Why would he have got more? He got the AMS and I don't think anyone was mooting anything extra.

Neither of them in the match day squad tonight and I wouldn't want to have to rely on them for more than substitute appearances or maybe the odd start to cover for suspension. Wouldn't want to have to rely on them for long term cover for an injury we are really going to challenge for the title this season. A quality 3rd CB is the weakness in the balance of our squad at the moment.

Another CB wouldn't be a terrible idea. But I think Griffith's could easily slot back into CB and pair up with either Dino or Thwaite.
He wouldn't be ideal long term as he is such an imposing DM and works so well dropping back like isaias to help play the ball out.

I think with sciola not being to far away we are covered for Hersi.


Does anyone know when Nichols loan runs out? I had a quick look but couldn't find anything.

I think it was a year loan deal from memory.

Nichols is loan for the season.

Griffiths could play CB but then we don't have him at DM which would mean Zadkovich would start. That wouldn't be my ideal situation.

Ihave heard that they are looking at someone in the january transfer window not a replacement for Hersi but hear it will be a decent sighning if it happens. GO GLORYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY:d

Is there a bigger "money ball" player in the A-League than Griffiths? He's beyond amazing atm in defense, breaking down play, tackles, intercepts etc. Decent in front of goal with the head. Absolute arse with the ball at his feet however. Gets caught with the ball and sprays bad passes more often than not.

That Griffiths/Thwaite/Djulbic defensive triangle monsters opposition forays.

Be interesting to see what happens when one of these gets suspended/injured.

I think Griffiths will have an enforced week's holiday at some point with his regular yellow card every game or so.

Who goes into his position????? :-k Zadkovich???

Yep - think you are right. Other options would be Ferriera, O'Neill or Thwaite (with Clisby playing CB).

So 18 games left for Perth, top of the ladder 1/3 of the season done. Thoughts?

Run of games after Christmas either side of the Asian Cup are critical. Hope Asian Cup doesn't stuff up momentum.

26/12 - Melb City (away)
2/1 - Melb Victory (away)
5/1 - Adelaide (home)
25/1 - Melb Victory (home)
7/2 - Sydney FC (home)
15/2 - Adelaide (away)

Big month of football supporting for me with:
5/1 - Adelaide (home)
9/1 - Australia v Kuwait (Melb)
13/1 - Australia v Oman (Syd)
17/1 - Australia v South Korea (Bris)
25/1 - Melb Victory (home)
7/2 - Sydney FC (home)

We Da Best\:d/ \:d/ \:d/

haha. Honestly I don't care about the league topping side of things. I love the more attractive football being played.
Seeing the boys proud to wear the club colours and enjoying themselves and digging deep is what is important for me.
And I couldn't be happier.



Cheers for the update on Nichols guys. Hopefully we have a solid year and go close to winning the league/ final and convince him to make a more permanent move. I wasn't a fan at first as he moans a lot but I am converted.
Exactly the same as Jamo I really didn't like the idea of him signing. Now he is one of my favourite players.

Bit unsure as to why he isn't playing as attacking as Risdon, Last year before their injuries they were quality attacking fullbacks but only Risdon has bounced back to be as good as before.

The Asian cup could be a big factor, that time off could help and lose momentum for others so true. You got some tough games coming up, away and home, god damn. City you'd think would be the easiest but who knows.

I was just trying to be nice perthjay :D see whats happening with the Perth fans, 10 seasons coming up this could be this first of many silverware in the A-league.

Yep, that right there is a season defining stint.

Risdon was back towards the middle of last season, Jamo was only back on light duties in the off season. Makes sense that his game hasn't recovered to the same degree as Risdon yet. At least Jamo stayed in better shape ;)

Indeed.

Haha all good brah. We don't normally get to celerbrate like this.

Been a long time coming ;)

yes that is right. Good point.

The bolded bit is quite true, I was veryh concerned pre season.
We sit near his parents and the missus is pretty sure she overheard that he has become a vegetarian. Might explain his new physique.

