Asian winger or full back 100%

I really can't believe weve gone through the season without a capable backup for berisha, if he were to go down we would be stuffed.  However i personally would like to see Austin play centrally, hes got a big strong body, great speed i just think he looks hamstrung playing out wide, but i don't think ill ever see it.

Plus there's a high chance he will be gone soon.

Would we start playing Howard more? Seemed to never really even get off the bench this season.

I understand it's hard when you have ex-JWM and the greatest ever striker ahead of you in the starting ranks, but how else are these young lads that we sign ever meant to get a start?

Like where was Nigro this season ffs?

-PB

The Left back from Kyrgyzstan Valeri Kichin could be a good economical option here. Maybe even Daisuke Sato from the Philippines might be a good pick-up. They should be good enough for A-League level, and could be picked up on the cheap. 

You've finally heckled him out of football

Melbourne Victory midfielder Rashid Mahazi will reportedly quit football indefinitely for personal reasons, as the club's capture of Rhys Williams is set to be announced.

http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/article/2017/05/10/victorys-mahazi-reportedly-quits-football-indefinitely

Celebrations at Victory headquarters? 

Now we just need Pignata to replace Ian Robson, Muscat and Broxham to p1ss off...and we'll be golden:cool:

not sure if srs

Why wouldn't I be? :/

Austin might be on his way out as well. Pretty obvious from the final that Muscat doesn't trust many players outside his first 11. Rojas was cooked at 90mins but he still didn't bring Austin on. From the list I posted above I'd say Austin and Howard are gone.

i think it was more about having experienced heads on the pitch in such a knife edge contest. I (like most of us) have been critical of Kev's use of subs over the years but I get why he did it on Sunday (although I think we all agree Rojas should have been subbed off in extra time).

As for Austin, I don't get why people to continue to talk about him leaving. he is contracted and will most likely be our starting LW next season. I do agree with scubaroo ^^^ in that I think Austin could also be a handy backup CF. We can't expect Berisha to play every game year after year. 

What are these rumours about Berisha leaving? I call bullshit but I have heard it a few times.

Also another rumour that Kosta might be coming back..

Where'd you hear/see that one? Would be great under the cap. 

I can't post too much on a public forum but it is someone from within the club.

Big list of departures confirmed today:

Ansell
Baro
Ben Khalfallah
Mahazi
Bray
Spinella
Georgievski (confirmed months ago of course)

Crazy how FBK was basically known by everyone for months yet the club just never addressed it ever.

-PB

I forgot George Howard to that list as well

Time for an updated senior list then. Pretty thin now..

GK: Thomas
LB: -
CB: Donachie, Williams, Deng
RB: Geria
CDM: Valeri, Broxham, Nigro
CAM: Troisi
LW: Austin, Theoharous
RW: Rojas, Ingham
ST: Berisha

14 senior contracted players, so 9 to sign including any other youth team players we may promote.

I'm still assuming Austin will go via mutual termination.

That's a whole lot of everything to replace.

-PB

Poppa-esque! 

Obviously we knew georgievski and fbk were gone so I'm only disappointed that baro is gone.  this off season should be interesting.  Thinking kevs got some big ideas. 

Rhys Williams and Thomas Deng to boost new-look Victory defence next season

Rhys Williams, in Glory colours, tackles Adelaide Utd's Mark Ochieng during the A-League season.
Rhys Williams, in Glory colours, tackles Adelaide Utd's Mark Ochieng during the A-League season. Photo: Getty Images
Melbourne Victory will have a distinctly new-look defence next year with sometime Socceroo Rhys Williams anchoring the rearguard and former Victory youngster Thomas Deng due to rejoin the club after a spell in Europe.

Williams was the most prominent name among 10 players announced as departures from Perth Glory on Sunday, including hard-nosed centre back Dino Djulbic, free-kick specialist Nemanja Marinkovic and another occasional Socceroo, Josh Risdon, who is joining Western Sydney Wanderers.

But it is Williams, a gifted central defender who also can play in midfield, who will excite the Victory faithful most.

The West Australian-born centre back is one of the most talented defenders produced in this country in the past decade but his career has been stymied by injury.

Thomas Deng in pursuit of Sydney FC's David Carney in 2016.
Thomas Deng in pursuit of Sydney FC's David Carney in 2016. Photo: Quinn Rooney
He captained Middlesbrough for several seasons in England's second tier, The Championship, and if his body had stood up to the rigours of the English game he surely would have been part of their set-up in the Premier League this season.

His return to Perth for the 2016-17 season was widely hailed but things didn't work out as planned, for player or club. For much of the season he was linked with a potential move to Sydney FC, but now it seems certain he will be in navy blue in 2017-18.

