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Phoenix Transfer Speculation 2012/13

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Posted September 13, 2012 08:10 · last edited September 13, 2012 08:15

Doloras wrote:

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. 

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james dean edited September 13, 2012 08:15
Doloras wrote:

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.