Transfer Talk, Rumours and Speculation

[Tonyboozeadams]

I suppose it was a more insightful post than tony just popping in and yelling samaras 

Edited December 3, 2015 by Tonyboozeadams

[Deeming]

Studs Up with David Davutovic: The A-League players coming off contract

 

MELBOURNE Victory star Gui Finkler headlines a star bunch of players coming off contract at the end of the season.

 

More than 100 players were on an official list of uncontracted players that was released to clubs last month, with Western Sydney, Melbourne City, Sydney FC and Perth Glory topping the list with 14 players apiece.

The Wanderers officially have the most now after former Central Coast keeper Liam Reddy was signed in recent days for the next six months.

The Wanderers’ high number is due to coach Tony Popovic’s latest overhaul, akin to signing most of his inaugural squad to short-term deals, and it wouldn’t be surprising if a chunk of his squad were poached yet again in this salary cap environment (Youssouf Hersi and Aaron Mooy were among those who moved direct to rival clubs).

Join David Davutovic here from midday for his Studs Up live blog and get your questions in at the bottom of the page ...

And underlining that Football Federation Australia is giving no assurances beyond 2016 to Wellington Phoenix, their entire 24-man roster was named on the uncontracted list.

However coach Ernie Merrick has stitched up most of the squad for next season, and these players have not been included in the top 10.

Sydney FC left-back Alex Gersbach, 18, and Brisbane Roar attacker Brandon Borrello, 20, have shown flashes of their enormous potential this season, ensuring their signatures are the most sought-after of the young crop.

Fellow Australian youth internationals James Donachie (Brisbane), Connor Chapman (Melbourne City) and Chris Naumoff (Sydney FC) will also attract strong interest.

While visa spots are restricted to five per squad, it won’t stop clubs from poaching internationals from rival clubs.

Finkler’s class makes him a target for several of Victory’s rivals and making him more appealing is the fact that he becomes an Australian citizen in 2017.

Dutchman Romeo Castelen headlines an impressive batch of foreigners off contract at the Wanderers, including the rapidly improving Spanish trio Dimas, Andreu and Alberto.

Recent Socceroos call up Josh Risdon (Perth Glory), Olyroo Stefan Mauk (Melbourne City) and David Carney (Jets) are looking to pursue careers abroad.

Star Phoenix attackers Roy Krishna and Michael McGlinchey are yet to be re-signed beyond 2016.

With a dearth of keepers available, the likes of Mark Birighitti (Newcastle Jets) and Vedran Janjetovic (Sydney FC) have strong currency.

Veterans Alex Brosque (Sydney FC) and Michael Thwaite (Perth Glory) will attract interest.

TOP 10 PLAYERS OFF CONTRACT AT THE END OF THE SEASON

1 Gui Finkler (Melbourne Victory)

Attacker, 30

The Brazilian set-piece specialist has taken his game to another level in his fourth season at Victory.

2 Romeo Castelen (Western Sydney)

Winger, 32

Capped 10 times by Holland, the winger destroyed Victory last Saturday with his speed and trickery.

3 Alex Gersbach (Sydney FC)

Left-back, 18

The attacking left-back is the hottest young property in the A-League is in demand and getting better with every game.

4 Brandon Borrello (Brisbane Roar)

Forward, 20

Borrello is still only on a youth contract but the speedy striker, who’s tipped to be a future Soccero by John

5 Kosta Barbarouses (Melbourne Victory)

Winger, 25

The Kiwi scores and provides and his amazing durability will be vital for Victory during a busy few months.

6 Josh Risdon (Perth Glory)

Right-back, 23

Don’t let his laid back demeanour fool you, the energetic Risdon is desperate for more after winning his first Socceroos cap.

7 Roy Krishna (Wellington Phoenix)

Forward, 28

The Fijian has assumed the mantle as Wellington’s most dangerous forward from Nathan Burns, netting five already this season.

8 Alex Brosque (SydneyFC)

Forward, 32

The dangerous and versatile left-footer remains Sydney FC’s key attacking weapon.

