Phoenix Transfer - speculation (Part 1)

On the Phoenix website (player profiles) Bertos is listed as a winger, McKain as a defender, and Christie as a back. Take out even 1 of those 3 plus Johnson and Aloisi (if they are let go) then you can easily see how an opportunity could exist for an attacking midfielder like Troy Hearfield. For me, with transfers, the key criteria is everytime you change a player you make the squad stronger - based on his write-ups Hearfield in for either a retiring Ross A or Christie or Johnson would seem to strengthen the squad.

What happens atm if Bertos gets injured? Or Daniel as your AM? Who's the backup? (Don't say Ferrante, he's dire at both of those)
That's what Hearfield is. Plus he's now getting good enough to push them, I rate him as a young talent.

Ferrante is a good player. Not really a starting AM tho

This comment was interesting - "The club's other strikers teenagers Costa Barbarouses and Greg Draper are not ready for A-League football and plans are already underway to have them loaned to Australian state sides."

I was hoping that Costa would get some runs this year.. He showed he wasn't that off the pace v CCM. Was one of our better players even.
valeo2008-03-24 15:57:09

Frankly I think Costa is more than ready for A-league football. I think him being regularly tested at this level will do the most good for him, few subs and starts if he does well in the opportunities given (granted he did that last year)

I think Ferrante came over his early season jitters to become one of our better players. Definitely more than adequate as cover or as a starter.

seems strange to be talking about loaning Costa out - if we are going to get a youth league place

the VPL would probably be better than the youth league

...and the VPL is playing now, and for the next 4-5 months while the Youth league won't start until August.

Good point. When does the VPL end? If I remember correctly it pretty much ends just before the A-League starts up?

Could be good for their development then.
valeo2008-03-24 17:03:03

Im taking that with a pinch of salt. As much as I'd like to see Old go and Siggy in, they also say we are releasing Jason Spoonley.

So if this is from a 'reliable' source (ie the club) you'd think they'd be able to get his name right.

siggy in for old would mean healthy competition. Interesting ricki wants Doddy to play defensive mid???

Dodd, Ivan and Brown fighting for the midfield spot...

I thought Dodd was easily one of our better players last season but I thought he got found out for speed, particularly on the turn, a few times. I'm not sure he is quick enough for midfield. I can see Durante and McKain as centre backs and Dodd coming off the bench for a forward when we need to close a game down.

interesting 11 why have dodd as a defensive mid when we have lia ferrante johnson (maybe) and brown

Defensive midfielders aren't usually the quickest on the park :p
valeo2008-03-24 18:12:13

Line up looks pretty decent, I would be worried about McKain as Ive never seen him play before, and possibly Daniel, dunno how he'd be in the centre

I'd like to see David Mulligan signed.

One thing about Daniel in centre is that he won't be able to cross the ball as much and thats one of the reasons he shined last season.

Im not sure about dodd in defensive mid- that leaves brown, lia and ferrante benching.

so tony how much of that article was truth??

I would rather have spoonly than paston and as i have stated before you only need two keepers in a squad of 23

Mathieson has a proud record as well, not the least bit surprised he's involved with Golightly.

Ferrante will be starting in the middle for us for sure.  Came on a treat in 2nd half of season. 

Brown will struggle to get a look in based on his form last year.

sounds like he's injured again at the moment.

it also says hes injured now and wnt be ready for the start of the season

Must be a bad injury if he's already ruled out for August. Thats 4 months atleast. Add to that he missed a lot of last season too.

or could it be a media hype up

If theres no right back that is good enough on the market within our price range, theres no point in settling for someone who's not up to it, and 3-5-2 might be the way to go

Or if Dodd is thought to have the pace to play as a def mid maybe he'll end up on the right with Plodder as cover

DM is probably the position on the pitch that requires the LEAST amount of pace (aside from GK). Have a look at Claude Makelele sometime. He's a slow plodder, but has loads of stamina and the key to his game is his ability to read the flow of the match, the angles that the opposition pass the ball and the timing to close down an opponent at just the right time. 

tbh why is 3-5-2 such a bad thing, the only obvious flaw is that it leaves lochhead less effective.
lets not forget newcastle won the GF with this formation.
and dodd mckain durante back 3 sounds pretty solid

Ditto

Had the exact same thoughts. Could also add Durante got MOM in the final playing in a 3-5-2

I hate the 3-5-2 because it leaves so much space in behind the wingbacks. Any team with pacy wide men (the likes of Adelaide and Queensland jump to mind here) can absolute cause carnage  when they hit on the break. Also, when a team in 3-5-2 goes forward it is hard to get an overlap down the flanks because you don't have a fullback and a winger so vulnerable defensively you aren't always as effective going forward either.

Here are some of the options available given our squad. If we can get a RB and Porter we will have a great deal of flexibility and choice (yay!).

442 - Diamond. New RB would be needed (or Dodd/Durante/Christie/Lia playing there), a holding midfielder (Brown, Dodd, McKain, Ross, Lia?) and Daniel playing as an attacking mid behind the strikers with Gao and Bertos down the fllanks. Smeltz and hopefully Porter up front

442 - Conventional. Same as above but 2 more traditional center midfielders. The Lia + Ferrante combination worked well last season but it means we have to do 3 wingers (Daniel, Gao, Bertos) into two spaces

Either of the 442 formations really demand the signing of another proper striker (Joel Porter). If we don't get him, one of these formations may appeal to Ricki:

4411 - Same as 442 but just keep Smeltz up front on his own and use Gao/Daniel or Bertos as an AMC in behind the striker.

4231 - Very similar to a 4411 but the two central midfielders play slightly further back and are generally both more defensive. The wingers tend to be pushed up further in support of the strikers and a creative player (once again, one of Daniel/Gao/Bertos) slots in behind Smeltz to orchestrate play.

451/433 - Jose Mourinho Style. 1 Out and out holding midfielder, 2 CM's (probably Ferrante + Lia), two wingers who play right up close to Smeltz. Once again you would have to leave out one of Daniel/Bertos/Gao.




KTBW2008-03-25 15:34:14

i think we played our best attacking football when we were operating a 4-4-2 line up (but the obvious problem was the defensive frailtes caused by the available options at right back - with the possible exception of Rees)

Agreed, we need 4 at the back.