FINALS - game 1 - CCM v ROAR

[Forum Phoenix]

I
The biggest issue I see for us to focus on next year is how we are going to replace Dutchy. It was obvious on Saturday that Wilko is not going to be a player that replace him when it comes to playing out from the back, he is a great defender but there were a number of times when he should have pushed forward into huge ammounts of space both with and without the ball and his control and distribution is limited.

Hopefully we will re sign Dutchy for another year. We must surely be attempting to do so... Can anyone shed light on this?

Anyhow as it stands I still think the biggest issue facing this team is clinical finishing.
I think its pretty natural to want to see the youth leagues top strikers picked up. But I'd still also like another striker to be honest. Definitely a visa spot or marquee for mine. But we've signed Baird Kwassie is rumoured to be getting another two years... Matty stays. So... That means even if we let McBeen go and obviously Mrdja... If we sign Bernie and Duke. That's still 5 strikers and a visa spot would be six. Still we have 5 on our books currently and we've still needed to resort to using our Youth league strikers...

But strikers aside, sending Weemac and Ollie to finishing school over the winter break (Throw Wilko and Pedj in for good measure) and that alone could pay massive dividends.

 

[Roy Law]

sending Weemac and Ollie to finishing school over the winter break (Throw Wilko and Pedj in for good measure) and that alone could pay massive dividends.

I have always thought that we should hire a guest coach from time to time to teach the divine art of finishing - perhaps Damien Mori or Robbie Fowler or even (because he is going for his coaching badge) Sasha Petrovski. Man U use Ole Solskjaer I believe.

 

[Roy Law]

Hoping that we will sign this striker or that is restricted by squad numbers, salary cap and contracted players. Simon and McBreen, and Baird, are under contract; rumours have it that Kwas has been offered two years. Financial restrictions, as in we aren't flush with cash, mean that we tend to have 22 players on our roster instead of 23. Arnie has to look at a complicated picture of having cover for all positions and having six strikers, or even five, could mean we will be short elsewhere. Why did we sign Hearfield - is he a RB or RM or both? If both, then what is Porter's role or Sainsbury's? both are under contract. Who is the third centre back now tha tit appears Doig is moving on - Sainsbury or Gallagher? both are under contract. Who is our reserve LB, it was Mark Warren but he has gone to Sheffield, is it Gallagher, who BTW has yet to play for the first team. While Bernie and Duke make the headlines what about other youth players who don't make the headlines because they don't score the goals? Tony Walmsley said after the win over Gold Coast “While Bernie and Dukey scoring on Wednesday night was no surprise to me, it does indicate how far we have come. Arnie has been supportive all season and when that support converts to putting faith in the young boys for such an important game the youth program is validated. We have another three players ready to step into the first team if required, so our depth is in good shape. The challenge will be retention,” It not simply a case of signing every striker we can, there is a bigger picture and, unless contracted players move on (which has been rumoured) there is not much wriggle room. If other clubs make offers to some of our uncontracted youth team players we may not be able to compete (Duke pursued by Adelaide, for example).

 

[priorpeter]

Hopefully we will re sign Dutchy for another year. We must surely be attempting to do so... Can anyone shed light on this?

I think its pretty natural to want to see the youth leagues top strikers picked up. But I'd still also like another striker to be honest. Definitely a visa spot or marquee for mine. But we've signed Baird Kwassie is rumoured to be getting another two years... Matty stays. So... That means even if we let McBeen go and obviously Mrdja... If we sign Bernie and Duke. That's still 5 strikers and a visa spot would be six. Still we have 5 on our books currently and we've still needed to resort to using our Youth league strikers...

But strikers aside, sending Weemac and Ollie to finishing school over the winter break (Throw Wilko and Pedj in for good measure) and that alone could pay massive dividends.

I wouldn't call Baird a striker... Tbh wouldn't call him a footballer.

 

[Roy Law]

I wouldn't call Baird a striker... Tbh wouldn't call him a footballer.

But he is under contract. So it puts into perspective the fans' view of young players like Bernie and the Professionals' view of where he is in his development. It's not as if Arnie hasn't given youth a go this season so perhaps his assessment of the young kids is not quite as glowing as ours.

 

[Ancient Mariner]

But he is under contract. So it puts into perspective the fans' view of young players like Bernie and the Professionals' view of where he is in his development. It's not as if Arnie hasn't given youth a go this season so perhaps his assessment of the young kids is not quite as glowing as ours.

 

[midfielder]

Maybe we could sell Baird to Fury if they stay in

 

[Dutch Wives]

Disappointing result, Im pretty confident we can make a comeback though.
Was good to see so many at Bluetongue, big ups to all who went and took friends. What was the crowd figure?

Where?!?

(not that I'll be in Shanghai again soon - but still, that's really cool)

At The Camel, not too far from Jing'an Temple. Pretty decent sports bar. Was funny to hear a few yanks jumping on the Brisbane bandwagon lol.

 

[MagpieMariner]

Don't know why we worry about people being under contract or not. Seems to me football contracts are broken at the drop of a cheque.

 

[universalmind]

Don't know why we worry about people being under contract or not. Seems to me football contracts are broken at the drop of a cheque.

Because we would need to sell Baird to an overseas club, and who do you see buying him? A-league clubs cannot buy from other a-league clubs. Only other way to release him is by mutual consent. Unlikely to happen.

 

[Roy Law]

Don't know why we worry about people being under contract or not. Seems to me football contracts are broken at the drop of a cheque.

If we break his contract we are still liable for it under the salary cap until the contract expires. The only way a contract is broken without salary cap implication is by mutual consent.

 

[Wombat]

Disagree about Hutch being to blame for the first goal - he was given a hospital pass by that f**king useless McBreen, who then stood like a bloody great log while Brisbane took it down field and scored. He could have at least moved his fat lazy arse and tried to chase it down. It wouldn't have done any good because he's slower than a wet week, but he could at least have looked like he cared.
If GA takes this cardboard cutout of a football player to Brisbane next week, I think I'll resurrect the Arnoldout thread. Even Nik would be a better option than this useless bastard.

Disagree. It was a slightly underhit pass but Hutcho did terribly and should never have lost that ball. WeeMac/Perez/Bozanic or Amini would not have lost it and Griffiths would have recovered the ball in that situation.
To expect McBreen to chase it down is a bit much.
For mine Hutcho 80% to blame and McBreen 20%.

 

[Wombat]

I thought we were the better side but poor finishing and two blunders cost us the game.

It was also a mistake to have started Hutcho.

McBreen, Kwas and Hutcho are all extemely lucky to have contracts for next season.

Obviously Griffiths must start but who do you play upfront alongside Simon? Bernie wasn't hugely impressive against the Scum.

I'd be tempted to put Amini to attacking mid and Perez alongside Simon.

A quality striker is the only glaring chink in our armour.

 

[Roy Law]

I have (today) just gone through some recent Mariners' games on IQ and I thought Bernie much better on the telly than when I saw him live at Bluetongue against Newcastle. I reckon he should be given much more opportunity and I hope he gets a full time gig with us next year.
As for the McBreen/ Hutch pass thingy. Yes, Hutch under hit the first pass but to then absolve McBreen is ridiculous; he had enough time to hit a firm pass back to Hutchinson, instead he left it short... and modern rules don't allow Hutch to dive in
so he held back.