Who would you take next season?

Who would you take next season?

If all the off contracted players were available to re-sign for next year, which would you take, and which would you leave?

Its tricky because we have had some sucessful players, but to be number 1, we gonna have to make some harsh calls. I've left out the likes of Lochhead, Marco, Toto, and Diego; as I think its obvious what peoples opinions would be, but I'm curious to see what else people think?

I'll start things off:

Macallister    Yes
Crowther       No
Daniel            No
Hearfield       Yes
North             No
Ward              Yes      


Theres some very debatable stuff, like if Daniel and DMac should be retained, and Ive started to come to grips with the idea we will have to drop some people to strengthen other areas.

So what you think?

daniel -yes

You really have to ask can you do better? I suspect North is on more than he is worth so you could look to let him go (even if he did want to stay) but if he was on a reasonable amount (less than Siggy) I would hang on to him. No idea about Crowther, only remember him playing a couple of games. Reserve keeper is a pretty crappy role, might be hard to get someone better at a reasonable price. Generally agree with the rest assuming Ward and Hearfield aren't priced too high.

Macallister    Yes
Crowther       Maybe - depending if we can get a 2nd string/youth keeper for cheap.
Daniel            Yes
Hearfield       No - Should be looking for good right back.
North             No - depending on salary
Ward              Yes      
aitkenmike2011-02-14 12:02:13

Hearfield is going, so you can probably take him off your list.

Macallister    Yes
Crowther     No
Daniel            Yes
Hearfield       Yes
North             YES
Ward              Yes      
[/QUOTE]

If Troy is going then good luck to him, but I would still take him simply for his versatility.

DMac makes a damn good case for himself. You'd be pretty harsh to not re-sign him. But we do need to aim high, and even though I think Daniel has something to offer us, we may need to start aiming higher.


However I would be fine if he re-signed but was rarely used. Almost a leadership role for the A side. But we could count on him to do a job when called upon

Awwww, and a happy Valentine's Day to you too. No, seriously, I'm interested in building the Nix W-League team, so Buffon II can go sit on the bench for the first team.

Pretty sure he would polarize opinion..

Macallister    Yes. Has come into form and at the very worst would be decent depth.  
Crowther       No. It's clear Ricki doesn't trust him, as the moves for Reddy and Vukovic have proved. I want a keeper who can keep Paston on his toes - if not, then the backup position is nothing more than a season-long training stint, which we may as well use to benefit a young Kiwi keeper.
Daniel     Yes, at the right price. I wouldn't start him but he's a good squad man. Throw in the off-field benefits and he's worth keeping.
Hearfield       No - at least not as a fullback. I admire his passion from having talked to him, but I think we've given him enough time. He's been a make-do solution that's lasted longer than it should. We need to sign a proper RB and Hearfield needs to play as a midfielder - something I imagine he'd have trouble doing here.
North   Yes, just to piss off Hard News. Otherwise no, he offers much less than Sigmund. Certainly not worth a marquee spot. We can spend his wages better IMO (not that I know his salary).

Agree with you about it all, although I think Troy is versatile enough to be a squad player.

However sounds like he is going, and i wish him luck, but its not gonna be easy for him to break into that CCM lineup. Especially as a midfielder

Troy has been played completely out of position but has been man enough to carry on at RB. I hope he changes his mind and stays. He's a good guy. play him in midfield, he's got a great shot on him when he gets the rare chance at RB. Got an engine that runs for most of the game.

Would that be instead of Marco or Ifill?

They're all fairly decent reserves. Crowther is what, 22? Not very old for a keeper so give him some time.20 legend2011-02-14 19:20:59

Maybe for all of them depending on what they are paid and the jigsaw fits together budget and salary cap wise.

