Was - Phoenix Transfer Speculation

Oh exciting, any more clues to this guy's identity?

So a US striker? And any more clues?
So not Smith then?

Interesting he is apparently up for a guest stint? I wonder if that is so he can be here till Jan/Feb then Killen can come in for the rest of the season??

If you'd told me straight after Ricki announced we were after European strikers that we would sign Smith then I would have been f**kin gutted... and to be fair thats how I feel now.

Not half as embarrassed as Gold Coast will be when Rigters f**ks off at the first sniff of a contract  he gets elsewhere.

Certainly raises some concerns about the new dawn unless injury cover isn't counted againt foreign limits...

I thought a foreigner as a guest doesnt count for import slots ?? Thats is what he seems to be coming as, according to the article, and if so would be a reasonable call surely

Thanks for that Hepatitis. If that is indeed the case then yes I could handle that. If however he did count as an import then that would just reek of resignation and despiration. I still haven't given up entirely on a foreign striker coming in. FFS there's so many on here that we have mentioned and many more that haven't been mentioned. Surely someone could be identified that is willing to come?!

Is Smith an actual striker? I thought he was a midfielder, and his personal preference was to play from deeper midfield positions?

Doesn't anybody else read? This was all signalled on the weekend...



Midfielder = Ward.

Somebody who could play up front but probably a little more coming slightly deeper = Smith

I agree with this sentiment. Especially as there is a distinct lack of European-ness about him.

I guess we had contracts "dangling" in front of three euro strikers, but I guess they could have all turned us down

Wiki   says striker, and his stats probably back that up

                                                                  App     Goals

2005�2006 FC Dallas 0 (0) 2007 DFW Tornados 6 (3) 2010 Fraser Park 20 (11) 2011 Sydney Olympic 11 (8) 2011 Gold Coast United 0 (0) 2011� Sydney Olympic 1 (1)
hepatitis2011-10-03 22:05:23

He also said "the ink is drying on a few contracts" which implies in everyone's world but Ricki's that they are all but signed. Again preaching false hope by the sounds of things. Sorry to be Mr. Doom and Gloom tonight.

It does make sense.

The only positive could be the fact they are saying there could be no star signed before October 9- therefore they are not desperate and may wait til the end of October??

I'd take him.  Simply for the fact that these 3 Euro's were made up to keep us fans happy and it is probably Smith or no one.  We have no one up front apart from an ageing Greenacre and crock Pavlovich (Who is sh*t when he is fit anyway).

f**k it, I just want to know who will be playing for us in 6 days time, couldn't care less if they are from Sydney Olympic, Man Utd, Upper Hutt Primary or Timbucktoo.

Sign him, and lets get this season started!!

This is what his latest club say about him. Guess they would know better than Wiki.el grapadura2011-10-03 22:19:25

I like you state something is fact when there is no evidence to support it.

Meh, yeah no fact 2b, but Ricki is well known for talking a lot of crap when asked about recruitment. 

This season has been too long and too hard, I just want the season to start, and I wanna know who will be on the field for us, at the stage where i just don't care who.

Can't wait for sunday though!!!

Could Ward play a bit up front? Was something he did a bit for Melbourne...

Well. I did put a smile there. He is talked about in other places as a striker. Regardless,  he has a good recent  goal scoring record in the grades he has played in, that is the point

The more obvious to me is that those strikers were talked about under Terry's times.  Now Terry is gone they have disappeared completely.

Ricki may have talked up transfers in the past but the details on these players was pretty specific for it to have been randomly made up.

I hope I'm wrong because a player of the quality being talked about is what's need to re-engage and galvanise support, increase crowds, increase interest, increase coverage, increase membership, increase our chances of actually winning some games, and increase merchandise sales.

Rob Ward, Alex Smith and Brent Griffiths are not.
Hard News2011-10-03 23:28:35

"Someone who can get in behind defenders, cause problems, so we can be a little bit more mobile at the front than what we've been. I'm not saying he's going to be a midget, but just slightly different characteristics."

I want a midget (or thereabouts).

Wow... way to completely miss my point..

My concern is that there was plenty of talk about strikers prior to Terry's departure and since then all we seem to have is signing rejects.

My concern is that in the interests of financial responsibility the chance to make a real mark will be lost and all the momentum to this point wasted for the lack of an inspirational (and yes, expensive) signing.

I agree - it will be a little bit silly when we start the season with no new strikers when clearly, throughout the whole offseason, the one single signing that we desperately needed above all else without fail was a recognized experienced goalscorer.

The fact we have signed everything but is getting quite unnerving. When we signed Pantelis and Downey; everyone was complaining that we hadnt signed a striker. That was a harsh call, but mot of the more cool headed forumers did say we had months to go to sign one.
When it got to last month, people were getting nervy, but we had lots of signs we were in for a top striker, especially when we turned down Mehemet for something better. Up until Terry left, we still had news about strikers, in fact we heard the club had 3 players lined up to sign that week.

But now what has happened to the striker? I am fine with Smith signing, but not as our lead striker. No thank you. I wish him the best of luck, but signing 3 attacking minded midfielder who dont look to all start for us, and 2 are imports, has made us look a bit silly I think.

As such, I think Ifill now has to be central striker with Smith, Ward and sanchez as backup.
a 4231 formation would almost be perfect if we had signed a lead striker man

Who needs strikers, just let brown do this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YIQfIbZ61k

His club was in dispute with Greek FA. Hardly Ward's fault.

That is quite a speculative take on the situation (unless you know something specifically, which you often do and we find out later)

So with Terry who had no money but talked it, and was on the verge of bankruptcy and our future was flaky, we were on the verge of signing an expensive import striker, and now with wealthy owners, and a more solid outlook, we cant attract them ???  Because they wont open the wallet ??? Does Ricki have a fiscal limit that is under the cap??

I agree that they need to splash a bit to make an impact on this season, both in terms of attracting fans and getting us points, and am hoping that will come sooner rather than later. Maybe they have it all logically planned out.... We certainly look underdone going in to the first games

Binkley2011-10-04 08:14:00

Miron the Moron must have actually seen enough in Smith to hand him a Contract at Cold Ghost so he must have some talent.

Ryan Nelsen seen boarding a plane in Manchester!!!

probably going to see his surgeon in the states.

Re Smith.That man will have no shortage of inspiration to absolutely stuff one (or more!) right through GC's onion bag and right up the noses of Miron and Co.
They turned his world upside down.Caused him to come over to Qld, get settled then, when most squads had already been established and transfer windows closed, dumped him out of the blue, high and dry,in a foreign place.
Now, (I'll even say astutely), Ricki throws him a lifeline, an opportunity to legitimately take action against those who hurt him!
 Some may call Smith a reject, I call him a highly motivated individual, if he gets on against Gold Coast, you mark my words.
RedGed2011-10-04 08:45:26

If its an injury replacement that is fine (so long as it doesn't use an import slot for the whole season). Gives us a chance to see him in actual a-league games before making a commitment. If he turns out to be good enough it doesn't matter that he doesn't come from europe. If he is brought over as the "guest signing", then that is not quite so good. I would prefer to use that for a player you know you want to sign but who is undecided about coming here and wants a look.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_9dBLZdT6I&feature=related

Just watched this and made me remember what I love bout the nix.
And how good was that bertos stepover? If we could have that back, then I would be soo happy.

Off to India with the rest of the squad I would think