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With 27 A-League goals between them this season, you would think the futures of Marc Janko and Archie Thompson would have been locked down by now.
But for both club and players, there’s plenty to consider on the morning after the A-League grand final.
Janko and Thompson are unclear of their A-League futures at Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory respectively for different reasons.
Janko, who won the golden boot in his first campaign after replacing the legendary Alessandro Del Piero as Sydney FC’s international marquee, has plenty to think about.
As captain of Austria’s national team, which is on track to qualify for the European Championships next June, Janko may want to avoid the hefty travel that comes with being based on the other side of the world.
There’s also the case of his remuneration, which is always a delicate negotiating point.
The 31-year-old, who said last week he had already made a decision on his future, was in no mood to disclose his next move after the loss.
“It’s not the time to announce anything,” he said.
“We’re all frustrated and disappointed with the way the grand final went.
“The result of this game won’t influence my decision.”
His boss Graham Arnold suggested he was relaxed about the future of his marquee man, despite having “no idea” about his future.
“We can sit down and chat to him over time,” he said.
“I know he’s going back to Austria to get married but we’re in no hurry.”
Archie Thompson’s case is relatively straight-forward.
He thinks he can play on into an 11th A-League season and with 11 goals under his belt this year, few would argue.
But the salary cap pressures at his championship-winning club could force Thompson into a pay cut, or a departure from Victory.
Muscat said a decision was likely to be made in the next week and negotiations would reflect his status as a club legend.
“Archie will be treated with the utmost respect,” he said.
“The conversations will be had this week … give us five minutes to enjoy tonight and then we’ll get through that.”
Thompson, the only man to have played in all three of Victory’s grand final wins, is the A-League’s record goalscorer with 89 goals in 10 seasons.
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