We would more likely able to secure Culina as Aussie marquee, with Smeltz remaining as the international marquee. I don't think it is really a possibility though with Sage and Kelly stating their would not be an Aussie marquee, at least until the FFA agree to fund more of the salary cap. Then again its not like old Sagey to do a back flip is it?

We don't need Culina. We have Burns, McGarry, Miller, Makarounas and O'Neill to fill the midfield spots.

It's never going to happen anyway, as far as I know we are not looking to add to the squad at this time.

Not to mention Ward. Zahra is decent enough for the left side I think. And wouldn't it be nice if we actually relied on a kid instead of drafting in an older fella. Worked for Neville and Risdon. Personally getting rid of Howarth may have been premature. Although we do have Berger as well, we just need at least one of those two to keep on their feet for every game.

Holland and Dodd on the right, so I think the whole of the midfield should be decent enough, with Makeche, Smeltz and Mehmet the front 3rd looks good, and our defence has gotten even better then last year. Personally I think we have a great squad for the coming season. The only player I could see us getting is some kid or a real X-Factor player. Bummer it's such an age to the season proper.

We've got the pre-season in South Africa which is good. If it's good enough for Man U then it's good enough for us. I remember that we were good last time over there. How do you think we'll go? Well we won one and lost one. Noticably we beat the team Man U beat by a goal, and we did it by 2!

Edited by tommycash: 21/7/2012 04:07:04 PM

Zahra is more of a right sided player and Holland?

Didn't Zahra play at LB for a number of games? I thought I remembered him on the left more in his time at Heart than on the right

I think Zahra can play both at the least.

I have to apologise for this, as I constantly get his name wrong. If ever I refer to Holland or Halloran being in our side, I mean to say Harold.

Yeah Zahra can play both sides but so can Dodd, that doesn't mean we want them to. He is primarily a right sided player, and played right wing in Wednesday's trial.

Harold has great talent, but he hasn't really grabbed the A-League by the balls yet. Hopefully he can do that at Perth this season.

Makarounas isn't a central midfielder, he's an attacker. TBF though, the one time he did fill in the middle, he did well.

Bottom line, i'd take Culina over any of them.

Also, I'd be willing to play Culina in any position on the park other than in goals.

Wow... back in the days before THE RIVALS!

Nup. not worth it. He's getting old and he's a liability with his knee injury. Mcgarry,
Miller and Burns are all a better bet.

NOT A CHANCE!!!!

Culina is no ordinary returning socceroo... He's on another planet compared to McGarry, streets ahead of Burns (who i love) and would tare the league apart if he was alongside Miller.

If he was in his prime, i'd say go for it. But his knee is so badly fucked up he may not even play again. And he'd want big wages. Paying an ex-Socceroo who's the wrong side of 30 and coming back from a very serious knee injury is not a safe bet.

I seriously doubt it.

Good to see Billy and McGarry back in action, as well as the added mobility and a lot off young blokes getting a run in SA too. Brilliant effort considering we are only a few weeks into our preseason and the Platinum Stars are only weeks out from their season proper.

Definitely this. That performance either says good things about the A-league or good things about us. Maybe both. I'm feeling extremely confident though for this coming season. I think we have a genuine chance of going one better this season.

Edited by Roar_Brisbane: 31/7/2012 07:41:42 PM

Edited by Roar_Brisbane: 31/7/2012 07:51:36 PM

Some predictions?

Expected first choice XI to start the season?

Biggest flop?

Surprise packet?

Top four for sure, maybe squeeze into top two if they get their act together. As for the ACL, expect to make the group stage and then maybe just miss making the next round.

----------Vuko-----------------
Risdon---VDB----Thwaite----Heff
---------------Burns-----------
--------Miller-----------------
Dodd---------McGarry------Jamieson
----------Smeltz---------------

Flop: Berger (slightest gust of wind will injure him again)

Surprise: Jamieson (change of club might do him good)

Edited by hotrod: 6/8/2012 04:03:45 PM

Ideal for me:

---------------Vuka
Risdon---Bvb------Thwaite---Jamo
---------------Burns
Dodd-------Miller--------Ward
--------Harold----Smeltz

Let me work on that one :)
I'm not convinced on Mehmet or McGarry, and i really want Makarounis to get a go.

