January 2014 Transfer Window

[moops]

I think we can leave this in the hands of the city group and their 36 scouts.

Though in terms of an Aussie, Richard Porta could be good and would raise a bit of interest here. I think he's back in Argentinian top flight again???

[moops]

Oops.

Richard Porta.

Nacional Montevideo, Primera División Apertura (Uruguay)

Though I can't say I have seen much of him, just a couple of youtube things, but there were calls for him to be in the Socceroos not longago. There are presumeably more dual citizens we don't know about and players like Ikonomedies could get a look in too??

[Tommykins]

Porta is a strage one, he's chased money the last few club changes and is never tested at a high level (Dubai, Uruguay) but he would be a "Non-visa Foreign" player and wouldn't take up an extra spot.

[Shahanga]

The problem with highlights packages is they don't show a player's stuff ups.

 

If you just look at just highlights you might end up (say, just a random example) signing someone from an obscure European country who misses 9 shots to every one he buries.

[heart_fan10]

quite a few players are keen to come back to the a-league next season. The ones that interested me were:

 

- Ognenovksi

- Marrone

- Madaschi

[sharpy]

quite a few players are keen to come back to the a-league next season. The ones that interested me were:

 

- Ognenovksi

- Marrone

- Madaschi

 

We have a million defenders though, geez i'd love someone who can carve open a defence or hit a shot on target.

[Nate]

Holman wouldn't be the worst Australian player to fit that role to be honest, he'd be one of the most industrious players in the league and actually has a crack from outside the box every now and then.

 

Would definitely be worth a look.

[Torn Asunder]

https://twitter.com/korfootballnews/status/428346793831583744

Brendan Hamil reportedly on the market

[heart_fan10]

Hamill would be a perfect signing for us

[billyheart]

For next season yes.

This season there's is only one position we don't have any youth players coming through at nor anyone currently on the books that's satisfactory and that's at the striker.

And I don't think there's any Uncontracted Australian strikers of quality around.

[Kiro Kompiro]

https://twitter.com/korfootballnews/status/428346793831583744

Brendan Hamil reportedly on the market

 

 

Actually I'm more interested in Djeparov: creative midfielder  twice Asian footballer of the year.  Absolute gun of a player

[jw1739]

For next season yes.

This season there's is only one position we don't have any youth players coming through at nor anyone currently on the books that's satisfactory and that's at the striker.

And I don't think there's any Uncontracted Australian strikers of quality around.

Been saying it for a while now. Just terrible recruiting, planning and development. Even if Mifsud had proved to be a good pick-up he would have still been the only one and we would have had no injury or other absence cover.

This has to be fixed for next season.

[marn11]

For next season yes.

This season there's is only one position we don't have any youth players coming through at nor anyone currently on the books that's satisfactory and that's at the striker.

And I don't think there's any Uncontracted Australian strikers of quality around.

 

What about Peter Skapetis? Not coming out of contract, but is young, scores for fun, is a Melbourne boy and could be looking for first team football, especially if QPR find themselves in the top flight next season.

Edited January 29, 2014 by marn11

[El Cunado]

https://twitter.com/korfootballnews/status/428346793831583744

Brendan Hamil reportedly on the market

Would be a great pick-up. By the looks of it, he hasn't really been given much of a chance over there. Been injured a fair bit but hasn't even really been given a look in.  

Could easily see him and Vranković propping up our defence in 2-3 years. 

[jw1739]

 

https://twitter.com/korfootballnews/status/428346793831583744

Brendan Hamil reportedly on the market

Would be a great pick-up. By the looks of it, he hasn't really been given much of a chance over there. Been injured a fair bit but hasn't even really been given a look in.  

Could easily see him and Vranković propping up our defence in 2-3 years. 

 

I'm not sure TBH. Good player, but he does not have a good injury history as you point out. Even when he was with us.

[El Cunado]

 

 

https://twitter.com/korfootballnews/status/428346793831583744

Brendan Hamil reportedly on the market

Would be a great pick-up. By the looks of it, he hasn't really been given much of a chance over there. Been injured a fair bit but hasn't even really been given a look in.  

