Was - Phoenix Transfer Speculation

If they're out of nappies they don't get on the pitch.

Some of the QSL teams have moved in to the BPL, I think in a year or two they are trying to fix the structure a bit more.

I don't want to start slating these ausi kids again and saying we should sign kiwis but if Ricki goes and signs three ausi under twenty ones that will do my head in

by the way if we go and sign one of these guys and for that matter mussa, don't just sign them for one year

sign them for one with an option for a second (at rickis discretion)

then if they turn into a gun (like Kosta and Marcos turned last season) we still have an option on them and potentially even a transfer fee

I think we have missed a trick or two in this area in the past

I don't understand alot of this automatic angst that pops up when names get floated around that are young, australian, and have minimal top-grade experience.

I was wondering, what do you think Brisbane fans thought of Kosta when he signed for them? Based on his playing record here they probably thought he was bollocks, and look how that turned out.

I know it would be naive to say that this turtle bloke is like Kosta because I know nothing about him, but surely there must be a few young kids out there with massive potential that is being totally underutilised by their club.

Now to be fair I don't know if Ricki has the genius to pick someone like that out, and I know that Ange is probably the least likely in the league to let someone like that go, but I'm just saying, there must be a few floating around.

Give the kid a go, I say, let him try to prove himself, and if he's not, not alot lost imo

agree, but then again if we do as you say, they are just as likely to leave if they feel like it.

I think youth players should be kept for at least two seasons. What I would like is the natural progression each year where we get one or two new youth players, irrelevant of how many we are required to have, that way we are nurturing new talent and hopefully building aflow of young guys being bult up to challenge the first teamers.


Also, I want Bouzanis quite a lot, solves issues, plus doesnt mean we still cant sign 2 or 3 NZ under 20's if theyre good enough? (Chettleburgh, Lovemore, Musa?)

I reckon the identification process early on is key.
playwithFire2011-07-28 20:55:10

Sean Lovemore and James Musa were obviously good enough at one stage.

The second year option would be at rickis discretion not the players

There are a couple of good points in the last few posts.

a: It is a trial. If he is a 'turtle' he goes home and we are still in the same situation. If the kid can play, well then we look good for picking him up and being his 1st A League gig, he wont say no. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

b: I think there is merit to the 1 + 1 contract. If you look at Ben Sigmund, its taken him 2 years to become a solid CB that can hold his natural spot in the team. The body transformation, adjustment to the game.. I think its a slightly unrealistic expectation to sign a kid to his 1st deal and expect him to contribute in the 1st year. Give them that year to blood them into pro football and with a year of body work and football education, then year 2 is when we should expect production. Looking at Musa, it would appear from reports that he is now looking like a decent football talent in that u20 environment. If he had another year considering he has developed, could he contribute?

c: Admittedly I would prefer we sign Kiwi youth as well but I also wish I was rich too. The players most talked about (Lovemore, Musa) can't hold regular starting gigs in the Premiership or signed for the nix without playing that level. The only other one I think is worth is Lucas as he has improved a lot in the last year (I am on record as not being a fan) He lacks the height but he has the mongrel. Chettleburgh reminds me of Nick Ward and I don't think Chettleburgh quite has the attacking vision for what we are looking for at this point in time. Having said that, it could be developed in that environment under contract.

Maybe I have a skewed view?
Jeff Vader2011-07-28 21:46:51

Sign him up - we're gonna have loads of lolz with this one.

We might as well sign someone from the 2nd div Victorian football league because that is about the level that the QSL is at.

Hopefully it's just a trial. Really don't think he'll be good enough - but, even if he is a dud, at least we gave it a shot. The article seems to point to the fact that we're almost definitely going to sign him, though, and that worries me a bit. (Obviously that could be bullsh*t and most likely is)

Youre right there Valeo, most football pundits in QLD would rate the QSL as 3rd tier - most of the top teams actually play in the Brisbane Premier League. Lots of talk about whether the QSL is sustainable as the costs are soaring which is why, teams like Olympic and Redlands have returned to the BPL fold.....good luck to Matt though...its sure is a worry that Ricki is not able to find a young kiwi striker to add to the mix....the Nix is the main pathway for NZers and yet we are selecting and developing Aussies youngsters...go figure!

