Where is Duncan going?

I'm not too fussed either way with O'Donovan.  If he does sign, he might get a second wind under Fowler, who knows, but I think the spine is more important.  If Roy does sign, he'll score goals if he's given the right service.

I think the rumour tempers things a bit for everyone getting carried away about Sturridge.  We have to remember our place after all, despite a big name manager.

I saw on FB that Zach Duncan was in Denmark with his manager Buddy Farah, so I guess that's Duncan gone.  Disappointing as he looks a good talent.

Have to agree with the deflated feeling when hearing about being linked to O'Donovan.

On the bright side, the team kept a clean sheet over the week-end.

zach duncan is going to mariners per ray gatt 

I don't like it. If we are looking to poach visa players from other teams, I feel we should be trying for the standouts like Schenkeveld, Barbarouses, Krishna etc. 
Given our coach is an ex-striker nicknamed "God", I was certain he was going to bring in some fancy, proven, 20+ goal a season striker. Not bloody Roy from Newcastle. 

Why???

You'd have to think more game time promised. Apparently has worked with Stajcic in the past as well. 

I’m not sure why all the angst over the rumour that is O’Donovan - at best it’s a tug of war with WSW to get him and get him under the cap. 

And whoever gets him gets a proven goal scorer and one of the best in the league pretty much guaranteed to give you 15 goals. For Roar he would make the perfect partner to Wenzel-Halls... why wouldn’t we want him?

Schenkeveld, Barbarouses, Krishna are all asking for marquee money, so at best you’d get two. Schenkeveld would be worth it if Kosta is too much (Roar won’t pay over $750k for a marquee and I recon he can get way more that that overseas).

All the signings need need to be seen in context - 14 thirty something signings (which is what glory pretty much did) is one thing, but a blend of proven HAL players like Roy, Brattan, Kosta, Brillante, Donachie mixed with 3-5 overseas players will be perfect. 

Duncan going is nothing. The kids got his agent in his ear and he’ll either go overseas or end up at mariners on a full time contract and not the scholarship contract Roar offered. He’s not good enough to be in the top 20 players in a squad and certainly not starting material ... again, why get bent out of shape, he’s already been at 3 A League clubs so he’s got form and you can’t keep all the kids - it’s good that mariners are shopping on the cheap, they won’t be back st the top next year surely? 

Money. 

At Roar he gets a $10k scholarship contract. 

At Mariners a $45k contract. 

minimum senior contract is ~60k these days. 

I thought it was around $45k for the three U23 contracts, but there you go - he’s $50k better off going to Mariners. 

The minimum salary for Players in the Hyundai A-League in the 2018/19 Season is:

• Under 20 - $47,792 (excluding superannuation); and
• 20 and over - $64,113 (excluding superannuation)

https://www.a-league.com.au/salary-cap-system

There you go, he’ll be on $47k at mariners. Still a decent pay rise. 

Plenty of reasons to be concerned about in my opinion. 

O'Donovan has never lasted a full season due to injuries or suspensions, from what I have seen it doesn't take much for him to lose the plot, he is liability to the team, after seeing Eric act like a child at times and snapping in anger, I'm just over selfish players.

He averaged around 5 yellow cards in his first 3 seasons, with 3 red cards, again back to the discipline. Do we wan't to go back to what made the Roar great or continue on this aimless journey to no where? They used to win the fair play award for many years, 4 years in a row at one point and the years they did win, they won silverware, do I need to say more?

In the time he has played the max goals he has scored in a season is 11, sure its not bad but on its own its not that great if you wan't to win any silverware, you better make sure the rest of the team are chipping in with a lot of goals.

Finally, I just don't like him, everyone has a player they wouldn't wan't at their team, to me he is just an average dirty player. 

19 games and one yellow card this season suggests he might have learned his lesson? 

The head butt butt and Karate chop are of concern mind, it’s up to Fowler and his team to satisfy themselves it won’t happen here because yes, he’s missed too many games through suspension and we don’t need that. 

