I agree with everything you said. Kramar impressed me last night after being thrown in the deep end. But Dragan also impressed me last game so I'll reserve judgement on Kramar.

Neither Dragan nor Kramar impressed me all that much. But early days (didn't see Dragan's first game), and Kramar will get a run next week with Dino out, so should get a proper look at him then... against Adelaide... ok, so perhaps not a fair test...

We need creativity. Zadkovich is hardly that, and a midfield with Garcia (not the most mobile), Nebo (not the most mobile) and Dragan are hardly going to set the world on fire. Need a Nichols type player to bind them a bit and need to replace Zadkovich with Griffiths... .... put a bit more DDS in and will look a bit better then.

Nice to see Hotrod with a smile on his face again.

Mate, it's not.

Tell me with a straight face that 1 point from nine at home is acceptable for a team on top of the ladder.

I know Griffiths was suspended, Nichols injured, two new players and yet it took until the last 30 minutes for Glory to realised there were points up for grabs. I'm not too fussed with the last goal as Glory were pushing up the pitch with a CB off but the total lack of urgency in the last 20 minutes with the man advantage was a joke.

That's the time you put in the extra 10% and push the other team to breaking.

Not this time.

I think being on top and having come back earlier in the season has seen Glory starting to sit back and expect to win at home just by turning up.

The next game is against ADL. I can see that as a loss. Glory will probably be sitting 3rd.

The following week is a tricky away game to Mel City and that could drop Glory to 4th.

But, hey, you're happy with that. So be it. I am not.

We were absolutely bossing the game until Paljic's stupid shirt pull. Apart from the two penalties and the third goal (when he saved Ibini's initial attempt), I can only remember Vukovic having to make one save all game and that was straight at him.

Execution was the problem, with the main culprit being Garcia. Jamieson was making really attacking runs but on the occasions when he did get the ball, it was usually too late. I think we overhit more passes in that game than in all the other home games combined.

Maclaren is a counter attacking player and in hindsight was the wrong choice for a Sydney side that was sitting deep even before the send offs. Don't know what the story with Sidnei is but he was the type of player we needed to bring on in the last 20 mins, not O'Neill.

1 point from 9 isn't good but we should have at least got a draw from the Adelaide game where conditions and backing up two hot games in 72 hours were also a factor and Melbourne are the best team in the league so a draw v them was no disgrace.

Nichols and Griffiths back should make a big difference. I just hope Nichols starts.

What's up with Sidnei???

Has not made the game day squad in the last two games.

Sickness, injury, fitness, attitude?

He's signed until next season and Visa players need to be in the game day squad (at least) or the use is wasted.

Don't know - not listed as injured. Was ordinary in his last game and hasn't played well since he came back from injury.

Think we will be looking to offload him, Hersi or both if our rumoured signing of Fahid Ben Khalfallah comes off.

The Glory's HOOOOOOOOOLLLLd on top spot is tenuous :-k

https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/26235256/glory-call-for-video-to-fight-djulbic-ban/

Perth Glory officials have requested all footage from Football Federation Australia of the fiery first-half tussle that led to Dino Djulbic's sending-off in Saturday night's 3-1 defeat to Sydney FC at nib Stadium.

Both Sidnei and Cameron Edwards started for the NYL team away v WSW on Saturday morning. 2-1 come from behind win. Glory scorers Nathan Costello and Slob Vulin (pen).

Excellent. His red ought to be overturned.

Agreed. Marinkovic needed to stay on.

Hope our midfield this week is:

---------Griffiths--------
Nichols-Zadkovich-DDS
---------- Nebo-------------

I'm not completely sold on Zadkovich yet and think he is carrying an ongoing injury (lots of Rock Tape on both lower legs/knees) but think that him and Griffiths combined in the middle of midfield are what we will need v Adelaide (ie break up play and kick some shins).

Sidnie possibly sent east as it was a double header and much needed game time.

I thought Dragan was very average again, probably needs time to gel, he always seemed to be in the wrong place.
McLaren probably deserved a start after scoring v Victory but once again did nothing with the opportunity that he was given.

Boy did we miss Grifffiths, not only in his spoilers role but we had at last two great heading opportunities that if he was there could easily have been 2 goals.
Dino was a 100% red card from where I was sitting but we should have got a penalty out of it.

Sydney adapted to 10 v 10 better than us.

all in all we need to improve quickly.

Yeah, I wouldn't mind that. Hopefully Kenny just packs midfield like that and leaves Keogh up front to chase hard.

