Transfer Talk - 2018/19 Season

One would suspect that our last two imports (Krishna being considered a local) wuld be a RB and a striker. We can change formation to use what we have for the other midfielder (Nichols as a B2B but thats stretching it)

One would be wrong. Second quality DM is Rudan's priority. Its an obvious gap. 

As an aside, has anyone pulled the TW keeper Scott whathisfunnyname aside and told him 'You could be the Phoenix keeper if you got your ass in shape" 

Seems to me like a missed opportunity for him and for the Phoenix

Interesting you mention this, I heard a very similar comment over the weekend too.

From what I've seen of Basalaj over the last couple of years, he's definitely howler-prone every once in a while, and isn't all that flash with ball at his feet and his distribution. Now admittedly, that latter part may not be a priority for Rudan the way it was for DK, but I think it basically bolis down to if Tando isn't good enough for Rudan, then Basalaj isn't either. And since you've got two other Kiwi keepers on the books already, you don't really need another back up (and not sure that Basalaj would be keen on that type of role anyway, especially given the carrot of CWC in December).

So out of a back four of Tratt, Doyle, Taylor and Fox who would you not send up for corners and set pieces, all four are decent in the air - looking like a set piece nightmare for other teams.

Except the delivery usually stinks.

It's hard to let players speak when they don't speak the language! Mark is only doing what he can to help the visa players along with the media.

Speaking of Rudes, my favourite moment from today's press conference:

"[Michal] will find out very quickly, and I've told [the players], the referees won't give us anything. They'll give us nothing" ?

Interesting you mention this, I heard a very similar comment over the weekend too.

From what I've seen of Basalaj over the last couple of years, he's definitely howler-prone every once in a while, and isn't all that flash with ball at his feet and his distribution. Now admittedly, that latter part may not be a priority for Rudan the way it was for DK, but I think it basically bolis down to if Tando isn't good enough for Rudan, then Basalaj isn't either. And since you've got two other Kiwi keepers on the books already, you don't really need another back up (and not sure that Basalaj would be keen on that type of role anyway, especially given the carrot of CWC in December).

One would be wrong. Second quality DM is Rudan's priority. Its an obvious gap. 

I reckon he needs to find himself a European gig. He has the necessary papers. Obviously for this to happen he needs to trim down and show something good at the CWC, then line up some good trials and prove that he's good enough. It's a pity that he wasn't able to prolong his stay in Scotland where he was a backup SPL keeper. Who knows, he may have become a starting SPL keeper by now

Yeah, this is gold, and very interesting that Rudan has developed this opinion after years of watching us through neutral Australian eyes

This is useful insight into where Baslaj is at: https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/domestic/1...

You are right it is an obvious gap however we potentially have players that can play in the midfield on the books (Nichols) and TAHW is rumoured depending on how inept he was at injuring himself. The trialist that everyone thought would be a shoe-in for RB (Gulley) was jettisoned after 1-2 weeks and Tratt is rumoured only and with his "issues"........

At the moment, RB is looking harder to fill as much as that 2nd DM hole is a glaring weakness. I quantify that by the fact we do have player who can play in the midfield. We don't have players for RB unless we are moving a CB there. Not the end of the world but our CBs are not known for their pace.

I wonder if we will regret signing a keeper.

I think DM is almost certainly Rudan's priority even after Kopczynskis arrival. Rudan as good as said this in the presser, said we didn't have any defensive mids. Rudan plays with 2 DMs too, so it's pretty likely that import spot will go to a holding mid. As for regretting signing a foreign keeper, I dont think this will be an issue. Theres literally no Aussie or NZ keeper available that's up to standard. Everyone talks about it as if it's a waste, but how? Think how many goalkeeper errors costed us points last season. The strikers and creative players win you games, but good defenders and a good keeper wins you a championship

I think DM is almost certainly Rudan's priority even after Kopczynskis arrival. Rudan as good as said this in the presser, said we didn't have any defensive mids. Rudan plays with 2 DMs too, so it's pretty likely that import spot will go to a holding mid. As for regretting signing a foreign keeper, I dont think this will be an issue. Theres literally no Aussie or NZ keeper available that's up to standard. Everyone talks about it as if it's a waste, but how? Think how many goalkeeper errors costed us points last season. The strikers and creative players win you games, but good defenders and a good keeper wins you a championship

I kind of agree, but Krishna is still our only goal scorer. We are not going to do well with one goal scorer in the team and relying on goals from the likes of Burns is a fools errand at this point.

Krishna didn't have a great season last year either, thought it was a bit of a strange one for him so lets hope it was just a blip. It wasn't terrible by any means, just not up to his usual standards.

In saying that, it's a lot easier to find a top class DM v a top class striker. If it was me, I'd hedge my bets and get another goal scorer in, then hope Krishna gets his citizenship and sign another DM later. There are kiwi boys like TAHW that could do a job there, and I still think Cacace could be a good DM; you can't really say that for strikers. What kiwi striker is putting their hand up, because I can't think of any at this point.

