The future looks good - I already cant wait for next season to begin - looks like with 10 teams it's going to be the most anticipated season since the beginning of the A-League.

Wasn't there a Japanese striker we were looking at?

Word is they sent him home, Lefty. My concern is that we've signed another midfielder - although he does sound pretty decent, scoring in the Eufa Cup against decent opposition - but have gaping holes at the front and back. Bearing in mind Unit's list, Alamao could easily be seen as a midfielder also, so we're looking very thick around the middle (like me!).

Early days yet though.

I'm sure a quality striker will be high on Vidmar's shopping list. With Agostino's departure, maybe they may look for another marquee?

In my opinion though marquee's can be a roll of the dice and that money can be invested into developing potential talent.

Marquee or not, we need one big, tall target-man and one quick poacher. I'd like to see us play 4-1-3-2 next year with enough strike power and pace to keep teams worried about leaving their own half.

Hopefully Cornflakes can pick up where Ogga left off. That will give us a big man in defence who can also score at set-pieces - which has been critical in a few of our wins this last season.

This Hughes fella might turn out to be what we need to replace Diego, as Big Unit mentioned up there. I can also see Griffiths with plenty of untapped talent as well, so hopefully the club will offer him a contract too.

Although Tahara may have returned to Japan, maybe he's gone back to get all his stuff to move down here? :p One can only hope so...

[quote=RedsUnited]Hopefully Cornflakes can pick up where Ogga left off. That will give us a big man in defence who can also score at set-pieces - which has been critical in a few of our wins this last season.[quote]

Yes, it will be critical to replace Ogga.

My 3 priorities for the Reds:

1. Sign a striker that can knock them in from anywhere. Asian, African, Dutch...I dont care as long as he can consistently and calmly pump them into the back of the net. He cant be a goal poach. We have one of them already with Cristiano. Two goal poachers dont work. Just look at our last season for evidence on that one. We need someone that is creative and can confidently take it from the half way line, take defenders on, an nail them in. Think Nathan Burns when he was in the zone.

2. Sign a defender to plug the gap left by Ogga. He needs to be big, smart, intimidating, inspirational and good with the ball. Anyone that is less talented than Craig Moore need not apply.

3. Sign a major sponsor. Enough of Sakai and Bianco and all his mates always having to carry the team. Bloody hell - dont they have anyone down there can can sell the merits of the club and its achievements in Asia and get us a major sponsor? While some industries are going backward due to the GFC - there are still some going forward in leaps and bounds - just read the business pages. The Reds need a good negotiator that can stitch up deals with these growing business' to secure the future of the club.

Edited by Big Unit: 3/3/2009 11:07:14 PM[size=6][/size][size=6][/size][size=6][/size][size=6][/size][size=6][/size][size=6][/size]

Edited by Big Unit: 3/3/2009 11:07:35 PM

Unit, I have called Carlos Tevez and Rio Ferdinand and am just awaiting a reply. Have faxed BHP and they will consider sponsoring us for 8 million a year.

(Wakes up!)

Damn, that was good while it lasted.

I'm with you on what you say except I think we need a second small forward who's fast and can poach. Cristiano needs competition and he rarely lasts 90 mins if he's pushed.

Would like Chris Coyne to come and stand next to Robbie.

It's going to be a looooong off-season.

:lol: :lol: - nice dream mate....but give me Carvalho and Lampard thanks. ;)

Agree with the second small forward to push Cristiano - that would probably come in at priority number four. Chris Coyne would be a great pick up.

I was having a look at 442's 'overseas Aussies' article - at all the young guys toiling away overseas. Many of them warming benches, playing in the rain and being forgotten about by Pim. I reckon Ago needs to make the trek over there, watch some games, and get some of the young guns back over here for trials.....

Personally I think that what we need most of all is a truly creative midfielder to sit in the hole. Someone who can dribble, pass and shoot - we have really missed creativity in the middle of the park, basically since Qu and Rech combined in season 1. Our first choice midfielders have all been holding midfielders (Reid), deep lying quarterbacks (Diego), destroyers (Salley) or, at the very most, box to box (Barbiero). I'd love to see a Pablo Aimar type player in our 4-2-3-1 system running amok in behind a pacy striker. Or better still, in a 4-1-3-2 in behind a little and large combination.