Macallister    Yes
Crowther       No
Daniel            No
Hearfield       Yes
North             Yes - Though depends on salary and if anybody like McKain is coming along.
Ward              Yes 

I would be tempted to play him inisde and beside Vinnie and give Tim a rest.

anyone whoi can swim next to Freyberg pool in the sea and look like they are enjoying it...soft.

Wow. Really?

I'd take all of them, providing none are on wages higher than the likes of Lochhead and Lia.

And what about Musa?

Certainly keep him, unless you know of a better Kiwi youth defender?

Would any top A-League side play Hearfield week in and week out? If no, then why should we?

I still dont even know if i like Lia, because im unsure im going to say no. And no to Diego as well. And Toto.

I bet that if we let Musa go, next thing you know he'll be a superstar for RAdelaide or someone next year. Just our luck.

Reece Crowther is still very young, but why not have a back up kiwi keeper. It's not like he's ever going to get game-time. Jacob Spoonley please.

Agree with you.

But then you spell out your own argument by saying that they will never get game time. not ideal.

But this will most probably be Paston's last season, so signing someone on a 2 year contract with this knowledge means they have a year to learn, then the following year will be forced to challenge for the starting spot

I was thinking this morning...

Paston
Crowther/New Keeper

Durante
Sigmund
Musa
North/New Defensive Cover

Lochhead
New Right Back (I'd re-sign Troy if he turns out available(Unlikely))

Muscat
Lia
Brown

Playmaker
Ward

Rojas
Bertos
Daniel
Ifill

Greenacre
Pavlovic
Macallister
Striker

Which gives a squad of 21 with cover in ever position. Three very key new signings are a RB, a #10 midfielder and a striker capable of playing on his own. I think Macalister can do that OK, but a Smeltz/Van Dijk/Thompson quality striker is vital to moving forward. If Daniel or Ward end up going I don't think they'd need replacing, if they both went we'd need a new attacking midfielder IMO. If those three new signings are made I can't wait to see this:

               Paston

        Durante    Sigmund
New RB                    Lochhead

           Muscat Brown

Rojas        New #10           Ifill

        New Striker

I'm hoping the bench will be expanded to 5.

Crowther
Ward
Bertos
Macallister
Lia/Greenacre/NorthOska2011-02-15 19:43:31

First season Daniel only.....not the current version

Agree completely. For me, under Ricki, the future of the club will be playing this 433 / 451 formation.

Ricki wants overlapping fullbacks, and a middle three to bulk up the play and win the ball to distribut to wide positions.


My Issue that I have noticed of late, is that Brown has not been playing nearly as well lately in the more holding role.
In a middle three, hes best suited to the attacking late runs, but in a 442, he hasnt been getting into heading positions at all. For me, this is because he has been given less attacking duties, and I think Lia's passing game is actually now ahead of Timmys.

If we do manage to sign a Perez/Flores/Hernandez (slash any playmaker whose name ends in"es/ez"), then I'm not sure if Browny will be as effective. This leads me to the idea that perhaps an attacking number ten may not be our solution.

However, Ward has recently played this role to great sucess, although he does tend to lose the ball. So perhaps what we coud be seeking is a deep lying playmaker, Pirlo-esque perhaps. Would perhaps suit our team a bit more too, because whether we like it or not, we are going to be a team creating primarily from wide positions. So perhaps a deeper creator will be able to distribute quick sharp balls out to our flanks where our striker or timmy will be able to connect to?


Shane Smeltz would be nice now.

The thought of a fit Ifill and Marco in the same team gives me a woody!

I really dont see Daniel leaving anytime soon, for a few reasons. People love him, hes officially a kiwi, he openly loves NZ and wants to play for the AWs, and I think he will end up in a white jersey at some point, even if for only a couple of Oceania qualifying games/friendlies against lesser oppostion should they occur. He will be with the Nix up until, and after that happens.

I dont mind him, he has been effective off the bench and loyal to the Nix, and Ricki seems to return that loyalty. Hes also involved within the junior football community.
AJ132011-02-18 14:31:54