NewConvert

Did they buy PK's vision or Mombaerts' vision?

As the club has improved and started winning silverware our expectations have lifted. We export players and therefore we wonder what happened to next crop?

I am not sure how you can say that. Does the club publish figures on backroom expenditure? In any case, all clubs in all sports are confronted with the same issue: how do you find the best coach for the team? How do you build a quality backroom that is able to remain fresh? If you look at Spurs over the last five years they spent big on managers but no silverware. Managerial brand names came and went. Opposite to that, is how did Wellington find Italiano? CCM found Mark Jackson?

Well he took Troyes from Ligue 1 down to Ligue 2; and then had them firmly planted in the relegation zone. The only thing that he if he became coach again would be to see whether he can learn and evolve or not. Why run the risk?

yes & no. Yes it is the playing group, as professionals, to be self motivated and to deliver the goods that they are being paid for. No, because it is only human for people to drop off whilst they look for a new gig. I have seen it in the workplace when you hear that there will be retrenchments and people wonder whether its them and some just start looking for new jobs even if they are not on the chopping list. Their productivity is greatly reduced. So I can't blame the playing group for feeling the way they do. I wonder whether CFG will look at the contracts and ask Petrillo why the club found itself in this position.

Well considering our backline is coming off contract and the forward line is coming off contract at the same time AND they are all on the wrong side of 30, then it is quite probably that they are all demotivated. Our youth are not getting reasonable time and a few will be looking at Rafa and Cola making a good fist of it at their new clubs, then what is the point of them being here? Try motivating past those issues.

Worst ref in the A-League also the one that copped the rant from Rudan. No, that was Shane Skinner. Totally agree. My preference would be Giancarlo Italiano (WP) of the locals. Otherwise an overseas coach. From South America I like the work that Eduardo Berrizo did with small clubs but was unable to make the leap into the big clubs as he failed with Valencia. An EFL manager could be useful as well. I wonder if Mombaerts has a list of young managers that could be trialled in Oz?

He is certainly keeping that track record intact.

As long as Patrick Wood is their #9 we will have a chance.

Time for him to move on.

Well this forum has never had a rumour disproved so who knows. I still think that Caputo ought to play alongside him as a tall target.

Going by transfermarkt he has been out on loan repeatedly never cementing a place anywhere.

With the current line up and injuries, it would take a very special coach. A half decent coach would have us where we are.

They do but don't forget that you are talking about Peter Dutton. And if you would have been in Oz in the 70s and 80s you would realise that he learnt his politics from Russ Hinze.

@jw1739 are you planning to update the current squad table?

Going by Wikipedia, SA only has one NPL division; NSW NPL also appears to have one division whilst Northern NSW NPL is re-introducing relegation from NPL to HIT Northern League 1 this year. If that is correct, then it is easy to be in NPL1. Our designated forward line requires an effective mid-field which we don't have because it is only Arslan who is providing any creativity. Antonis may be able to fill that role but I am not sure. Having said that, I would play him ahead of Ugarcovic.

Don't agree with my brother. geez.

Another big test for Vidmar - can he motivate the players to respond to last week's performance.

Well the APL has issued a statement regarding the treatment of referees: https://aleagues.com.au/news/a-league-referees-football-australia-news/ And my brother and I have a partial disagreement as he believes that protecting the professional refs regardless of their competence is the only way to protect the refs in the suburban leagues which is the ultimate aim of the statement is. But most professional sports are going through what tennis did when John McEnroe stormed the scene. Everything in the game is improving except for refereeing. And no one is making any statement about doing something about that.

No idea but The Age is reporting that he copped four weeks.

You are right regarding one simple solution and injuries to Leckie and Nabbout helped cause a perfect storm. The drop in speed and form for Reis was also unexpected. As far as youth are concerned there are many playing at under 15s, then as they get older some lack the drive, others plateau. If you recall Najjarine and Najar had fans in this forum - the latter now plays in Iraq and the former is on his third club. The only talent I am missing is Cola who continues to progress but like Caputo he won't get a look in whilst JMac is here; and maybe Rafa. As far as backline talent CCM has Jacob Farrell and WP have two. And this is where list management comes in. Also, thinking about young players coming to City because of the CFG connection, I don't think that applies anymore. AU & CCM players have got great contracts overseas; Bos, Tilio, Glover did not go to CFG clubs either.

Question: rate coaches/managers from best to worst. My best coach has to be WP Giancarlo Italiano and last John Aloisi at WU. Honourable mentions to Mile Sterjovski at MB and Mark Jackson at CCM.

For me the question is how did we end up with such an old backline? City has to honour the contract hence we have three players across the back whose contract comes to an end simultaneously. If none are renewed this means that entire backline has be put together. The mid-field someone thought that Ugarcovic was the answer. That is stupid.

TTIM: When did it become normal for people jogging on the street whilst wearing black lycra? It's dark and instead of running on the footpath they run down the middle of the street. Suicide by car.

I had a prior engagement so completely missed the match but I thought that I would stream it today. Got home, checked the scores, jaw hits the ground, go to bed. Then I checked the forum today and I figure that I could do other things. As has been stated for several weeks, the backline is old and slow, the midfield, Arslan aside, is not effective, and JMac needs better support. Lopane is an enigma only as far as to why he keeps getting selected. Vidmar is proving inflexible and unimaginative. And list management, which cannot be placed at the feet of the coaches, has been poor.