Brendon Santalab

could it be possible that he may be looking to maybe go back to asia and we are trying to get a transfer fee out of it?

Don't know but there is always the potential that we will lose guys like Mooy and Hersi, I think Santa offers reliable cover

could it be possible that he may be looking to maybe go back to asia and we are trying to get a transfer fee out of it?

He ain't going back to Asia. He was playing in the Chinese 2nd division before this. He will finish his career here as he is early 30's now.

Strange re-signing.

I like his versatility, and i think were yet to see his best as for me we only will when he plays up front.

But thus far he has been average on the wing besides a couple dangerous shots. So nothing yet to earn 2 more years.

I want to see him play in place of Juric whilst hes injured and see how he goes. If hes good then hed be a viable option as back up over the seasons. Its a big IF though.

Gotta do something TOTALLY out of character and disagree with a lot of the above commentary. His movement off the ball is very intelligent, even though he's playing out of position at the moment. Watching him drift off defenders at the derby was my highlight of the season thus far. It's so pretty to see (something young Tomi does well too, by the way) and is a big reason I give him two thumbs up and am pleased to see him signed for another coupla years!

I WILL agree that we've yet to see his best, but that just heightens my excitement at seeing him commit for the near future.

Was not happy with Santalab's performance tonight.

I believe he suits more of an impact player role and coming in with around 20-30min left in the game.

He hasn't proved anything to be on the starting 11.

It has been the 2nd time again after replacing Santa with Minniecon, we score a goal moments later.

When he is starting, I get that feeling he is conserving himself for the rest of the game, therefore, not playing to his fullest potential. Remember, he is not young anymore.

If Santa plays off the bench, I believe he will be more productive that way.

To justify my points, look the 2 lovely headers he scored during our Pre-Season match vs Wellington..

Also, almost scoring that amazing strikers goal vs Nix, it just skimmed off the post.

I say, we should start Minniecon/Haliti moving forward. It won't hurt, and perhaps add more offense.

Was not happy with Santalab's performance tonight.

 

I believe he suits more of an impact player role and coming in with around 20-30min left in the game.

 

He hasn't proved anything to be on the starting 11.

 

It has been the 2nd time again after replacing Santa with Minniecon, we score a goal moments later.

 

When he is starting, I get that feeling he is conserving himself for the rest of the game, therefore, not playing to his fullest potential. Remember, he is not young anymore.

 

If Santa plays off the bench, I believe he will be more productive that way.

 

To justify my points, look the 2 lovely headers he scored during our Pre-Season match vs Wellington..

 

Also, almost scoring that amazing strikers goal vs Nix, it just skimmed off the post.

 

I say, we should start Minniecon/Haliti moving forward. It won't hurt, and perhaps add more offense.

Not too much wrong with what you said there wanderersfanatic. I think like everyone else I was was really disappointed with Santa last night, and at the risk of showing disrespect to his holiness Dino of the sainted bald noggin, Brendon was even less effective than Kresinger at his worst. He had that one glorious chance to stab home a goal and was simply incompetent when time came to release. Then when it came to pressing the Victory defence he left his runs too late or allowed them too much room. 

His effort against Wellington in Rd 2 was excellent and it all seems to come down to him coming in later in the game. Problem is with Tomi out for at least 4 weeks how can Popa not start him again between now and Juric's return? Labi is also more of an impact player, with special skills in the wet, so maybe (as always) Popa takes a horses for courses option and starts Santa in the dry, or Labi if the rain is coming, then swap later in the game.

What about Bridge up front? He's a striker - what do we feel about that? Or do we feel he's better suited to a wing position - though if he starts up front, we have several players who could do a decent job there. We seem to be light on replacements for the Dino position.

What about Bridge up front? He's a striker - what do we feel about that? Or do we feel he's better suited to a wing position - though if he starts up front, we have several players who could do a decent job there. We seem to be light on replacements for the Dino position.

I was thinking about Bridge but believe he needs to stay where he is partly because he does have runs on the board in that left wing pozzie, plus he is more helpful running back to help D'Apuzzo from there, plus finally Bridgey does seem to rove anyway.

You would think that next week assuming Hersi is fit there will be a front three of Bridge - Santa - Hersi or maybe Bridge - Labi -Hersi. If Hersi stays out then expect to see the same as last night.

The problem is the one time we started Haliti up front this year was round one and he wasn't that great. Then Santalab came on late and we were all talking him up. It seems that both Haliti and Santalab are 60th minute impact subs.

The problem is the one time we started Haliti up front this year was round one and he wasn't that great. Then Santalab came on late and we were all talking him up. It seems that both Haliti and Santalab are 60th minute impact subs.

Haliti has never had an extended run in the squad, even when he has performed well. 

Low on confidence. Needs one goal to build again

Santa = Dino pre-the Adelaide massacre?

 

The problem is the one time we started Haliti up front this year was round one and he wasn't that great. Then Santalab came on late and we were all talking him up. It seems that both Haliti and Santalab are 60th minute impact subs.

 

Haliti has never had an extended run in the squad, even when he has performed well. 

 

well he's never really delivered when starting the match, at least not enough to warrant consecutive starts.

but off the bench he's a completly different animal.

unfortunatly, santa atm, seems to be the same as haliti.

 

 

The problem is the one time we started Haliti up front this year was round one and he wasn't that great. Then Santalab came on late and we were all talking him up. It seems that both Haliti and Santalab are 60th minute impact subs.

