Phoenix Striker

Phoenix Striker

The club has made some excellent signings for the coming season. However, it's slightly disturbing to see Tony P announce that the recruitment is over for now, which means we will pretty much be relying on a single proven/experienced striker (Shane Smeltz).

Thats easy to say. But what big name player would we sign? Anyone has to be the right kind of player,and not some crap old timer whos just here for the paycheque

You mean like SFC did with Aloisi? We'll see if it works for them :)

I'd be far more concerned about Right Back, but as many on this forum will tell you, there is not a SINGLE RIGHT BACK IN THE ENTIRE WORLD that would play for the Phoenix. Sucks to be us.

Agree with you about the right back position Aussienixfan.  It was a big problem area last season and I'm not convinced we've done enough to plug that gap.

Sydney have Brosque too

amxfc, i think u have just highlighted issues that have already been done here a lot no offence. for one i think u r forgeting we have coveny who is a smeltz like player, who is a more than able source of cover for the man, and kwasnik was signed as a sort of second striker who runs off smeltz, so theres your front 2 if u want a front 2. 4-4-2 is not the be all and end all, if u watched the spain game this morning, russia contained 2 strikers quite well, but when face with 5 free passing midfielders they stuggled and conceded 3 goals. we will not be relying on smeltz by any means. and dont forget costa and even draper could get some time. i think your looking at this in the wrong way

also by other a-league teams recruitment i assume u mean formostly sydney, because apart from that theres like christiano and dadi(lol). i can't think of any more, but so far i would say on paper we have the best midfield in terms of attacking power, and a striker is only as good as the service he gets at times. o and as has already been mentioned again u seem to take for granted the fact that thee magically is a striker available who is a big name, but can still play and will get bums on seats. its not that easy, its easy to say lets do it, but finding a big name who can still play is another story.

and aussienxfan, its not about finding a right back who will play for us, its about finding a riht-back first, they would have looked and looked, there is a shortage of quality right-backs, if we can get the players we have got, i dont think ther would have been a problem getting a RB here if a good one was available. a lot of the aussie teams dont ave a genuine right-back, who kows after this season we could call Lia that.

just chilax bro

lol sorry that wasnt meant to be angry, or sound it

I agree the situation ain't ideeal but you have to remember that the a-league is sttill very young and you're inevitably going to find teams who simply cannot find players to fill certain positions, and if there isn't an aussi or kiwi rightback to fill that hole I'm not sure the nix would use one of it's four internaional spots for a half decent one. Remember that although they aren't actual right backs we do have depth in defence now, and as muso said, maybe Lia can do the job

i meant that evrything will work out sweet, we have got Ricki Hebert!

Every single team in the league has 2 or 3 problem areas. We're no different. With the salary cap you're always going to have those.
valeo2008-06-28 11:46:07

No offence taken Muso - good reply.  I guess it's a pity we missed out on Joel Porter, but I'm sure overall Ricki will get the squad working well.

with the squad size limit, it makes sense to have the flexibility that Tony and Ricki are after

Fabiano - Melbourne Victory. One to watch. Also, Sergio Van Dijk - Queensland Roar.aussienixfan2008-06-28 17:31:45

There is something seductive about recruiting a big name player - raises the profile of the club and sells tickets. However I think that the initial "shot in the arm" you get from a big name wears off pretty quickly if you aren't getting results on the park. Big names come with big risks - they have big price tags, sometimes big egos and generally little emotional commitment to the club as they are just passing through - they'll stay as long as you are the highest bidder.

aloisi went missing in the finals if i remember correctly (probably wrong lol)

n i think we have options at Rb is lia does turn out to be a failure, and i think the only way that will happen is if he loses his temperament and get to many cards or something, hes a pretty solid player.
if he doesnt work, christie isnt that bad an option, and he'll be better with 2 really solid centre backs, and even if that doesnt work, dodd can play there, and we have the depth to play him there, so i dont think we'll see us going back to a 3-5-2 this season

Did we send scouts to Euro 2008?

how would we afford a player in euro 2008?

We'll take that Villa bloke

Tony P, did Daniel attempt to esatblish a better communication between Phoenix and Botafogo in Rio. I think it could be a lucrative arrangement, if done properly. The club could greatly benefit from a player coming from the club and maintaining a relationship.

or the Russian bloke, or the other Russian bloke...

Russian? What are you on about?

Post of the year.

We will be signing Ashravin, Sneider and Silva next week. Sneider may be hitched as apparently he has to choose between us, and some small club, manchester fc or something...

Our scout at the tournament (feverish) didn't work out, he kept recommending all the most rubbish players, but by reports feverish spent most the tournament pissed off his face, and can't remember if he went to the game or not nevermind who played well.

And perving at those portugese babes in his sig 

I have given Tony P the details of the Romanian player agent I befriended.

I reckon we should sign Dani Guiza. Best goal celebrations ever.

Does Sweinsteiger remind anyone else of Joel Griffiths???

shweinsteiger is the best name in football. He should have his on comic books, movies and action figures.

thou shalt not speak badly of Smeltz, I love him and will smite you.

Even his ratty hair cut?

You need my smiting hammer...