Would hold on to Franjic and Pepper, that’s it thanks.

Yeah I agree. Peeper is really a good CB. He doesn't have good enough touch or passing for a modern day DM that really needs to have a play making role. 

Ivan we are not going to find a better FB.

None of the others really excited and given plenty of chances. I feel sorry for gamerio he had some good shots that had some last ditch defence getting in the way. But he also skied some open shots. 

I would prefer to poach some youth players that are on the fringes of other teams.

I’d go along with Pepper for sure.

Franjic is a yes but subject to who else they’re signing - we’ve got two RBs, one LB plus Bowles/Mckay to cover ... do we need one more defender.

And possibly keep Gameiro subject to a successful run out with the NPL side in May/June. Kids got talent ..

Not a kid anymore. Can't score goals. Thank, but no thanks.

@ BrissyRoo

Gameiro is all mental issues now, three knee reconstructions will do that.

He’ll either get over them and go big, or he don’t and he’s finished. Couldn’t say which way it will go ... he needs to play more games though

Could've said the same for Skapetis but we were happy enough shuffling him off.
Don't need a guy who can't score because of 'mental issues' either. He can go back to the NPL and prove himself there for a season and we can pick him up but we don't have room in the squad to nurse a 26 year old journeyman striker who cant score next season.

To be fair to Gameiro he was injured for nearly all of preseason and up until Xmas ,I would like to see him get a proper injury free preseason and a couple of decent trial games with us , it’s still a risk but it could pay off.

I don't see the point in long term injured players sitting on the bench.What they need is game time to get confidence and skills back.It's such a pity there is no second division for this.
Realistically the same applies for youth players.
It just becomes a lottery for those players whether they can get some luck,by replacing an injured player or magically showing form from short appearances from the bench.
Skapetis was good in preseason,then went back to bench sitting ,so never got going.
I guess this is the importance of having good recruitment abilities.JA showed last season,when he finally could choose his own team,he was hopeless at it.He gets a second chance now .If he gets Taggart has he learnt anything about recruiting injury prone players?

That's not the impression I get, but you might know him better.

I'd call it passion.

No matter what you call it and not splitting words here but he cocked it up big time which has been his story.

His touch is like he wears a brick on his foot and really should be treated the same way as Corey Brown.

@ paulc

Yes, I hope I was agreeing with you, I just didn’t want him to be let off the hook with a “stumble” which can happen to anyone. He had a brain explosion and cost his team.

Jack is one of the better A League RBs even if he does make mistakes. I'd take Franjic if he's willing to play for peanuts and accepts he's only a fill-in player if Jack is out injured.

Would love to know where we are in terms of the cap and what else is in the pipeline. I assume we are pretty low atm. Really need to nail tech marquee spot. I'd almost be just offering Leroy George whatever he wants for next year. Clearly the best player in the league this season. Imagine having him and Eric on either side of Taggart with a gun CAM (DDS/O'Doherty) run amok in behind? Would still like to get Tongyik in, too.

Young
Jack-Papa-Tongyik-OToole
TK/New-Caletti
George-DDS-Eric
Taggart

Would make some noise, I reckon. Still a bit soft at RB and in CM if TK goes down, but that'd be a lightning quick front four with speedy FBs for extra width if we needed it.

Need some strong young squad fillers with a bit of potential to push the starters as well.

Obviously not been a good year but we’ve got three in the running for awards tonight at the Dolan Warren Awards - Clare Polkinghorne (W League Player of the year nomination), Mel Andreatta (W League Coach of the Year nomination), and Jamie Young in the running for Goalkeeper of the Year.

@ BrissyRoo

Tongyik has already signed for wanderers right?

Jamie just won the golden glove. Really been outstanding this year.

Good year for brisbane keepers with McKenzie Arnold winning the women golden glove.

Bullshit? 💔
Great pick up for them if true. He's honestly better than anything we've got.

@ BrissyRoo

Yeah, read it on-line today.

Did hear our new striker has signed today though, will be named shortly apparently...

Hopefully we get a heap of good news. Nothing so far has made me overly impressed based on the rep of the new GM

Tongyik hasn’t officially signed for WSW yet. Was rumoured but was never officially announced by the club. Now that Gombau gone it may have completely fallen through

We won 4 out of 4 tonight
Not all bad

@ BRFC

Just did a google search and yeah, nothing official. Although it’s being written up that he’ll be released Monday.