9 James Donachie (Brisbane Roar)

Defender, 22

Struggled to win his first XI spot back at Brisbane after overcoming injury, but the Olyroos stopper has a big future.

10 Mark Birighitti (Newcastle Jets)

Keeper, 24

Overcome a horror injury and as he edges closer to 100 games, Birighitti will be in demand with few no.1 keepers coming out of contract.

CLUB BY CLUB

ADELAIDE UNITED (12)

Mate Dugandzic

Jordan Elsey

Craig Goodwin

James Jeggo

Bruce Kamau

Dylan McGowan

George Mells

Mark Ochieng

Pablo Sanchez

Dylan Smith

John Solari

Benjamin Warland

BRISBANE ROAR (12)

Brandon Borrello

Daniel Bowles

Devante Clut

Henrique

James Donachie

Javier Hervas

Jack Hingert

Steven Lustica

Jade North

Jean Carlos Solorzano

Shane Stefanutto

Jamie Young

CENTRAL COAST (5)

Josh Bingham

Daniel Heffernan

Jake McGing

Matthew Sim

Tomislav Uskok

MELBOURNE CITY (14)

James Brown

Connor Chapman

Jack Clisby

Wade Dekker

Aaron Hughes

Patrick Kisnorbo

Robert Koren

Marc Marino

Stefan Mauk

Jacob Melling

Paulo Retre

Jason Trifiro

David Williams

Michael Zullo

MELBOURNE VICTORY (9)

 

Nicholas Ansell

Kosta Barbarouses

Leigh Broxham

Matthieu Delpierre

Guilherme Finkler

Giancarlo Gallifuoco

Jesse Makarounas

Dylan Murnane

Archie Thompson

NEWCASTLE JETS (11)

Enver Alivodic

Joshua Barresi

Mark Birighitti

David Carney

Jason Hoffman

Lachlan Jackson

Ben Kantarovski

Brandon Lundy

Leonardo Santiago

Milos Trifunovic

Cameron Watson

PERTH GLORY (14)

Diogos Ferreira

Diego Castro

Ante Covic

Guyon Fernandez

Richard Garcia

Hagi Gligor

Alex Grant

Chris Harold

Mitch Oxborrow

Josh Risdon

Sidnei Sciola

Jordan Thurtell

Michael Thwaite

Marc Warren

SYDNEY FC (14)

Ali Abbas

Zach Anderson

Anthony Bouzanis

Alex Brosque

Jacques Faty

Alex Gersbach

Vedran Janjetovic

Alex Mullen

Christopher Naumoff

Ivan Necevski

Matthew Simon

Robert Stambolziev

Jacob Tratt

Riley Woodcock

WELLINGTON PHOENIX (24)

#NOTE: FFA has included the entire Phoenix squad, despite some contracted beyond 2016.

Kwabena Appiah-Kubi

Roly Bonevacia

Troy Danaskos

Thomas Doyle

Andrew Durante

Louis Fenton

Dylan Fox

Justin Gulley

Lewis Italiano

Roy Krishna

Vince Lia

James McGarry

Michael McGlinchey

Glen Moss

Manny Muscat

Blake Powell

Matthew Ridenton

Albert Riera

Alejandro Rodriguez

Logan Rogerson

Alex Rufer

Oliver Sail

Jeffrey Sarpong

Ben Sigmund

WESTERN SYDNEY (15)

Alberto Aguilar

Daniel Alessi

Jonathan Aspropotamitis

Dean Bouzanis

Romeo Castelen

Shannon Cole

Shayne D’Cunha

Dimas Delgado

Alusine Fofanah

Andreu Mayoral

Golgol Mebrahtu

Federico Piovaccari

Liam Reddy

Brendon Santalab

Jaushua Sotirio

[haz]

Let's raid phoenix for Roly, Krishna and McGlinchey

[bt50]

6 minutes ago, haz said:

Let's raid phoenix for Roly, Krishna and McGlinchey

Given where we are at, Bonevacia is probably the only one of those three that id sign.

[Dylan]

Just now, bt50 said:

Given where we are at, Bonevacia is probably the only one of those three that id sign.