The defence I think will be ok, provided (and this is important I think) Mullen plays centrally. He's big enough and now has a season of experience behind him. I think he is a cool head that would complement Cornthwaite well. If Viddie is planning on playing Cornthwaite and Fyfe together, I think we can get ady to concede a lot of soft goals next season. I'd like to hink that the plan is to play a back 4 wiht Marrone on the right, Mullen in the middle with either of Cornthwaite or Fyfe.

Just realised... ^ would there be a younger defence in the A-League? Marrone-C'thwaite-Mullen-Jamo...

probally not :)

Looks like Con Makris is front runner - but after what I have heard I better hope not. He will want to get involved with what the board should stay away from and thats the last thing Viddie or the club needs.

Back to players Vids said on 5aa that he was looking for strikers and a creative midfielder (hopefully huges fits that bill)

Younis whilest he will be good hes not ready yet I dont think so another good striker (lets make the ACL count for somthing this year) is needed. Also AU did have the NYL's top goalscorer this year we dont have to look too far for another.

Two would be nice 3 would be ideal

I was thinking about this too. Mullen's a good right back but Marrone could slot in there. Mullen is very solid in the tackle and might be a good option at the back. He's also got some pace. Also might help Robbie to settle down because he'd be the senior partner. Will be a great player in my opinion but loses his temper too much. Fyfe worries me a bit but I'll hold my opinion until he gets some game time with us.

AUFC is doing the right thing by lowering the average age of its team. Ideally it should sit around the 24 year old mark (this is the whole squad obviously not the first team) in order to have youth and enthusiasm, and age and treachery combining.

If Makris buys OUR club that can only spell out d i s a s t e r!

Hopefully Makris stays away, would prefer a big name company to come in anyway - especially as we are going into Asia again next year.

Do you think Bianco would sell the whole club to Makris? I thought he only wants to sell a share of it and keep his finger in the pie.

If Makris is given a share it could be good and bad. Good - he and his son Ross are some of the wealthiest men in Australia, Bad - Con Constantine all over???

Can someone tell me what's the problem with Con Makris? I'm not really savvy with local businessmen, their reputations etc. Cheers.

I played for West Torrens Birkalla before and after the Makris take over. He basically promised the old board would have full control and lusted them over with money but in the end it wasn't the case. In one year he erased all that was a very well run community club and it was the biggest fiasco I have ever witnessed.

Also I have heard rumour's his start in business wasn't completely legitimate and that he has served time here in South Australia. Obviously since then he has invested his money quite smartly in real estate and has been extremely successful since. I believe he is truly passionate about football but he is the type of guy that will walk all over you to get what he wants to serve his own ego.

In closing - he wants the club for himself - not for the people or the fans.

Beware... :-"

:-#

thanks for that - the rumors ive read that he would stick his nose into the playing/coach side of things rather than letting the coach do what he has to do without interference

Thanks lro - all interesting stuff. I wish I had the money to buy the club... I'd make a good chairman I reckon.

Hey, does anyone know if the big Ogga made an appearance for Seongnam in today's match? I missed the game... :(

Edited by krijoz: 9/3/2009 02:14:09 AM

FFA ready to take charge" ADELAIDE UNITED

FOOTBALL Federation Australia is tipped to control the Adelaide United A-League franchise as early as this week.

United owner Nick Bianco wants to reduce the size of his investment because of the current economic climate but FFA officials are on standby if the building tycoon isn't successful in attracting backers.

"Taking back the licence has been discussed," an FFA source said. "Time frame? These decisions might happen very quickly maybe within 24 or 48 hours, we're not too sure."

The FFA in 2006 took ownership of Perth Glory from WA food magnate Nick Tana before new investors claimed the NSL benchmark club in 2007. The governing body also recently relinquished partial partnership stakes in premier Melbourne Victory and Central Coast.