Could easily see him and Vranković propping up our defence in 2-3 years. 

 

I'm not sure TBH. Good player, but he does not have a good injury history as you point out. Even when he was with us.

 

Good point. That could be just a result of his age though. Quite often players have a run of injuries while their bodies are getting used to playing professionally. On the assumption he doesn't take up to much of the cap, I reckon he'd be worth the risk. 

[jw1739]

 

 

 

https://twitter.com/korfootballnews/status/428346793831583744

Brendan Hamil reportedly on the market

Would be a great pick-up. By the looks of it, he hasn't really been given much of a chance over there. Been injured a fair bit but hasn't even really been given a look in.  

Could easily see him and Vranković propping up our defence in 2-3 years. 

 

I'm not sure TBH. Good player, but he does not have a good injury history as you point out. Even when he was with us.

 

Good point. That could be just a result of his age though. Quite often players have a run of injuries while their bodies are getting used to playing professionally. On the assumption he doesn't take up to much of the cap, I reckon he'd be worth the risk. 

 

IMO we've recruited so badly recently. Basically because we haven't had a strategic plan in place, and (as an example) that's the reason why we find ourselves without a decent striker, and no striker coming though our youth team. Just signing players because they have become available is part of the reason we have an unbalanced squad, and we had that last season as well. Our two U-22 representatives can't get much game time (or any at all) because we have too many CBs and MFs, all our wingers play the same way, and yet we haven't got an effective central striker.

 

I just don't want to see us make these same mistakes over and over again.

[tigerou812]

Wouldn't seeing the Hoff given a go up front and Walker a go at RB. Hoff can't be any worse than our Malta Mosquito Dung beetle.

[mus-28]

https://twitter.com/korfootballnews/status/428346793831583744

Brendan Hamil reportedly on the market

 More importantly they're selling Server Djeparov, quality player, quality mullet. Although he'd be on marquee wages he's a former Asian Player of the Year and would be Ono-esque for us.

 

[tigerou812]

We need to get a player with a massive afro.

[carlings]

That mullet, my god

[HeartFc]

He should stick to tennis tbh

[Kiro Kompiro]

 

https://twitter.com/korfootballnews/status/428346793831583744

Brendan Hamil reportedly on the market

 More importantly they're selling Server Djeparov, quality player, quality mullet. Although he'd be on marquee wages he's a former Asian Player of the Year and would be Ono-esque for us.

 

 

 

 

Aah so i gotta put pictures in for anyone to read anything I write...

 

 

But yes he was a standout when he played against the Socceroos in the WCQ a few years ago,and AFAIR he may have knocked back an EPL offer at one stage.  IMO better than Ono and I saw both play when they were at their peak.

 

Would be affordable, fantastic for the ACL when we win the league next season and play in the ACL the following if we sign him to a 2 year deal.

[Nate]

 

 

https://twitter.com/korfootballnews/status/428346793831583744

Brendan Hamil reportedly on the market

 More importantly they're selling Server Djeparov, quality player, quality mullet. Although he'd be on marquee wages he's a former Asian Player of the Year and would be Ono-esque for us.

 

 

 

 

Aah so i gotta put pictures in for anyone to read anything I write...

 

 

But yes he was a standout when he played against the Socceroos in the WCQ a few years ago,and AFAIR he may have knocked back an EPL offer at one stage.  IMO better than Ono and I saw both play when they were at their peak.

 

Would be affordable, fantastic for the ACL when we win the league next season and play in the ACL the following if we sign him to a 2 year deal.

 

Djeparov is an absolute gun, the only negative is that he's on the wrong side of 30 but the bloke can play, no doubt about it. 

 

We've been crying out for a player who can unlock defenses like he can, would be a fantastic signing.

[mus-28]

We need to get a player with a massive afro.

 

[tigerou812]

 

We need to get a player with a massive afro.

 

 

Bigger 

[Huzie]

Lustica?

[theresonlyonebzamora]

Lustica?

 

already off to brisbane.

