2 of the so-called “British duds” are subject to six figure transfer offers from the UK. Might just be the smartest business Roar have done. 

Can't put in what God left out.

Robbie is doing a great job bringing out the skills and qualities the players have. Not even Robbie could get a team of U7s to sixth in this league so the players have to be good enough. The whole point of a good coach is to bring out the best in players as well as getting them to mesh - you do the team a disservice to just label them crap when they must have 'something' in order to be doing as they are against the much higher skill levels of some opponents.

As long as he gives a shit as a squad player from the bench I am fine with it, but come on now neither is starting 11 material, we need to get serious about next season, Fowler has a good foundation, shows he can coach, just needs to drop the dead wood, not keep them. 

Don't mind him staying so long as he is on minimum money and only a squad player called upon if the worst were to happen re: injuries. Someone needs to take up that role in the squad, and it may as well be someone we know. 

How bad can the recruitment have been when each week we see Roar players in team of the week?  WSW, WU, Victory all have "superior" imports that I would assume you class as not "disastrous", but are sitting below Roar on the table.  As RoarInMeBlood points out, as good a coach as RF might be, you can't bring out of a player what's not there.  The squad can certainly be strengthened and it will be interesting to see what RF does with the available foreign spot.  Try being happy when the club wins, and leave the misery for the times it actually loses ;)

Agreed, no problem with that but it just seems like the way Fowler was talking in the paper Pepper is a starter for him but I guess we will see next season.

As I keep saying, RF is doing a good job under the circumstances.

I doubt he’s a starter but you never know. 

Robbie has provided structure to the team, motivated them and I brought out the best of them, I agree. Doesn't mean their best is good enough though. I maintain their individual skill level is woeful and under the standard expected to see from professionals in the HAL. Consequence of all this is that the play is dull and the team is quite terrible to watch.

The turning point for RF was when he decided to drop certain players and introduce those with something different to offer - different from the one dimensional, skill-less players he previously started. It's no coincident we started picking up more points from that time on.

In my opinion Roar remain ugly to watch, despite their improvement. I know several people who have either thought twice about going to the game and not going at all because of this. Luckily they haven't poked their eyes out yet.

inside info? or reports? cant find anything.

To be fair I thought the first half last week was terrible to watch . A good indicator of that was I remember looking at my watch and thinking "must be half time soon"...we were 25 mins in ......second half with a few subs the whole game changed and was good to watch.....but hey the results are coming....who am I to criticise  ?

Just take them as rumours but solid ones imo - Holloway was subject to an offer in the window as well, again just rumours but also pretty solid. 

You'd hope they're more solid than the Troisi rumours 

Who are you to criticise? A fan with a vested interest. Gives you the right to call it as you see it.

It is funny - when you look thinking it must be half time I am looking and thinking '25 minutes and no goals conceded - we are a chance'.

Agree about the players dropped. I had hopes for ROD right to the end, but seeing him miss goals at Jets suggests his eye is still not in. He was a good risk that did not pay off and it was good to let him move on.

As aok says - there is a lot to be said for the recruits who have been named in teams of the week though - Gillesphey, Neville, Aldred, O'Shea (I may have missed some) - tells us that even if they are not pretty to watch at times, they are still good enough to be listed among the week's best across all teams. They are not big name players, and they did not come with a shiny pedigree, but they are working out as strengths for us and labelled quality in the weekly 'best'.

Gillesphey may spray the odd pass, but most of his long passes are accurate and when we have someone on the end who can then control the ball (some struggle with that) it is an effective weapon and a bonus skill in the team.

I know where you are coming from - as usual I see it a bit brighter.

I actually thought BR's first half was a lot better than when they played AU at Hindmarsh. 

Appreciate your comments.
I'm a consumer first and foremost and love being entertained. I use football as a primary vehicle to give me the kicks - given my love for the game as a former player at many levels and as a coach, seniors, youth, women's etc over a very long period of time. Not doing it any more as I burnt out, so just want to enjoy it more and more rather than contribute my time in another form. Hence my expectation and demand for better quality and player skills come in number 1 on that front. We're not the AFL or RL, but the beautiful game.

Fair enough.
There were times in the second half though that I just wanted to leave. The goals made it worth while.

Would be a good bit of business if we could get a fee for some of our imports going back to the UK, would hopefully make us a more attractive destination as well allowing us to get better imports.

“Fowler said the Roar were set to start talks with Jacob Pepper in the hope of extending his contract beyond this season.

I like a bit of Pepper to go with the sauce. He provides plenty of enthusiasm which is something that was lacking in the first part of the season. Sometimes over zealous, but good value. I thoroughly enjoyed the Adelaide game, as the cut and thrust of the play was excellent. Two combative teams that both had a plan and, whilst it looked like AU would take the prize, we ultimately came through.

Well as long as hes good to have in the dressing room and brings enthusiasm, quick lets extend his contract.

As a coach I get that comment. 

Interesting.  I would have thought O'Shea and Aldred would have attracted more interest.  Well done o the club if they can pick up some coin, could be an interesting additional revenue stream moving forward.

All good Waz

Agreed ....but with one proviso....value for money.
I would assume he would be on a modest income . If so ,no problem with him staying but I would like to think he is being kept as a squaddie . We still need another quality midfielder  .Brattan would have been perfect so someone of that style and quality would be good (big ask).

Agree with all that. Looking at next seasons squad I’m expecting we’ll replace:

ROD ($$$)
Mauk ($$$)
O’Neil ($$)
Bowles ($$)

Brown is apparently on minimum wage but will need an increase if he is signed. 

Geez, we'd be pretty bad at negotiating if this were to happen. I imagine the conversation would be "You didn't have many/any options when you came here, and your performances haven't warranted a bigger deal, so either take the minimum or enjoy the NPL". 

Sad thing is someone else in the league would likely give him another chance 

He’ll go to WU or Rams