Squad Development 2024/25

[Bangaverage]

Do we think we will loose any players in the transfer window? I know we all have a couple we would be happy to loose, but I wonder if anyone will leave for opportunities overseas?

[WSWJACK]

50 minutes ago, Bangaverage said:

Do we think we will loose any players in the transfer window? I know we all have a couple we would be happy to loose, but I wonder if anyone will leave for opportunities overseas?

If I was an overseas scout looking at our squad, guy top of my list would be Milanovic

[Kotallo]

Could see Sapsford garnering a bit of interest too if he stays consistent

[Upthehill]

2 hours ago, WSWJACK said:

If I was an overseas scout looking at our squad, guy top of my list would be Milanovic

My whole list would be milanovic

[StringerBellend]

Mata to his MLS team? It's not like staj is using him 

Edited December 6, 2024 by StringerBellend

[Bangaverage]

What about players like Temelkovski and Holliday? Do you think they may prefer to go back to NPlL if they aren’t getting any minutes? 

[pseudonym]

15 minutes ago, StringerBellend said:

Mata to his MLS team? It's not like staj is using him 

Probably should have signed a guest contract like David Villa

Play a couple of games then head over to San Diego 

[Davo]

 

[GunnerWanderer]

Exactly what we need a leader on well 

[Upthehill]

19 minutes ago, Bangaverage said:

What about players like Temelkovski and Holliday? Do you think they may prefer to go back to NPlL if they aren’t getting any minutes? 

They'd be insane to. Milanovic came from WU having scored goals and played minutes. He spent much of that first season not doing a huge deal. 2.5 years later hes currently top scorer in the league and probably headed to a decent club at the end of the year.

Both these guys cut their teeth in the NPL. They've stepped up and now just need to wait for a chance to prove themselves. If any one of our 3 current strikers gets an injury, Temelkovski should be up for minutes. Calen Niewenhoff got lucky that bozanic was injured, but he could have been waiting 12 weeks to get a crack there. If 8-12 games of riding the bench makes them want to walk away, they dont belong in the AL

[Sithslayer1991]

5 hours ago, Bangaverage said:

Do we think we will loose any players in the transfer window? I know we all have a couple we would be happy to loose, but I wonder if anyone will leave for opportunities overseas?

Milanovic is obvious. But there is a bit of hype around Sapsford, Scicluna and weirdly Bonetig. They are all young getting minutes and Scotland is always looking now

[WSWJACK]

1 hour ago, Davo said:

 

To rub salt, he's even wearing WSW shirt 

[andypk]

17 hours ago, Bangaverage said:

What about players like Temelkovski and Holliday? Do you think they may prefer to go back to NPlL if they aren’t getting any minutes? 

I'd be very surprised if either wanted to leave because of game time right now.  If they want to go then let them, it'll say a lot about their work ethic. They may never get an opportunity to make it again.

They are both exciting talents and they'll get their chance.

[Paul01]

17 hours ago, Sithslayer1991 said:

Milanovic is obvious. But there is a bit of hype around Sapsford, Scicluna and weirdly Bonetig. They are all young getting minutes and Scotland is always looking now

Bonnetig's brother is already there!

[BoyFromTheWest]

Curious to see how Marcela goes. He's 34 and has been without a club most of this year (if I read it correctly). If he was still at the top of his game he'd be OS, not Perth. Inclined to agree he possibly wants an easy finish at home.

[Hughesy]

On 6/12/2024 at 3:01 PM, StringerBellend said:

Mata to his MLS team? It's not like staj is using him 

Mata’s situation sums up the state of the club. Looks like the front office went and got him for marketing hype and dumped him in Staj’s lap. The way it’s unfolding, it seems highly unlikely Staj wanted him cause I doubt you’d put the effort into luring him here and then bench him. 

Not sure how true this is but he’s apparently only on $300k which is cheap for a (supposed to be) ‘marquee’ but alternatively could secure a quality aleague level player. It’s frustrating cause I feel we’re 1-2 quality senior players away from being a very good side. 

Makes you wonder who’s running the show at WSW cause this is yet another mess.

[Upthehill]

42 minutes ago, Hughesy said:

Mata’s situation sums up the state of the club. Looks like the front office went and got him for marketing hype and dumped him in Staj’s lap. The way it’s unfolding, it seems highly unlikely Staj wanted him cause I doubt you’d put the effort into luring him here and then bench him. 

Not sure how true this is but he’s apparently only on $300k which is cheap for a (supposed to be) ‘marquee’ but alternatively could secure a quality aleague level player. It’s frustrating cause I feel we’re 1-2 quality senior players away from being a very good side. 

Makes you wonder who’s running the show at WSW cause this is yet another mess.

350k, small in terms of Mata. Big in terms of the fact we could have paid for a top quality CB with that money.