United officials yesterday denied boss Aurelio Vidmar is a prime coaching target of a lucrative Asian club outside of Japan before the new season starts.

Vidmar's Adelaide contract comes up for renewal in 2012.

United media manager Dom Rinaldo also put to bed a report suggesting skipper Travis Dodd was moving to a Chinese Super League club. "There's nothing in Travis moving anywhere," Rinaldo said.

"Yes, there was interest from Asia but nothing has eventuated."

But Brazilian striker Cristiano, in the middle of a two-year deal, is potentially on his way out if his manager can secure the 2008 FIFA Club World Cup goal-of-the-tournament winner a contract in the off-season. Cristiano was courted by Egyptian Club World Cup side Al Ahly after his stunning goal in Yokohama earned United fifth place at the tournament with a 1-0 win over the African champion. "We've been told Cristiano will be able to walk away from his contract as a free player if we can find him a club," Cristiano's Melbourne-based player-agent Ritchie Hinton said.

"At the moment he has attracted interest from Al Ahly, clubs in Japan, South Korea and China. But at this stage there are no concrete offers and he is happy in Adelaide."

ROBERT Cornthwaite - contracted to United until 2010 - has turned down offers from South Korea's Pohang Steelers and Busan Park.

FORMER Reds defender Sasa Ognenovski's new club Seongnam Ilhwa beat Busan 1-0 in the opening round of the K-League on Saturday.

PERTH Glory is close to securing MetroStars' clever Adelaide-born defender Ivan Karlovic. The former Adelaide City and Sydney Olympic NSL defender is understood to be contemplating a move to the West if he can secure the well-being of his successful Oporto businesses.

Adelaide is becoming a haven for Glory after the club signed midfielder Adriano Pellegrino last year. He won Glory's Most Glorious Player award on Friday after coming close to winning the A-League's Johnny Warren Medal last month.

http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,25157562-12428,00.html

I wish he sells whole lot to make everyone happy in South Australia!
He and the other board members have done some irreparable damage to the club so it would be in everyone's' interest for him and the other to sell and step down so the club could move in the right direction again
GO YOU MIGHTY REDS THE BEST SOCCER CLUB IN THE OZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It make sence not to rush into selling just to get out - find the right person who has AU at heart

hey mate... living in melbourne i miss a lot of the dramas... can you tell me whats going on at the club bro???? i love United more than life itself

The most important thing imo. I wish I had the money...

It'd be good to have a united team at United in the coming year. Too much more of this internal, political intrigue and Viddie's "piss-ant" comments will come home to roost.

I'm with you, a1118868, it'd be great to see the club owned by fans. But it never seems to happen or work that way.

Mr Schem, the Advertiser hasn't been really helpful to United of late so I wouldn't be too fussed about the stirring that they're trying to do here. Rumour and innuendo seasoned with a tiny bit of fact. Like most of us, you'll have to wait and see what becomes of our beloved club - and that'll only happen in the longer run. It's silly season now. Everyone will have an opinion. Players will be reported to have signed and be gone - even before they have come home from holiday.

Then next season will begin and we'll be great again. I hope. =d>

Edited by Jessesdad: 9/3/2009 03:08:51 PM

I don't want to see the club owned by the fans. I want to see it owned by this fan. :lol: I'm remarkably level headed, you see :-" and I'd appoint you all to the board. We'd have rational discussion, (though we may have to ask krijoz to leave the room), not interfere with the football department (maybe at most to discuss things with Viddy etc, but his decisions would be strictly his own), and print counterfeit money to pay our marquee signing Kaka.

Maybe if Foolish Lad comes through in the Adelaide Cup this arvo, I'll give Mr Bianco a buzz...

that would be lovely :lol: most football men wouldnt like a female on the board though :? :lol:

considering all the crap some of our supporters write about Viddie there is NO WAY id let them near running the club :oops:

first thing I would do is propose to buy that pub across the road from hindmarsh and turn it into a sports/social club

Edited by UnitedGal: 9/3/2009 03:35:14 PM

Edited by UnitedGal: 9/3/2009 03:39:14 PM