Can't see Heff or Berger getting much of a run.

FIRST 11 | 1.Vukovic, 3.van den Brink, 4.Mehmet, 8.Heffernan, 9.Smeltz, 10.Miller, 15.O'Neill, 18.Makarounas 19.Risdon 21.Jamison 23.Thwaite. According to Glory Twitter

.SUBSTITUTES | 5.Pantelidis, 11.Zahra, 12.Davies, 14.McGarry, 22.Makeche, 20.Franken. Davies is a def/ midfielder from AIS.

For the game just kicking off at Inglewood vs the WA state team.


Edited by Rooster9: 21/8/2012 08:57:19 PM

Do you guys know if theres any pre season games in the Mandurah-Rockingham area?

17/18 July – Local Friendly (6PR Stadium, Inglewood)
24/7 – Amazulu (South Africa)
29/7 – Platinum All Stars (South Africa)
01/08 – Bid Vest Wits (South Africa)
21/08 – WA State Team (6PR Stadium,Inglewood)
25/08 – Internal Club Charity Game (Carnarvon)
05/09 – Inglewood United (6PR Stadium, Inglewood)
12/09 – WA State Team (6PR Stadium, Inglewood)
19/09 – Melbourne Victory(Melbourne)
22/09 – Melbourne Heart (Melbourne)
26/09 – Local Friendly (6PR Stadium, Inglewood)
Unfortunately with the excepion of the Canarvon game it's all kept at our new state leqgue partner club Inglewood. I always thought playing down south was a great initiative.
With that NQF sig, have we lost you to a past team? hahahaha

----------Vuko-----------------
Risdon---VDB----Thwaite----Heff
---------------Burns-----------
--------Miller-----------------
Dodd---------McGarry------Berger
----------Smeltz---------------

Subs: Pants, Jamieson, Zahra, Mehmet, Young (IS it a 5 or 4 man bench?)

Flop: Although I have included him in my starters, I have a feeling Dodd is going to age badly this season. Hard to keep the legs ticking over this long. Zahra can hopefully slot in for him.

Surprise: Berger, I'm really hoping he can get over his injuries and string some together.
Also, I think Zahra will be reinvigorated by the move.

Kids I think are a chance: O'neill is undoubtedly a kid who will get game time, either when Miller is injured or Burns injured/suspended. Pants will obviously pose a bit of a problem for him to get on the pitch though.
Makeche: A kid they have a lot of hope for. When one of Mehmet or Smeltz is unavailable, expect to see him on the bench and hopefully getting a few minutes.
Makarounas: Another kid everyone wants to see out there. A player who would traditionally struggle to get game time for Perth, may have more of a chance this season.
Woodcock: A kid who may be able to make the step up. Lot's of honours for him already, still rather young, but a young defender, so may get some time if we're short down back.
Edited by hotrod: 6/8/2012 04:03:45 PM[/quote]

It's a bit disappointing they're not spreading the games around. I can understand them wanting to play at Inglewood, given the capacity and their partnership, but it's a bit annoying they're all in a very hard area to get to for me. A couple of games down south would have been good as well.



See how he goes in the youth team first. Hopefully continues to improve, he turned down Liverpool to go to the AIS, so there's obviously something there. From experience of playing with him, he's very attacking and has great pace and good skills (he was left midfield when I played with him).

Ah a left Mid hey? Well, if he is a left sided player then you'd reckon with heff nearing the end of his career he could be a good replacement. Certainly though, we should see how he goes first. I'm pretty confident in our youth.

As for them not playing many games elsewhere, I think everyone is a bit bummed out by it. But they really want to establish it as a 2nd home for Glory.
http://notthefootyshow.com/tag/inglewood-united/
Has a couple of articles on the partnership with Inglewood.
There's little real info going around, I for one didn't know it's just a sponsorship deal. Still, there's more in it then that. It is good to hear they want it to be a venue for away games. Inglewood is a bit problematic to get to, especially if you want a few pints while you're there.

Edited by tommycash: 25/8/2012 11:23:30 AM

Nah the pic says bring back the fury;). Lame was hoping to go to a pre season game but to far to travel for a friendly

Sage should make round 15 against SFC be played at Subi and make round 13 against WS be played at NIB if possible.

Is our W-league team still being fielded or?