Victards Posted January 6, 2015 Report Share Posted January 6, 2015 People saying no to our greatest ever youngster... Pls. greatest ever youngster?!? hahahahah yeah no worries, so good he couldnt make it in Europe... as i said, one of many over-rated players that the a-league has "produced" over the years.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
n i k o Posted January 6, 2015 Report Share Posted January 6, 2015 Marn11 it sounds like it would be another highlight reel purchase. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drewmelbcity Posted January 6, 2015 Report Share Posted January 6, 2015 People saying no to our greatest ever youngster... Pls. Â aziz behich, curtis good??? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingofhearts Posted January 7, 2015 Report Share Posted January 7, 2015 People saying no to our greatest ever youngster... Pls. aziz behich, curtis good??? the Hoff? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drewmelbcity Posted January 7, 2015 Report Share Posted January 7, 2015 Â Â People saying no to our greatest ever youngster... Pls. aziz behich, curtis good??? the Hoff? Â Â I was simply pointing out those who have gone on to forge careers overseas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theresonlyonebzamora Posted January 7, 2015 Report Share Posted January 7, 2015 God I hate Baballj, terrible team man. This, he never passes the ball yet as mentioned above he would sook if it wasn't given to him on a platter. And he never once paid for drugs! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tesla Posted January 7, 2015 Report Share Posted January 7, 2015 Lol @ people not wanting Babalj, or expecting him to come here as a backup. Would score at least 15 goals a season in the A-League currently. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jw1739 Posted January 7, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 7, 2015 Lol @ people not wanting Babalj, or expecting him to come here as a backup. Would score at least 15 goals a season in the A-League currently. In the last six rounds of Season 2 he was pretty much the only scorer we had. Â I'd back him to score more than Williams or Dugandzic any day. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewmac Posted January 7, 2015 Report Share Posted January 7, 2015 Lol @ people not wanting Babalj, or expecting him to come here as a backup.Would score at least 15 goals a season in the A-League currently. based on what ,never scored 15 goals a season before why is he going to get them now ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharpy Posted January 7, 2015 Report Share Posted January 7, 2015 Babalj can play, but is an utter flog. Â Do not want because I hate supporting flogs... except Jack Riewoldt! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewConvert Posted January 7, 2015 Report Share Posted January 7, 2015 When Babalj returned for a brief spell, his first game (came on as a sub) showed what he could do at his best. Then subsequent games he went backwards (JA was coaching then). For me he has too large a turning circle and my most abiding memory of Babalj is that he kept on running towards the corners and then trying to cut back in. He neither had the pace nor the skills to execute this move. The A-League has moved on since then and he will flounder. And as the article says he has not progressed as was expected so I can only presume that he has now reached his plateau. The most likely outcome is that he will be a very, very good NPL player but not quite good enough for the A-League. Given that we have a few of those on the roster, I rather let him try elsewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
n i k o Posted January 7, 2015 Report Share Posted January 7, 2015 I was always a fan of his as I thought he had big potential. And I've got no problem with him coming back if it is what we need. But just to entertain the thought of him coming back would there be someone better out there with proven track record that would be a definite threat in the Aleague? While other young Aussies that have gone overseas and have continued to push on, he didn't do as well as expected, so it is a bit of a gamble. The other thought is would we have enough versatility when we need it up front with both Kennedy and Babalj not being the best athletes out there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murfy1 Posted January 7, 2015 Report Share Posted January 7, 2015 (edited) AZ has had 5 different managers since Babalj joined the club in April 2013. So don't judge Babalj too heavily over his time at AZ, as the whole club has been in a messy state of upheaval during his time there.  And on this "so good he couldnt make it in Europe" criticism, it seems like such a silly and misplaced criticism to me. Not only is there context that explains away Babalj's playing history at AZ and Red Star (as we all know, Red Star majority stuffed things up), but it doesn't matter how Babalj went in Europe, because Babalj would be playing in Australia and the A-League. Nathan Burns also flopped in Europe (in the easier location of Greece) and Asia as well, and Burns is easily the A-League's top goal-scorer this season, and one of the league's best players.  