[Nate]

Surely we must be after a striker with Gol Gol gone.

[Dylan]

Maybe they released Gol Gol because they were closed to signing another striker? Mifsud and Williams need more competition for the spot. 

[jw1739]

Doubt it. He wanted to go - why keep an unhappy player?

 

But I can't read this situation yet. What are we trying to do with the rest of this season?

 

We know JvS is a caretaker, we know that at least 13 of our players come out of contract (and some of us think more), we know that the ADUG is going to "listen and learn" until the end of the season and then "make decisions very quickly."

 

I would have thought that if we really did have any belief that we could make the top 6 we would have brought in a guest striker for 10 matches. That doesn't look possible now. So perhaps we really are just filling in the rest of the season as best we can, perhaps even hoping that more players will leave of their own accord, making the task of rebuilding bigger but possibly easier?

 

We seem to be the only club in the league not looking for players. Therefore I lean towards the second scenario.

[billyheart]

A swap would have been nice but Mooy would be stupid to ask for an early termination and to sign for us when he's got upcoming finals and the ACL to shop himself in.

Hope he has signed though!

[Shahanga]

I say to hell with this caution.

 

Sign the best striker we can for the rest of the season within the confines of the rules on guest players, salary caps and visas and go like to crazy to make the 6.  Once there go like crazy to win the dunny seat.

 

Who Dares Wins.

[Heart of Melbourne]

Sash Ogenovski going to Sydney FC . Salary cap?

[Nate]

Sash Ogenovski going to Sydney FC . Salary cap?

To be fair to them, who do they actually have now left within the salary cap who'd cost that much in regards to salary?

 

- Garcia

- Petkovic

- Bojic

- Carle

- Despotovic (maybe)

 

They're about the only ones I could see taking up some room in the salary cap, the rest would be playing on low-average salaries I would be guessing.

[Sash]

Isn't it fairly clear what's going on? With a new coach (sort of), and new sets of eyes at training and at matches from City's management, the rest of this season is about working out who'll stay and who'll go. These last 12 or so rounds are like an audition for our players, and the coach, for next year and beyond. Wherever players stood a few weeks ago, the whole landscape has changed.

 

That's why we're not signing anyone. Before adding to the squad, they need to take a close look at who's got the qualities they're after for the style of football we're going to play (which is probably very different to JA's method we've had for a year and a half), and who doesn't. It's what they've said - take a look, talk to everyone, then act.

 

Supporters might be holding out some faint hope for finals, but the new owners don't care where we finish this year. This year isn't their responsibility. They're about learning as much as they can, and then building something big for next year and beyond.

 

When we recruit a striker, it will be after a proper search, and after they've worked out the squad they're starting with, and things like salary cap space and how to use our visa and marquee spots. It won't just be a patch up job.

Edited February 3, 2014 by Sash

[Murfy1]

Who were the winners and losers in this A-League transfer window?

 

David Hall

 

February 4, 2014

 

IT'S been a busy month in the A-League, with almost 40 players on the move from one club or another. For a 10-team competition, that's a lot of traffic.

 

As Simon Hill has pointed out, some clubs were more successful than others but there are still league-wide issues about how Australia manages player transfers.

 

But as Sydney FC pulls Sasa Ognenovski through the window before it slams shut, let's take a look a look at each club's January recruitment.

 

Adelaide United

 

In: Ryan Griffiths, Michael Marrone; out: Steven Lustica, Antony Golec

 

Despite the ugliness that surrounded Lustica's departure, you would have to say Josep Gombau came out of this with a better balanced team.

 

A midfielder of Lustica's quality will always be missed but that is perhaps the strongest section of Adelaide's squad, with Carrusca, Ferreira, Malik and Sanchez all capable of having an impact.

 

Instead, Gombau has added experience and confidence to his defence in fullback Marrone, a player who can easily fit into the Reds' possession game, as well as a proven goalscorer in Ryan Griffiths.

