Victory budget seems a bit slimmer than most years I feel

You mean the salary cap budget?

Expect better from you Buggs. 

This is why CCM were a force in the league early on

The big clubs spend the salary cap on 6-7 players and then pull a few randoms out of local football parks to fill the squad. Clubs like CCM had a more balanced squad of up and coming talent so were stronger across the field in the balance of things

Its no longer true as with the salary exemptions the small clubs cant keep up. CCM, NCJ and WP have all been bottom four in 3 consecutive seasons which would not happen in a normal balanced league. And makes for a very dull league when 7 teams are fighting for 6 finals spots each year


My interest in the A League is low so TBH I haven't looked at any squad this year. But from quick skim readings another thread it sounds like MV have thrown too much at too few players and don't have anything left for the rest of their squad. Its moot though as I believe its somebody else's turn to do well in the A League this year

If only MV could get the FFA to make a special rule to import a player outside the salary cap like a certain 'teachers pet' club did last year.

3 marquees and still couldn't make champions league lol

how is a kid who only scored 10 goals in the NPLV2 going to cut in the senior squad?
why the hell did we let go of Katebian?

Good luck to all the boys, hope they get some good minutes over the season and show us what they have to offer

Yes terrible of me to be supportive of young players and encourage them on their development pathway ... need to be more cynical to fit in on here, but norms are made to be broken :)

He didn't show much for Brisbane last season, I understand why now.

Glad we're giving young kids a chance. People always complaining about how youth aren't given a run in the A-League, we're doing it, people will still find something to complain about :)

Suppose the question is why do these kids get the nod over someone like Kenny Athiu who has shown his scoring potential at a higher level (NPL). They are 4 to 5 years younger, but still Kenny isn't "old"

So low that you have to tell everybody on an Australian football forum in a thread about an A-League team 

I'm genuinely excited to see 3 youngsters promoted. I hope they can make the step up, and with the coaching of Muscat, and the experience of Valeri, Milligan etc, I reckon this will be one of the best environments for them to be able to do that.

Good to see youngsters given a chance.

Josh Hope originally a Tassie kid aswell before moving to AIS.

Yea Hope is definitely NOT from Victoria. Shows how much muscat knows about his players. Anyone know if these players on professional contracts or  on a Scholarship? 

Pro contracts. Minimum wage contract but full time  pro
 

yes

It's a very good question and one I've asked many times.

Squad size and salary cap would have something to do with it. You're limited with your squad and there's only so much you can spend. I think Kenny may have just got an Aus citizenship as well so he may now find it easier. Would have loved to see him given an opportunity as a back up to Bes.

Im not complaining about giving kids a chance.
Im questioning Kevin and his technical staff's ability to ID talent, they have selected a 19 year old from NPL2 who only scored 10 goals all season.
In a youth team that came 9/10 in the NPL2.

a 19 year old, scoring ten goals against men, while playing in a bad team is a good return. 

the HAL youth coaches pick players on upside potential, not on performance, so in the eyes of the coaches players like these have more potential to develop than proven performers like Athiu. Also one of the objectives of the HAL youth coaches is to get to players early enough to teach them good habits before the bad habits become entrenched. Whilst Athiu isnt old, he is probably considered too old to change hence the focus is put on the younger players.

key point in all this it is the coaches opinion/decision and often doesnt make sense and changes when the coach changes

problem is also we victory finished last in the NYL last year

If Mcgilp gets 10 seconds of playing time this season, I will admit I have no idea about talent ID. The one good thing though is if they are signing players like this, every kid around the country regardless of talent has hope

Would be surprised if these guys got much gametime at all. 10 goals in NPL2 is really not great for a striker, though if i recall from joeys games Waring is more of a target man. 

what bad habits are you talking about?
Kenny has navigated all the icebergs football can throw at a kid and come out on top. does he have technical limitations? sure but bad habits?

Can understand your point, but we aren't exactly producing Viduka's any more. Youth development here sucks.

To me, Youth Development is a big umbrella, with some things we are good at and some things we can do better.
IMHO, Scouting and Talent ID is nonexistent.
In this case its created a closed shop mentality where anyone who hasn't made it to Victory and City by 17 wont make it at all.
Kenny Athiu, Dusan Bosnjak , Davey Van'T Schip, Matty Thurtell, etc must be wondering what they did wrong...
Don't even get me started on Nick Epifano, how he hasn't made it is a mystery....

Clear need for a second division, to have that next crop all playing within 12-14 teams in one league. Talent is too diluted being spread across 90 clubs and that supposedly being a second tier. NPL in it's current format should be the 3rd tier, with a pro second div sitting above it.

There is a reason for MVFC signing 3 of their NPL Youth and not only MVFC but all A-League Franchises

Number One; at all times during the Season, a Club’s Hyundai A-League Player Roster must have a minimum of 3 Australian Players aged 20 or under.

Number Two: Each Club can contract up to 6 under 20Australian Players on the minimum youth salary (Contracted NYL Players) or national minimum wage (Scholarship Players) these players receive payments from Clubs outside the Salary Cap.

So are these three players on Scholarships, outside the Salary Cap, or the three required mandatory U/20 Players within the Salary Cap? I have already asked this question but someone else's opinion may help.