As long as goals come, I don't really mind if we don't have a proper number 9. With the 4-2-2-2 formation looking likely along with a 4-2-3-1, in both cases you have a main attacking 4. That will be made up of 4 of Krishna, Burns, Singh, Nichols and Williams. All of them are capable of chipping in between 4 and 8 goals a season, and if you have 5 guys who can do that you don't necessarily need that one main goalscoring player

Not many teams in the A-League go anywhere without a striker who dominates. I find it hard to agree with the 'share the goals around' mantra; it's nice in theory, but doesn't usually work that way. I suppose Newcastle did that a bit last season, though they really had a special year where even average players like the Hoff were scoring.

Striker surely has to be priority considering we only have one goal scorer on the books.

To be honest he still looks more than useful at 37. Would certainly be that 'Marquee' that the aussie commentators always bashed on about us needing.

It does go against Rudan's comment about ageing pros looking for a holiday though.

Nichols is a goal scorer too. Another striker would be nice though, though unless it's a player at least at Roy's level I'd probably prefer a non import.

I'm procrastinating at work, so have had a bit of a look at the goal scoring for play-off teams across the last 4 seasons in the league.

What seems clear form this is that you basically  need 40+ goals to make the top 4. The lowest number of goals scored by a team that finished in the top 4 over that time is 41, but realistcally, for others it's the case of 43+. 

To make the top 6, the variances are a bit greater - we have teams that scored as few as 33 (Brisbane last season; we scored 31), and as many as 53 (Perth season before last, when they also conceded 53). 

I think what this tells us is that for a team with top 4 aspirations, you need to have a goal-scorer who's going to get you 10-15 goals in a season plus a supporting cast around him. Relying on 5 players to get 4-8 goals each is unlikely to get you to top 4, as you basically need them all to perform at the upper end of that, plus get some help on top. That's a possible, but unlikely outcome all things considered.

That approach can probably take you to a top 6 spot, on the proviso that you're reasonably strong defensively (which the Phoenix haven't  been over tha last few seasons, but it's something that Rudan has clearly set out to address).

I'm procrastinating at work, so have had a bit of a look at the goal scoring for play-off teams across the last 4 seasons in the league.

What seems clear form this is that you basically  need 40+ goals to make the top 4. The lowest number of goals scored by a team that finished in the top 4 over that time is 41, but realistcally, for others it's the case of 43+. 

To make the top 6, the variances are a bit greater - we have teams that scored as few as 33 (Brisbane last season; we scored 31), and as many as 53 (Perth season before last, when they also conceded 53). 

I think what this tells us is that for a team with top 4 aspirations, you need to have a goal-scorer who's going to get you 10-15 goals in a season plus a supporting cast around him. Relying on 5 players to get 4-8 goals each is unlikely to get you to top 4, as you basically need them all to perform at the upper end of that, plus get some help on top. That's a possible, but unlikely outcome all things considered.

That approach can probably take you to a top 6 spot, on the proviso that you're reasonably strong defensively (which the Phoenix haven't  been over tha last few seasons, but it's something that Rudan has clearly set out to address).

I'm procrastinating at work, so have had a bit of a look at the goal scoring for play-off teams across the last 4 seasons in the league.

What seems clear form this is that you basically  need 40+ goals to make the top 4. The lowest number of goals scored by a team that finished in the top 4 over that time is 41, but realistcally, for others it's the case of 43+. 

To make the top 6, the variances are a bit greater - we have teams that scored as few as 33 (Brisbane last season; we scored 31), and as many as 53 (Perth season before last, when they also conceded 53). 

I think what this tells us is that for a team with top 4 aspirations, you need to have a goal-scorer who's going to get you 10-15 goals in a season plus a supporting cast around him. Relying on 5 players to get 4-8 goals each is unlikely to get you to top 4, as you basically need them all to perform at the upper end of that, plus get some help on top. That's a possible, but unlikely outcome all things considered.

That approach can probably take you to a top 6 spot, on the proviso that you're reasonably strong defensively (which the Phoenix haven't  been over tha last few seasons, but it's something that Rudan has clearly set out to address).

Nichols has scored a total of 39 goals in the A-League, with 219 appearances. As an attacking mid, that is not a great ratio. Sure, he technically has 'scored goals' but I would not call him a 'goal scorer' than we can rely upon. If we're lucky, he's good for about 4-5 goals a season. Hardly going to rocket us into the top 4.

I'm procrastinating at work, so have had a bit of a look at the goal scoring for play-off teams across the last 4 seasons in the league.

What seems clear form this is that you basically  need 40+ goals to make the top 4. The lowest number of goals scored by a team that finished in the top 4 over that time is 41, but realistcally, for others it's the case of 43+. 

To make the top 6, the variances are a bit greater - we have teams that scored as few as 33 (Brisbane last season; we scored 31), and as many as 53 (Perth season before last, when they also conceded 53). 

I think what this tells us is that for a team with top 4 aspirations, you need to have a goal-scorer who's going to get you 10-15 goals in a season plus a supporting cast around him. Relying on 5 players to get 4-8 goals each is unlikely to get you to top 4, as you basically need them all to perform at the upper end of that, plus get some help on top. That's a possible, but unlikely outcome all things considered.

That approach can probably take you to a top 6 spot, on the proviso that you're reasonably strong defensively (which the Phoenix haven't  been over tha last few seasons, but it's something that Rudan has clearly set out to address).