 

Verdict: Winners

 

Brisbane Roar

 

In: Jean Carlos Solorzano, Steven Lustica; out: Kwame Yeboah

 

The surprise wasn't that Kwame Yeboah would leave Brisbane Roar but only that it happened sooner than anyone expected. It's unfortunate that we didn't get to see more of the teenager before he was snapped up by Borussia Monchengladbach but it doesn't look like Roar has missed him.

 

Besart Berisha's end-of-season defection to Melbourne Victory could hurt the title favourite more - but then Brisbane has already proved they are more than capable of winning games without the Albanian, which is why Solorzano's return was such a smart move.

 

The Costa Rican may not be at Berisha's level but he is in the same mould, and his previous experience of Roar's passing style should make the transition seamless.

 

Lustica meanwhile will strengthen what is already arguably the competition's best midfield and, again, has already proven adept at Brisbane's possession philosophy.

 

Verdict: Winners

 

Central Coast Mariners

 

In: Bernie Ibini, Eddy Bosnar, Kim Seung-Yong; out: Michael McGlinchey, Trent Sainsbury, Daniel McBreen

 

Phil Moss has dealt with the further break-up of Central Coast's title-winning squad admirably. Losing the likes of McGlinchey, Sainsbury and McBreen would decimate most A-League teams but the Mariners have worked hard to fill the gaps.

 

Bernie Ibini is a no-brainer, while Eddy Bosnar brings wealth of experience from his years playing overseas and it will be interesting to see how he adapts to Australian football again.

 

The big question is Kim Seung-Yong. A-League clubs have generally been reticent when it

comes to recruiting players from Asia but the South Korean attacker comes with a good pedigree, if not necessarily a good goalscoring record.

 

The 28-year-old doesn't have long to make an impression but if he can bring a bit of x-factor to the Mariners' squad, it could make the finals series very interesting.

 

Verdict: Winners

 

Melbourne Heart

 

Out: Golgol Mebrahtu, Dylan MacAllister

 

It's been one-way traffic for Melbourne Heart this January, which would normally have fans gnashing their teeth. But of course there has been one big newcomer to the club off the field, which means Heart is taking a long-term view of recruitment.

 

For now, will the departures of Mebrahtu and MacAllister hurt the club? Well, a) neither were particularly consistent performers and b ) Heart is still bottom of the ladder, so how can it get hurt even more?

 

It's strange to think that a team so rooted to the bottom could have such a bright future.

 

Verdict: Losers - for now

 

Melbourne Victory

 

In: Tom Rogic; out: Mitch Nichols

 

Talented young Australian attacking midfielder out, slightly more talented young Australian attacking midfielder in. Melbourne Victory's signing of Tom Rogic has been hailed as something of a coup but while there is no denying the 21-year-old's potential - as seen briefly in the game against Perth - his ability to determine the outcome of Victory's games and wildly inconsistent season remains to be seen.

 

Rogic is also only a short-term gain, having only signed on loan until the end of May. Nichols, who scored three goals in 14 appearances for the Victory, won't be coming back, meaning Kevin Muscat will have to find another replacement in the off-season.

 

Verdict: Winners - just

 

Newcastle Jets

 

In: Joel Griffiths, David Carney, Nick Ward; out Nathan Burns

 

Gary van Egmond was perhaps the biggest departure that Newcastle will have to come to terms with. The jury is out on Clayton Zane's readiness for a senior coaching role but the former Socceroo has at least beefed up his somewhat youthful squad with three vastly experienced players.

 

Joel Griffiths's return to Newcastle had Jets fans salivating; that the hot-tempered striker saw red in his first game back isn't that surprising but it could negatively affect the Jets' hopes of regaining a spot in the top six.

 

David Carney's return to the A-League was hardly long-awaited but the still-only 30-year-old former Socceroo brings with him a huge amount of international experience.

 

Journeyman Nick Ward also brings some of that much-needed senior know-how, if not exactly inspiration. But with the Jets' talented young players alongside them, this could make for an interesting mix.

 

Verdict: Winners

 

Perth Glory

 

In: Darvydas Sernas, Rostyn Griffiths, Nebojsa Marinkovic; out Ryo Nagai

 

Glory's recruitment policy is among the hardest to call, basically because we know so little about two of the three players signed.