And we have had a crack at Bonevacia

[Luke]

The fijian messi for marquee 

[hakz7]

Surprised Sydney haven't re-signed Gersbach yet.

[Dylan]

2 minutes ago, hakz7 said:

Surprised Sydney haven't re-signed Gersbach yet.

He is probably refusing to sign as he thinks he is going overseas

[morphine]

Let's not play this game. 

We know he's coming to us. 

Edited December 15, 2015 by morphine

[haz]

If we want to show intent of being a big club in Australia we have to lure star players from other A League clubs to us 

[NewConvert]

It will all depend on who leaves City voluntarily and who will not be offered a new contract. Of the two visa players who are departing, Koren and Hughes, I am not sure anyone in the list who I would select and replace them with. Compounding the marquee issue is that I don't expect Mooy to be here next season. So the club would lose two AM. Hughes should not get another season because he is just too injury prone. If Zullo departs as he says he believes that he is good enough for Europe then that leaves another hole at LB. Are there any LBs on that list that I would be screaming for the club to get? Nah. I thought Sorenson was on a 1 year deal but obviously not because he is not on the list otherwise I would have raided the Jets for Birighitti. Otherwise, you can probably create a decent side with those on the list but which hole will they fill.

[jw1739]

2 minutes ago, NewConvert said:

It will all depend on who leaves City voluntarily and who will not be offered a new contract. Of the two visa players who are departing, Koren and Hughes, I am not sure anyone in the list who I would select and replace them with. Compounding the marquee issue is that I don't expect Mooy to be here next season. So the club would lose two AM. Hughes should not get another season because he is just too injury prone. If Zullo departs as he says he believes that he is good enough for Europe then that leaves another hole at LB. Are there any LBs on that list that I would be screaming for the club to get? Nah. I thought Sorenson was on a 1 year deal but obviously not because he is not on the list otherwise I would have raided the Jets for Birighitti. Otherwise, you can probably create a decent side with those on the list but which hole will they fill.

The "Player Contracts" thread has the correct details for all our senior squad players.

[jw1739]

I think we'll unload Koren, Hughes, Zullo, Williams, Brown and Kisnorbo. Not sure either that we need both Marino and Dekker. I think we'll retain Mauk and Clisby - the latter is, IMO, unfairly rubbished on here. We'll probably Melling and Chapman, but add those two to Gameiro and once again we're starting to accumulate players with injury problems.

I think we are likely to pick up Brattan, possibly on loan. For all the hype I don't think he's played for Bolton yet.

Once again though, it's our defence that is looking full of holes to be filled.

[Andrew Edmonds]

Know he plays for Victory, but Barbarouses would be a good pick up!

[Jovan]

4 minutes ago, Andrew Edmonds said:

Know he plays for Victory, but Barbarouses would be a good pick up!

Instead of Gamiero?  He also uses a visa spot.

Goodwin may be worth a crack. Seems pretty reliable and generally plays LB.

We need another Australian CB.

[wfc_10]

1 minute ago, Jovan said:

Instead of Gamiero?  He also uses a visa spot.

Goodwin may be worth a crack. Seems pretty reliable and generally plays LB.

We need another Australian CB.

Alex Wilkinson. Out of contract soon too....

[Jimmy]

Always thought Durante is one of the most underrated players in the A-League. Would be stoked to pick him up after the FFA cull Wellington. 

Bonevancia as well plz.

[neio]

As Australian CB I'd take Bowles

Would definitely take Krishna and bonavacia

Also a massive fan of andreu from wsw

 

 

Is Sorenson one or two year contract? If it's only one we should make play at birighitti or janjetovic 

[NewConvert]

57 minutes ago, jw1739 said:

I think we'll unload Koren, Hughes, Zullo, Williams, Brown and Kisnorbo. Not sure either that we need both Marino and Dekker. I think we'll retain Mauk and Clisby - the latter is, IMO, unfairly rubbished on here. We'll probably Melling and Chapman, but add those two to Gameiro and once again we're starting to accumulate players with injury problems.

I think we are likely to pick up Brattan, possibly on loan. For all the hype I don't think he's played for Bolton yet.

