Leaderboard

I’ll go out on a limb and say that Berenguer will be much improved next season. The guy suits the 8 or 10 role and playing under a French manager who can speak his language and who actually understands the tactical side of the game will be a huge help. I’m pretty confident in Mombaerts getting the best out of Berenguer.

Reading Noone's name in these threads is going to do my head in for the whole season

TTIM: Clubs thinking they have to incorporate their home colours into the away kit.

He has never been a good finisher though. Look at his goal numbers. They have always been low. If we brought him in to score goals we were silly. He’s more of a playmaker.

You are right. What I really meant is that visa players shouldn’t come here to develop their game, they should lift the side from day one. He is better suited in a central position but regardless of the position his finishing and balance is a worry.

Seems to be getting closer, but still not official. https://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/mombaerts-plan-to-bring-french-flair-to-melbourne-city

The answer to that is above your post.

Hmm not sure i agree with that tbh. Indeed many of the better sides over the past few years havent even had 5 visas so if we have a starting XI with 4 and then one sits on the bench im not too fussed provided its not taking up an excessive chunk of the cap. Which for mine i don't think Florin is.

well the most important thing I can see in all of these signings is that they look like they will be done before preseason. is a very positive sign imo

The Novillo comparison looks okay across these two graphs, if nothing else, Novillo definitely seems like a better finisher having watched a bit of both of them.

Melbourne City have an odd connection with Bolton Wanderers, with Aaron Mooy, Scott Jamieson, Luke Brattan, ex coach Warren Joyce and now Craig Noone have been involved for both clubs. Noone is a fair bit different to most of the Wingers that Melbourne City possess (and plays a little bit counter to the “City Way”) in that he’s a move the ball forward type of winger. Firstly, and this might seem like a small thing, he passes the ball forwards. This is important for a number of reasons, firstly, City were maligned last year for slow movement with the ball once they’d moved it out wide, Noone makes fewer passes of the ball than either of City’s main two wide threats last year, Berenguer and Wales, but he tends to make a lot more forward passes when given the opportunity to make one. Some of this definitely comes down to game plan, but these figures include a seasons at Cardiff where the game plan was much more conducive to on the floor football. This would be a marked change from a City wide player. The other thing that will likely make him stand out from the current crop of wingers is his propensity to dribble as demonstrated here against Blackburn last year off a corner from Luca Connell It’s usually fast, simple dribbles and then an attempt to release the ball, his success rate is ~70% which compares favourably with Berenguer and is better than both Lachlan Wales and Daniel Arzani. The comparison with Arzani isn’t a bad one, because while unlikely to reach the heights the young flyer did when he was at Melbourne City, Arzani and Noone have a few things in common, firstly, they dribble the ball a lot and secondly, they have a high ratio of dribbles to passes. And while expecting Craig Noone to come in and replace the verve and pace that Arzani brought to the team a season ago is unrealistic, it wouldn’t be hugely surprising to see Noone offer a substantially different look to Melbourne City’s wide play this year. https://setsofstats.netlify.com/2019/06/18/2019-06-18-we-ve-signed-noone-you-ve-signed-noone-at-all/

Davutovic reporting that Mombaerts is signed on a multi year deal. He beat out a Spaniard and another European I think. Calls him a wily tactician and that he took time off after Yokohama to recover from health issues. Also that we’ve got three foreign spots, and that Petrillo is scouting over there now.

Tiprat Mark 2?

There not reliable

Seriously, I heard from a reliable sauce that Sam Kerr's younger brother is on our radar. Wayne.

Makes a big difference no sponsor.

Like the people on here who start a post with. As a foundation member.. or I am a foundation member so...

I disagree, I think both Sterling and Sane can. Hahaha I cannot wait for a whole season of these awful puns.