Up to five to go end of season

oh rite. that isnt a rich league either though...

Oh heck no, a few NZFC signings this year came from that league haha. Your point still stands, I'm just being an arse

Am I alone in the view that Brownlie should stay?  I think that he had a great 20 minutes (or however long it was) on Saturday.  He came on and playing out of his normal position, held the ball up well,  went forward well with the ball at his feet and his distribution gave a good link between midfield and strikers.  Only 20 minuttes I know but you can only judge what you see.

danielsleftball2007-11-19 09:20:39

If you break it down obviously some players will go at the end of the year, that's natural, while there will be some additions.  The author of the article is clearly speculating who those players are because with 8 games to go why would anyone have made those decisions?

I more or less agree with this, but would axe Old as well, as he has been one of our worst players. As for signings, Leo Bertos would be perfect for that attacking midfielder position as I think we need more left sided players (we have ferrante + lia who can both play on the right). I hope Ferrante stays as I think he's been pretty good and offers something different to our other players.

A genuine right back has got to be the no1 priority. I might sign another striker rather than that central midfielder though as we are blessed with them (Johnson, Brown, Ferrante, Lia, Plodder, Felipe).

Yeah i think Old has had more than enough opportunities, and should be axed. I think one out of Lia and Ferrante should go, preferably Lia. I dont think Brownlie is good enough for this level. I dont see why people think Draper will go, he's an U20 player who hasn't got any opportunities yet. He was our top player at the U20 World Cup!
BUT I think this will be very important to point out...The following players deals end at the end of this season. (im 100% positive on this)
Felipe
Richard Johnsen
Ross Aloisi
Vince Lia

Everyone else is ALREADY signed for next season. SO what this means for the club is that if they release players they will have to pay settlement deals that go under the cap. I'm really surprised how few players they have signed on one year deals.

I think they should get rid of Old, Paston, and Brownlie.

In my opinion it would be nothing short of daft to lose Ferrante and Lia. Both of them are quality players.

We need Marcina to play alongside Smeltz, and I think we should only get Bertos if we can't retain Elrich, as we have heaps of quality in midfield.

If you look at the squad as a whole, there are merits for keeping players mentioned that should be dumped.

Steven Old
Young. Ricki has stated that he is to be looked at in 3-4 years time, not where he is now. That basically means he has potential that is to be realised. Granted at 21 he probably wont be as consistent as a seasoned player. Last week he played very well. I would say that in that 3-4 years, if he hasn't realised his potential, then you can scrap him. People will perservere if you have potential, but only if you actualise it at some point. Too young to write off yet.

Michael Ferrante
He strikes me more as a 'Beckham' style player. Long ranging passes. He is the only player of his type in the team in that respects. The Brazilians play the short game to counter that. Probably doesn't have a true position (quasi right half centre half mix) and thats were he has suffered. Couldn't score with $100 stuck to his ass but thats not his role.

Greg Draper
Must have a youth quota. He isn't getting a look but I don't think Ricki picked him to make an impact from day dot. A project and he is going to be better for being in the wider aquad, but poorer for lack of match play i.e not being involved in the NZFC over summer

Royce Brownlee
Like to run at the defense with ball at feet but lacks the pace to do so. He plays facing the goal where as Smeltz and Coveny have been asked to play back to goal and either hold the ball up or lay it off to a partner running off him. His play doesn't suit the game plan I think and would be the most at danger.

Jeremy Christie
Hand on heart don't rate him, however he has done well with the assignment as a two footed midfield tackler transplanted to right back. I think Ricki rates him for his work rate. Played the middle rounds 4-8 well but dropped off. I think the true evaluation of his worth and ability is seeing how he goes alongside Rees who can talk to him and keep tabs on him. So far he hasn't had that.

Vince Lia
I would use the term invisible but to counter that, thats not to say he hasn't being doing other things off the ball. I think he too lacks a true role because he is neither an attacking nor defensive midfielder and I think that his skills may not fit in with Rickis game play.