Squad for this week v Melbourne City

Perth Glory squad: 1.Danny VUKOVIC (gk) 5.Rostyn GRIFFITHS, 6.Dino DJULBIC, 8.Ruben ZADKOVICH, 9.Andy KEOGH, 10.Nebojsa MARINKOVIC, 11.Richard GARCIA, 14.Chris Harold, 15.Jamie MACLAREN, 16.Sidnei SCIOLA, 17.Mitch NICHOLS, 18.Jack DUNCAN (gk), 19.Josh RISDON, 20.Daniel DE SILVA, 21.Scott JAMIESON, 23.Michael THWAITE (c), 27.Dragan PALJIC, 28.Denis KRAMAR

***two to be omitted***

Ins: 6.Dino DJULBIC (returns from suspension), 17.Mitch NICHOLS (promoted), 18.Jack DUNCAN (gk) (promoted), 20.Daniel DE SILVA (promoted)

Outs: 3.Brandon O'NEILL (not selected), 30.Jordan Thurtell (GK) (not selected)

Unavailable: 7.Youssouf HERSI (hamstring – season), 13.Diogo FEREIRA (hip – 4 weeks)

With the injury replacement players and players back from suspension, injury and illness, our full squad is available.

Think he will keep Kramar for some defensive cover on the bench (especially with no O'Neill) so the two omissions are likely to come from Nichols, De Silva, Harold, Paljic, Maclaren and hopefully Garcia. Personally, I would leave out Garcia and Harold. Start with Sidnei on the left and DDS on the right and make sure Nichols gets at least half an hour.

Perth Glory to enforce strict late-night curfews in wake of Andy Keogh’s arrest


TROUBLE-HIT Perth Glory are to enforce a strict night-time curfew on their players for the rest of the A-League season, with some stars also vowing to abstain from alcohol.

Ladder leaders Glory hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons earlier this week when key duo Andy Keogh and Josh Risdon were arrested following a boozy night out in Adelaide.

The pair were handed club-imposed fines over the incident and will front Adelaide Magistrates Court next month.

Skipper Michael Thwaite admitted on Thursday the club had gone soft on its agreed curfew for away games in recent times, but said they would toughen up.

The exact details of the new curfew wasn’t made public.

“We’ve had curfews in place during the season, but we were a little bit light the last few times we’ve been away,” Thwaite said.

“Now that we’ve had these problems, we are going to be a lot stricter. Everyone agrees, and that includes the players involved.”

Thwaite has declared he will abstain from alcohol for the rest of the season, and he’s already recruited some players to join him. It remains unclear whether Risdon and Keogh are adopting the alcohol ban.

“Whatever they choose to do is their choice,” Thwaite said.

“They are adults. As we have all done - we make mistakes and we have to learn from them quickly, or these types of things happen.

“A few of the players have chosen not to drink at all during the season and chosen not to go out, and hopefully a lot of others follow.”

Keogh read out a prepared statement after training on Thursday, with the former Irish international apologising for his actions in Adelaide.

“My actions have unfortunately embarrassed myself, my teammates, and especially Josh Risdon, who was caught up in this drama,” Keogh said.

“Above all, I’m deeply regretful and remorseful for the hurt and pain it has caused my wife and family.”

Glory are still facing punishment from FFA after allegedly failing to declare some player perks in their salary cap over the past three seasons.

The club is expected to escape with a fine over the issue.

Glory sit one point clear on top of the table, and will be back in action on Sunday when they take on seventh-placed Melbourne City at AAMI Park.

Midfielder Mitch Nichols is a chance to return from a hamstring injury, while defender Dino Djulbic is free to play after serving his one-match suspension.

http://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/football/perth-glory-to-enforce-strict-late-night-curfews-in-wake-of-andy-keoghs-arrest/story-fnhq6mze-1227225748210

Any thoughts on where DDS fits into our team, and likelihood of him displacing any of our current midfield.
Seems it will be difficult, but I think we've seen that the boy can pass a ball.
The comments from the weekend seem to indicate a stalemate was the basic result the team wanted, and anything better would be a bonus, so sounds like completely unsuited to that game plan.
I don't think he's started a match since Christmas, and am guessing has not played a full 90 minutes all season - maybe in the yoof?
But a few times he's been late a withdrawal with illnesses.