Once again though, it's our defence that is looking full of holes to be filled.

Now that Chapman has been ruled out for three months there definitely is a hole in defence. Although I would not include Chapman as injury prone this is certainly a setback but I would still keep him. I also just realised that we have 8 players for our forward line (plus Espindola as injury replacement) and 7 players for our defense. Given that we either play 442 or 433 we really should have no more than 6 players for our forwards and 8 for our defence. Given that at season's end the following players will come out of contract: Williams, Brown, Marino, Dekker and Espindola, at least two of these players should not be replaced and some depth added at the back. Given Brown's injury history he should not be offered a contract. Espindola is an injury replacement so I am not sure what happens then. Marino I am uncertain but last season and again this season he has suffered impact injuries that have kept him out any opportunity for game time, so should he get another one year contract or should he be released? Dekker seems to be a #9 player that just sits in the box and can't play anywhere else - not sure. Williams? Depends on what else is available.

[Andrew Edmonds]

1 hour ago, Jovan said:

Instead of Gamiero?  He also uses a visa spot.

Goodwin may be worth a crack. Seems pretty reliable and generally plays LB.

We need another Australian CB.

Understand that, but just believe Barbarouses would benefit our squad greatly and Gameiro will take a long time to get back.

Would love if we could get Goodwin and Zullo goes.. would save quite a bit in the salary cap.

Wilkinson would be the obvious choice.

1 hour ago, Jovan said:

Instead of Gamiero?  He also uses a visa spot.

Goodwin may be worth a crack. Seems pretty reliable and generally plays LB.

We need another Australian CB.

And personally, I dont think Gameiro will get back even though I want him to.

[morphine]

Why would Goodwin come back to us? 

And no ex-Scum players ever pls. 

[jw1739]

53 minutes ago, neio said:

As Australian CB I'd take Bowles

Would definitely take Krishna and bonavacia

Also a massive fan of andreu from wsw

Is Sorenson one or two year contract? If it's only one we should make play at birighitti or janjetovic 

For the 100th time - Tommy Sorensen is on a two-year contract - see the "Player Contracts" thread.

If you took both Krishna and Bonivacia that would leave no room for an international marquee as all five visa places would be taken.

[fiji19]

Are we allowed to sign 2 injury replacement players for both Gamerio and Chapman??

If so Yeboah and Cameron Burgess would be good pick ups, with a view to sign them up next season.

[neio]

22 minutes ago, jw1739 said:

For the 100th time - Tommy Sorensen is on a two-year contract - see the "Player Contracts" thread.

If you took both Krishna and Bonivacia that would leave no room for an international marquee as all five visa places would be taken.

 

I wasn't saying take them both, I was saying I would take them both (as in one or other)

[Murfy1]

7 hours ago, haz said:

If we want to show intent of being a big club in Australia we have to lure star players from other A League clubs to us 

 

Agree with this. IMO it's hard to overstate the importance of building this club's status and profile. It'll make it easier to sign more quality players in the future as well, so there would be benefits over the long term if Melbourne City can become more renown internationally than the other A-league clubs (there's also the added bonus that it weakens our rivals at the same time while it strengthens us).

 

I'd say the club did a solid job going into this season. Several A-League clubs wanted to sign Ivan Franjic, including Sydney FC, his former club Brisbane Roar, and Melbourne City proved it has the pulling power to get his signature. We signed one of Sydney FC's top rated striker Corey Gameiro, right from under their nose whilst they were trying to re-sign him. And we signed Western Sydney's most highly rated young player in Steve Kuzmanovski.

 

So I'm hoping the club can build on this good work, and lure some quality players from other A-League clubs next season.

 

The best free agents for next season are the up and coming young players IMO, especially Alex Gersbach, Chris Naumoff, Jimmy Jeggo, and Brisbane's Devante Clut, Brandon Borrello and James Donachie (Brisbane seem to consistently fail to tie down their good players to appropriately long contracts, so we should exploit that).

 

 As for our LB next season I'm really hopeful that the club can re-sign Aziz Behich. He's out of contract at the end of the season, and IMO he's the only former player that this club really must re-sign at some point. It would be an awesome win-win reunion.

