fensaddler

We don't need yet another midfielder. And he's on $6m US a year. We could buy a guest attacker for the money he'd cost.

The German is old, slow, overpaid and not an attacking player. He's here for the tennis with his missus. I'd love Nabbout.

We live most of the way to Geelong. AAMI is viable, albeit a bit of a pain, largely due to the Richmond to Southern Cross bit. Move it to Casey we're not making it at all, and we'll be watching our live football at West Melbourne.

You do wonder whether these guys have any familiarity with the basics of risk assessment. Assess what could happen, the likelihood of it happening, and the impact of it happening. Do what you can to mitigate the risk and plan what you'd do if it actually happens. And in all of that, no one has looked at the risk of our only senior striker getting the hump or losing form? Mitigation, have back up for every position in the squad... That's where the problem started. Too many defenders and midfielders on the payroll that we don't need and barely ever use, but almost no attacking players. And two of that very limited number have in some way got the hump and can no longer be used...

Age story reckons this was initiated by Glory, so that would follow. But also indicated that City weren't keen.

A case of believe who you want to believe. HS convinced of the Keogh swap deal, Age quoting City sources which pour cold water on the idea. However, something is happening, and I'm pretty convinced our new acquisitions will be forward players.

Or read this forum. That's why I'm here - to find out first what is actually going on...

Indeed they are, though there appear to be a fair few willing to pay that premium for a membership. And like you, I'd never be paying $70 for a ticket. But then I've always preferred to be behind the goal anyway...

I'd agree that the price differential is unhelpful. Either end behind the goals is relatively cheap, but there's plenty apparently willing to pay the premium?

There's no shortage of space behind the goal if you want to sing. And watching A League here is a damn sight cheaper than watching even League 1 in the UK.

I suspect Brandan was a strategic move to free a visa space for McCormack. It all fell apart when Villa pulled the plug at the last minute.

Thank you Aardvark for the line about Ned Zelic making noises in the background... That's an image worthy of a David Squires cartoon.

In effect he will have 'asked for a transfer'. If we hold his contract there would need to be some sort of negotiation on a transfer fee. That will get sorted if he wants to go. No point keeping him in that situation.

He'd surely have played. He would have been the natural late replacement for Vidosic.

This ref is giving me the yips. He could do anything at any time.

Fabulous start...

Sunday afternoon granted, but nice weather and on the back of good form...

We're the first to work it out and the last to be told... Ever thus for the paying fans. We outlast players, owners and staff, but we're always the mushrooms.

Well that seems certain that he is gone. Eventually the club will get round to telling us what we already know. We'll hardly miss him, he's never played beyond the odd cameo. Can only hope the incoming will be worth it...

Ninth of twelve in the Scots Prem. He'll probably be very useful for them, and it's back in his manor. All the best big man, we still love you.

There's always a few contrarians Inchy!

Duke, apologies if tagging my comment onto yours seemed like I was having a specific crack at you. Not the case, your comment was just a suitable starting point to run with an idea. And I agree with you, to win things there has to be some balance in this - and we do need to win things. But I'm inclined to be optimistic about the opportunities in being a go to place for domestic talent. We're already beginning to see it with Riley, Lachlan and Harrison. Pity we couldn't have hung on to Daniel for another season...

Biggest no brainer of the century though wasn't it? I've rarely seen a more obvious man of the match!

The point of the scouting network will still be to find useful visa players, but it will also be to locate and evaluate overseas Aussie talent - for example the likes of Boyle, or youngsters who have gone abroad but then not prospered, or who want to return. I'm not sure I buy into this negative view of a "more Aussies" policy anyway. For a start we were looking for a credible identity. If we're seen as the go to place for (young) Aussie talent, if we're seen as the domestic nursery for the Socceroos, and as the place where Aussie talent can play in a decent professional environment as an alternative to a second or third rate overseas club, isn't that quite attractive, and distinctive? It will actually be great to see local talent develop, and then go on to bigger things if its good enough. And if that identity is strong enough, the Arzanis of this world might stay for two or three years, not just one. We're always going to be relative minnows in world football, but let's try and see some positives in this, rather than defaulting to whinge mode?

Quite. Had the ball skills to play out from the back. Pity if he didn't have the attitude for someone to really work with him and find his strengths.