Should be ahead of Garcia in the pecking order but not sure Kenny sees DDS and Nichols in the same line up. Marinkovic seems to be locked in and is not exactly a ball winner (neither are Harold and Sidnei) and it seems that the plan is to have two hard tackling midfielders ie Griffiths, Zadkovich/Thwaite.

Missed out last week with illness and only played 15mins off the bench for the NYL team on the weekend (and failed to score when one on one with the keeper) so not exactly knocking the door down.

God we miss Nichols. Personally, I'd kill to have Kilkenny next season, if we can't be Mitch permanatly.
Not a fan of either of the newbies to be honest.

Perth Glory FC working with FFA to minimise viewing impact.
Perth Glory FC would like to inform its members and fans that some viewing spots at this week's Round 19 match against Brisbane Roar may be partially hindered.
The FFA has insisted all Hyundai A-League clubs from this week replace the "Bunnings Chairs" with new 12 seater "Racing Car" benches that were used at all venues in the Eastern States for the 2015 Asian Cup.
The benches will be in full view in the technical area for the teams' coaches and substitutes and in front of members in the Lower West Stand.
The Club has tried to minimise the impact, the new benches may have on members' views, however, the FFA, has insisted the benches remain in place for the remainder of the 2014/15 Hyundai A-League season
We are continuing to work closely with the FFA to ensure the view for members isn't greatly affected.

Read more at http://www.perthglory.com.au/article/controversial-ffa-imposed/wmo0adm1rmll1i55a0vcp89ei#WZDwjy1vjoKU8R5z.99

So DeSilva back from sickness? Also Nichols looked good last game. Hopefully Garcia will be dropped from the squad this weekend...not sure about the second...but it would probably be O'Neil.

I wonder who will be omitted though so Kenny's golden boy Garcia can keep his spot. Maybe Paljic, but I thought he played a good first game. Not sure why his form has dropped.

Rumour of Woodcock to Sydney next season

http://au.fourfourtwo.com/forums/default.aspx?g=posts&m=2179491&#2179491

Don't mind Garcia but just hope Sidnei leaves.

This is a worry. As happy as I am with our league position and our chances of winning something this year, if we don't keep hold of the youngsters where does this leave us next season? Woodcock for the most part was impressive in the absence of Jamieson last season. Clisby, O'Neill already gone, De silva leaving soon...

It's obvious with KL's recruitment this season that he wanted to build a team that could challenge this season, no 3-5 year plans like we have heard of in the past.

I'm very worried that Kenny's priority is short term success at the expense of building a team that could challenge for seasons to come.

This is what I put on the other thread

Yeah, curious if it's SFC - Maybe Melb City or somewhere weak at LB, sure (Though, ironically, Clisby's moved there now?) - But it seems this could be another sad example of a promising young, local, rotation talent opting/being forced to move East for the promise of greater opportunity elsewhere, but in-reality just a move across from being a deputy at Glory to a deputy or less elsewhere, i.e. examples like Jesse Makarounas come to mind. Especially SFC - where they have another, even younger and perhaps even more promising, 'young gun', in Alex Gersbach starring now, as too the likes of adaptive team-player Ali Abbas about, too. Maybe it's the lure of Arnie's reputation/record for promoting young talent, perhaps, but either way, the fact they may favour a move East because their first team chances may only be marginally better, perhaps that sadly says something about the direction Glory is headed, once again?

Then again, look at another angle and Glory are a victim of their own success? League-leading side, fairly stable and experienced team, strong in all positions - that stability and consistence performance can lead to the deputies, like Woodcock, gathering splinters on the bench, unfortunately?

Edited by GloryPerth: 9/3/2015 07:59:52 PM

Just a worry than another local talent heads east.

What do Glory supporters want, short term success or long term success?

I think the Glory fans needs their fix now. Sadly, the long term stuff might just have to wait, to the detriment of the medium term decline which will probably happen when this crop of players price themselves too high/retire/go play OS.

There needs to be a balance between local youth and imported experience. I think that Glory have swung a bit too far one way for that short term fix of a championship high.

If they can't make it into the starting XI after a few years I have no problem with them chasing opportunities elsewhere. This season has been an exception in that we are winning games. If we were losing games and they still weren't being given a shot then I would be upset.

This is a good problem to have. For every player that leaves, it opens up another opportunity for someone else. I'd rather have too much talent being produced in WA than we can fit into the side, rather than every player playing for Perth being second rate.

Also, the obvious solution to keeping more talent in WA is to introduce a second side. One day it'll happen.