Assuming we are tied to FIFA’s 6+5 rule, then we’d be able to have one extra visa player per club. Perhaps the fifth import can only be from an AFC member nation but their salary doesn’t count towards the cap as a trade-off.

There’s no reason that we have to choose one over the other, although it would no doubt be easier for A-League clubs if the FFA implemented something like the “Asian berth” rule.

As for Yutaka Tahara in Australia not generating public interest in Japan – I’m not so sure that’s the case, Ben.

I was watching “Challenge! Global Athlete” on J-Sports last night (yes, I was bored) and the episode featured Keisuke Honda of Dutch Eerste Divisie club VVV Venlo.

Admittedly Honda is in a different class to Tahara, but there’s no reason that the TV crews would be adverse to making a trip down to Hindmarsh Stadium to train the cameras on their man. Let’s not forget that the Japanese press are practically omnipresent when it comes to beaming back footage of their globe-trotting heroes. (One of the “Challenge! Global Athlete” episodes last year was on the nomadic Kenji Fukada, now setting the Greek Second Division alight with Ionikos FC).

Of course a move for Winothai would create a buzz of interest in Thailand, but equally plenty of football fans in Japan will keep an eye on Tahara should he move to the A-League.

I think on face value Trinidad was an odd selection for the Glory. Prior to arriving in Perth the guy had been stuffing around in the Indonesian and Malaysian leagues for four years after playing in the lower leagues of Argentine football with Flandria for five years. I’m not sure how they would have found him, but he seems a very good pick up considering where he’s come from.

It’s amazing where you can find some good players from. It just shows if you really search you can get a bargain out of nothing. A player from State League and Malaysian League. I have to give credit to Mitchell if he got them. Perth seem to play a nice brand of football even with supposed second tier players.

Also, my memory is a bit hazy but I think Adriano scored one of the goals against Juventus. I remember him scoring in the tournament but I’m not 100% sure if it was that match.

Adrian Trinidad came from the Malaysian second tier league (the Malaysia Premier League), where he was playing for a team called PLUS FC. PLUS FC was promoted that season and now plays in the Malaysia Super League.

Adriano Pellegrino was signed from Metro Stars, who play in the top tier of South Australian state league football (the SA Super League). Adriano is a former Adelaide United and Adelaide City player, scoring one goal – a cracker against the Football Kingz in Auckland in a 3-1 win on 6/12/03 – in 27 NSL appearances. Adriano also represented the Australs (an Australian youth team) at an u20s tournament in Adelaide in 2002. The Australs lost the final of that tournament to Rangers on penalties after beating Juventus 2-1 in the semi final. IMO Adriano has always had a lot of potential but we’ve only just started to see him start to realise that now with Perth Glory.

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KB

What worries me is that Travis Dodd will go to an oveseas club and sit on the bench. This won’t benefit anyone: the club paying his wages, the a-league or Travis Dodd himself. He might be simply there for the money. What is David Carney and Nathan Burns doing?

I wish these players would choose wisely before they go. If they do go I hope that the money the a-league clubs get from the transfer fee they invest wisely on youth development or overseas players. I don’t know where perth Glory players Pellegriono or Trinidad came from, but they have definitely added something to the league.

I know Travis Dodd would be a smash in the J-League, however, we can’t really afford to lose such entertaining players so early in their Australian careers, without receiving a transfer fee for them .. Such players, should be on 5 year deals or some sort of 5 year option plan in their contract so a club can re-coupe back some of their investment..

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KB

According to Wikipedia, Tahara has scored only 32 goals in 144 games for Kyoto Sanga. A goal every 4.5 games for a striker doesn’t sound that appealing to me, considering that Dodd scores once every four games from midfield (30 goals in 120 games).

If Adelaide are actively pursuing Tahara and, as alleged by Ross Aloisi during last night’s game, a “German defender” does this mean that Diego is gone and Alemao will be on his way as well? Given that we’ve only got the four visa spots to fill, and that Cassio just re-signed and Cristiano is our leading scorer, I guess it spells the end for Diego and the inconsistent Alemao.

I have a feeling that the Adelaide United team that takes the field next season will be vastly different from the current incarnation.