Smeltz's four-goal haul melts Fury

Was Griffiths out of contract when he signed for GCU? I know that when a club sells a (younger) player there is often a clause about receiving a percentage of his onsell costs should the new club move him on. This is where clubs have to be savvy with the players they sign and resign. Its also a situation that wont be as common once the team limit is set in the aleague. Under a salary cap Its theorectically easier to make a bunch or smart purchases when your incumbent salary obligation is nil. You see it too when a big money benefactor buys out an EPL team, Chelsea and Man City are examples. The first year or two they spend alot on quality players, but these players sign contracts for 3-5 years, and so a couple of years on if they want to buy new players they have to consider the salary obligations already in place. Salary cap makes it even more difficult. Look at Sydney. I bet there is a massive difference in salary per player going through the ranks. However look at the contribution of each player and ask yourself is there any player there worth triple or even 5 times the amount of any other? I'm taking a guess that Corica is on about 300k. Couldbe wrong but lets just say thats what it is. And Danning is on what? 80-100K Maybe not even So its interesting the way these things work out. It also sheds some light on why Lucas Neill is shy to sign up for a new team thus far, as he really is looking for a long term big money contract. Also why younger players, though fitter or more exciting, don't neccessarily make the same amount as their older, wiser counterparts.

Pippinu I have no knowledge either.What I like sometimes is an article based around a broadbrush question that draws out information from other people.I find it difficult to understand how a clubs greatest assets ,the players, are worth nothing on an inter A League club transfer, but huge money when sold outside the system.If they are worth nothing when transferred intra A League ,and are then onsold,it seems fair to me the profits should be shared on some sort of pro rata basis.For example Newcastle should reap some benifit out of the Griffith sale.It is easy ofcourse for me to make these remarks because I dont understand the reasons for there being no transfer fees in the first place.That is why I enjoy this site.Information flows.

onside Every side street we go down is worthy of an article!! (but most of us don't really have the inside knowledge to do it properly, to be honest) I accept that it is possible to look at Palmer's involvement and assume he doesn't care about the bottom line (but generally speaking, billionaires don't become billionaires by not caring about bottom lines) - as Towser and I have speculated in the past - he could own every A-League club, and it would barely register in his cash ledger - that's certainly true. Then there's all this transfer talk in such a short space of time, so early in the season, barely a game played - and you start thinking: aha, now it's all starting to make some sense - this may end up costing him nothing at all. Look - it's pure speculation - I don't really know - I said somewhere above or elsewhere that I have little familiarity with private ownership. I know that the AFL experimented with private ownership twice in the mid 80s, both were disasters, and they've pretty much moved right away from that model. But I know that's the way the world of football works - and I know that Palmer is a different kettle of fish than those shysters the AFL dealt with in the 80s - so - I don't really know one way or the other.

Towser and Pippinnu this transfer caper is worthy of an article That said,I am hard pushed believing Clive Palnmer looks at the bottom line. Transfer fees are peanuts to the man. I think he wants a successful team first and foremost ,then he wants the team to strut their stuff in Asia.Clive owns a couple of 727's that he and his staff use to fly around Australia and China where he does a lot of business. He is unbelievably genorous in a quiet way,having put those planes at the disposal of charities .The guy is an absolute big picture operator.He owns Queensland Nickel who are the major sponsors of NQ Fury.I think he sees football as a fun (albeit serious) outlet.Clive could buy an EPL team.Its fantastic he is involved in the A League

Towser good post. If what we're hearing about Smeltz is true - that could be $3 mill he has made barely two rounds in to the season. At this rate, he could end the season not having spent a single cent from his own pocket in start up costs!! Of course, that's a big hole he has to fill, and that's the flip side of the coin - but still, if a half decent striker is looking for a job, and he knows Culina's behind him feeding him inch perfect balls, don't worry - they'll have a think about coming!! Here's a question for everyone. Assuming Smeltz's replacement would have to be an ANZ player - who's out there that fits the bill? couple of aussies in the Balkans available for loan? think about it, upfront payment to the club as a loan fee is outside of the salary cap - part payment of salary within the cap - that's the way a big successful club would be working things out.

