keensy said:
im hearing rumours that we are talking to Robbie Kruse....
Roar rules out bidding war for Robbie Kruse
Article from: The Courier-Mail
By Marco Monteverde
February 01, 2009 11:00pm
QUEENSLAND Roar coach Frank Farina will not enter a bidding war for Robbie Kruse, who is in the sights of up to five rival clubs.
Newcastle Jets and Central Coast Mariners want Kruse for their Asian Champions League campaigns, which begin in March.
It's also understood that Premier's Plate winners Melbourne Victory are in the running for the attacking weapon's services.
The Jets and the Mariners need to submit their ACL squads by next week, and there's a good chance Kruse could sign with one of the teams but still play out the A-League finals campaign with the Roar.
The wayward 20-year-old, who after starring last season has struggled on and off the field during the Roar's current campaign, said his preference was to stay with Queensland.
But while Farina wants to keep Kruse, particularly in light of speedster Tahj Minniecon's dollar-driven decision to defect to Gold Coast United, a salary cap squeeze could make it impossible to retain the services the former Australian under-17 international.
"It could be a similar (money) situation to Tahj's," Farina said.
"The market dictates what can happen. A club can say to you 'we'll offer you this', but if another club offers more, let's face it, with everything that's happening now, it could be the thing that matters."
Kruse said the thought of playing in the ACL was enticing and admitted if he couldn't "fit in" at the Roar, he would move on.
"That's part of the A-League now," he said.
"The gaffer (Farina) has spoken to to me about contracts, so I've got to weigh my options up."
In a season marred by off-field indiscretions and injuries, Kruse has played just 97 minutes of first team football.
His woes continue, with Farina yesterday revealing that a groin complaint had ruled the young gun out of selection contention for Queensland's minor semi-final first-leg clash against the Mariners on Friday night in Gosford.
Before the injury Kruse was asked to play out of position for the Roar youth team, starting at right fullback in the National Youth League clash against Perth on January 24.
"Wherever I get put, I'll deal with it," Kruse said.
"I don't really know why (he was put in defence), but in trying to work my way back I've had to start from scratch again. If I'm playing, that's all the counts."
Farina said Kruse had to "knuckle down" wherever he chose to continue his career.
"Robbie broke into the A-League out of the blue, he did very well for 15 or 16 games and then this season we haven't sighted him, and that's for a number of reasons," Farina said.
"He's not delivered for us this year on the promise that he showed last year, and that's purely through his own circumstances."
