The Melbourne City Thread

[_DBF_]

Good to see us get some value, Osama Malik, for Stefan Mauk. Wasn't going to be too long before he gave Europe a shot. Wish him all the best with NEC.

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

Good to see us get some value, Osama Malik, for Stefan Mauk. Wasn't going to be too long before he gave Europe a shot. Wish him all the best with NEC.

I'm normally not the vindictive type with past players, but he acted like an utter jerk towards City after his transfer to Adelaide. He can get stuffed, AFAIC.

So, as it stands, out for next season:

Kisnorbo, Mooy, Novillo, Hughes, Wilkinson, Brown, Trifiro, Garuccio, Dekker, Marino, Zullo. Big losses, for sure, although the likes of Hughes and Zullo look bigger on paper than perhaps they were in reality.

Confirmed ins are: Kamau, Muscat, Brattan, Kilkenny and Tongyik, with Cahill and Brandan being reported and two visa spots remaining. That's very promising. Here's some Brandan highlights for those that are interested. He looks like he'll go on some blazing runs and score some absolute crackers for us, if the reports are true:



Sorensen seems a pretty obvious choice as our new captain to me. I am a bit wary of welcoming a team comprising 6 or 7 new starters year after year, so hopefully we start to find some longer-term players.

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

Here's some Brandan highlights for those that are interested. He looks like he'll go on some blazing runs and score some absolute crackers for us, if the reports are true:

Brandan all but confirmed. Picture from tonight's game against Port Melbourne, courtesy of the Melbourne City supporters page.

 

[Jozzy]

Confirmed ins are: Kamau, Muscat, Brattan, Kilkenny and Tongyik, with Cahill and Brandan being reported and two visa spots remaining. That's very promising.

Sorensen seems a pretty obvious choice as our new captain to me. I am a bit wary of welcoming a team comprising 6 or 7 new starters year after year, so hopefully we start to find some longer-term players.

Don't forget we'll still have a marquee spot available also. Well technically we've got both marquee spots avaliable at this very minute but Bruno will obviously receive one of them. We've got a good squad starting to come together. We'll have the best depth I've ever seen at our club this season.

Hopefully the signings keep coming in thick and fast so they've all got plenty of time to gel together before the season starts. I'd give big Sorenson the armband also.

Brandan all but confirmed. Picture from tonight's game against Port Melbourne, courtesy of the Melbourne City supporters page.

I like what I see, probaly just waiting for work permits to come through and we can make it official. This is the type of signing I really like seeing, I wonder if the club see's him as a CAM or winger. Personally hoping he can replace Novillo on a wing.

 

[Boultzboi]

Not a big fan of giving GK's the armband but can't really think of an outfield player that's deserving of it right now

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[Jozzy]

Not a big fan of giving GK's the armband but can't really think of an outfield player that's deserving of it right now

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Neither am I mate but as you've said there's really no one else deserving currently at the club, I reckon Melling has what it takes to be a top captain but he needs more experience and the amount of game time he'll get this season is unfortunately questionable.

 

[Boultzboi]

Neither am I mate but as you've said there's really no one else deserving currently at the club, I reckon Melling has what it takes to be a top captain but he needs more experience and the amount of game time he'll get this season is unfortunately questionable.

Pretty sure our potential starting XI is completely different to only 2 seasons ago

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[MC Extra Dollop]

Don't forget we'll still have a marquee spot available also. Well technically we've got both marquee spots avaliable at this very minute but Bruno will obviously receive one of them. We've got a good squad starting to come together. We'll have the best depth I've ever seen at our club this season.

With regards to the Australian marquee spot, I'm working on the assumption that at this stage, I think it would be fairly unlikely that we'll find an Aussie (Cahill aside, who will be here on a guest stint) that is more worthy of the marquee slot than what we already have. From the squad as it stands, I'd suggest that Brattan, Kilkenny or perhaps Franjic all could have a case to be the marquee.

Hopefully the signings keep coming in thick and fast so they've all got plenty of time to gel together before the season starts. I'd give big Sorenson the armband also.

I like what I see, probaly just waiting for work permits to come through and we can make it official. This is the type of signing I really like seeing, I wonder if the club see's him as a CAM or winger. Personally hoping he can replace Novillo on a wing.

Yeah, Novillo's replacement hopefully. I don't have any stats to back this up, but relatively unheard of players from South America appear to have a much better strike rate over here than big names from England and the other big European leagues, as far as I can tell. Brandan was playing in to top division in Argentina and although that pretty much receives no publicity over here, I think it's fair to assume that it would be a hugely competitive league.

 

[_DBF_]

I'm normally not the vindictive type with past players, but he acted like an utter jerk towards City after his transfer to Adelaide. He can get stuffed, AFAIC.

So, as it stands, out for next season:

Kisnorbo, Mooy, Novillo, Hughes, Wilkinson, Brown, Trifiro, Garuccio, Dekker, Marino, Zullo. Big losses, for sure, although the likes of Hughes and Zullo look bigger on paper than perhaps they were in reality.

