Said it a few times now, will take Solo as a back up striker on the lowest possible wages he will take but really think we should start the search now for a real replacement for Bes

Agreed. Maybe we can do some poaching of our selves. I can't think of a striker that I would want who is off contract though. :-k

I'd take Goodwin off jets hands. Not as a striker but he could definitely score some goals from LW.

Goodwin was actually the first player I thought of as well. Plenty of players coming off contract overseas that could do a job in the a league though, just a shame Broich is in that marquee spot because it restricts us a bit

Now that I think about it more, I really want Goodwin :d he would fit into the side perfectly. He would also give us some speed and trickyness out wide which we have lost by letting Halloran, Fitzy go.

And I think he's got goals in him.

Sign him up.

A quick search shows many players we can chase coming off contract end of this season. However, the question remains whether they will do the job. We have been the club that hasnt really gone for the big name, and still produced the goods. I personally believe we have signed the best player the A-league has seen in Broich.

I would really like to see us chase someone who can bang in goals not just from clear cut chances, but half chances too. A smart striker who can also create. Someone in the Owen mould. I dont like when A-league clubs recycle players, Flores, Hernandez, Solorzano etc et.

Solorzano also has not scored since 2011 from when he joined Victory.

Its a nice thought, but we only have the money that Bes was on, which id guess was $300k, Which in the grand scheme of things isn't a lot to play with when looking for a genuine goal scorer. And at that price he was severely under paid for what he brought to the team I think.

You can have Matt Simon. I wish MV would poach him off CCM.

We can say he was underpriced because of his return. But at the time, he was an unknown and probably some thought not worth it. Melbourne just keep watching to see how other clubs do and then just take the players off them hoping they will produce the goods, then dont.

I think we may have a bit more because i believe Steff took a small pay cut in his new contract. Ive heard Broich say before that he wouldnt be too bothered not to be on marquee wages as all he cares about is playing football.

Hopefully the club have something in the pipeline. As long as we dont end up with a Yuning Zhang or Simon Lynch. Would like to see us make use of our links with Germany through Broich and Angerer and also our link with Kluivert who is youth team coach with Twente.

Nah we'll just stick with Rogic, hey. ;)

As long as they stay fit and show some form during the next couple of months, I'd probably take both Smeltz and Solorzano. Add that to Broich, Petratos and Borrello we'd have some good depth.

But you have to admit that signing Bes was like winning the lottery, he just fit our system like a glove and he genuinely loved playing for Brisbane. We could spend $300k on 5 different strikers and they probably wouldn't have the same impact as Bes. But saying that we could sign one who scores even more goals and is less of a loose canon at times.

It will be very interesting and exciting to see what happens.

It's my understanding that Smeltz to the Roar is a done deal(according to the CM)

At 32 this will be his last club move, and it was in the paper a week or two ago that he was heavily linked to us so he can be close yo his family on the Gold Coast.

I think Smeltz will be an ideal move. He is the HAL top goal scorer of all time, and with his finishing ability with the Roar's creativity, he could prove to be better than Bes.

Plus get Solo and Dimi as backups

Sad to see Bes go, he served us well and I don't have any hard feelings, I am a bit concerned about our potential replacements though. I don't particularly want Smeltz and I don't think he'd work in our system.

Yea he probably wont be able to press like Bes but he does bring some positive attributes that Bes couldn't do like scoring from range.

Smeltz's record speaks for itself, if we can give him the same service that Bes currently gets, I'm confident he'll be a success.

After watching my first live Roar game of the season on Friday, I was most impressed by Dmitri Petratos. He has good skills, technique and is enthusiastic. I think he has been a great signing.

Glad your first live game came with a win, Petratos was a great signing, his skills will only improve while at Brisbane Roar.

I hope we don't sign Smeltz. I like the fact Brisbane doesn't really go chasing other A-League teams for their players. Better to find some hidden gem locally.

Tend to agree. As a previous poster said, Smeltz won't be able to press like Bes - our whole game plan is built on everyone pressing - as soon as there's a weak link the system becomes ineffective.

Edited by clockwork orange: 27/1/2014 10:44:46 AM

If we get Smeltz we'd be getting away from the skill set our forward lines over the years have been known for.

Smeltz is more suited to teams like Mariners and Phoenix.

It will be the beginning of dismantling Roarcelona if it hasn't started already!

Solo is back.

\:d/ \:d/ \:d/ \:d/ \:d/ \:d/ \:d/ \:d/

Source?

Really, \:d/ \:d/ \:d/ \:d/ \:d/ got a link?

Hasn't scored since he left us, wow

Which means he should be cheap. So its a good buy as we know he fits the system.

Mulvey got him here on trial before just offering him a contract, proves to me he is being careful with who he is offering contracts too.

Keeping in mind Mulvey didn't even know a lot about him and took him on trial under the recommendation of Ken Stead.

I have faith in Mike's judgement of players.

It's a very low risk signing. Sign him for the rest of the season on very little $. If he scores a couple of goals we can extend his contract, if he doesn't then he can move on in a couple of months and no harm is done.

+1

Yep

Not against the signing was just surprised, will give us a bit of depth up front finally. Think this is the first time we have actually had two strikers contracted at the same time since Reinaldo left?