 

Haliti has never had an extended run in the squad, even when he has performed well. 

 

 

well he's never really delivered when starting the match, at least not enough to warrant consecutive starts.

 

but off the bench he's a completly different animal.

 

unfortunatly, santa atm, seems to be the same as haliti.

 

Very true. I would be up for Minnecon starting more games in Hersi's absence and have both santa and haliti on the bench. Although now with Juric out for a month I'm sure one of them will always be starting.

Santa = Dino pre-the Adelaide massacre?

The one thing about Dino that suited us was his abilty to combine with our midfielders to press our opponents. He was a bit lazy at the start, but eventually got going and never looked back. This is when we were at our best.

I think the new strikers (Juric and Santalab) who have come into our squad need to get this around their head. There have been times during games this year where Bridge and Shinji press, but either Satalab or Juric don't seem to respond (they don't realise what is happening). You than see the look on the faces them from the other guys thinking (why didn't you follow my lead?). Whoever is our striker needs to work hard at this. At the moment we are not getting that service.

 

Santa = Dino pre-the Adelaide massacre?

The one thing about Dino that suited us was his abilty to combine with our midfielders to press our opponents. He was a bit lazy at the start, but eventually got going and never looked back. This is when we were at our best.

 

I think the new strikers (Juric and Santalab) who have come into our squad need to get this around their head. There have been times during games this year where Bridge and Shinji press, but either Satalab or Juric don't seem to respond (they don't realise what is happening). You than see the look on the faces them from the other guys thinking (why didn't you follow my lead?). Whoever is our striker needs to work hard at this. At the moment we are not getting that service.

 

I think Juric has been getting there but yeah, Santa has not been pressing as high in defence nor on attack as perhaps he should be. Throw in Santa's lack of height contrasted to his holiness St Dino of the Back Heel and he seems caught between Scylla & Charybdis...neither a ball playing striker who will go one or one, or a holding striker as per Viduka (& Dino).

Considering the systemic and personnel changes that have happened so far this season (and of course a so far unbeaten record) we can cut some slack to Santa and Tomi. It'll be a concern however if it drags on say into the New Year, particularly if Tomi is still MIA then.

 

 

The problem is the one time we started Haliti up front this year was round one and he wasn't that great. Then Santalab came on late and we were all talking him up. It seems that both Haliti and Santalab are 60th minute impact subs.

 

Haliti has never had an extended run in the squad, even when he has performed well. 

 

 

well he's never really delivered when starting the match, at least not enough to warrant consecutive starts.

 

but off the bench he's a completly different animal.

 

unfortunatly, santa atm, seems to be the same as haliti.

 

I don't quite understand this thinking. I provided two examples not five posts ago of circumstances where Haliti started and scored. You can't really get the measure of a player's quality if he isn't given an extended run in the team. Haliti does not have the obvious deficit of other players; he has decent pace, a nice touch, and - most significantly - an eye for goal. 

If we had judged Juric based on his input in the first two or so games, I daresay he'd be sitting on the bench now. 

 

 

 

The problem is the one time we started Haliti up front this year was round one and he wasn't that great. Then Santalab came on late and we were all talking him up. It seems that both Haliti and Santalab are 60th minute impact subs.

 

Haliti has never had an extended run in the squad, even when he has performed well. 

 

 

well he's never really delivered when starting the match, at least not enough to warrant consecutive starts.

 

but off the bench he's a completly different animal.

 

unfortunatly, santa atm, seems to be the same as haliti.

 

Very true. I would be up for Minnecon starting more games in Hersi's absence and have both santa and haliti on the bench. Although now with Juric out for a month I'm sure one of them will always be starting.

 

Brendon SANTAlab. 

Brendon SANTAlab. 

 

Made database picture.

Did anyone else see or hear Popa talking about Santalab after the derby and how he wanted to sign him last season, and wasn't able to get him? I think it was in the presser post-derby but haven't been able to find the footage (saw it on the tele last night).

Intriguing to think whether Santa was being pursued pre-2012/13 season and when he wasn't available if Popa then went for Dino and/or Labi in his place, or if it was Joey Gibbes who got Santa's spot on the roster? Or was Santa consideration during the goal drought and after Tahj had his season-ending injury?

Did anyone else see or hear Popa talking about Santalab after the derby and how he wanted to sign him last season, and wasn't able to get him? I think it was in the presser post-derby but haven't been able to find the footage (saw it on the tele last night).

Post match presser, find it on foxsports.com.au under videos>football

Santa could be in big trouble

Santa could be in big trouble

Maybe.

Abbas didn't say it was him from what I can see but it would appear the most likely...

Still don't know what was said.

And if it was something like what has been suggested I hope it's dealt with right.

Had a good game other than that...

If this sh*t is true about Santa, I don't want the pri*k playing for this club ever again.

People make mistakes the all the time lets see what comes out of this.

It the heat of moment we all can make error in misjudgement and react poorly

People make mistakes the all the time lets see what comes out of this.

 

It the heat of moment we all can make error in misjudgement and react poorly

How you deal with it afterwards is all important.

Bur we still don't know if anything was said, who said it even, or if Abbas will pursue it.

abbas is full of ****.

I support you santa

abbas is full of ****.

I support you santa

yeah santalab is an angel, ask most from wollongong will tell u otherwise Lolz