 

Rostyn Griffiths will add some more steel and not a little guile in the centre of the park, and Darvydas Sernas certainly made a memorable debut with that stunning goal against Melbourne Victory. If he can do that on a consistent basis, Glory coach Kenny Lowe might be able to evolve his team from the meat-and-potatoes style he's employed to steady the ship.

 

Marinkovic is the unknown quantity; little information is available about the Serbian midfielder but he looks to be a tidy enough player that could add a little extra class to the Perth roster. Let's hope Glory's scouting department has done its job.

 

Verdict: Winners

 

Sydney FC

 

In: Sasa Ognenovski, Milos Dimitrejevic; out Yairo Yau, Brett Emerton, Tiago Calvano

 

Sydney FC's recruitment policy has come in for some serious criticism in recent seasons so does this window represent an improvement for the Sky Blues.

 

Yairo Yau is unlikely to be sorely missed, Brett Emerton had been fading for some time but Tiago's departure did leave a gap at the back - until the late arrival of Sasa Ognenovski.

 

The big Socceroo's signing looks like a huge boost for Frank Farina; the question of average age and a lack of pace aren't going away anytime soon but Ognenovski brings a commanding presence to Sydney's backline.

 

Dimitrejevic's game time has been limited so far but there have been flashes of quality to suggest he could be an important player once he settles in. The proof will be in whether Sydney can make a dent in the finals.

 

Verdict: winners

 

Wellington Phoenix

 

In: Roy Krishna, Milos Lujic

 

Wellington's recruitment policy hardly set the world alight but coach Ernie Merrick only selects players who will fit into his playing style, so are his two signings going to have an affect or just make up the numbers?

 

Phoenix has signed the A-League's first Fijian footballer in Roy Krishna - whether he can have an impact on lifting Wellington into the finals remains to be seen. PSV Eindhoven was said to be interested in the 26-year-old, who was instead more interested in playing in New Zealand and improving his English.

 

Milos Lujic arrives after a stellar season in the Victorian Premier League and the 23-year-old striker will offer Merrick more options upfront. After interest from a number of A-League clubs, let's hope the former Northcote City man is ready for the step up.

 

Verdict: Jury's out

 

Western Sydney Wanderers

 

In: Golgol Mebrahtu, Daniel Mullen, Antony Golec

 

With an already full roster to rotate, Tony Popovic's premiership-winning squad needing little updating. Still second in the ladder, the Wanderers are well placed for strong finals series, despite lagging behind Brisbane in the race for the Premier's Plate.

 

But the Wanderers have been unequivocal in the intention of signing Mebrahtu, Golec and Mullen, with all available to feature in the club's maiden Asian Champions League campaign. Although something of a bugbear for many A-League coaches, Popovic has made no bones of his intention to succeed in Asia. But is this fixation on keeping his squad fresh costing them the premiership?

 

Maybe no but a few extra bodies as the fixtures increase at the business end of the season certainly won't hurt their chances.

 

Verdict: Winners

 

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/football/who-were-the-winners-and-losers-in-this-aleague-transfer-window/story-fnk6pqhd-1226817902587

Edited February 4, 2014 by Murfy1

[stewmac]

 

Who were the winners and losers in this A-League transfer window?

 

David Hall

 

February 4, 2014

 

IT'S been a busy month in the A-League, with almost 40 players on the move from one club or another. For a 10-team competition, that's a lot of traffic.

 

As Simon Hill has pointed out, some clubs were more successful than others but there are still league-wide issues about how Australia manages player transfers.

 

But as Sydney FC pulls Sasa Ognenovski through the window before it slams shut, let's take a look a look at each club's January recruitment.

 

Adelaide United

 

In: Ryan Griffiths, Michael Marrone; out: Steven Lustica, Antony Golec

 

Despite the ugliness that surrounded Lustica's departure, you would have to say Josep Gombau came out of this with a better balanced team.

