I was disappointed to hear we wont try and sign Chico but the logic was sound.
Personally was concerned to hear Gill on the Fever podcast talk about/ agree with players like Sheridan and Hughes being A league standard next year. Unless they have killer offseasons they dont appear like that to me.
I think the Nix need to be a little more pragmatic and ruthless with the kiwis coming out of the academy. Sometimes you have to walk away from a long term investment
Personally was concerned to hear Gill on the Fever podcast talk about/ agree with players like Sheridan and Hughes being A league standard next year. Unless they have killer offseasons they dont appear like that to me.
I think the Nix need to be a little more pragmatic and ruthless with the kiwis coming out of the academy. Sometimes you have to walk away from a long term investment
It basically their first full season. Very rarely do young players slot in straight at the level in their season.
In Old's first season he had 1 assist in 1000 minutes. then had 1 goal and 1 assist in about 550 minutes the next season, before having 5 goals and 4 assists last season.
Old is a very good example of a player who needed more than one season. And I think this is precisely the point. Apart from the walking away bit.
While players like Sheridan / Hughes will be better next season, there is no certainty that they will be A-League quality. Furthermore, they need to be from week one, not half way through the season.
Things in their favour are:
1. a possible ongoing reduction in league standard due to TV revenue (cap rules or budgets)
2. a more youthful squad with more playing minutes available than what Old had. This however could go either way because Old got to train with and learn from better players.