Not sure Roar would have another CB on their radar though?

And tonight’s awards - a good outcome for the women and well deserved for Jamie Young.

On the striker though, there’s two strong rumours of signings - a striker (today) and a Scandinavian right winger. I just hope they’re not one and the same - we need an out and out striker not a hybrid.

I wouldn’t think we’d need another CB Waz.

We already have

LDV
Papa
Bowles
Pepper
O’Toole (can cover)
Franjic (can cover)

On the striker front, hoping Taggart is one and a quick RW is the other.

Pepper hasn't signed, nor has Franjic. I think paying Pepper now would be a mistake. He's at a market high and isn't actually that good - serviceable, but far from great. Better off going for a Tongyik or Aspro who are young and high potential coming off seasons where they were inexplicably benched by new coaches trying to make points. Market low value.

Aspro done his ACL in the NYL final for Wanderers , Gombau signed Tongyk for Wanderers but he may have an “Okon Clause” ,who knows.

I hate blaming coaches, but i think that the form (not the ability) was so far below what they can do that the hard decision needs to be made right now (not 6 weeks into the season).  The club knows what Aloisi can do and is either happy with his style or not happy.  They need to make this decision now, or stick with him for the entire season.  The worst thing that can happen, otherwise there is a real risk that he will lose the players and gameplan (again?) and the first 6 weeks of next season will be ruined. Personally, i would prefer Gombau or even Okon because they take sus closer to the Ange style of play, which i miss.  

On the team, i think it still looks very strong, should still be a title contender and with the right signings will be number one again. I am surprised by some of the suggested signings.  Some points to ponder:

There is no better centreback pairing in Australia (if in form) than Papadopolous and Devere.  Unless injury strikes, whoever signs will not get many, if any, chances of game time.  I also think it is doubtful that we would find someone better than Bowles to back up under these circumstances. 

Between Franjic, Hingert and O Toole the fulbacks look as strong as any other A league side.  Losing Brown is a bit of a shame depth wise, but i wouldnt think it is any loss quality wise.  I find it astonishing that there are some who dont want to renew his contract.  The reversal in the sides form when he came back mid season is proved by the improved standing on the table.  He is the best fulback in the club by a considerable distance (i think he is better than current socceroo Risdon and wouldnt mind if we gambled on him in the world cup, he certainly didnt let us down last time - injuries aside).  Plus, his ability to slot into the midfield and forward roles makes him a valuable addition to give flexibility to our bench. He should be signed immediately.

So long as we dont go stupid with sackings, i think that we are well placed to mount a challenge. Our first choice side at the moment would look something like:
Young, Franjic, Devere, Papadopolous, Hingert, Kristiansen, Mackay, Gameiro, Bautheac Holman, Henrique.  Outside of Maccarone, i think we are already as strong as this year, with plenty of possible improvement.  O'Toole, Caletti and Maybe Akbari Would all be poised and capable of squeezing their way into this side and improving it, if they do.  Plus the rumoured recruits have the ability to do really take it to the next level.  Taggart would be a big improvement, as would a good visa replacement on the right wing, which seems the biggest problem position, early on.  



 

I’m going to assume both Bowles and Pepper will re-sign with us, that gives us a decent backline with the possibility of signing cover at CB or LB (which may yet be Franjic but I think he’ll be wanting more money than we’re prepared to pay).

The problems we had last season were mainly up front and, assuming a return to Aloisi’s preferred 4-2-3–1, the big money signings have to come up front with a striker, winger and AM. Only Eric and possibly Holman of last seasons starters will survive and that probably includes the reserves - Gameiro, D’Aggers may follow Skapetis out of the door leaving us extremely light on forwards with only Eric and Ricky certainties.

So a Taggart/Maclaren style striker is a must for Aloisi’s style, as as a hard-working fast Borrello-esque right winger.

Leck will offer good cover on the wing, as will Ricky.

But we may be short then of cover at striker and they may have missed a trick allowing Dylan Wendell-Halls at Western Pride who’s banging in goals for fun to trial with Mulvey at mariners.

The number of crucial signings that JA must get right is actually frightening

Taggart has signed with us for 2 years.

Curious, why does the club announce this at 6:45 in the morning? Seems odd