[alexli]

24 minutes ago, Murfy1 said:

 

Agree with this. IMO it's hard to overstate the importance of building this club's status and profile. It'll make it easier to sign more quality players in the future as well, so there would be benefits over the long term if Melbourne City can become more renown internationally than the other A-league clubs (there's also the added bonus that it weakens our rivals at the same time while it strengthens us).

 

I'd say the club did a solid job going into this season. Several A-League clubs wanted to sign Ivan Franjic, including Sydney FC, his former club Brisbane Roar, and Melbourne City proved it has the pulling power to get his signature. We signed one of Sydney FC's top rated striker Corey Gameiro, right from under their nose whilst they were trying to re-sign him. And we signed Western Sydney's most highly rated young player in Steve Kuzmanovski.

 

So I'm hoping the club can build on this good work, and lure some quality players from other A-League clubs next season.

 

The best free agents for next season are the up and coming young players IMO, especially Alex Gersbach, Chris Naumoff, Jimmy Jeggo, and Brisbane's Devante Clut, Brandon Borrello and James Donachie (Brisbane seem to consistently fail to tie down their good players to appropriately long contracts, so we should exploit that).

 

 As for our LB next season I'm really hopeful that the club can re-sign Aziz Behich. He's out of contract at the end of the season, and IMO he's the only former player that this club really must re-sign at some point. It would be an awesome win-win reunion.

Hi Murf, talking about former players, what is the status of Curtis Good? Is he still suffering from hip injury?

[Murfy1]

5 minutes ago, alexli said:

Hi Murf, talking about former players, what is the status of Curtis Good? Is he still suffering from hip injury?

 

Yes he is sadly, according to a report on him that was published today:

Quote

Newcastle United’s Curtis Good, who formed a successful defensive pairing with Chapman at the FIFA U20 World Cup in 2013, is still battling to recover from a hip injury that ruled him out of the 2014 World Cup.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/football/a-league/teams/melbourne-city/melbourne-city-defender-connor-chapman-ruled-out-til-march-through-injury/news-story/bab81be04aa922e43b249f58b582b993

 

He was apparently fit briefly at the start of this EPL season around July, September this year, but re-injured that troublesome hip and has been sidelined since then.

[alexli]

7 minutes ago, Murfy1 said:

 

Yes he is sadly, according to a report on him that was published today:

 

 

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/football/a-league/teams/melbourne-city/melbourne-city-defender-connor-chapman-ruled-out-til-march-through-injury/news-story/bab81be04aa922e43b249f58b582b993

 

He was apparently fit briefly at the start of this EPL season around July, September this year, but re-injured that troublesome hip and has been sidelined since then.

This guy's luck is so poor! Hope he can get his body right and maybe comeback to us

[heart_fan10]

if we come top 2 this season, we should be able to lure players better than any other club in the league

- Best training facilities

- Best stadium 

- Great city

- Asian champions league 

- Connection to EPL 

Pretty hard to pass up on. The only thing missing really is a marquee coach but I'm sure that will eventually come 

Edited December 15, 2015 by heart_fan10

[Murfy1]

"The secret agent" at www.sportingnews.com reporting a potentially big shakeup to next season's squad:

 

Quote

Melbourne City want Barbarouses

 

By the Secret Agent

December 15, 2015

 

With this weekend's Melbourne derby looming, things look likely to get even spicier between the cross-town rivals, as I can reveal Melbourne City are considering making a massive play for Kosta Barbarouses.

The linchpin behind the whole move is, bizarrely, Aaron Mooy. Why? Well follow these breadcrumbs.

Despite Mooy being coy about a possible move to Europe at season's end, expect City to look to replace him with an overseas marquee signing if he does indeed leave.

The City Group-owned club needs to increase its supporter base, and have decided to replace their current overseas marquee signing, Robert Koren, with a major overseas player in the mould of Alessandro Del Pierro, i.e. one with serious marketing potential.

If Mooy does to decide to go overseas, and with new FFA rules permitting both marquee spots to be taken by foreigners, I can assure you a second big high profile player will be sought.