Ross Aloisi
Some say too old, past it. I think he is there though for the other things, his league nouse and years at that level. Will he do another year? Most likely

Vince lia should go play for warfies second team. He might stand out there.

If i had a say.. i would bring in Scottishbhoy2007-11-19 13:33:39

Leilei Gao
Come Back Now
Don't Care How
Here's a Cow

(__)
(oo)
/-------/
/ | ||
* ||----||
~~ ~~

Class!

Yeah thats true. I missed Elrich, hes on a one year deal, with an option of a second. But i checked the news reports on the phoenix site and that is what they said ae. Maybe misreported

brownlie must go. old must go. keep ferrante,costa,ross. christies more of a liability than a winner. ???? drper loaned.

More on this today here: http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/65351,phoenix-set-to-axe-more.aspx

Ferrante's looked a lot better recently compared to his earlier form. But I guess we do have a lot of midfielders. The other two can go.

Ferrante has never really been bad aside from shots at goal - or the general area at least :)
and a couple of ill aimed long passes to the opposition - but who hasn't really this season, but he works his ass off, holds the ball and gets it to the right people.

And he's a total fox. Which is important both on and off the field.

:P

Ferrante looks good recently....but he is surplus to requirements, considering we have Elrich and Tin Brown on the right already. We need a striker partner for Smeltz

I love the fact that Tony P posts on this site (some 50 odd times even). I wouldn't imagine too many CEO's do that, but it is a little rich to tell us to to stop the analysis and that it is unfair to mention names.

That's what forum's are for!!!!

On the playing side, i would imagine Sigmund will be signed in the off-season, Ricki seems to like him and his attitude (taking the time to single him out from the game in Vanuatu and favourable comments after the Welsh game), and i would see either (or both) Old and O'Dor leaving, no doubt they are promising players, but don't need young developing players at Centre Back.

I think it would be a shame to cut both of those guys.  They weren't signed to start (obviuosly Cleberson was the number 1) and have been thrust into the role.  I think Old's versatility is useful and O'Dor's pace is key, they both need a bit more time.  No-one expected them to be the finished product so it's a bit of a waste to cut them after only a season.

Dont be surprised if Mulligan heads our way and if he does then thats an indication of who might be going.

reading the names sigmund, mulligan, above and bertos and chris james in previous topics, it worries me how we might cope with AW games if we increase the number of NZers in the team

bit of a dilemma i reckon

Good post sir.

That's a good point. Unless the FFA sort something out about A League fixtures clashing with International call-ups, it could actually cause us real problems if we sign more All Whites

All Whites games seem to be few and far between - I wouldn't let that be a determining factor in choosing the squad.  Most of our games seen to be in the Northern Hemisphere international "window" which doesn't seem to clash with the A-League or the Pre-season tournament.

I see John Hartson can't get a game at WBA, and there is a chance of a move to League 2 with Chester City.  Surely a transfer to the A-league is better than the shame of League 2.  He would be a handy striker to partner Smeltz.  And he comes with a free B Bal-de too. Cantona forever2007-11-21 15:52:23

John Hartson?????   no no NO NO NEVER!!!!

sign mulligan and bertos!!! they are so amazing for the aw.
play bertos upfront with smeltz.

ya if u chose 3 getable(vicelich wouldnt come) then mulligan (see that rifle of a shot he hit, randomly amazing saze from the keeper) sigmund who looks sound and bertos! hes tearing them apaprt, and looks like he has a good understanding with smeltz today

sigmund will sign next season im sure bertos will aswell.
mulligan would be great hopefully rikki wants him here and he wants 2 come aswell.

Its yes to both those last 2 statements,thats what i have been told and its from a reasonable source.

lets hope its true

surely it would become a worry re losing all our players to aw's if the ffa schedule games during international windows