Any more word on the keeper? Would be disappointed if Freke didn't get his chance. Decent young keeper, athletic and brilliant with his feet(more so than Young in my opinion). A shame to let him go.

Freke needs to stay in the youth team, you don’t learn much with six months in seat 11C between here and every away game sitting on the pine.

Word is they’re close to sorting it anyway.  

Really that's the whole point.......Doing your best .
A 33 yr old who once played in the top league in the UK turns up at Roar training having not played for months and is the fittest player.
He shows drive , ambition and professionalism.
Youngsters trying to make a career in Football turn up in varying condition waiting to be told to train.
Who could honestly say any of these players will ever make it as an elite player ,when they dont have the personal drive to do the one thing that shows they are serious about being the best they can be and impressing the new manager.
Kudos to ROD.He is not the most talented player.But clearly he makes up for his deficiencies with effort.

Most times a paper never refuses ink......,

Good article on Jay O ‘Shea
https://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/football/efl-promotion-expert-jay-oshea-on-why-he-traded-gigg-lane-for-brisbane-why-he-left-sheffield-united-and-his-hopes-for-chesterfield-462625

It was a good read.  The non payment of wages at his old club should condition him for his time here.;)

If we’re going to have anything other than an “also ran” season this guy has to have a really big season. If he can maintain his scoring rate and create an effective partnership with ROD it will propel our season. 

You'd think fresh of that many goals and assists in the last half of the season that he's coming here buzzing and we should have goals coming from the midfield on a consistent basis for the first time since Broich left.

Hope so.

I miss the Broiches, Berishas and Coronas. Heck even the Brattans of the world.

Sigh...........😰

First Fan Forum of the new season: Tuesday 23rd of July (most likely at) XXXX Alehouse in Milton with David Pourre. 7PM. 

I spoke with Pourre sorting out the fan forum last night and he gave a bit of insight -

First off, the signing of the keeper is close (twitter seems to have it right) and the reason Fowler didn’t go with youth is to push Jamie and they want the No 2 to be good enough to be No 1 this time next season. 

Secondly they are still shopping for 2 more players, obviously Australian, and they have several targets in mind. They face competition to get them (which suggests they’re not squadies) but he was coy on who or what positions. 

It's good to know we are still looking for more players,because we really are paper thin with depth in some areas.
If Holloway and O'Shay are below par or  get injured ,there is virtually nothing of quality  to replace them.
The forwards are: ROD,DWH,O'Shay,Holloway and  who ?,for four positions.
Then in the midfield:Mauk,Inman ,Mells and ?
There is almost a guarantee two or three players will be injured,based on the last three years.
Depth looks like being a big issue.

Should put pressure on both keepers then as Jamie will be looking to secure a reasonable gig in the following season (I wouldn't think he'd be retiring soon) so he'll want to keep his options open. Good move by Pourre!

They really seem to be making a huge effort to get things right this season.  Makes me probably more frustrated about what has gone on before, but I guess its water under the (Storey) bridge now, so time to press on!

Depth is always an issue in the HAL, both Sydney and Glory has depth issues but still walked away with titles 

what they both did better better than us is better quality signings and keeping players fit. 

So the club obviously don't rate Freke, which is a bit odd for mine given how long he has been in the system. 

I genuinely can't think of any Aussie Midfielders or Strikers who would seem to fit the mould of the current recruits so will be interesting to see who they can get (maybe Duncan on Loan :hehe::hehe::hehe: ). I am genuinely interested to see how the recruitment will translate into the A-League season as it looks to be really quite astute, picking players who have played a lot at a decent level and a good mix on experience as well.

I can’t say whether they rate him or not. 

But Freke doesn’t look near to being an A League keeper to me nor does he have the necessary playing experience so it’s hardly surprising he’s been overlooked. 

Fowler seems less than impressed with many of the current players, maybe Young isn’t impressing him either? 

Agree on this - available Aussies are few and far between (Doncs, Williams, Spiranovic??) 

We come back again, as we do time after time, to the mystifying failure of the A League club's youth teams to provide quality young players capable of breaking through into first team football.

We do i’m afraid. 

O’Toole needs to prove he was more than a make do last season, DWS the same, Powell is a bit young but I hope we see him again this season and to be fair we did lose two potential first team players to other clubs although they would most likely have turned out like Caketti. 

kruse, troisi, jedinak, Juric, vidosic, Jordan Lyden, 

there are a few out there. plus more that may consider loan spells. 

I'd take someone like Ryan Edwards tbh. I think he's progressed a bit since his Glory days and can cover a few positions

That would be a good signing 

I would not be surprised if Fowler is not that impressed with Jamie Young. He is terrible with his feet, with poor accuracy and poor distance, most of his goal kicks struggle to reach halfway. While he is a good shot stopper, maybe Fowler has a concern with his lack of height, although he can be ok with the high balls he is not really a dominating type of keeper.

I hope Roar do get someone in to put pressure on Young, but if Max Crocombe is the one they are targeting as speculated a week or so ago, I am less than impressed with his CV.

Guys is/was Caletti any good? He just signed on for the Nix. I don't remember him so just asking.

I like him. However he never really kicked on since his breakout season. But he also given much of chance in the roar midfielder. But weak physically and defensively. But good enough engine and passing range.

He’s worth a go. Has got talent and I’d say he’s a good signing for you. 

Sum people had said he was to short/small to play A-League, I just didn't know if that was why he didn't make it @ Roar.

Plenty of people have said that about him, and he didn’t get any stronger in his time with us (not sure why). 

But he has git got talent and can run the midfield with a range of passing - he needs a strong DM behind him though. 

Thoughts on this arvos game:

- no fears over British long-ball football, short crisp passing all arvo. 

- definitely 3-at-the-back

- Aldred looks the goods, impressive first half. Probable captain. 

- Inman looked great in the second, definite quality. 

- Holloway is an absolute beast, will physically tear up this league - can’t think of a player that matches him for physique. Fast too.

- O’Shea looked good but didn’t see enough of him. 

- ROD was quiet really but should have scored two. 

- Pepper looks to be moving to midfield. Did well today but can he do it in the HAL?

- first half had our first pick back three and second pick attack; opposite in the second half.