Glory need to take advantage of the 5 out of 7 next games at home especially the next 2:

12/12 Per v New
20/12 Per v CCM

These are MUST WINS. Win these and Glory are set for finals (barring a total implosion like last year) and look good for top two.

The Jets are Glory's charity game, whilst the Mariners ALWAYS have caused them grief, except maybe this season.

That would make them 28 points after 11 games and not even half way through the season. Over the last three seasons the top side has had about 53 points on average whilst 6th has had about 36.

That's 8 out of a possible 48 to make the finals and 27 to be "Premiers" (I hate that name).

They would have made about 2.5 point per game up to Christmas and to finish top in the next 16, need about 1.7 per game.

Just need to win the next two and they are set up.

I worked out the average min points for the finals for Melb City, a month or two back, It was 35 to 40 i think if i remember. You got the finals in the bag.

I am almost taking it as read that we will win those two home games, but making the finals means nothing if you go into them on a losing streak.

I am not doubting that we have the quality to get good results in the six games I listed, just saying that it is important that we do.

The way things are looking with the breakaway group at the top, the requirement for finals will be lower, but the requirement to hit the top will be higher.

Every game will count, i love it! Its the lower teams you have to watch out for.

oh, Sorry but when you're top, they are all lower ;)



Edited by MrBrisbane: 5/12/2014 08:01:30 PM

Griffiths was the curiosity last season - joined mid-season and we were hoping for the Griff of Mariners Days (An A-League star then, bought by a CSL club for $1.3M!) - but it seemed clear, even then, that he was another like Marinkovic and some others who needed a full pre-season behind them. Presto - those boys, plus a returning Jamieson etc... full pre-seasons, fresh and geared up with the squad and they're delivering the quality we all knew they could bring!

The Griff of that era and perhaps the Griff of this era - always thought he Socceroos chance and surprised he didn't get a look in that earlier era. But he and Risdon are worthy of a shot - If the AC too soon, then during early WC Qualification, if their form keeps up. Ange has tried alot of players so far, but wouldn't hurt him to try these two aswell, especially given the issues/depth issues he's had at DM and RB.

Edited by GloryPerth: 5/12/2014 10:23:41 PM

Nervous? :3

Why do people keep talking of another CB? Having Clisby and O'Neill as the 3rd/4th change CBs is perfect - When injuries come then they're there to seize their chance, just as Woodcock remains the deputy to Jamieson. They can't improve if they don't see the chance and Lowe has even, finally, been a man of his word and promoted De Silva after much delay and we see the results.

Same can and might happen with a Clisby or O'Neill (Who he's coached since he was 13 apparently), if they step up when given the chance. That's also how the likes of Neville and Risdon became A-League stars. Glory don't need another Journey-man just for a squaddie CB otherwise they may aswell set the likes of Clisby and O'Neill for an early release already - just like the bad old days!

Edited by GloryPerth: 5/12/2014 10:25:32 PM

Clisby was the only player who was stretched against Bentleigh Greens, and O'Neill couldn't get on until the last few minutes. O'Neill can't make the squad even with Clisby out injured. Both are ok squad players to come off the bench but they are not good enough as long term cover/replacements.

It isn't going back to the bad old days to not play players who aren't up to it yet.

But can we really make those judgements - we've barely seen O'Neill especially. Maybe Clisby's career will see that natural conclusion, but O'Neill hasn't looked out of place in the brief appearance or two I've seen of him. He's always seemed well rated - enough soo he was initially picked up and promoted to the senior squad by Glory at quite a young age (17/18?). O'Neill has been about the Glory so long that perhaps they/we have seen all there is to see - but still so hard to say when the lad is still only just turned 20 years of age?! :-k

Flipside, if you're right, then both have been about the squad long enough, perhaps they HAVE had their chance - surely there are some other promising young CBs coming through the NYL squad or from the State League worthy a shot? Either way, I guess those decisions will come end of this season. Hmm, just checked, Clisby and O'Neill both have contracts running till end of the 2015/16 season. So unless they're early releases, they'll be around for a while yet.

Edited by GloryPerth: 6/12/2014 12:00:09 AM