So I have no doubt that Melbourne City should welcome Babalj back with open arms, if the club can get him (that doesn't mean that the club shouldn't also strengthen the defence BTW. I want the club's next signing to be a LB). Edited January 7, 2015 by Murfy1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theresonlyonebzamora Posted January 7, 2015 Report Share Posted January 7, 2015 He's the heir to the surly one's throne, should be given captaincy and keys to the City (pardon the pun) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreenSeater Posted January 7, 2015 Report Share Posted January 7, 2015 Was frustrating as hell at times but still the second best striker we've ever had behind the great man Sibon. Would give my left nut to have him back. Absolute champ. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jw1739 Posted January 7, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 7, 2015 Was frustrating as hell at times but still the second best striker we've ever had behind the great man Sibon. Would give my left nut to have him back. Absolute champ. I find it fascinating that some people don't want him back, yet we put up with crap like Williams and Dugandzic season after season. Â Eli turns 23 in February, and there's still time to improve his game with good coaching. Maybe he just is the counterweight that we need to play alongside Kennedy. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mus-28 Posted January 7, 2015 Report Share Posted January 7, 2015 So much potential. If he had Aziz's determination he could be a regular Socceroo, but he strikes me as a Balotelli type who will never fulfill his potential. Given a good #10 and wingers he could be lethal in the A-League. He spent much of his time bereft of decent supply and support. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marn11 Posted January 7, 2015 Report Share Posted January 7, 2015 None of the players previously mentioned could hold a candle to him. Kid is a jet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melburnian Posted January 7, 2015 Report Share Posted January 7, 2015 Eli to come back? No hesitation from me. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
agoalie Posted January 7, 2015 Report Share Posted January 7, 2015 Give me a defender over Eli, only if we got rid of Ramsay, mate and Williams I would take him back. Got too many problems at the back to be looking at another attacker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perthheart Posted January 7, 2015 Report Share Posted January 7, 2015 Would legit take Eli over Kennedy. The kid is ridiculously good at a-league level. Whoever said they think he will be a good NPL player and nothing more needs their head checked. Unless the vic NPL is infinitely better than the WA NPL (I assume it is better but not that much), a player as good as Babalj should never go near the state leagues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
n i k o Posted January 7, 2015 Report Share Posted January 7, 2015 Was frustrating as hell at times but still the second best striker we've ever had behind the great man Sibon. Would give my left nut to have him back. Absolute champ. I find it fascinating that some people don't want him back, yet we put up with crap like Williams and Dugandzic season after season. Â Eli turns 23 in February, and there's still time to improve his game with good coaching. Maybe he just is the counterweight that we need to play alongside Kennedy. If some of our other positions weren't so vital hell yeah I'd want him back. Better than Williams and Dugnadzic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nate Posted January 7, 2015 Report Share Posted January 7, 2015 Would legit take Eli over Kennedy. The kid is ridiculously good at a-league level. Whoever said they think he will be a good NPL player and nothing more needs their head checked. Unless the vic NPL is infinitely better than the WA NPL (I assume it is better but not that much), a player as good as Babalj should never go near the state leagues. Seriously? I'm not saying Babalj is bad but come on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perthheart Posted January 7, 2015 Report Share Posted January 7, 2015 Kennedy will be injured half the time he is with us (1 and a half seasons). The a-league has shown it isn't a retirement league. Eli has something to prove and a career to play for with no injury concerns and wouldn't take a marquee spot. So yes serious. Never said Eli is better than Kennedy when both are fit but I think would provide more for the club. Plus he's one of our own! Hopefully I'm proved wrong and Kennedy dominates and stays injury free. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nate Posted January 7, 2015 Report Share Posted January 7, 2015 But we already tried the Babalj homecoming experience where he was given the opportunity to return from Europe and prove himself again and he didn't exactly set the world on fire. Â I just don't think he's what we need at the moment, at all. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingofhearts Posted January 7, 2015 Report Share Posted January 7, 2015 But we already tried the Babalj homecoming experience where he was given the opportunity to return from Europe and prove himself again and he didn't exactly set the world on fire. Â I just don't think he's what we need at the moment, at all. Maybe not Eli specifically but we definitely need another striker. Â I'd explore all other striker options before reaching out to Eli Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perthheart Posted January 7, 2015 Report Share Posted January 7, 2015 Different circumstances, he was in limbo then because red star (his boyhood club no less) fucked him / heart over. He'd now be fighting for his career if he came back and hopefully wiser for the experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heart_fan10 Posted January 7, 2015 Report Share Posted January 7, 2015 Eli to come back has a big yes from me Funnily enough I saw him sitting in the corporate seats talking to Hoffman at the Perth game so he has obviously been in contact with the club. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewmac Posted January 7, 2015 Report Share Posted January 7, 2015 the club needs to move on & move forward we dont need to try & bring back any half decent player we had cos the ones we have now are shite, our scouts should be able to offer better solutions than Babalj based on how many we are supposed to have these days 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perthheart Posted January 7, 2015 Report Share Posted January 7, 2015 Scouts are great for our international spots. But 90% of our squad is Australian and I doubt they will unearth an Aussie that no one has ever heard of who is better than Babalj. All Aussie clubs are dealing with known quantities as any kid with half a degree of talent is spotted either by Australian clubs or European clubs from an early age. The improvement city can bring to our squad is youth development and attracting the better young Aussies and then being able to hold on to them for a few more seasons than we would be able to as Heart. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jw1739 Posted January 7, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 7, 2015 Scouts are great for our international spots. But 90% of our squad is Australian and I doubt they will unearth an Aussie that no one has ever heard of who is better than Babalj. All Aussie clubs are dealing with known quantities as any kid with half a degree of talent is spotted either by Australian clubs or European clubs from an early age. The improvement city can bring to our squad is youth development and attracting the better young Aussies and then being able to hold on to them for a few more seasons than we would be able to as Heart. I concur with your view that CFG scouts are unlikely to unearth a new Australian talent. But what they could do is keep tabs on Australians playing outside Australia much more readily and to greater effect than our coaches can from Latrobe HQ. So I see that they still have a role to play in recruiting Australians for our squad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonyboozeadams Posted January 7, 2015 Report Share Posted January 7, 2015 Aziz was fucking terrible last year here. But i'm sure you would all have him back in a heartbeat. Eli is a classy forward and would be wepcome at most a-league clubs. If not all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruckoo Posted January 8, 2015 Report Share Posted January 8, 2015 Eli is still a stroppy cunt though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonyboozeadams Posted January 8, 2015 Report Share Posted January 8, 2015 Eli is still a stroppy cunt though. well that is also true Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red or Dead Posted January 8, 2015 Report Share Posted January 8, 2015 Eli to come back has a big yes from me Funnily enough I saw him sitting in the corporate seats talking to Hoffman at the Perth game so he has obviously been in contact with the club. Surely you're just pulling our leg!?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dylan Posted January 8, 2015 Report Share Posted January 8, 2015 Eli to come back has a big yes from me Funnily enough I saw him sitting in the corporate seats talking to Hoffman at the Perth game so he has obviously been in contact with the club. Surely you're just pulling our leg!?! Talking or having a whinge? 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreenSeater Posted January 8, 2015 Report Share Posted January 8, 2015 Give me a defender over Eli, only if we got rid of Ramsay, mate and Williams I would take him back. Got too many problems at the back to be looking at another attacker. Of course a defender would be top priority, but if we had the ability to fit another forward into the mix, Babalj would be just about the first name on my list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red or Dead Posted January 8, 2015 Report Share Posted January 8, 2015 Â Â Eli to come back has a big yes from me Funnily enough I saw him sitting in the corporate seats talking to Hoffman at the Perth game so he has obviously been in contact with the club. Surely you're just pulling our leg!?! Talking or having a whinge? Questioning whether he's pulling our leg or not... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imperial Pints Posted January 8, 2015 Report Share Posted January 8, 2015 Funnily enough I saw him sitting in the corporate seats talking to Hoffman at the Perth game Given the incredible intellect of those two, they were probably discussing quantum physics 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlings Posted January 8, 2015 Report Share Posted January 8, 2015 Eli to come back has a big yes from me Funnily enough I saw him sitting in the corporate seats talking to Hoffman at the Perth game so he obviously idolises Hoff and wanted his signature . Fixed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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