 

A midfielder of Lustica's quality will always be missed but that is perhaps the strongest section of Adelaide's squad, with Carrusca, Ferreira, Malik and Sanchez all capable of having an impact.

 

Instead, Gombau has added experience and confidence to his defence in fullback Marrone, a player who can easily fit into the Reds' possession game, as well as a proven goalscorer in Ryan Griffiths.

 

Verdict: Winners

 

Brisbane Roar

 

In: Jean Carlos Solorzano, Steven Lustica; out: Kwame Yeboah

 

The surprise wasn't that Kwame Yeboah would leave Brisbane Roar but only that it happened sooner than anyone expected. It's unfortunate that we didn't get to see more of the teenager before he was snapped up by Borussia Monchengladbach but it doesn't look like Roar has missed him.

 

Besart Berisha's end-of-season defection to Melbourne Victory could hurt the title favourite more - but then Brisbane has already proved they are more than capable of winning games without the Albanian, which is why Solorzano's return was such a smart move.

 

The Costa Rican may not be at Berisha's level but he is in the same mould, and his previous experience of Roar's passing style should make the transition seamless.

 

Lustica meanwhile will strengthen what is already arguably the competition's best midfield and, again, has already proven adept at Brisbane's possession philosophy.

 

Verdict: Winners

 

Central Coast Mariners

 

In: Bernie Ibini, Eddy Bosnar, Kim Seung-Yong; out: Michael McGlinchey, Trent Sainsbury, Daniel McBreen

 

Phil Moss has dealt with the further break-up of Central Coast's title-winning squad admirably. Losing the likes of McGlinchey, Sainsbury and McBreen would decimate most A-League teams but the Mariners have worked hard to fill the gaps.

 

Bernie Ibini is a no-brainer, while Eddy Bosnar brings wealth of experience from his years playing overseas and it will be interesting to see how he adapts to Australian football again.

 

The big question is Kim Seung-Yong. A-League clubs have generally been reticent when it

comes to recruiting players from Asia but the South Korean attacker comes with a good pedigree, if not necessarily a good goalscoring record.

 

The 28-year-old doesn't have long to make an impression but if he can bring a bit of x-factor to the Mariners' squad, it could make the finals series very interesting.

 

Verdict: Winners

 

Melbourne Heart

 

Out: Golgol Mebrahtu, Dylan MacAllister

 

It's been one-way traffic for Melbourne Heart this January, which would normally have fans gnashing their teeth. But of course there has been one big newcomer to the club off the field, which means Heart is taking a long-term view of recruitment.

 

For now, will the departures of Mebrahtu and MacAllister hurt the club? Well, a) neither were particularly consistent performers and b ) Heart is still bottom of the ladder, so how can it get hurt even more?

 

It's strange to think that a team so rooted to the bottom could have such a bright future.

 

Verdict: Losers - for now

 

Melbourne Victory

 

In: Tom Rogic; out: Mitch Nichols

 

Talented young Australian attacking midfielder out, slightly more talented young Australian attacking midfielder in. Melbourne Victory's signing of Tom Rogic has been hailed as something of a coup but while there is no denying the 21-year-old's potential - as seen briefly in the game against Perth - his ability to determine the outcome of Victory's games and wildly inconsistent season remains to be seen.

 

Rogic is also only a short-term gain, having only signed on loan until the end of May. Nichols, who scored three goals in 14 appearances for the Victory, won't be coming back, meaning Kevin Muscat will have to find another replacement in the off-season.

 

Verdict: Winners - just

 

Newcastle Jets

 

In: Joel Griffiths, David Carney, Nick Ward; out Nathan Burns

 

Gary van Egmond was perhaps the biggest departure that Newcastle will have to come to terms with. The jury is out on Clayton Zane's readiness for a senior coaching role but the former Socceroo has at least beefed up his somewhat youthful squad with three vastly experienced players.

 

Joel Griffiths's return to Newcastle had Jets fans salivating; that the hot-tempered striker saw red in his first game back isn't that surprising but it could negatively affect the Jets' hopes of regaining a spot in the top six.

