2017/18 Transfer Speculation

Michael Fitzgerald

Kris Bright

Chris James

Aaron Clapham

all things that, if they were going to happen, they would have happened by now

Fair point - although I personally am only gutted about Fitzgerald not being involved.

A few years ago I was hoping that Clapham would break into the team, but when that fizzled out I didn't really mind either.

He'd be an import I presume.

Pretty sure I heard a rumour way back about Tade was given a chance to trial when Ricki was in charge but he was extremely late to training first two days and then wasnt required for day 3

Not for nothing is his name sometimes pronounced "Tardy".

I always thought he drifted out of games far too much at NZFC level to be considered for the step up.

I think the joke has been missed. I was making a pun on Tade's name and an old-fashioned word meaning "late", not making an ableist slur.

Maybe we need an "Ignore" button.

Mods?

Watching Clapham last weekend against ACFC, he's clearly working on a different level to the players around him. His ability to be unhurried even when he's got three defenders around him and find space is remarkable. But obviously he's not at a level that the Nix think makes him useful enough for a contract.

In the NZFC he's on 115 appearances/61 goals. From midfield. Not bad at all.

Curiously he's tied with Tade on goals scored, even if Emmy's on 94 appearances /61 goals.

Both will probably pass Allan Pearce's record of 70 goals this season, which could make for some entertaining goal hogging from both players.

Stats from a bit of a compiling I did here... https://in-the-back-of-the.net/2017/08/10/the-numbers-game-2/

On those numbers, out of interest how many of Clapham where penatlies?

Any chance we could make a play at Gleeson or Marinovic?

MLS is a far better league than the A-League. Marinovic is starting to break into his teams 1st XI. Gleeson has been an MLS starter for a decent period of time, before playing less this year.

Coming to the A-League would be a big step back for either so I don't see it happening.

Even more broadly however, if the nix are still around for the next 10 years, what do we think are the chances of signing our best Kiwi talent once they're over the hill (but still quality)? Primarily thinking of Reid, Wood, Rojas, Smith or Thomas 

In terms of Reid and Wood, about the same probability as we would have had in signing Captain Nelsen.

Rojas and Thomas, maybe

Smith will never come back to NZ 

So can we sign Franjic as an injury replacement for Dura now?

Pretty good suggestion, Durante would clear a fair bit of salary cap space. You'd imagine we'd be in competition with Victory for any half way decent Australian defender on the market though.

I gonna lead the call for Boxall as an injury replace. He only has a game left. 

Franjic to RB, Galloway to his favoured LB and Doyle into a CB role. Make it happen Domey!

Franjic would be great for this season, Boxall would be great for seasons to come....

Phoenix now saying there was a second opinion and potentially it's not that bad.

Doyle's positioning v Sydney scared the crap out of me. Think he'd get found out long term at CB.

Rumour - Rossi gone in January window

I could see that - something is up with him this season, starting with stomping on a player in a pre-season friendly.

He was a good player back when he looked like he wanted to play. Do we replace him with another foreign CB? Or somewhere else on the park?

Would be a big loss, based on last year... would free up some money perhaps for another DM... I think with Mullen, Fox and Lowry we might have enough depth.

More thinking what player would have the greater impact.

Bring back Vinnie

Would not be surprised. Head hasn't been in the game since half way through last season and keeps picking up injuries.

Rossi - suffering from what is known as the Bonavencia syndrome?