Another suiting up in a Victory shirt will be Deng, the tall, gangly young centre half who made a big impression when given his chance as a teenager by Kevin Muscat in the 2015-16 season.

He then moved to The Netherlands, where he was signed on loan by PSV Eindhoven's youth team for the season just finished.

Deng, who has played for Australia at under-23 and under-20 level, is from a family of South Sudanese refugees who settled in this country.

His return to Melbourne on a two-year deal will put him in the mix for a starting berth alongside Williams and James Donachie, the other young centre half who had a good first season with the club after joining from Brisbane Roar.

Williams and Deng replace former Victory championship winner Nick Ansell and Spanish centre back Alan Baro, who are leaving.

Victory coach Kevin Muscat opted not to offer Baro a new deal, reasoning that Williams and Deng would be good replacements and that he might make better use of the visa spot Baro occupies on a more attacking player.

That will become an even more pressing need should Victory part ways with James Troisi, their attacking midfielder who impressed for much of the season.

Troisi signed on a one-year deal and played well enough to force his way back into Socceroos contention this season, but he has not agreed terms for next year.

It is understood Victory has made a couple of offers but no deal can be struck, and if Troisi walks then a visa spot to sign a creative overseas replacement would be useful.

Muscat also needs to sign a couple of midfielders – Oliver Bozanic and Rashid Mahazi are no longer with the club – and a winger to replace the mercurial French-Tunisian Fahid Ben Khalfallah, who played his last game for Victory in the Grand Final.

Victory also is searching for a left back to replace the Marston Medal winner in the Grand Final defeat, Daniel Georgievski, who is joining Newcastle Jets. The club has trialled a Korean left back recently but made no contract offer to him.

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/rhys-williams-and-thomas-deng-to-boost-newlook-victory-defence-next-season-20170514-gw4foz.html

Does anyone know anything about the Korean left back?
Surely if he's trialled people would know who he is...

Club has confirmed that Acton has been re-signed for next season - source

Probably puts the rumours to bed of Galekovic coming to the club.

So next seasons line-up is:

               BERISHA
New         TROISI?    Rojas
         Valeri      Broxham
New  Williams  Donachie  Geria
               Thomas

BENCH: Austin? Ingham  Nigro  Deng  Acton
SQUAD: Theoharus   new?   new?  new?  new? new?

The 2 new starting players can be imports but not Marques (depending on Troisi's deal) ?

So 3 more foreign spots left, guessing a winger (Kosta rumors?) and I reckon Muscy will look for a DM (or AM depending on Troisi) and well, our lack of LB's probably points to that spot. Good versatility though with Williams able to move up further and Deng to slot in or, of course, Broxham to fill in anywhere in the defensive half. 

Venues availability in Melbourne during the 2017/18 Hyundai A-League home and away season on following weekends so far.

AAMI Park:
weekend of October 13th/14th/15th 2017 – due to Monster Jam (on Saturday October 14th 2017)
weekend of October 27th/28th/29th 2017 – due to 2017 Rugby League World Cup (on Friday October 27th 2017)
weekend of November 17th/18th/19th 2017 – due to 2017 Rugby League World Cup (on Sunday November 19th 2017)

Etihad Stadium:
weekend of October 27th/28th/29th 2017 – due to 2017 QBE Insurance Australian FIM Speedway Grand Prix (on Saturday October 28th 2017)
weekends from mid December to late January – due to KFC Big Bash League commitments for Melbourne Renegades 
weekend of March 9th/10th/11th 2018 – due to Ed Sheeran concert (on Saturday March 10th 2018 & Sunday March 11th 2018)

we never go in with a squad of 23. I'm pretty sure 21 was the most we had at any stage this season. Theoharous is a "scholarship player." does that make him part of our official squad, or just a youth player? Troisi is not official yet, so he's not yet officially part of the squad for next season, Acton is though.

does anyone know what is happening with Berisha's citizenship? If he becomes an Aussie, then we'll have 4 visa spots available. 

Sorry you are right - I've just checked it was in fact a scholarship contract.

With Acton signing on the GK situation is sorted. Leaving Troisi in, he won't be going anywhere in a World Cup year.

Berisha as far as we know becomes a citizen on the eve of next season. Leaves us with 4 Visa spots.

GK: Thomas, Acton
LB: -
CB: Donachie, Williams, Deng
RB: Geria
CDM: Valeri, Broxham, Nigro
CAM: Troisi
LW: Austin
RW: Rojas, Ingham
ST: Berisha

Robbie Kruse and James Holland have been released from their contracts in China immediately - source

Would imagine the club would be looking hard at Kruse - offer him something under the cap with the sweetener that the club will get him fit and playing to go to the World Cup in Russia.