 

David Carney's return to the A-League was hardly long-awaited but the still-only 30-year-old former Socceroo brings with him a huge amount of international experience.

 

Journeyman Nick Ward also brings some of that much-needed senior know-how, if not exactly inspiration. But with the Jets' talented young players alongside them, this could make for an interesting mix.

 

Verdict: Winners

 

Perth Glory

 

In: Darvydas Sernas, Rostyn Griffiths, Nebojsa Marinkovic; out Ryo Nagai

 

Glory's recruitment policy is among the hardest to call, basically because we know so little about two of the three players signed.

 

Rostyn Griffiths will add some more steel and not a little guile in the centre of the park, and Darvydas Sernas certainly made a memorable debut with that stunning goal against Melbourne Victory. If he can do that on a consistent basis, Glory coach Kenny Lowe might be able to evolve his team from the meat-and-potatoes style he's employed to steady the ship.

 

Marinkovic is the unknown quantity; little information is available about the Serbian midfielder but he looks to be a tidy enough player that could add a little extra class to the Perth roster. Let's hope Glory's scouting department has done its job.

 

Verdict: Winners

 

Sydney FC

 

In: Sasa Ognenovski, Milos Dimitrejevic; out Yairo Yau, Brett Emerton, Tiago Calvano

 

Sydney FC's recruitment policy has come in for some serious criticism in recent seasons so does this window represent an improvement for the Sky Blues.

 

Yairo Yau is unlikely to be sorely missed, Brett Emerton had been fading for some time but Tiago's departure did leave a gap at the back - until the late arrival of Sasa Ognenovski.

 

The big Socceroo's signing looks like a huge boost for Frank Farina; the question of average age and a lack of pace aren't going away anytime soon but Ognenovski brings a commanding presence to Sydney's backline.

 

Dimitrejevic's game time has been limited so far but there have been flashes of quality to suggest he could be an important player once he settles in. The proof will be in whether Sydney can make a dent in the finals.

 

Verdict: winners

 

Wellington Phoenix

 

In: Roy Krishna, Milos Lujic

 

Wellington's recruitment policy hardly set the world alight but coach Ernie Merrick only selects players who will fit into his playing style, so are his two signings going to have an affect or just make up the numbers?

 

Phoenix has signed the A-League's first Fijian footballer in Roy Krishna - whether he can have an impact on lifting Wellington into the finals remains to be seen. PSV Eindhoven was said to be interested in the 26-year-old, who was instead more interested in playing in New Zealand and improving his English.

 

Milos Lujic arrives after a stellar season in the Victorian Premier League and the 23-year-old striker will offer Merrick more options upfront. After interest from a number of A-League clubs, let's hope the former Northcote City man is ready for the step up.

 

Verdict: Jury's out

 

Western Sydney Wanderers

 

In: Golgol Mebrahtu, Daniel Mullen, Antony Golec

 

With an already full roster to rotate, Tony Popovic's premiership-winning squad needing little updating. Still second in the ladder, the Wanderers are well placed for strong finals series, despite lagging behind Brisbane in the race for the Premier's Plate.

 

But the Wanderers have been unequivocal in the intention of signing Mebrahtu, Golec and Mullen, with all available to feature in the club's maiden Asian Champions League campaign. Although something of a bugbear for many A-League coaches, Popovic has made no bones of his intention to succeed in Asia. But is this fixation on keeping his squad fresh costing them the premiership?

 

Maybe no but a few extra bodies as the fixtures increase at the business end of the season certainly won't hurt their chances.

 

Verdict: Winners

 

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/football/who-were-the-winners-and-losers-in-this-aleague-transfer-window/story-fnk6pqhd-1226817902587

 

We the only losers then , what a crock of shite journalism ,not surprising from that rag tho !!

[theresonlyonebzamora]

Useless article really. So all those except WP who bought in new players are winners yet those who either culled their list or made no moves are losers??

[n i k o]

Interesting article. I thought our getting rid of golgol and Mcallister made us instant winners? It's also nice to be such a loser team to be beating all these so called winning teams, must be all those successful transfers they made. David Hall you are a fucking clown.