If this was scott hudson's doing, he's a complete dim wit

[matty]

42 minutes ago, Upthehill said:

350k, small in terms of Mata. Big in terms of the fact we could have paid for a top quality CB with that money.

If this was scott hudson's doing, he's a complete dim wit

Big words.

FBK said on a recent podcast that the club leadership asked Staj if he wanted Mata. 

[Upthehill]

36 minutes ago, matty said:

Big words.

FBK said on a recent podcast that the club leadership asked Staj if he wanted Mata. 

And if thats true then its entirely on Staj. I just hesitate to believe anyones story in situations like this because humans aren't particularly good at taking responsibility for mistakes. I just can't fathom how anyone considered spending 10-15% of the wage budget ona  player that was never likely to see out games

[StringerBellend]

49 minutes ago, Upthehill said:

And if thats true then its entirely on Staj. I just hesitate to believe anyones story in situations like this because humans aren't particularly good at taking responsibility for mistakes. I just can't fathom how anyone considered spending 10-15% of the wage budget ona  player that was never likely to see out games

It's on Staj, he's been given the most technical player in the league and doesn't seem to know what to do with him. 

Regardless of if he asked for him he should know what to do 

Edited December 9, 2024 by StringerBellend

[Hughesy]

That’s the other part I find weird about Mata. The aleague is scraping its ass and distribution is lower than ever. Of all the seasons, this is the one we go and get a marquee and then proceed not to use him. It’s a strange situation in every aspect

[Sithslayer1991]

Its definitely on Staj. The not playing him situation, because Mata was present in pre season then he started him once against Western United where we couldn't get him the ball unless he came deep and he hasn't started him since.

But there may be other variables like the club wasn't going to bring any other players in but needed a response to the Smurfs and Staj thought he could fit him in or just needed an experienced player to help mentor the academy boys.

Because Sapsford has been more effective for Staj in that false 9 or 10 role, and that's the other discussion because he is keeping Mata out of the number 10 position. IF you start Mata then you are dropping one of our best players atm. At this stage Sapsford has not warranted being dropped because he is developing and growing in his role. Sapsford has taken his chance. Again DM seems to be the only place Mata can impact this team, but we lose defensively if you put him there because he isn't Diamanti.

There is also the other argument on Kraev, because he is a 10 as well. The Mata talk has actually drowned out the fact we are playing Kraev out of position, because at the Nix he was a 10. Yes sometimes he played on the wing but mainly he was a 10. He is doing a job atm, but its another argument of why did we sign Mata.

For me Staj should just come out with it and say atm the starting 11 is doing the job that he wants. Mata needs to earn his place on the starting 11, or even let people know he is having conversations with Mata and what his best position is FOR the squad. At this stage its off the bench to settle the team. At least its clear to everyone there is a plan and it cuts down the background talk. The way Staj has responded hasn't helped the situation and just added fuel to the fire.

Edited December 9, 2024 by Sithslayer1991

[StringerBellend]

If Staj comes out and says the XI is functioning as he wants he should be immediately sacked

So far we have won 2 game and lost 3 including twice to Sydney (who aren't even playing well)

We are 9th 

Edited December 9, 2024 by StringerBellend

[matty]

Tbf I reckon Sydney are playing well. They've been 'unlucky' against Akld and CCM. Could easily be 4 points higher. I'd bet a couple of pineapples that they'll be top 4 at seasons end. 

[StringerBellend]

1 hour ago, matty said:

Tbf I reckon Sydney are playing well. They've been 'unlucky' against Akld and CCM. Could easily be 4 points higher. I'd bet a couple of pineapples that they'll be top 4 at seasons end. 

My point still holds our team isn't functioning well at. We have lost 3 games twice to a team who have only beaten 1 other team 

[MartinTyler]

11 hours ago, StringerBellend said:

My point still holds our team isn't functioning well at. We have lost 3 games twice to a team who have only beaten 1 other team 

Whilst I agree that we're not functioning well, the team we've lost twice to will comfortably finish in the top 4.

[Bangaverage]

Sounds like Holiday may be leaving, hence why Cameron was ahead of him on the bench last night

Edited December 22, 2024 by Bangaverage

[Sithslayer1991]

How bad must Holiday be. Can't get in front of Clisby and when everyone is fit Staj trusted Panta over Holiday. That's a red flag if I ever saw one.

[Davo]

18 minutes ago, Sithslayer1991 said:

How bad must Holiday be. Can't get in front of Clisby and when everyone is fit Staj trusted Panta over Holiday. That's a red flag if I ever saw one.

Is he a fullback though? He's been put there occasionally, but before he came to us wasn't he playing further forward? In that intra club friendly on the members day before the season he was playing on the wing.

[Sithslayer1991]

53 minutes ago, Davo said:

Is he a fullback though? He's been put there occasionally, but before he came to us wasn't he playing further forward? In that intra club friendly on the members day before the season he was playing on the wing.

If he was brought for the wing no way he was going to get into the team. Dead weight in the end.