That in turn would limit foreign positions in their squad, as City already have Thomas Sorensen, Harry Novillo and Uruguay striker Bruno Fornalori.

So, in short, if Mooy stays, just watch as City make a cross-town raid for the man known as Kosta Barbarouses.

 

http://www.sportingnews.com/list/4688049-exclusive-the-secret-agent---super-strife-for-the-mariners/slide/417761

Edited December 15, 2015 by Murfy1

[Imperial Pints]

F#ck Barbarouses the days of signing victory hacks are in the past

Edited December 15, 2015 by Imperial Pints

[Jovan]

What is this horeshit. Seriously who is this secret agent? Moron. Please Murf is it necessary posting such obvious nonsense.

[n i k o]

34 minutes ago, Murfy1 said:

"The secret agent" at www.sportingnews.com reporting a potentially big shakeup to next season's squad:

 

 

http://www.sportingnews.com/list/4688049-exclusive-the-secret-agent---super-strife-for-the-mariners/slide/417761

Wow what an article. So basically because we have players leaving we will go for Barborouses.  

[Murfy1]

59 minutes ago, Jovan said:

What is this horeshit. Seriously who is this secret agent? Moron. Please Murf is it necessary posting such obvious nonsense.

I guess if the writer wanted his name to be known he wouldn't have called himself "secret agent".

 

A number of decent young football journos contribute to www.sportingnews.com, so it would seem to be unjustified to completely dismiss things from the website.

 

 In my opinion it's better to post as much information as possible about Melbourne City (rather than post less information), and people can make up their own minds. I'm confident readers of the forum can ably decide whether articles are reasonable or nonsense.

 

In my opinion the article doesn't add up (not least because if we got a Visa marquee to replace Mooy, and another Visa marquee to replace Koren, we wouldn't have any free Visa spots left to sign the Kiwi Barbarouses [as with Fornaroli, Novillo, Sorensen and apparently 2 Visa marquees signed all 5 spots would be full]).

Nonetheless it's an interesting suggestion that Melbourne City would target Barbarouses. Also the idea that Koren would be replaced by "a major overseas player in the mould of Alessandro Del Pierro, i.e. one with serious marketing potential" is worthy of discussion.

Edited December 15, 2015 by Murfy1

[Nate]

plus this is a rumours and speculation thread after all, even an article with as little credibility as this one still has more substance than most of the stuff discussed within here

[Thrillhouse]

surely kosta isn't far off citizenship? 

[Andrew Edmonds]

1 hour ago, Murfy1 said:

I guess if the writer wanted his name to be known he wouldn't have called himself "secret agent".

 

A number of decent young football journos contribute to www.sportingnews.com, so it would seem to be unjustified to completely dismiss things from the website.

 

 In my opinion it's better to post as much information as possible about Melbourne City (rather than post less information), and people can make up their own minds. I'm confident readers of the forum can ably decide whether articles are reasonable or nonsense.

 

In my opinion the article doesn't add up (not least because if we got a Visa marquee to replace Mooy, and another Visa marquee to replace Koren, we wouldn't have any free Visa spots left to sign the Kiwi Barbarouses [as with Fornaroli, Novillo, Sorensen and apparently 2 Visa marquees signed all 5 spots would be full]).

Nonetheless it's an interesting suggestion that Melbourne City would target Barbarouses. Also the idea that Koren would be replaced by "a major overseas player in the mould of Alessandro Del Pierro, i.e. one with serious marketing potential" is worthy of discussion.

From what I read, we'll only go for Barbarouses if Mooy stays according to this rumour.

[hakz7]

2 hours ago, Jovan said:

What is this horeshit. Seriously who is this secret agent? Moron. Please Murf is it necessary posting such obvious nonsense.

Christian7

[Jimmy]

50 minutes ago, hakz7 said:

Christian7

:')

[haz]

7 hours ago, Imperial Pints said:

F#ck Barbarouses the days of signing victory hacks are in the past

The article is rubbish,  but there's a difference of signing Victory's rejects and their star players. 

 

Think of how we would feel if they signed Brown compared to if they signed Mooy from us