Injury wise hes missed about the same number of games as Krishna over the last four years so I don’t see that as a concern, most players get injured st some point. 

Surely Gallop and Nikou have a duty of care to not let young players play for Stajic .... toxic environment and all that?

Not sure where you get a guaranteed 15 goals a season Waz, considering O'Donovan hasn't managed this yet in his A-League career. 
Certainly can't see us challenging for anything with a front line of O'Donovan and DWH to be honest. Certainly can't see them topping a front two like Keogh and Fornaroli. Would take Alf from Sydney over him. Would take Ola from Victory over him. Seriously, if other clubs can get Ola, Keogh and Alf under the cap, surely we can do better than O'Donovan. 
Figured Fowler, Grant and the club would be more ambitious than that.
As always, happy to be proven wrong. 

My sentiments exactly.  Surely the club/Fowler are more ambitious than recycling this mediocre guy.  

*Not trolling*

I think the salary cap and everyone 'having a chance' contributes to unrealistic expectations. You guys finished on 18 points this year, and will have pretty much a completely new squad next year. Signing good experienced HAL players makes that transition easier and doesn't point to a lack of ambition (especially if he's under the cap). Strikers are notoriously one of the most hit and miss positions in this league, so I can see why O'Donovan was targeted.

The goal next season should be stability and letting Fowler develop his style of play. Silverware and a title challenge would be an added bonus, but shouldn't (IMO) be the expectation until the 2nd year. 

there you go, i didnt know there was anything between the scholarship and senior contract.

Expect more mediocre (Brit) players if this is Fowler's first example.

If they're top quality I don't mind but I'm suspect with this signing and what's yet to come.

in the 10 team competition you have needed roughly 50 goals scored per season to take out the title (this has been trending up in the last couple of years though). when we have been playing with a sole striker that has meant that we have needed a 20+ goal a season striker to be competitive. For us that has also meant we have set ourselves up to focus on that player which has often meant less goals from other players (particularly wingers and AM). 

If we get Roy it would seem that we will be setting ourselves up with a striker and DWH playing in behind. the combination of the 2 would probably be a 25+ goal a season combination meaning we will need 25 goals to come from elsewhere. say 2-3 goals from the defensive line (it always happens) 2-3 goals from DM rockets that leaves 19 goals to come from wingers, CM, and bench players.

it is tough but Roy is a known entity. do you go for him or do you go for a new player and end up with someone like Baba Diawara

I suppose it depends on where your expectations lie in terms of Fowler's reputation/pull, and the knowledge/scouting ability of Tony Grant. 
I'd understand if we were bringing in an NPL coach that sure, we should go after a known quantity. I fully expected, however, that Fowler with his Liverpool connections, and Grant with his scouting knowledge, could find someone that (at least on paper) is better than O'Donovan. 
I don't think many teams have challenged for the title without taking some risks (and having them work out).

Everyone keeps saying Fowler's a great business man, maybe this is a clever play on his part.  He is feigning interest in O'Donovan to get the the others to pay "overs" for him, thus tying up their money.  Far fetched I know, but you can only hope.

Roar (along with the usual other suspect clubs of WSW, Adelaide and City) being linked with 27-year old Striker Nicky Jose:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicky_Ajose

ex Man Utd and England youth product he seems to have spent his career on loan st League One clubs. 

27, not a recycled a-league player, sounds good to me.

Pretty decent record as well, scored at most of his clubs on loan, very good time at Swindon Town with 24 goals in 38 matches in 2015/16

One of his latest goals for Mansfield Town

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Sh6JVAHzpg

5:6 tall, too similar to DWH I’d say 

Damn, didn't bother checking how tall he was.
Doesn't look that small on the video.

Tend to agree. Definitely worth a look at, signed on a 3 year contract he could be a good find. Apparently has pace according to posters elsewhere who claim to know him (his goal clips have been posted in the RSF FB page) 

Would be exciting to see him and young Halls both up front together, two quick players etc