Young Kiwi Strikers:

De Vries - a wide player
Bevin - Lacks pace for that level and is more of a poacher like Greenacre
Lucas - lacks size
Lovemore - not really a striker as such and more of a free range attacking player (think Ifill but less on the ball)

Name other young Kiwi strikers (of which I am sure there are some) that would fit in that list. They should at least be in the Premiership because if they are not at that level, chances are high they are not good enough and if they are overseas, chances are high they may not come back to play here. The list may not be much longer.

Is the turtle kid any better? Who knows.

Sure, giveTurtle a trial,,,, he may turn out to be a good prospect. But in all honesty you can,t expect a kid like thqt to come straight into the A-League and make an immediate impact as a striker.

I am afraid we probably have missed the boat as far as getting an European striker. The transfer season is nearly over.... lots of the comps kickoff in the next few weeks. Its hard to imagine anyone half decent sitting at home waiting for a call from Rickie.

So you have to ask yourself.... where are the goals going to come from....
Hopefully Ifill will play like yeqr one qnd score qt least 10, Expect 4 or 5 each from Brownie and Greenie....maybe a few from the others but in reality to make any sort of challenge for this season we are going to need a good striker to chip in with 10 to 15 goals. You are not going to get this from a turtle....even though he may be a good youth signing

how many other teams in the league have a player who is going to score 10 goals, a couple who are going to 5 each as well as someone who will score 15?

Well with Payne going to Blackburn for a trial, id assume he would be decent.

Anyway, i dont think we need a yoof striker, well that wouldnt be my priority, id be looking for a senior striker, and a youth CB/ CM?

And probably one of the factors the Roar or the Gold Coast may not offer an option is that arguably the QSL sits behind the Brisbane Prenier League in terms of standard....its ok for aspiring youth to gain a taste of a higher league but it isnt much chop, the good teams have been there and moved back to BPL - Matt could prove me wrong as Kosta was not used in the Nix and boom was a star for the Roar....

Blah blah blah, developing aussies/kiwis blah blah blah.

Let's win some football, make some dosh, and then get back to our youngsters.

The problem i'm seeing here is we're all living in lala land that we're financially secure and are able to afford to have youth players on the roster who won't contribute.

End of the day we need to have youth players who aren't there for development rather can chip in to the squad to keep our costs down. Until we're financially secure development of NZ players needs to be on the back burner, and wining trophies and growing the business needs to be number one.

How is the transfer season nearly over - there's still a month to go!

I think at least one of the youth spots should be a Kiwi irrespective.

Someone on the 442 forums has pointed out that Bouzanis is currently trialling with Blackpool, and played in goal for them during a friendly match against Jelgava last night:

It's a different Bozza we are chasing to be our keeper!

Put Greenie in attacking mid, there's your senior attacking mid. Let the young lads Pav and (insert another strikers name here) run up front with great delviery form the wily bugger behind them.

Wooden spoon for sure. Pav? Come on. Yet to be convinced.

think greenacre could maybe do a job in attacking mid. The more i think about it, the more it makes sense. Hes a workhorse which we need through the middle, and traditionally has played off another striker in front of him.
Not sure about his ability to create though.

Think it would be a very unexpected move, for the front third coach moving in to playing in the middle third

And.. he's maybe starting to get off the pace in the a strikers role, but as an attacking mid, he can use his experience to open up and release the attacking third.

Still leave him to charge forward when he can, Ifill free to drift off him, a couple of young, and pacy strikers to have a go... i honestly believe there's merit in it.

id like to see it in action first, but agree it has merit.

An issue this brings up for me is with a new creative midfielder targetted to be signed, who would drop out from the mids? Its between Lia and Brown.

I would have to say Brown, as Lia's distribution has been getting better and better, while Browny doesnt offer as much, apart from the ghosting goals, which would be sort of the creative midfielders role anyway

Playing Greenacre in attacking midfield is a terrible idea. He lacks the creativity for that role.

And speed. And the passing ability of a CAM.

Having said that, he's probably the best option we currently have.

Oh no.......we're all doomed!

disco_mart2011-07-30 22:56:31

The two best teams in the QSL played last night.  Sunshine Coast and Brisbane Strikers,  the teams that have moved back to the BPL have done so for financial reasons.  Sunshine Coast and the Strikers have been the top two teams for past 5 years.  The Sunshine Coast play the Roar each season (admitantly preseason and drew this year,  lost 1 nil last year and beat the Roar the year before).  Both of these teams would clean up the BPL and Sunshine Coast have a number of players that are now with A-League, K-League and J-League teams.  

Incidently the Sunshine Coast won 4-3 to win the round robin portion of the league with Brisbane as runners up.