fensaddler

We're fine for wingers. Don't forget Brandan will be back soon and Fitzy is seriously good. Just need the number 10, and if that doesn't transpire before the serious stuff starts, even then we've got options to put a functional team out.

Happy with this one. Clearly he could fail to settle, not fit in or get injured, but on paper looks a decent signing to play at our level. Just the number 10 to go now I'd imagine?

So depending on how long ago it was, there would have been two or three tiers between them. It's a gap that can be bridged, and is every year, in a few ties in the UK cup comps. Probably about the same gap in class as between us and Hakoah. We need to be up for it. I'm sure Wazza will make sure that we are.

As a British raised football fan, I'd counsel considerable caution. I've seen enough cup upsets over the years to know that the biggest enemy, every time, is complacency. The team that thinks, even subconsciously, that a tie against lower league opposition is going to be easy is the team that loses, and loses face. In the end it's eleven blokes against eleven blokes, and they have nothing to lose and everything to gain. They will give us a red hot going over unless we are fully up for it.

That option would definitely be there, and we'd have good enough players to do it I think. Always felt he looked a prospect for defensive mid TBH, because his ball control is so good. He's at his best with the ball at his feet and moving forward out of defence. Excellent squad on paper if this comes to pass.

Interesting, and potentially useful...

IMHO we look to be working on the correct positions, CB and CAM. But this might suggest no addition at RB?

Understood jw, I don't think anything I said suggested otherwise?

No reason to believe he can't be decent at our level. Players who have set the world alight at the top of the European leagues aren't going to be signing for us. Dinamo are a decent side, and footballing standards are pretty high in Croatia.

Playmaker's answer was mint. And now I know where Bela got his handle.

Indeed, and hardly pleasant. So we're playing a Jewish team, so it's OK to treat the holocaust as fair banter? God help us if we ever play an aboriginal team, as some might suggest blackface or bananas. Somewhere there is a line we do not cross.

He was shite. Good riddance.

Cheers jw. It was Jakobsen and Colazo I was thinking of re late signings last season, but I hadn't recalled how late even the Cahill deal came through (though we had some idea before it happened). I think we've got a couple of signings of the Jakobsen and Colazo scale to come, and hopefully we'll do better than 50% success with them this time.

As I recall from last season we were still making signings well into the later rounds of the FFA Cup, certainly much later into pre-season than this. So whilst I share your concern jaydub, I think it's pretty much par for the course. We will be the North Korea of world football. Belligerent but unloved.

At $30 they might just pass as novelty slippers...

Hideous, overpriced tat. Even more so than normal. Mr Taste has left the building.

Let's see what a decent coach can do for him. There is raw talent and enthusiasm. Maybe enough of what is missing can be instilled with good coaching.

Apparently he could, but would subsequently be cup-tied if he moved.

I'm going to appreciate this post even if nobody else will. Nice to have some facts about the place... So at least two signings to look forward to.

Well I'm bloody excited. I've missed you guys.

Let's face it, until it happens, we know two things for certain. 1. We'll sign somebody. 2. They might or might not be good.

Honestly can't see any tactical reason to keep Malik. We're not short of defensive midfield options, particularly if Brattan stays, and he doesn't impress me as a central defender. We could free up cap space to recruit in a number of places.

If it's either/or, and I suspect it is, I'd go for central defence as I think we can make do and mend at RB. Moreover I suspect we'll want to keep three at the back as a viable option. The marquee really needs to be a number ten. I don't think Mauk is our solution there, decent as I think he might prove to be.

And surely a marquee to come?

Home kit looks better than the last two seasons. Away kit is mint. FB stream was shite however.