Phoenix Transfer - speculation (Part 1)

Personally I am very glad they haven't just signed anybody. We have plenty of promising attacking players who we would be better off developing up front than someone average. If we can't get a top striker it would be better to sign no body and keep options open.

I agree and I think it's probably similar reasoning that the club is going on, they could have signed McBreen and I'm bloody glad they didn't. That we haven't been linked with every off-contract striker in the world since the Porter deal started to collapse is a good sign that the club only want players that will improve the side.

Queensland do have a club link up with Atletico Mineiro which has given Queensland access to some promising players looking to broaden their playing CV and possibly scouting, knowledge and contacts in Brazil.

Edit: I checked it up, not Flamengo but Atletico Mineiro.
Bullion2008-06-09 12:42:32

all right, I'm officially sick of waiting!

i here you brother bring on the speculation

C'mon Tony P!!!

We'd all like some news. 

 

I got "gang tackled" (I'm a big boy, I can take it!), earlier in this thread for suggesting that without one more class striker, our chances for a top 4 slot looked bleak.

 

HN reminded me "it wasn't that we didn't score enough last season, it was just that we let in too many at the other end". Oo�kay! Then how about this scenario?

 

We finish up with one of the best defences in the league this year (wouldn't be surprised with the signings so far).

 

But then Plans B and C don't come off, and we have to mix and match our attack options from the present signings. What is Smeltzy goes off the boil or gets injured? Do we really have enough quality left to put together a potent strike combo?

 

We could end up with the reverse of last season - keeping goals against to a minimum, but not scoring enough to win games.

 

Are you following this, Tony P? Does the club still have a Plan B? Or C? How about D+?

scribbler2008-06-09 18:24:27

We definitely have enough quality in attack (including attacking midfield) to do fine even if Smeltz gets injured for a few weeks.

Having said that I would feel more comfortable with another striker or two.

I suppose the main aim of me posting this message is that we should be sweet regardless of whether or not we get another striker.

if u count gao and hearfield we have 6 strikers, and even using them we have more than enough midfield, however many strikers we gain is just a bonus, we are not in the market to buy for the sake of making numbers, i'm not gonna get sucked into any doom and gloom theories if we can't find what we r looking for

I'm positive the club have a plan B and C as stated by Tony P earlier.  They can't announce either while negotiating and I'm sure they know better than any of us the importance of strengthening the squad upfront as well as through the midfield and in defence which they've already done - and bloody well I'd have to say!

Stay positive, by all means question some scenarios, but do you really think a club with the ambitions of our MIGHTY Phoenix would enter their second season without a good addition to both compliment and cover for Smeltz? 

I certainly don't.....and am confident we will all (well the happy ones anyway) be excited and impressed with whoever Tony P, Ricki and Terry announce as our forward signing.

I'm not sure, as someone has suggested, that we currently have enough striker coverage if Smeltz gets injured. Covs is good for an hour but what would happen if we went a goal down in the second half. Ideally you would want two  strikers up front. If Costa is on for Covs....then what? Draper? Two youngsters. It would be a big ask for them.

Personally I think Costa is up to the task of playing for the Phoenix reasonably regularly.

As I've said before, many people say he doesn't have experience and, because of that, he shouldn't play.  That doesn't cut it with me.  He clearly has enough skill to be playing and you can't get experience at that level without playing so they should let him play.
loyalgunner2008-06-09 21:48:33

i think the thing we have to remember is we already have a very good side, a striker would make us even better, can't wait to stick it to the aussies when the season starts

Thrust him in too early and he could have his confidence shot for the next few years. I think Ricki sees that. (we saw at the U17 world cup that he didn't really handle it too well. not really that suprising, though)

No player in the league as young as Costa held down a starting spot last season. Australian players have much better development, as well. (our players seem to be a couple of years behind them it seems) I really do hope he gets much more game time but the pressure should not be placed on his shoulders just yet.

I don't think Smeltz will score as many as he did last season. (will be more tightly watched) Gao has a few in him, Bertos doesn't, Daniel might. A good striker is vital and I don't think anyone can dispute that. It's not being negative saying that - it's being realistic. Saying that everything is fine and dandy when we haven't even heard about the strikers we might be signing (apart from the fact it's probably going to be a current A-League striker like Kwasnik) is a bit silly. Just because you question our approach to finding strikers doesn't mean you are a pessimistic sod who hates the club.

I'm sure they have some kind of a plan - the question still stands, though - will it be good enough? Will a striker like, say, Kwasnik really help us that much? Barely an improvement over someone like Brownlie in my opinion.

If the Porter deal went through like planned we wouldn't be having this argument. But oh well - that's football!

Though to be honest right back probably worries me more than striker. (though it's a common problem for most clubs it seems)
valeo2008-06-10 00:55:53

Kwasnik - 62 games 15 goals and 4 assists - I'd say that makes him significantly better than Brownlie

I seem to remember Kwasnik played mostly out wide last season?
We seem pretty covered for wide attacking midfielders.

scribbler2008-06-10 10:22:42

By saying that the Nix are the best since 82 is a bit harsh.

I guess one of the reasons we might not be hearing anything about the plan B or C is that after we all got our hopes up on Porter they don't want to go announcing anyone else until its pretty much done, IMO we should trust in the team I'm sure they can find someone, and even if they don't there's always the marquee spot for a striker, I'm sure that between Covs and Costa we've got enough strike power for the early season.

Two points...

1, Anyone considering posting a negative response to Dino would do well to remeber that i wield the ban stick and the delete button.

2, I don't think anyone got Porter's transfer status wrong.  The problem was he had the impression that Hartlepool weren't renewing his contract, he even had an offer on his house ready to leave and come here.  Then Hartlepool moved the goalposts.

The Kingz weren't bad until Sky screwed them. I remember Rufer playing really well and making some odd coaching decisions in the same game.

scribbler2008-06-10 15:20:05

Lawyers are c**ts.  Can't trust 'em.

and agents are worse

Massive thread...........NICE!!!

The thing that probably worries us the most is the lack of speculation, hence we have nothing to critique / criticise / get excited about. It does seem strange that there is a real lack of speculation and runours from such accurate media sources such as 4-4-2 and so on? Does this point to the fact that there is bugger all happening behind the scenes beacuse there are no players about worht mentioning? Surely if we were linked to another a-league striker someone in the media would have got hold of it by now or is tony p exceptionally good at playing secret squirrel?

ssssssshhhhhhh secret squirell!

And the occasional cryptic subtle clue here and there too......

Who was the new striker at training this morning? Wondering if its someone on trial? nightz2008-06-11 13:37:52

Is he any good i wonder we have tried to get karpeh on trial and we trialled that mcbreen guy and they both are shieettt

just to mention something i heard super leo had offers from central coast, sydney and newcastle (i think) before he joined us

so whats the inside word james dean? seems to be a few people holding out some vital info from the core membership

Hard News2008-06-12 15:22:19