People might think this is a shark take, but I don't mind this. He might turn out to be pretty useful, or he could be as shark as his record suggests. But either way he won't be expensive, and we already have Waine and Barba up top, along with Ball and Kraev who can also do a job up there. Would I prefer we could sign an amazing 9 that would be the best in the league? Absolutely. But coming into this season with the guys we have, the 10s were definitely the most important to spend the cash on. If this guy ends up being a 10 goal striker then fantastic. If he ends up being an impact guy off the bench to switch things up, I still wouldn't be disappointed.
A positive to look at even if he isn't the most prolific goal scorer we're gonna have 6 maybe 7 with Old attackers to make up the goals this season so even if he doesn't deliver we'll have Kosta and Waine hopefully providing those goals.
Oof yeah I had a look at some highlights of Zawada and I didn't like what I saw. He often took long shots when they had like a 4v3 attacking advantage on the counter. He gives really sloppy passes sometimes, just gives the ball away a lot. Could be really frustrating to watch.
On a positive side I did see a lot of untapped potential. While he made a lot of poor decisions he has some great attributes. Really good ball skills for such a large man, good pace, good strength. He could be very good given he can get a decent head on his shoulders and pick good options. If he doesn't though he will be below average at the best I reckon.
Going to wait and see on this one, not in a negative way of course, but I think we've all talked ourselves into a lather thinking we'll be getting a big-money, big name bloke.
Seemed pretty prolific at youth level, but that doesn't look like it's translated to much at senior level which is unfortunate. Definite point of difference with his height which is what we need when things aren't working up top with what we've currently got at our disposal.
Quietly hoping (as well as confident!) that this will be another Uffie masterstroke.
People might think this is a shark take, but I don't mind this. He might turn out to be pretty useful, or he could be as shark as his record suggests. But either way he won't be expensive, and we already have Waine and Barba up top, along with Ball and Kraev who can also do a job up there. Would I prefer we could sign an amazing 9 that would be the best in the league? Absolutely. But coming into this season with the guys we have, the 10s were definitely the most important to spend the cash on. If this guy ends up being a 10 goal striker then fantastic. If he ends up being an impact guy off the bench to switch things up, I still wouldn't be disappointed.
Yeah, that's how I see this guy. He offers something very different to our current strikers - so maybe useful for certain games/situations.
How much space does that leave in our squad? We wouldn’t pick up this guy and say, Watto right?
I guess most of us were hoping for a Hemed or Hooper type signing. Doesn’t look like this guy will be that. The goal scoring point is where we might be short, but maybe he’ll boss this league at the lower level…
So he’d be signed to be physical, a hold up player and an outlet? Perhaps he’ll promise less and deliver more than Hooper did last dig out?
I was expecting us to be looking at a guy with a prolific striking record. I guess that means Uffie sees the potential for a Waine/Kosta duo to cement the starting berths if they’re prolific enough? Maybe he thinks between Kosta/Waine /Kraev/Sasse/Old/Ball we should have enough goals to not be relying on a focal striker to score 15+?
What’s the news on David Ball’s injury? And his contract status? I couldn’t find the extension signing post.
Anyway intriguing report and we’re almost all hands on deck then. Uffie has previously said he signs imports to start iirc.
Maybe Waine has done enough in pre season that Ufuk trusts him to be the starting striker. To be honest, if this guy is our only option I'd be thinking of gambling we can find someone in January.
But, if I put on a stupidly optimistic hat, the fact that we're signing young players with a lot of potential on multi year deals might indicate Ufuk is thinking of sticking around and is building for next year.
Of course we were optimistic - no reason not to be - but this move makes complete sense from all angles.
He's cheap, he's a point of difference in our attack, and if he ain't great, he won't stunt Waine. And hey, best-case scenario, he's a hidden gem and we get a huge return on our small investment.
How much space does that leave in our squad? We wouldn’t pick up this guy and say, Watto right?
