FRED !

It'd be great to have Fred on board.  As we're going at the moment I'd put Fred in the starting 11 ahead (far, far ahead) of Bertos.

Not really, players get pissed off when they don't get game time and create a bad atmosphere in the squad which can definately effect performances on the pitch. It would be ok if we had a youth team.

If we don't have a youth team next season then we're screwed (probably).

Archie Fraser pretty much confirmed our license extension so you would hope with that long-term commitment we will get a youth team. 

I'll believe that when I see a release from the FFA.  As long as it's up to Fraser and Buckley I'm not prepared to believe it until I see them actually confirm the deal is done.

Four older players per game.

I don't get what people are on about here Fred would be absolute quality IF we do sign him. As much as I love Daniel/Bertos Fred is a step up them and surely would slot into a starting spot. My prefered option would be Lia but that may leave us weakend defensively.

Has anyone seen Fred play for DC United lately?

Just scared we will sign him on marquee dollars resulting in us having to push someone like Daniel/Leo onto the bench and then finding out he isn't as good as he used to be/the A-League's standard is higher so he isn't as effective.
valeo2009-10-28 23:09:19

I would have loved the Idea of Fred earlier this season but I don't know if we need another midfielder. We have Midfielders by the bucket load and I think we'd be better off signing a marquee striker to partner Greenacre as I don't think Chen is up to it and Costa is still developing.

In saying that If we do sign Fred I'll still look forward to watching him play.

I agree, at times its a pity about the cap thing, would be great to remove some more deadwood (no need to mention names here, I think we all know the weakest links) and bring in another striker in the Thompson or Smeltz mold.

Incidentally, when it was announced that we were signing Chen I said it was a rushed choice and it appears to be so, BUT who knows, now that he's almost up to A-League speed he just might click on, score and become a gem for the team.

I missed that. When? Where?

Sign Fred.

Agreed. I was just about to say he's the one for Greenie and you beat me to it.
Anything that makes us strong. Sad that players get dropped or come a long way and may not play but that is football. Fred may or may not work out but based on last year he'd walk in and would set Greenie on fire I reckon. Just another player for other teams to watch as well as Ifill, Leo, Daniel. Can't mark them all out of the game.

Then Diego may never be seen again......just the way it is. He was our star signing before Ifill/Greenie were announced
Royal2009-10-29 10:00:33

Players don't get selected, that's part of being a professional football player. There are limited spots in a team, and unless someone is recommending we use a 3-4-3 formation, one of the midfield will get some bench time, if we sign Fred.

It is also not a bad thing to be able to rest players on the bench every now and again. Look at Bertos in recent weeks, he's not in the great form he was in during earlier rounds, and perhaps could use a week to rest up.

We could do that if we had confidence the replacement player was the same or better quality, whereas currently we'd lose the attacking potential if Bertos was rested.

I think the only glitch holding the Phoenix from signing Fred as the marquee player is the license renewal.

No, the tw glitches are.

- Fred hasn't decided he wants to.
- DC United haven't decided they don't want him.

The Phoenix continue to operate as if the license will be renewed.  They have to or they will be rebuilding from scratch if it is.

When is the license decision announced?

Guest sting first with an option for marquee if things work out

FFT reporting that negotiations have begun, suggesting that DCU have indicated behind closed doors that he's free to go elsewhere. Though finding that out may be part of 'initial conversations'.

http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/115640,bid-to-lure-fred-back-begins.aspx
Critical_Lemon2009-10-29 15:05:53

Fred coming in would be welcome.  Nobody in the current squad can really operate as a central playmaker, and that weakness has been noted time and time again.

442 also says we are trying to sign Ifill up for longer.

Tony P should threaten him if need be, I don't care, we need to keep him.  At the rate he's going he'll still be one of the best in the league in his mid-40's.

Didn't Aussie say they'd continue to try to aid Oceanian football after they leave and join Asia?  I don't know if it was a term or condition of their departure but I'm sure I read somewhere that that was agreed upon so I can't see Slater's problem (well, can't see his problem with them helping us, his personal problem is blindingly obvious), if anything Aussie should be helping the island nations more.

Since NZ are unlikely to truly challenge Australia in football anytime soon, it is hard to imagine why the Aussies would really be bothered about helping NZ out in footballing terms by having a team in the A-League? Small mindedness.

It's Slater.  Xenophobic claptrap that at no point acknowledges how what the Phoenix give Australia.

Best ignored.

I would love to have him sign for us. The Ifill signing has shown what a difference quality can make and Fred is quality and provides a central midfield playmaker option we don't currently possess.

Did people pick up during the commentary that we hope to have Fred here in the next week and have him ready to go after the AWs game? Massive!

Yes, hopefully that deal comes to fruition...definitely missed someone to hold the ball in that first half especially.

yeah his deal in the us is over, so he's obviously looking to secure work long term, I reckon they'll bring him in as a marquee player and get Ifill as well.

All our attack at the moment comes from a ball to the wing, and a cross in.  Would love to have Fred (McGlinchy) or any central attacking midfield player that can play a dangerous short ball and provide some direct attack to mix things up a bit.

The commentators' suggestion that Fred might play as a striker was pretty.... special.

Correct aitkenmike. We seen some more direct play last week, and look what happened. Today we went back to style you mention again.

we weren't good enough to do anything else.Sydney were too disciplined.

People have been wondering where Fred would fit in, but after tonight, I think it is obvious that we need a more consistent attacking threat down the middle and that Brown/ Lia combo would end when Fred comes. Bring it on. Really hope the commentators knew what they were on about

Don't know if it will necessarily be the Brown/Lia combo.  Daniel, Bertos and Ifill all seem to like to play the winger/drifting free man role, so perhaps there is really only room for two of them.  Would certainly be interesting to see.  Whatever the role, I have my doubts that it will be as a second striker in a 442 that Harper (?) seemed to be advocating.

Isn't half of the effectiveness of Ifill/Daniel and Leo that they all turn up at different sides of the pitch? I would love Fred but surely it means that we drop one of the other attacking players.....if so then who would you choose?

yep, but that could still be acheived with just 2 of the 3, swapping sides at will, and popping up wherever.  As to who, well obviously Ifill is safe, and earlier this year that would be easy, you would drop Daniel, but now...  It really depends whether Ricki believes we can play with one holding CM.  If yes, then its Lia, if not, then its Bertos or Daniel.

Well Fred isn't hopeless in the tackle, he doesn't have to play as an out-and-out attacking midfielder to be effective does he? Surely we can have a holding mid and Fred more as a CM with a license to get forward from time to time.