Confirmed ins are: Kamau, Muscat, Brattan, Kilkenny and Tongyik, with Cahill and Brandan being reported and two visa spots remaining. That's very promising. Here's some Brandan highlights for those that are interested. He looks like he'll go on some blazing runs and score some absolute crackers for us, if the reports are true:



Sorensen seems a pretty obvious choice as our new captain to me. I am a bit wary of welcoming a team comprising 6 or 7 new starters year after year, so hopefully we start to find some longer-term players.

Would like another CB. And a specialist LB.

 

[Boultzboi]

Didn't the FFA change the marquee criteria so there's 2 marquees regardless where they're from?

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[MC Extra Dollop]

Neither am I mate but as you've said there's really no one else deserving currently at the club, I reckon Melling has what it takes to be a top captain but he needs more experience and the amount of game time he'll get this season is unfortunately questionable.

Melling is a red card waiting to happen, unfortunately. I'm sure people would rather not have newbies as captains, but Cahill, Kilkenny and Brattan are also worthy of consideration, in my opinion. I'm pretty sure Kewell was the captain in his year here.

 

[Jozzy]

Would like another CB. And a specialist LB.

Defintly our two big holes, bring in two class players there, get Cahill done and we'll be looking very good!

Didn't the FFA change the marquee criteria so there's 2 marquees regardless where they're from?

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Yeah that's correct mate.

 

[Boultzboi]

Melling is a red card waiting to happen, unfortunately. I'm sure people would rather not have newbies as captains, but Cahill, Kilkenny and Brattan are also worthy of consideration, in my opinion. I'm pretty sure Kewell was the captain in his year here.

Yeah Kewell was and Fred was C his first season at the club as well

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[MC Extra Dollop]

Didn't the FFA change the marquee criteria so there's 2 marquees regardless where they're from?

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That might be right, I honestly don't know. If it hasn't, a point I forgot to raise was that our two last Australian marquees before Mooy were Kennedy and Williams. The Australian marquee spot is pretty useless, you're only likely to entice has-beens with that and the success rate of former Socceroos stars in the A-League has been moderate, to put it kindly.

 

[Boultzboi]

Don't quote me but I'm pretty sure they changed it just after we signed Mooy as our Aus Marquee.

Yes returning socceroos (still hate that) have seemed to be nothing more than a superannuation top up across the league

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[_DBF_]

Defintly our two big holes, bring in two class players there, get Cahill done and we'll be looking very good!

Yeah that's correct mate.

Who could we realistically hope for?

 

[Jozzy]

Melling is a red card waiting to happen, unfortunately. I'm sure people would rather not have newbies as captains, but Cahill, Kilkenny and Brattan are also worthy of consideration, in my opinion. I'm pretty sure Kewell was the captain in his year here.

Yeah Kewell was and Fred was C his first season at the club as well

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Good points, our squad is now much better than Fred and Kewell's stints at the club we've just has a huge turnover in players. Even if he's a keeper it's hard to have a player of Sorenson's character and experience but not pick him as captain.

Who could we realistically hope for?

I feel Cahill is our big reputable player who should really help us get bums on seats and new fans so I'd be happy to sign someone most of us haven't ever heard of but has really top experence and is a proven class player, ideally under the age of 32/33 too.

Personally I'd like us to go for a boss central defender.

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

Would like another CB. And a specialist LB.

Apparently, Tongyik was a standout tonight...it would be sensational if someone like him can stand up in central defence. There are reservations there though, as it's good to have an experienced head there and Chapman isn't exactly a grizzled veteran either.

With Manny Muscat and Jack Clisby, we seem to have solid depth at left back, but it would be great if they were just that: backup options, with a quality visa signing around the corner.

 

[_DBF_]

Apparently, Tongyik was a standout tonight...it would be sensational if someone like him can stand up in central defence. There are reservations there though, as it's good to have an experienced head there and Chapman isn't exactly a grizzled veteran either.

With Manny Muscat and Jack Clisby, we seem to have solid depth at left back, but it would be great if they were just that: backup options, with a quality visa signing around the corner.

Yeah there's flexibility Malik can go back. Muscat and Clisby can cover in both spots. But I'd like more quality.

 

[The City Boyz]

Anyone else notice the fantastic turnout by the Melburnians on Wednesday?

 

[catempire]

Nick Fitz on the board.

 

[The City Boyz]

Really poor match. Best players were Caceras and Fornaroli...

 

[catempire]

Really poor match. Best players were Caceras and Fornaroli...

I liked Bratten's game. Something to work with there and hopefully goes some way to replacing Mooy.

 

[The City Boyz]

I liked Bratten's game. Something to work with there and hopefully goes some way to replacing Mooy.

Kilkenny was injured, right?

 

[catempire]

Kilkenny was injured, right?

I believe so. Not sure what the issue is.