happy to see him getting some time off the bench, but chucky is right, he's not a better player than Elrich and he's not yet strong enough to compete with men, and I think that was evident in the short spell he had against the Galaxy. A guy like Craig Moore would kick him up in the air, watch him come down again and then have another go just because he could. And that definitely doesn't do Costa any good.

And auskiwi, you seem to think that players only improve in match day games. Becaus I think Costa (and Draper and Spoonley) will have made tremendous strides just training day in and day out with these guys. james dean2007-12-17 11:53:11

Just how old is Draper then, and is he the one we should be pushing for instead of Costa at this stage?
When i had waikato 12th grade rep side we had to deal with costa (which we couldnt) new he was going to be something at that age, how has mosses petelo developed

Draper is 19, I think.

Then he matches the age group of Cruze etc.... or does he not realy cut it yet?

He doesn't cut it yet, from what I've seen of him. Also, he's an out and out striker, like Smeltz. So kinda hard to see him replacing Smetlz or Covney.

I think it's time we see some of the boys step up a little more and put a bit more effort in, Felipe and Daniel have really stepped it up recently. I think Elrci is a good player but he hasn't been playing that well for us, frankly, he looks lazy out there. I want to see what's best for the team, I think Kruse & Zullo are doing brilliantly for ROAR, Costa could be doing the same for us. There's no arguement about the impact he makes, he dangerous, smart and fast, and if Elrich can't be bothered being out there then we should put someone on who can.

What impact?

I am going to point this out yet again.  Zullo and Kruse are 19 and now making a mark.  Costa is 17.  There is no comparison.

There is no doubt that when Barbarouses comes on, he adds to our game and I think that's pretty clear to see, it's been noted various times throughout the season. = Making an impact. Perhaps Kruse and Zullo are 19 and Costa is only 17 but that doesn't mean mentally he is any less prepared to get out there and do his thing.

Hyundai A-League [ 2007-08 ]
GP      GS      MIN     S      CS      G      A      Att     On      Pen     Hat     OFF     FC      Y      R
2     0     24     0     0     0     0     0     0     0     0     0     1     0     0

The only statistic he has recorded in his 24 minutes is a singe Foul Committed. He has been thrown on as a late subs in two games we have lost, what specific impact has he had? At least back up your argument with some facts.

He's come on in 2 league matches for a total of 24 minutes and barely made a mark.  How is that making an impact ?  So if he has made such a huge impact in those 24 minutes, you'll be able to define the matches, the impact and the result of those games that he obviously turned around for us ?  Perhaps a summary of the scoreline during his time on the pitch ?

Making a small mark in a friendly kick around against a tiring out of season Galaxy doesn't suddenly make you A-League week in and week out quality.

Like James Dean I've seen him play plenty of times over the years and I think he has the goods to be something in the future, but he's not there yet and to advocate dropping an experienced player just to see if he 'might' have it now when we are in a dogfight for the wooden spoon is a risk that at least Ricki has enough sense not to take.

Ha JD, we're covering the same ground.

And as a 17 yo I wouldn't expect him to make an impact!!

Just heard a little whisper that when you do see him play it may not be where you expect.

Well as you just said, he's been on for 24 minutes in two league matches so not really in a spot to judge someones career when he's had that for gametime.

Go back and read what I said, I am a huge fan of Costa, just not yet, and especially in place of our marquee player who while hasn't performed as well as we'd like hasn't been nearly as bad as the rubbish that's been written on here.

While those attributes are admirable, you need more than that when you are coming up against experienced professionals. Trying isn't enough. Effort isn't enough.

Agreed, I don't think Elrich has played as badly as some are saying, was very excited when I saw we had him as our Marquee player but... Haven't seen as much from him as I'd like to. As you say, they are admirable qualities but he's only going to get the experience obviously with more game time than he's getting. I'm not saying he should be starting every game or anything like that, just that I wouls like to see a bit more of him and what I know he's capable of.

Yeah, this is exactly the reason we must get into this youth league, it's absolutely essential.

Elrich or Costa ?

Newtown park ?

Were we watching the same game Friday night?  Was Elrich not one of the best on the field???

Costa and no not at Newtown park.LOL

Costa told me he goes to most of the TW matches to support his brother, so you might see him there - albeit in the stands.

Think HN had a slightly cheekier suggestion

Agree completely, in fact has this one not been done to death?  As I see it there are people in two camps, the "He's crap, get rid of him" and the "He's not playing at his best but I think there's lots more to come from him, we may have to wait for next year after effectively what is a season of match practice".

Is that the gist?  In fact I'll put up a poll to end this once and for all !

For those ppl who don't know what making an impact is, think back (if you can) to Jeremy Brockie. He made an impact.