Give Nik another go

[scottmac]

The thing with Mrdja is $$$.

Remember that the contract Mrdja orginally signed in season one would still be a big contract here in season five. And that's despite the cap jump each year (more than the original 10% it was meant to go each year), meaning the average HAL wage has gone over $30kpa higher in that time.
I'm not sure what his pay situation is, but even if he's taken a paycut, I doubt he's playing for peanuts. Easily a six figure salary in the cap. You have to not just weigh up whether to keep him but you need to way up whether to keep him given the wedge he takes in the cap. Big difference.

He must understand that any contract he signs would be well down on what it could have been had he played most of the last 3 seasons. Even were he to play out of his skin for the rest of this season any prospective employer would still have at the back of their mind the 3 seasons he has basically sat ont he bench and the quite substantial timeframe in which he has taken to recover.

Taking that into consideration i could not see anyone realistaclly offering him a wage that matches his current one. His best bet for the same wage would have to be us. We have invested much into him and it would nearly be more of a risk to let him go than to keep him.

 

[elevated position]

one thing you miss about mrdja is that this year was on an option he enforced other wise i think we would still have sasho.
Mrdja had a good first half and walked most of the second. watch the replay.
next year75k tops no options

 

[Roy Law]

We should not keep Mrdja, not because he isn't playing quite well but because with him and Simon and McBreen we would offer no variety up front. We should have as a choice two big'uns  and two little'uns. Next year - Simon and McBreen; Kwasnik (til contract expires and then kiss goodbye) and a.n.other such as Ifill, Fowler, Thompson, Brosque etc. Otherwise we will be wedded to forty metre hit and hope punts upfield. Still, it will depend a lot upon what ideas the new coach brings (sic)

 

[Paolo]

Mrdja is on approximately $170k. Unless he wants to take another pay cut(keeping in mind this contract is about 100k less then he was on seasons 1-3) i think we can better spend the money

 

[bikinigirl]

Mrdja is on approximately $170k. Unless he wants to take another pay cut(keeping in mind this contract is about 100k less then he was on seasons 1-3) i think we can better spend the money

. so what exactly does $170k buy on the strikers market?

. i honestly have no idea, but wasn't mcbreen's offer approaching that number? it really does depend on whether there is better value in the marketplace

 

[marinermick]

Mrdja is on approximately $170k. Unless he wants to take another pay cut(keeping in mind this contract is about 100k less then he was on seasons 1-3) i think we can better spend the money

. so what exactly does $170k buy on the strikers market?

. i honestly have no idea, but wasn't mcbreen's offer approaching that number? it really does depend on whether there is better value in the marketplace

mcbreen was around $150K, or at least that is what he turned down at nth queensland

$170K would be par or a bit below for a striker IMO

 

[bikinigirl]

Mrdja is on approximately $170k. Unless he wants to take another pay cut(keeping in mind this contract is about 100k less then he was on seasons 1-3) i think we can better spend the money

. so what exactly does $170k buy on the strikers market?

. i honestly have no idea, but wasn't mcbreen's offer approaching that number? it really does depend on whether there is better value in the marketplace

mcbreen was around $150K, or at least that is what he turned down at nth queensland

$170K would be par or a bit below for a striker IMO

. thanks mick, sorta narrows the field a little doesn't it?

 

[FFC Mariner]

Dmac is on more apparently and looks like he will be off

 

[Jaza_SFC]

League average wage is $120k. Good players are paid $180-$220k or so. Next year with the cap up again we may see some players at $250k or so (I'm guessing Stephan Keller is one of these types).

The thing is with McBreen on approx $150k, and Simon on probably similar, you've only got one big wage left to spend on a forward. YOu can't have 4 forwards all on good money as it hurts you in other areas of the park. SFC do it by having 3x good forwards + 1x youth forward. But even if you can't do that, it's a juggling act.

TBH I think the McBreen signing is the nail in Mrdja's coffin now that I think about it.  Unless Lawrie is daft and is happy to run with those three as his top 3 forwards next year.

 

[FFC Mariner]

Or those 3 and a marquee? There doesnt look to be any strikers in the NYL who will be ready for next season, maybe the year after.

Or even God forbid the return of a striker from SFC.......................

 

[MagpieMariner]

At the time of McBreen's signing, Nik wasn't doing anywhere as well as he is now (however well that is).
However, I thought that even though his fresh legs monstered tired defenders, he still didn't get a real shot in. He's better than Dmac, but not by a lot IMO.
He's only a danger to Nik's new contract if the club can snaffle a nippy goal-sneak.

 

[MagpieMariner]

Laugh if you like, but if said striker could stay fit....
He is, after all, a goal-sneak.

 

[Jaza_SFC]

Or those 3 and a marquee?

But you then have a player at $120-$150k out of hte matchday squad? Not sure if that's the way to do it tbh.

If I was Lawrie I'd be looking to replace Mrdja with a different kind of striker, then have Kwasnik as 4th choice. If he's lucky enough to get a marquee it goes elsewhere.
Then again if I was Lawrie I wouldn't have wasted cash on McBreen, so god knows what will happen.

 

[bikinigirl]

. but Jaza by your own definition he is on a salary less than you would expect for a 'good' player ... and not really that far above the average wage

. by the sound of it he would be quite a low earning striker ... who for some reason always seem to command more

. all suggests striker number four would be a lot closer to minimum wage though

 

[neverwozza]

Or those 3 and a marquee?

But you then have a player at $120-$150k out of hte matchday squad? Not sure if that's the way to do it tbh.

If I was Lawrie I'd be looking to replace Mrdja with a different kind of striker, then have Kwasnik as 4th choice. If he's lucky enough to get a marquee it goes elsewhere.
Then again if I was Lawrie I wouldn't have wasted cash on McBreen, so god knows what will happen.

He's 6 ft, 100kg, blonde hair and can't score - a Lawrie McKinna wet dream.

 

[Jaza_SFC]

. but Jaza by your own definition he is on a salary less than you would expect for a 'good' player ... and not really that far above the average wage

There are other strikers out there who provide better value. Not just young ones either (although CCM should be looking at someone like Nathan Elasi, or maybe even Chris Payne).

 

[marinermick]

. but Jaza by your own definition he is on a salary less than you would expect for a 'good' player ... and not really that far above the average wage

(although CCM should be looking at someone like Nathan Elasi, or maybe even Chris Payne).

who says we are not?

 

[Nik Mrdjas Disco Bikkie]

Or even God forbid the return of a striker from SFC.......................

Wash your mouth out.

 

[FFC Mariner]

Or even God forbid the return of a striker from SFC.......................

Wash your mouth out.

I agree but I have got this horrible feeling

 

[dibo]

He was very good for us last time, he's fit and he's playing well now. No less reason to consider him than Mrdja.