Hes played 150 La Liga games, a lot of those under Mauricio Pocchetino 

And the season before that, but also had a solid seven years in La Liga prior to that, being taken from Barca's academy across town to Espanyol by Pochettino.

In that time I counted 22 clashes against Spain's big three of Barca, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, which included an understandable 17 losses (all against very much full strength teams, only one each of Barca and Real's wins not starting Messi or Ronaldo respectively), two wins (both in 2010 over Atletico for Espanyol where he played a full match in both, most notably including a 3-0 win against Aguero, Forlan, de Gea, Tiago and Reyes) and three draws (the most recent in 2014 with lowly Rayo Vallecano against a full strength Atletico with Griezmann and Mandzukic etc, holding Real to a 1-1 draw as a late sub and keeping a clean sheet in a Barcelona Derby against probably the greatest football team ever assembled to play the beautiful game, Guardiola's 2010 Barcelona with Messi, Xavi, Henry, Zlatan, Yaya Toure, you name it).

He can probably manage Austin, Hoole and Blackwood.

Spanish media reporting Baena has been released by Grenada and is signing for Victory. Via google translate:



https://granadacf.ideal.es/raul-baena-melbourne-20180831142839-nt.html

I think that is the 5 overseas players locked in!

1. Honda (Japanese AM)
2. Barbarosous (New Zealand RW)
3. Neidemier (German CB)
4. Ola (Swedish CF)
5. Baena (Spanish CM)

Am I correct or is Barbarosous considered Australian now?

Nope he is still kiwi unless he got married to his extremely  hot missus 

Yeah he should be ok..... Just thinking that our spanish speaking Visa DM's have been thoroughly average lol, Jose Louis Lopez and Matty Sanchez (possibly more, thats all that sprung to mind). In any event, I hope this signing doesn't mean Hope will be left out in the cold

Looks like that is about it with a squad of 24:

                        Ola
       Troisi         Honda       Kosta
               Antonis    Baena    
Brown    Ansell     Niedermeier     Deng      
                     Thomas
Bench:  Athiu, Valeri, Boxham, Roux, Acton
Squad: Hope Ingham, Sette  Kirdar Carrigan, Iradukunda, Sutton, Mawith
 

To be fair on pupy lopez . No one in their right  mind would've  thought blajoga the destroyed will absolutely beast it that year 

Lineup for the Brisbane friendly: https://twitter.com/gomvfc/status/1035731471971930112?s=19

Assuming the same 4231 formation, that looks like Troisi in the striker role?

Late change, Valerie starting instead of Ansell. Should mean Broxham to CB. The Broxening begins.

Live stream of the game:

https://www.facebook.com/roarfansinmelbourne/videos/279187742697951/

Dirga busting his data limit lol

Iirc dirga dirg has unlimited data. 

So that the visa spots for the season sorted!
I think there is still one or two spots to fill to make up the full squad!
Is there any Aussie talent that can be snapped up?
Any great left sided wingers playing in the NPL that could take the next step up?

Interesting having Broxham on pen duty with the other talent available on the pitch.

all these signings are pointing to winning the ACL title. good on them for having that ambition

Kosta's missus posting hen's night pics today, what's the rule on citizenship when they tie the knot?

You still need to serve your time paladiscious - you can’t marry a passport anymore 😉

If you've seen her you'd know it's not for a passport lol

Yep.😂😂

https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/trav/citi/pathways-processes/application-options/partner-spouse/eligibility

If your spouse or partner is an Australian citizen, or you are the surviving spouse or partner of an Australian citizen, you must still meet the eligibility criteria for citizenship.

To become an Australian citizen you need to:

• be a permanent resident at time of application and time of decision
• meet the general residence requirement 
• be of good character
• have a basic knowledge of the English language
• have an adequate knowledge of the responsibilities and privileges of Australian citizenship
• intend to reside or maintain a close and continuing association with Australia.

If you are 60 years of age or over you are not required to sit the citizenship test.

General residence requirement
The general residence requirement is based on the amount of time you have lived in Australia.

You must meet all of the following:

• have lived in Australia on a valid Australian visa for four years immediately before applying
• must have been a permanent resident for the 12 months immediately before making an application and not have been absent from Australia for more than one year in total, during the four year period, including no more than 90 days in the 12 months before applying.

Under some circumstances you might be eligible to apply for a variation to the residence requirement or be eligible under the special residence requirement.

Yeah, plenty of mixed marriage mates, all of em have tried somehow to short cut the residency rules. none worked out lol.

“Under some circumstances ...” probably is code for “if you’re mates with Dutton” lol

Yeah that's an AFL only thing unfortunately lol

Now that we’ve filled our foreign quota. Do we have any other spots left in the squad for local talent? Is Ikon still a chance of coming in?

I am surprised more of the Aussie Soccer Community haven't made more of the Gillon to Dutton Au Pair matter. It is right up Aussie Soccer Alley.

Love this, looking so promising (other than Corey Brown).
So who is captain of our first 11, with Carl on the bench?

If Carl is going to be relegated from first team duty, then I am completely ok with Lawrence being given the arm band. Embodies the club spirit completely imo.

Can you share the hen's night photos? asking for a mate

If Brown can not find the form he had a couple of years ago then Roux or Brox will come in. 
Deng will play most weeks but may be a CB or RB or LB. Regardless the full backs are looking as good or better than last year.
Thomas as captain for me too.
It is an interesting team, lots of potential. Ideally would like another winger.
Will be interesting to see how long it takes for Kevin to get them to gel.

I think people are writing Brown off too soon. The whole team looks rubbish at the moment as we are still early pre season. A-league seven weeks away. Brown will improve a lot as he gets used to playing with the team. He barely played last year.

Itll be broxy. He is vice captain and is annoited as captain  in waiting anyways