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Wieleart did score in the last derby. I am not sure about Koren - Germano was rushed back (although I do think that he will never play again) and lasted less than 23 minutes. Otherwise I agree.

I will once again offer as an example Rado Vidosic who took over a Brisbane Roar that had Berisha, Broich and most of that champion team. They were not successful. I agree that the saviour mentality has to be erased. Top teams have good, capable players in all positions and some depth to begin with, and then they play like a team. If there is a "saviour" it has to be in the coaching staff.

Why is it that we have an NYL and an A-League? What has always baffled me is why can't any NYL player be selected to play seniors without having to justify it. IIRC Goodwin made his debut only because due to injury, suspension and international duties meant that the team had run low on players. When the full list returned, then the Goodwin had to be sent back to the NYL. I don't understand what benefits are obtained by having a player has signed an NYL contract and therefore is not available for regular selection. Why can't both squads be available for selection through the regular season?

milligan is fast becoming the Puyol of the A-League: physically damage opposition players and then thrash about as if he has been hurt.

"The only top Aussies you are going to get on a free are Kennedy, Cahill or Bresc, all of whom we chased and all of whom are older. To me the top younger Aussies are Kruse and Jedinak and good luck getting either of those on a free. So you either sign an aging star or a journeyman." We are NOT Central Coast Mariners. We are owned by one of the richest club owners in the World. Paying massive transfer fees are no issue for them. Our Australian marquee should have been one of the best, most promising Socceroos who is in his 20s. Money talks. Doubt this. I think that young promising players will play in better ranked leagues because that is their competitive nature. You will note that petro dollar countries also are not attracting world class players in their prime. You will get one or two but they are not likely to be heading towards the EPL. BTW this topic has been covered before and I posted as to why Buddy Franklin chose the Swans ahead of the giants and that was because they were a better team. Or in other words they are not going to play with people like me.

I was under the impression that recruitment was constrained by others including JD and SM. Obviously the head coach should have the biggest say but his word may not be the final word. Then there is the budget.

Wow! Didn't realise that you rated our list.

Good Call... its great that the best winger who has has ever played for the club is injured because now we can play a #yoof that don't deserve a game. How the fuck did I end up following the Fremantle Dockers of the A-League??? I tend to think of us as the Brisbane Bears before they were able to get the good draft picks and Leigh Matthews.

will take place in 2015 on March 11 (a Wednesday evening). sucks if you intended to travel given the previous incarnation was on a Saturday Thanks for that. I thought that City might be a chance for a draw with WSW returning from Morocco, injuries and player dissent.

Don't forget that in between Ange leaving the Roar, Rado Vidosic became coach. So he took a top side including the same players that Ange had on a downward spiral. Then Mulvey came in and restored confidence and play to win the double last season. So your assertion that to make the Roar horrible a difficult proposition does not stack up on the evidence (and there is no need for speculation either). I originally wanted Mulvey to replace JVS mark I but instead they chose JA. Today, I would not be upset about it but given that CFG has resources, scouts and money I wonder whether there may be a better coach available in Europe/Asia/Americas.

So what happened in round 10? You know WSW vs City at Pirtek after WSW returned from Morocco...

I think you nailed it. The local quality pool is not that deep so the internationals have to be the difference and this is where the club has been crap. I thought that under CFG we would see an immediate improvement (existing contracts notwithstanding) but aside from Duff, it has been poor.

Good point. Could also mean that the conditioning staff aren't doing enough to tailor the training regime to suit individual players - specially as they age.

Yeah. I'm going to the pub as well. Might as well start now. Half strength at the games really are a killer! You drown before you get tipsy with that stuff.

Yeah. I'm going to the pub as well.

Is anyone going to open a round 10 WSW vs City page?

A proven EPL player such as Duff doesn't come under my definition of "scouting." I think of it (something like) as spotting a someone who has the talents to become a good footballer but who is playing way below the level that you think he is capable of. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scout_%28association_football%29 Point taken.

This forum has yet to explore the topic whether the mid-field has any confidence in our attacking third. Given the number of opportunities butchered and as a fan I don't have any great confidence on the ability of the front third. Well at least the team has not descended into Kew Jaliens brain freeze.

I thought that our injury replacement Miller was also a visa player and he is also out injured. So just to recap Germano and Koren are long term injuries; Miller and Duff are short term injuries and Wieleart is out of form. Given that Germano and Wieleart are carry overs from the Heart era, that means that our international scout networks have managed to secure only one player that has been able to get regularly on the park - Duff. There is some serious reckoning to be had with the backroom staff.

Because there aren't too many options. Remember we only have four listed defensive players and there is no depth. And yes this is the fault of JVS and JD that the club has no depth in defense.

Go back and view the first four games. See what this club is doing to Duff.

No - JVS does not deserve credit. Aside from Chapman who is recovering from illness, many of the changes today could have been made at any stage over the last month. JVS has not been ruthless enough with the players and so if would kept the same team then he would have tested the patience of CFG. He certainly has tested the patience of people who write in these forums.

Too early to say. We have had many great first performances but little follow through. Although having Chapman back does increase competition a little bit for the defence.

We said that about Villa.

That is absolute rubbish. Cant remember any AFL game at the G getting less than 5 figures in my lifetime, if not 15K. My mistake! The attendance figure for round 17 was 6714 on July 21 BUT not at the G - it was at the TIO. And yes the average figure seems to be around about the 18k mark for the demons at the G when not performing. Which given the cost of the stadium it would have been deep in the red.