I guess most of us were hoping for a Hemed or Hooper type signing. Doesn’t look like this guy will be that. The goal scoring point is where we might be short, but maybe he’ll boss this league at the lower level…
So he’d be signed to be physical, a hold up player and an outlet? Perhaps he’ll promise less and deliver more than Hooper did last dig out?
I was expecting us to be looking at a guy with a prolific striking record. I guess that means Uffie sees the potential for a Waine/Kosta duo to cement the starting berths if they’re prolific enough? Maybe he thinks between Kosta/Waine /Kraev/Sasse/Old/Ball we should have enough goals to not be relying on a focal striker to score 15+?
What’s the news on David Ball’s injury? And his contract status? I couldn’t find the extension signing post.
Anyway intriguing report and we’re almost all hands on deck then. Uffie has previously said he signs imports to start iirc.
Zawada would be 21/23 senior spots filled. A domestic CB option will be our final signing.
Ball is contracted up until the end of the 24/25 season.
Kinda strikes me as this guy was not Uffies/Gillys preferred option, but it is the option that has landed. Regardless, if he has the fire chicken on his crest then I will cheer for him as if he is the best striker in the world!! I will wholeheartedly back him... until he proves to be utter pants. If that eventuates, then he can be the scapegoat for the season. its almost a win win.
I went on a stats hunt on transfermarket at work but forgot to post it before I logged off!
Quickly put, Zawada's last 4 seasons have a similar minute to goal involvement ratio and goal involvement per match return as Hemeds 4 seasons pre-Nix. And was well clear of Nathan Burns' 4 seasons pre-Nix.
No point being all doom and gloom this early. In Uffie we trust, right?
Kinda strikes me as this guy was not Uffies/Gillys preferred option, but it is the option that has landed. Regardless, if he has the fire chicken on his crest then I will cheer for him as if he is the best striker in the world!! I will wholeheartedly back him... until he proves to be utter pants. If that eventuates, then he can be the scapegoat for the season. its almost a win win.
We went all last season with only 4 visas, Uffie doesn't strike me as someone who signs a visa player just for the sake of signing one.
Kinda strikes me as this guy was not Uffies/Gillys preferred option, but it is the option that has landed. Regardless, if he has the fire chicken on his crest then I will cheer for him as if he is the best striker in the world!! I will wholeheartedly back him... until he proves to be utter pants. If that eventuates, then he can be the scapegoat for the season. its almost a win win.
We went all last season with only 4 visas, Uffie doesn't strike me as someone who signs a visa player just for the sake of signing one.
Hm... to be completely honest, I think that's exactly what this is.
Talay and Gill have identified the exact archetype of player they want, and they have a visa spot to burn (perhaps without the money to match). They can afford to look far and wide for the type of guy they want, which was certainly a much harder sell last season due to circumstances
Kinda strikes me as this guy was not Uffies/Gillys preferred option, but it is the option that has landed. Regardless, if he has the fire chicken on his crest then I will cheer for him as if he is the best striker in the world!! I will wholeheartedly back him... until he proves to be utter pants. If that eventuates, then he can be the scapegoat for the season. its almost a win win.
We went all last season with only 4 visas, Uffie doesn't strike me as someone who signs a visa player just for the sake of signing one.
Hm... to be completely honest, I think that's exactly what this is.
Talay and Gill have identified the exact archetype of player they want, and they have a visa spot to burn (perhaps without the money to match). They can afford to look far and wide for the type of guy they want, which was certainly a much harder sell last season due to circumstances
Dont get the "without the money comment" there has been no indication at all that Talay dosnt have the money to get a striker. Not sure why that should be the assumption. Given a couple of weeks ago we were told a striker signing was close. Just maybe for whatever reason they havnt been able to get their main target over the line and have had to settle on a lesser option. Dont think Talay is the sort of guy to sign someone just to make the numbers up or burn a visa spot just for the hell pf it. Happy to trust his judgement he has been pretty good so far.
