I think he was just playing to the strengths of the team he put out. Although he has shown a lot more tactical change in the past month than he had ever shown previously, so I'm expecting change next year.

FBK announcing his playing retirement after tonight's match on just now on Fox Sports, pretty much just talking about Victory. 

I really hope we bring him back as an assistant or youth coach at Victory, he'd be great.

He did say he wants to coach  at the academy when he was still with us. Wonder if adp had kept in contact with him 

Is Theo contracted for next season?

Last i heard, the gf will be on a Saturday... in that case newcastle better fucking win against city. I couldnt bare us beating sydney (unlikely) to get into a derby gf and not being able to go. Best man at a wedding on the Saturday night. 

Corey Brown has let the cat out of the bag by saying he has signed with us. So with Storm Roux coming, we have fixed our fullback issues. Also hearing talk Leroy is staying. not sure in what context though (whether he is under the cap or marquee).

So this is my wishlist for next season's squad:

>Matt Acton - keep
>Rhys Williams - keep
>Leigh Broxham - keep
>Ken Athiu - release
>Besart Berisha - keep (non-marquee)
>Kosta Barbarouses - keep
>James Troisi - keep (preference would be non-marquee but I don't think that is going to happen)
>Mitch Austin - release
>Thomas Deng - keep
>Cameron McGilp - keep
>Josh Hope - keep
>James Donachie - keep
>Matias Sanchez - release
>Pierce Waring - keep
>Lawrence Thomas - keep
>Carl Valeri - release/retire
>Stefan Nigro - keep (borderline)
>Jai Ingham - keep (borderline)
>Terry Antonis - keep
>Christian Theoharous - keep
>Matt Sutton - keep (youth scholarship keeper)
>Leroy George - keep (most likely marquee)

Total released = 4 (Athiu, Austin, Sanchez, Valeri)

Likely incoming transfers (confirmed or just about confirmed) = 2
>Storm Roux
>Corey Brown

Squad total = 20
Marquees = 2 (Troisi, George)

Wishlist
>Central midfielder to partner Antonis
>True #10 (not Troisi)

I wouldn't want Valeri to go, still think he has another year in him as a back up option. 

Also think Nigro is a bit stiff in your list, clearly has quality when given an opportunity (and still hasn't played in his preferred position). 

I guess my only concern about Valeri sticking around is that his seniority will see him be picked, especially if he is still captain. If he relinquishes the captaincy in the off-season and is happy to just be a regular squaddie than I am happy with that, but I definitely think that he has regressed and as such, shouldn't be a walk up start into the side.

Nigro is an interesting one - I just don't see a spot for him in the side outside of being a utility replacement on the bench, especially with both Roux and Brown coming in for the fullback positions. Happy to keep him around but he's not worth fighting for if another club can offer him a starting XI position imo.

Our slow start to the season really fucked us over - four points in the first six games:



Very lucky that we came home with a wet sail with six wins from 7 matches to finish the regular season - that form also being produced whilst we were in the midst of an ACL campaign too.

Valeri and Broxy should be retired and a DM brought in as a visa played with Nigro used as his backup. But i expect both to play on and Nigro will be snapped up by another team and will excel (like Naboutt and Pain). 

Why would you not want to keep Athiu? He can probably be signed at a very reasonable salary as he is still young. During Muscat's post match interview yesterday, he lumped massive praise on the kid and it sounded like he is here to stay. In addition to Bes we do need another true striker. Wouldn't mind seeing the system change and having both Bes and Kenny upfront. Athiu has only played 67mins total this season and has scored 1 goal (plus goals scored at the ACL). Bes has played 2264 mins and scored 14 goals. That's 1 goal for every 161.7 minutes of play compared to Athiu's 1 goal for 67mins. Being signed in October last year, he also didn't receive a proper pre-season at MV. If MV are able to keep him, he will definitely make an impact next season. 

Agreed. Kenny has come a long way. Would be surprised if he is not with us next year and I would be happy to see him as backup again.
The other comments by 'Walnuts' and 'Feed the Bronx' are all pretty close to the mark.

Broxham is our only player eligible for the loyalty player rule isn't he? No way he gets let go if thats the case. .

Laurence Thomas was signed in 2011 so he has been eligible as a loyalty exemption for a while.

With the loyalty progressive scale, Broxham (10+ years) has 50% of his salary completely exempt from the cap. Thomas (7 years) has 35% of his salary exempt from the cap.

Jason Geria was also a Loyalty player this year until he left.

For anyone looking, you can go this weekend via Jetstar for $98 return (fly in/out Sat/Sun 7AM). Would jump on that if I wasn't already going the week after. 

(I'm also praying that Newcastle win if we win, as I'd be able to go). 

No way should we release Kenny. We finally have two impact subs in Kenny and Theohaurus who can both change a game when coming on. Kenny has shown more in 67 mins than any of our previous Berisha backups have shown. 

Berisha is going to cry like a little girl when we beat his arse this Saturday.  

Would they have the GF in Newy if that's the case?

-PB

for the record i never said I wanted to release King Kenny. I am a fan and signing him up is a no brainer. 

According to a Daily Telegraph report, people power has influenced the decision of A-League competition chiefs with fans demanding a more convenient time for families to attend the competition’s showpiece event.

The decider is expected to be played on Saturday May 5 if Sydney FC, Newcastle Jets, Melbourne Victory or Western Sydney Wanderers host the match, with kick-off likey to be as early as 7pm (AEST).

A Melbourne City hosted grand final would also likely take place on Saturday May 5 but the venue and date could change depending on their opponents.

https://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/article/2018/02/27/people-power-forces-league-grand-final-date-change

Win on Saturday and we take City's ACL spot :')

If that  happens delicious 

Lawrence Thomas was unbelievable last night. Hopefully for MV’s sake he can stick around.

Hes been this way all season though. He has made an ordinary defence look passable.

Hope so to. Iirc he seems happy here and would like stick It out for a couple of more seasons before he heads back o/s . Remember he was always a no 2 before  for got injured 

Tickets GOT

Newcastle was awesome for the Asian cup semi final, now we are actually playing a big game there is the first time I've felt like I'm missing out on something important since leaving. 

If you get the chance, check out the tennis club near the ground on match day. Great bunch of football friendly people there, the beer is cheap and it's a great match day feed as well (super anglo roast beef roll stuff but it's delicious alternative to our usual favourite #effnikfeed).

Lol

Agree with melbterrace.

Went to Newy in Feb and it was an awesome weekend.
Really nice city and I could imagine the whole city buzzing for Saturday’s game.