Pippinu There was an article in last Sundays paper(the Sunday Mail) on QLD's richest men. First its Clive Palmer at 6.23 billion then daylight to the next at just over 1 billion. In the article about him those who have worked closest to him indicate that he doesnt do anything without knowledge. THey talk about his core mining business but also a stud he has in Qld & of course GCU. Now that knowledge may not be the football knowledge that we have ie fom the passion angle etc but from a business angle. So he takes the info needed to create success as seen in his eyes. So if he sees 7000 crowds as ok presently & publically states so & realises that you can make a quid on the side by selling players,so what. I think as you may have indicated he'll get another one. Not my way of seeing doing things,but he puts up the dough,runs the show. Just hope as you said he doesnt run from the show. Maybe by making a quid from his business angle perspective might just stop him doing that. Who knows?

Towser now that you mention it...the number of transfers has started to go up the last 6 months or so (compared to the first full three seasons of the A-League) - so maybe GCU is riding that wave. Palmer's public pronouncements have given the impression that he is absolutely clueless - but he could have some good people hired and working for him in the background. One thing he would know - money can be made (from transfers), if you have the right people behind you. On one level - this makes a bit of sense - people don't become billionaires by throwing away their money - this could be his way of telling us all: if you thought I was going to blow my money on a football club for the hell of it, you were wrong.

Doesnt anybody find a strange irony in the fact that a brand new club 2 games into the season,has already sold one player & is theres talk of another transfer in Smeltz. This is usually the domain of well estabilished clubs(transfers) not a club wet behind the ears.

Smeltz IS the best striker in the A-League. Hands down. He would sell for over a million AU easily. Might even push towards $2 mil mark, dare I say it. I was disappointed with Fowler's performance...another flop like Aloisi in his Sydney debut season?

Shame Smeltz plays for NZ - good enough for a spot on the current Socceroos I reckon. He's very impressive in his general play with good touch and movement. Awful bogan haircut though

The Ivory Coast boy's name is Adama Traore and if you watch the videos you will notice how many goals started with one touch intercepts from him at the back. What's he worth??? :-o

And what about the ball , out of the backline to Culina ,by the new Nigerian or Ivory Coast player Apologies for not recalling his name. Bit it will flow off the tongue quite readily by seasons end. Regardless it was a magic pass to Culina prior to Culinas then pass to Smeltz.The Nigerian bloke was responsible for setting the sequence up.

Smelltz ,the best striker in the A League, aquired by Gold Coast United from Wellington at NO CHARGE.ZILCH. Adam Griffith, aquired by Gold Coast United from Newcastle at NO CHARGE,ZILCH. Adam Griffith, then sold to the Saudi Arabian team ,Al Shabab ,for about AUD 750K If Adam Griffith is worth AUD 750K,what is Smeltz worth. And neither Newcastle nor Wellington got a brass razoo.

Agree on all counts - Culina's ball was top shelf, and five of the six goals in last night's game were something out of the box.

Yeh - much better weekend! I was happy with the point against the Roar, considering we were down by two goals twice during the game. Five of the six goals were pretty high quality - but we have massive issues in defence - massive. Another disappointing crowd for Melbourne - even lower than last week's - there's a real issue there for the MV management.

Agree that ...through ball from Culina to Smeltz with the outside of the foot ... great skill..

Had the same feeling ...

The first goal with the through ball from Culina to Smeltz with the outside of the foot was fantastic...must say having been to the game last night MV vs BR the quality of most games has improved the standard overall. The Victory game contained 5 goals that each would have a legitimate right to be on the goal of the season list. Magnificent and if this continues then the doomsayers will be eating stuffed foot...served with a sweaty sock!

Pip a bit of both i think. But gold coast are the real deal. I wonder if hey could go thru the season undefeated, time will tell. The Victory-roar game was a cracker though, and your boys came back to grab the draw, plus the bulldogs won as well, a much better weekend for you !!

Either GCU looked ominous, or the Fury looked completely out of their depth, or a bit of both. Culina's passing is clearly a stand out, but it would be a mistake to conclude that GCU have winners all over the park - they definitely have their flaws (as we would expect from a salary cap system).