Kinda strikes me as this guy was not Uffies/Gillys preferred option, but it is the option that has landed. Regardless, if he has the fire chicken on his crest then I will cheer for him as if he is the best striker in the world!! I will wholeheartedly back him... until he proves to be utter pants. If that eventuates, then he can be the scapegoat for the season. its almost a win win.
We went all last season with only 4 visas, Uffie doesn't strike me as someone who signs a visa player just for the sake of signing one.
Hm... to be completely honest, I think that's exactly what this is.
Talay and Gill have identified the exact archetype of player they want, and they have a visa spot to burn (perhaps without the money to match). They can afford to look far and wide for the type of guy they want, which was certainly a much harder sell last season due to circumstances
Dont get the "without the money comment" there has been no indication at all that Talay dosnt have the money to get a striker. Not sure why that should be the assumption. Given a couple of weeks ago we were told a striker signing was close. Just maybe for whatever reason they havnt been able to get their main target over the line and have had to settle on a lesser option. Dont think Talay is the sort of guy to sign someone just to make the numbers up or burn a visa spot just for the hell pf it. Happy to trust his judgement he has been pretty good so far.
... which is why I said "perhaps". Who knows how much we have, or are willing to spend?
Pretty poor scoring record outside of Poland but his goal contributions in the Ekstraklasa aren’t actually too bad. 11 goals and 4 assists in 3120 minutes, breaks down to a 0.43 G+A per 90 rate.
For reference, David Ball has a 0.45 G+A per 90 rate in the A-League (15G + 15A in 5981’).
Ben Waine 0.44 and Sotirio 0.47
Hooper has an astounding 0.97, Hemed 0.94 (Nix only).
As a side note, our last big, tall ex-Polish league import striker Cillian Sheridan notched a 0.48 rate in the Ekstraklasa (19G + 8A in 5035’).
I could be wrong and just hoping but maybe we are saving money to bring in Reid. Can atleast dream
Yeah the optimist in me is saying Uffie’s comment about getting the striker in and then seeing where we’re at money wise for the defender means Zawada = Reid, Striker with pedigree = Schrijvers or similar.
Realistically that’s not what’s happening but a guy can dream. That being said, failing Reid, Nikko Boxall would be class.
Hadn’t even considered the prospect that Reid might still be in play! If he ever was…
If we have a bunch of decent players one or more may make themselves undroppable and focal to our attack as Jaushy did during our good run there. Or as Uli and Tomer did.
If Uffie we trust! So long until the start of the season. Is there a break for the WC in the A league schedule? That’s guna be weird if there is. Enjoyed the FFA cup midweek during the season last time more than so far before it starts.
Hadn’t even considered the prospect that Reid might still be in play! If he ever was…
If we have a bunch of decent players one or more may make themselves undroppable and focal to our attack as Jaushy did during our good run there. Or as Uli and Tomer did.
If Uffie we trust! So long until the start of the season. Is there a break for the WC in the A league schedule? That’s guna be weird if there is. Enjoyed the FFA cup midweek during the season last time more than so far before it starts.
From memory there will only be 6 rounds of the ALM, before a 3-4 week break for the WC.
Just had a look at the couple of YouTube highlights, including what look like an agent reel from 3 weeks ago. The main point seems to be that he’s a guy who’s good at playing in transition, perhaps even playing one touch to set the runs of fast team mates around him in on goal before the opposition’s defense can get organized. Possibly playing a fair bit back to goal. In addition he seems fairly nimble for a big guy, and can also play with ball at his feet on a break.
Just had a look at the couple of YouTube highlights, including what look like an agent reel from 3 weeks ago. The main point seems to be that he’s a guy who’s good at playing in transition, perhaps even playing one touch to set the runs of fast team mates around him in on goal before the opposition’s defense can get organized. Possibly playing a fair bit back to goal. In addition he seems fairly nimble for a big guy, and can also play with ball at his feet on a break.
