Phoenix Transfer Speculation 2013/14

Jets and Heart definitely.  Adelaide could be great or a massive implosion with a coach trying to do too much.  I rate Alistair Edwards as coach so I think Perth will be ok.  I'm also not sure if West Sydney will back up - a lot more expectation on them this year and their game plan won't be so new.  CCM have lost a lot of players but Arnie is the best coach in the competition.  On paper our squad doesn't look top half to me but in this league momentum is everything.

So that settles it, hopefully.

After the NZ A and Jaffa games I wonder where Ernie's thinking has got to with using the available import spot for the all important DM position.

I really hope he's just holding off for the right player and hasn't decided Lia, Muscat or some of the kids can do the job.

Exactly. I've been assuming he's holding out for the right import DM - we'll just get over run if its Muscat and Lia - not watchin that shite at the back of our midfield again - not together. Right now - can see us scoring a few goals, can see us playing positive football, but our midfield is dire. 7th or 8th finish if that's not sorted.

Looks like Matt Thompson is still without a club. Do you think he'd still be keen?

Bertsch was better than Lia today but can't sign him on the import spot. Being better than Lia is no real achievement.

Soory, probably already in here somewhere, but what is the background of Bertsch? why is he here etc?

I know people groan when signing Chris James gets mentioned but if the reason he was never really considered before was a clash with RH then why not think about him now? Better pedigree than Clapham and to hear him say it he prefers playing as a deep-lying playmaker these days, which is exactly what we need. Can't imagine he'd be that expensive either. Only problem is if he finishes his current contract first we won't have him for the first few games. Other than that, can anyone bring up a decent reason for why we can't or won't sign him? Surely would be a better option alongside Manny than any current member of our squad.

I agree. We are in desperate need of an experienced midfielder - it's great we've signed so much youth but we certainly look very underdone in midfield. Seems an obvious choice for me.

Question for N-bomb (not sure if already asked elsewhere): Could Irving play at DM as well as RB?

James hardly made a mark in the NSWPL or now in Finland. No other a-league side has looked at him. One okay display in a pretty average All Whites display doesn't suddenly make him a-league material.

See:Hogg, Ian

I'd really be peed off if Ernie doesn't sign a quality import at DM. Some good potential youth talents named in this discussion, but up against the hard nuts in A League (as some have already indicated) - you've gotta be kidding. They'd be done like a dinner anywhere near DM. Same for the Clapham type names thrown in. There's no-one currently in NZ who could cut it successfully at DM right now, which is why Lia's in the mix with Muscat still presumably, until "Roy" arrives. 

Well I certainly agree he isn't worth an import slot, which is probably why no other A-League clubs looked at him.

Wondering how you can say he has or hasn't made his mark in a league that you can't watch. Without seeing him play, he has played over 50 games for KuPS since 2012.

All I think is that surely he wouldn't command a huge wage drastically more than another youngster but would at least give us someone in that DM position that potentially can pass the ball and has quite a bit of experience. At the very least if he turns out to be worse than Lia (is that possible?) he would provide some sort of cover in that area.

James also comes with a little pedigree.

You don't get as many youth internationals as he did for England without having talent. Comparing him to Hogg is a little harsh.

Are we there yet???

I assume Chris James current contract runs out within two weeks or we wouldn't be discussing him joining right now?

Contract expires at the end of the Finnish league which finishes late October.

I don't think James nor Clapham nor Thomson is the answer. I feel Ernie really does need to use the import slot on that position and it is a considerable worry we haven't found someone yet and might not even be looking any longer. I guess we do need cover there but I don't think those mentioned players are going to make much difference in the starting lineup.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahamadou_Diarra

This guy is still a free agent. What are peoples thoughts? Worth a try or not.

It's tough to find a good import DM - average attacking players are easier to find. Look at Jonathan Bru at Melbourne Victory - flopped pretty badly. 

but...but...but he went to clairefontaine he MUST be good.

At least he's got his father's money to fall back on

I don't mind waiting if the pick is a spine of the team, stays around forever, absolutely worth it guy. I mean injuries to Hernandez, Cunningham and Ifill against City, any of the 3 names mentioned would have given the transition from defense to attack something of a zip. I'd rather have a bit of depth to the squad, if there is no promise of Targetma...the DM/Holding midfielder eventualising.

Why don't we change the formation of the team and do away with the DM altogether...teams managed for many years without one