So the squad that could play in five minutes time is:
Pearce
Gallifuoco Tongyik Rowles Clisby
Nisbet Melling
Oar
Murray Simon Shabow
Subs: Munford, McGlinchey, Ruiz-Diaz, Miller, Johnson
With rather limited funds avaliable to Stajcic, which will be worth even less now that the salary cap basically no longer exists, we're going to have a tough time recruiting.
Obviously the first priority is a starting goalkeeper or backing Pearce to the hilt and signing a scholarship keeper as our backup. I personally don't think Pearce is anywhere near ready to be an A-League number one, and I sort of doubt he ever will be. So honestly this isn't a truly realistic option, unless we want a repeat of Izzo season 15/16. So, if we are to recruit a new goalkeeper, will we recruit an Australian one or use one of our four remaining visa spots. A visa goalkeeper was goalkeeper of the year last year for the first time in A-League history, but it's an especially risky proposition if it goes pear shaped, likely using a fair chunk of our salary cap spend to sign someone who could potentially be sitting on the bench all season. So that narrows it down to signing an Australian keeper, let's see what options are available:
Off-contract Australian Keepers:
Tando Velaphi:
A former Olyroo, Velaphi spent the past season warming the bench for Perth Glory, he made no appearances for the West Australians since signing at the beginning of the 18/19 season. Velaphi is an experienced A-League goalkeeper, having played a total of 104 games throughout his A-League career, while keeping a total of 24 clean sheets. Since leaving Melbourne City at the beginning of January 2016 he has played a total of 9 senior games.
In my opinion Tando is an average to good A-League level keeper, though his lack of game time for now almost four years is a worry. He was significantly better than Redmayne during his time at Melbourne Heart/City and did well at Wellington in his short stint with them. He is a keeper who is capable of some truly miraculous saves, and some pretty awful shockers, but one who never gives up. Depending on who our new goalkeeping coach is, because I think Tando definitely needs some good coaching to be a success, I wouldn't be unhappy with his signing.
Daniel Margush:
The 21-year-old, a youngster in goalkeeping terms, has made 7 A-League appearances and kept 3 clean sheets for the Reds along with a handful of appearances in the Asian Champions League. A former Young Socceroo, he made no appearances for the South Australian outfit in their last campaign.
When I watched his first few games in the A-League and Asian Champions League I thought he was very impressive, he took his opportunity by the scruff of the neck and made some terrific saves. If Stajcic is looking to back youth, and wants true competition between keepers he could be a decent, and likely cheap, if extremely risky signing.
Noah James:
Young goalkeeper who hasn’t made a senior appearance for the Newcastle Jets.
If you can’t get ahead of Lewis Italiano for at least a bench spot, then there is a problem.
Alex Cisak:
The thirty-year-old, who was called up to a Socceroos squad in 2015, hasn’t played a senior game since 2017. The former Young Socceroo has made a total of 187 senior appearances in his career, mostly in English League One and Two. Signing for Sydney FC in 2017 he was expected to be the Sky blues first choice keeper, but two years on and he has made a single appearance for the Sky Blues in the FFA Cup. Rumours abound of training and drinking problems. When the best goalkeeping coach in the country doesn’t like you, there’s a problem.
I honestly don’t know what to make of Cisak, he has the pedigree and experience to be a good keeper, but the rumours do not sound good at all. Plus, the fact that John Crawley rated Redmayne and Heward-Belle over him. Unless Stajcic has some significant info on him and why he was so absent from Sydney FC for over two seasons, then I don’t think he would be a good signing. We can’t afford the hit to our culture that a dysfunctional player would bring.
Brendan White:
Now playing with Heidelberg in NPL Victoria, White made 4 appearances across his two years with the Roar. Prior to joining the Roar he played for Logan and Redlands in the NPLQ before joining Port Melbourne where he caught the attention of Roar scouts.
I have honestly never seen him play, didn’t keep a clean sheet in his four games though.
Jordan Holmes:
The current Olyroos incumbent, Holmes finds himself without a club after spending the last six years with Bournemouth in their Academy. Holmes has made 21 appearances at senior level, in the sixth tier of English football.
Worth a trial at least? Probably not up to being an A-League number one right away if his only experience is down in the depths of the English system. One to have on call as an injury replacement potentially.
NPL Goalkeepers:
Chris Oldfield:
The custodian who leads the stingiest defence in the NPL Victoria. A former Liverpool academy player, who also played in League One & Two with Chester, Darlington and Rochdale. Oldfield has been in the A-League frame before, signing a short-term injury contract with Sydney at the end of 2016. Now an Australian citizen, has done everything possible to be given a chance at A-League level.
If we were to sign an NPL keeper, it would have to be Oldfield, he consistently saves games for Avondale and has a good pedigree to back it up.
Justin Pasfield:
The 34 year old keeper last played in the A-League in 2014, and fronts a defence with the least goals conceded in the NPL NSW. The former Mariner, Fury and Sydney FC man played 56 times in the A-League for only 9 clean sheets.
Honestly I think the NPL is his level, I haven’t seen anything that shows he is a better keeper than when he left us.
For me it’s a toss up between Oldfield and Velaphi, with my personal preference being Oldfield. Aussie goalkeeping stocks behind Ryan and Vukovic are pretty weak at the moment, so I think this has got to be a big priority for the club.
