@Jimo8

I know we need the good news but it’s normally the releasing club that puts the restrictions on

It'll be interesting to see who Robbie keeps and brings in.

I'd just cut all the dead wood and start from scratch, he has plenty of time during the off season to bring in new signings

His first appointment needs to be a really good assistant coach. 

I welcome our new overlord...but I am concerned about a coach who has never coached ...no matter how great a player he was  ! I hope he allays all my concerns....

Hoping he brings in someone who can organise a defense  If we continue to ship goals like we have this season, we have no hope.

My money is on Tony Grant. Seems like he could do a job with the defence.

Tony Grant, where did that come from? 

Tony Grant link posted in the other thread, can’t get the link to post here for some reason but basically Fowler + Grant + Davies will be the team. 

Is Grant considered a good appointment?

...

@BRFC92

i don’t recall Grant as a player (although I don’t follow the EPL) but he’s had 10 years as a coach including stints as a player manager, working in an Academy, Head Coach and intriguingly, European scout for Everton 

he certainly looks to be a good complement to Fowler, making up for his lack of first team coaching experience. He was Fowlers pick as well. 

Seems strange given he was confirmed as Blackpools assistant a little over a month ago.

https://www.blackpoolfc.co.uk/news/2019/march/grant-confirmed-as-new-assistant-manager/

Analogy: We are building an 8 lane, vehicle bridge. We've appointed a Chief Engineer who has his Engineering Degree but has only ever built 2 footbridges. But it's ok because he should be able to bring some good concrete pourers, asphalt layers and line markers. One of his assistant engineers has built a car bridge so this will hopefully make up for the Chief Engineer's lack of experience.

Note: Grant does seem to be more qualified for this job than Fowler.

Yep - saw that.

deleted 

I think in this case it is usually the roar that holds off on the announcements. We dont do any announcements until we can get a photo of the player/coach  in brisbane. Obviously if the players are still playing with their current clubs we wont announce them until they have finished playing.

I would have thought that Fowler has been signed for quite some time and he has been finishing up his commitments in the UK and packing up his family (he had liverpool legends games up until 2 weeks ago). I would think that he has been directing player recruitment since DWH was resigned on a long contract. I am sure that he has other targets already well and truly progressed with talks. 

Hopefully now the big outs are complete the Ins will start flowing. 

Sorry to see Ricky leave.  Hope the club maintains him in some small role (as they should with many of the past legends).

Read what it says m until the end of the season.

We should expect a few departures next week I would assume?

I’ll be surprised if DeVere isn’t announced soon and then yes plenty more: 

confirmed: McKay, Ricky

probable: White, Tongyik, Nigro, TK, Mikklesen, DeVere, Lopez, Babalj, Holman, Caletti

possible: Eric, Pepper 

I think you are on the money Waz. Considering Pepper has ended up playing the entire season out of position, I reckon he has probably been our most consistent player. The downside is that he doesn't really appear to be an on-field leader. Would love to see Eric playing in a team environment where he felt everyone was giving as much as he was ... I think he'd be far less frustrated and prone to send offs.

From the last list posted on the Roar Forum regarding contracts etc, we have Mauk, O'Toole, DWH, D'Agostino, Ingham, Hingert and Young as still being contracted beyond this season. For mine, Daggers and Ingham can go if they find someone else to sign them. I think we should re-sign Eric if possible, but not on marquee. Hingert hasn't been up to standard this season, but I think he has shown in the past that he is A-League level. Hopefully a good coaching staff can get him back to that. 

So if we assume Young, Hingert, O'Toole, Eric (if re-signed) and Mauk are starting (don't think DWH is ready to lead the line for an entire season. We need a proven foreign marquee striker), we need 6 starters including 4 visa players (ST, CB, RW and AM??). 

Bowles I believe is here next season, he triggered a contract extension clause and then got injured in his next game. Bloody typical. 

Eric would be a unanimously popular signing, myself included even though I think he’s fallen short as a marquee. 

@clockwork 

agree on Pepper. He’s proven he’s s good squaddie although he hasn’t done enough with the games he’s had to suggest he’s a starter or, as you say, a leader. 

I have thought that Pepper has done well for a bit part player that has been thrust into an on field first eleven role. He has often been in the right place, more than can be said for a lot of our players this year. His limited talent set has been shown up, but he has performed above expectations. Given his playing this year, he would be a worthwhile back up for a number of positions if we can have a decent first eleven player ahead of him.

You're probably right on Pepper, and if he is cheap and willing to fill the squad and not start he could be worthwhile re-signing. I wonder if he might be able to go somewhere like Central Coast and start there? 
Eric is a hard one, as he has shown glimpses of his talent, and it is hard to shine when the rest of the team are playing like crap. Imagine if Taggart has being able to finish earlier on in the season! He definitely has a temper, but given how the rest of the team is playing, frustration is natural. Certainly needs a good coach to help him channel that into his playing though. 

Devere back in the match day squad for tomorrow, listed as returning from injury. 

No chance he's starting over the likes of Hiariej and Karacan.

No, but maybe over someone like Rowles at CB? He looks better as a CB than a DM (not that he is really up to starting standard in either position). 

TK announcing he’s leaving Australia in 7 days on insta. 

I actually rate Pepper as high if not higher than those two.