Looking at his highlights it looks like he'll fit the team really well but I'll take that with a pinch of salt as highlights make a lot of players look good.
Seems to me Uffie has at his disposal at least 5 guys capable of scoring through all his AMs and so called designated strikers.This is his new strategy. Quite powerful if it works.
Dont mind having a big brick sharkhouse upfront who can win aerial battles and play off onto the smaller, quicker guys around him. Trust Uffie will work his magic as he has done on so many players before. Doesn't look like the guy has ever been given the chance to have a good run of games, so maybe just needs a bit of confidence to start spanking them in.
Love how people are trying to stay positive. Yes his goal scoring record does bother me but hey I guess we could've got someone way more prolific who looks good on paper but struggles under our style of play. Plus I agree with what someone here said, he hasn't really had a chance to settle down anywhere aside from youth teams at Wolfsburg and a team in the Ekstraklasa. Unless the deal falls apart last minute then I have only one thing to say, show us what you got Oskar!
Big fan of the look of this team. In that Jeju article about Zawada it said he works best as part of a front two which works well for us. Unlike previous years, I don’t think we’ll have a set “best” front two, rather we’ll see Zawada, Ball, Waine and Kosta rotate depending on tactics/our opponents. Add a good local CB (Reid? N. Boxall? Schrijvers? Aussie?) and we’ll be looking pretty damn good.
My only concern would be our DM depth with Rufer still out for the foreseeable. I’d be perfectly happy with Pennington starting, but if one DM gets injured whilst Rufer is still out we’ll have no cover. Presumably Uffie is confident in Manuel, Payne or someone else covering that spot in the unlikely scenario we need them to though.
Big fan of the look of this team. In that Jeju article about Zawada it said he works best as part of a front two which works well for us. Unlike previous years, I don’t think we’ll have a set “best” front two, rather we’ll see Zawada, Ball, Waine and Kosta rotate depending on tactics/our opponents. Add a good local CB (Reid? N. Boxall? Schrijvers? Aussie?) and we’ll be looking pretty damn good.
My only concern would be our DM depth with Rufer still out for the foreseeable. I’d be perfectly happy with Pennington starting, but if one DM gets injured whilst Rufer is still out we’ll have no cover. Presumably Uffie is confident in Manuel, Payne or someone else covering that spot in the unlikely scenario we need them to though.
Agree on the sentiment with the front four - definitely will be a lot of chopping and changing based on who we're playing, match situation etc etc.
Reckon Uffie will stick with a Lewis/Pennington partnership at least for the first few rounds too purely because of the unfortunate situation with a cup-tied Ugarkovic. And to be fair to Pennington, I think he's earnt that right too off the back of some good performances against Devonport & City.
At the end of the day though, that's a very sexy looking lineup! 😍
Big fan of the look of this team. In that Jeju article about Zawada it said he works best as part of a front two which works well for us. Unlike previous years, I don’t think we’ll have a set “best” front two, rather we’ll see Zawada, Ball, Waine and Kosta rotate depending on tactics/our opponents. Add a good local CB (Reid? N. Boxall? Schrijvers? Aussie?) and we’ll be looking pretty damn good.
My only concern would be our DM depth with Rufer still out for the foreseeable. I’d be perfectly happy with Pennington starting, but if one DM gets injured whilst Rufer is still out we’ll have no cover. Presumably Uffie is confident in Manuel, Payne or someone else covering that spot in the unlikely scenario we need them to though.
Actually I agree with all of your written comments. But IMHO if we started the team as pictured on the first game of the season it would indicate that we haven't learned anything. Alright, let's see how the rest of the cup run goes. If we do well in the cup, we need to learn and not go backwards. There's real competition for places in almost every area. Payne/Elliot Old/Ball Pennington/Ugarkovic. I favour what would be the number 2 in all those positions. And Waine has to be a first choice now in any case 🤞 .
Payne and Sutton as full backs are nearly wingers, where Elliot is a true right defender. With our tactics, I'd definitely prefer Elliot.
