I think we still lack the truly quality attacking player to take us to the top of the league. And I think as Steve-O pointed out, while we have a bit of depth in central midfield it's still middle of the road A-League quality only. I think we're getting closer but it's that one attacking player of real quality who can light a game up, but also control the tempo of a match that we're missing. Plus it would add some variety if we attacked teams both out wide and centrally.
Now they don't come cheap so I'm not surprised we haven't found that player, but I think that's the difference between us and the top 2 over the past 3 seasons
i think our other problem in the last two years was a lack of pace up front (unless you count the likes of downey and pav, who had reasonable pace but lacked any consistent ability to put it to use, and bertos who got slower and less confident at attacking players over those two years).
So we've improved in that area and look quicker overall, but yeh, still missing that truely high class midfielder.
But I have liked Stienies touch, finish and combination with other players, and hopefully he improves as he gets match fit, Fenton can hopefully push on rather than plateau or overdo it, touch wood Brockie drifts more into games than out and that Totori develops and becomes more and more a threatening option. If enough of those possibilities play in our favour and we get the rust out of Ifill and keep him in nick and on the park then we may well have enough to be top two and challenging for the title.
Not asking for much lols
Edit - and in short, I don't know that we need that hotshot midfielder, much as we'd like to have him
Sanchez was great in that AM position for about 5 games last year until he got shoved out on the wing.
I would like to see Sanchez given a chance to slide a few passes through to someone with the timing and close control of Huysegems. Could be a winning combo.
yeah, i realised i hadn't metioned him after i wrote that, and he may well add much more than smith, as you say.
quite a lot of potential, touch wood enough of these guys do deliver. still plenty of time for this squad to gel and really show us what they can do
that first thirty or so last week was pretty useful