Liked the look of both Jordan Murray and Troy Ruthven. Both areas we need sign in and standouts in their level - only Rudan can make a call as to whether they can make the step up or not.
Ruthven is in that blockier Tim Brown 185cm mould with an eye for a pass and a few goals from corners, it's been a while since we had someone with a bit of dominating presence in the middle. Good on the turn and seems to direct play. A Kopcynski partnership with all the small fast guys running off them seems like a balance combo.
Jordan Murray is super young and seems like he's destined for a bigger club, he's taking the Papiss at lower league level and surely will only improve with better players and service around him. Seem's worth a punt.
For those who missed the earlier links:
Troy Ruthven:
Jordan Murray:
A friend took me to a NPL Victoria game last night and saw Troy Ruthven play for Altona Magic. His highlights video doesn’t do him justice, the guy is a class player. Physically strong, quick for a tall athletic guy and didn’t spray a pass all night. Had a hand in all 4 goals in a 4-0 win and screened their backline very well as a DM. Would happily have him in a Phoenix shirt, if the rumours are true that Rudan is looking at him he would be great as a back up in the midfield. The connection would surely be through the Altona coach Goran Lozanovski, pretty sure him and Rudan played together in Europe so one would assume they’ve remained in contact.
Altona also had ex Phoenix player Ben Liftin and ex Sydney player Rob Stambolziev. Both pretty much spent the game linking up through Ruthven, healthy Macedonian crowd there too with a great kebapi ?
According to my friend playing in Melbourne we've invited Troy Ruthven to trial in the upcoming weeks. Was suppose to join us on the Gold Coast but his club held him back as they were looking to seal automatic promotion to the top NPL over there past few games.