Knowing our luck, this striker will be the 21st century
equivalent of Fake
George Weah. But seriously - jd has been reduced to complaining
that our press statements have been inconsistent and confusing?
That's not glass-half-empty, that's
glass-is-filled-with-acid-and-covered-in-TB-germs. (And I know, I
know - I was wrong once and therefore I lost my right to comment
forever.)
That's not what I'm saying at all. I think our
recruiting has once again been completely haphazard. Nothing
to do with media statements
Moss is a good signing, but arguably doesn't improve our
starting XI.
We've not replaced our main midfield goal scorer for the last
3 seasons. We resigned two overseas midfielders, both of whom
could really only be classed as ok last year. No attempt seems to
have been made to improve in that area. Our one backup has
never played a minute in the A-League (Lindsay). We've also
lost Daniel. So we're weaker than last year in that position
plus we've lost goals.
No right back still. Still no-one to pressure Lochead
either.
We've taken a punt on Totori, a guy who has been around the
traps for ages and not deemed good enough previously, seemingly
because he scored goals against the AWs. I really don't see
what he has done to now be A-League quality but an ok punt.
Recent internationals not promising.
Brockie I like as a signing. Same with Boxall. Our
central defence has improved marginally. But both of those players
were signed after becoming available as free agents.
There is not a single imaginative signing in there and it has
been that way since we signed Ifill and Greenacre.
- Sanchez and Smith (both brought to Aussie on trial by other
clubs - we ended up signing them)
- Brockie, Moss, Boxall. Free agent All Whites.
Good to see them at the club
- Jade North, Liam Reddy, Danny Vukovic - Aussie
Internationals who just happened to become available
- Nick Ward, signed again last year purely because
available
- Tony Warner, the club actually go out and target a player
and it's him? Very odd
- Tattsalios, Downey, Diego - random A-League journeymen who
will leave each having played less then 10 matches over 2
seasons
Our recruitment is completely reactive and seems to be driven
by who is available, not by what the squad actually lacks!
Now we have this new striker, a position that clearly needed
filling all season. Looks like we will get someone 3 weeks before
the season begins, will be unattached so unlikely to be match fit
and hasn't played with the team. We have a 6 month off
season, why leave it until now? Very intrigued anyway to see
who this guy is.
I'm not saying our squad doesn't have some decent players.
I am not laying the blame on Herbert either - but there is
something not right in the way that we do our transfer
business.
I just don't see a plan in amongst all of this and I had hoped
this off-season to see some improvements being made to the quality
of the squad overall.
"Phoenix till they lose"