Popovic to Perth: Glory grab former Wanderers premiership coach

the revolving door of players and to a lesser extent coaches who head overseas in more recent years to return after a very short stint. it is another indicator that the a-league is not of a standard some think of it. after saying that, i would have been happy to see him at the roar. ange will be heading home at the end of their season.

FFA/A-League can't sign-off on that. Would be an absolute farce and condemn both parties of the merger to failure.

thanks JB. You make the point well,

Lionheart - you are always welcome "to butt in" but I hope you are not suggesting that the coaching team at Roar somewhere in the last 3 seasons have shown the ability to bring youthful players up to HAL standard. There are probably more Roar youth players playing in the HAL than there has ever been but they are performing at other clubs.Ever stop to wonder why this is so?. The point being made to Waz was that there is no real evidence that the recruitment system at Roar is working and though everyone says Maccarone, Khalfalla, Mackay, North, Broich and Steffanuto were all the wrong side of 30, they have been playing regularly at Roar over the last 3 years. 3 or f them have now retired and the only Mackay has lasted the course. So what has the "departure of those Aloisi signings" done to improve the "state of the nation" so to speak.? In those last 3 years Sydney have signed 3 experienced players in Buis,Bobo and Adrian,and also 2 outstanding youngsters from other HAL sources and in doing just that, they have totally dominated the HAL for 2 seasons.. 3 imports and 2 locals, just like Roar with their 3 "new" imports Papadopolous,Maccarone, and Bauthec and 2 locals Oxborrow and Pepper., I'll leave you to come to your own conlusions on those 2 examples. Cheers jb.

Read in the NZ press that the Phoenix are in discussion with the south west Sydney expansion bid about a merger. Definitely not for sale, but a merger, home games split across the Tasman and two home strips. https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/a-league/103848204/wellington-phoenix-ponder-split-sale-to-sydney-club-in-aleague-merger

got a small park at the end of my street Waz have to include some public transport to go with it

butting in here, the best thing to happen is the departure of those Aloisi signings - hopeless for the most part, Maccaroni fine but too old and too slow, and BKF much the same. Aloisi is going back to Roar's junior policy, by demand from fans, but we'll have to wait and see if he has the ability to get us playing well.

Waz- While appreciating your undying loyalty to the cause are you now in possession of a crystal ball or some other way of foretelling the future. I wish I had your confidence re. your Roar, but nothing has happened in recent weeks to suggest that things are going to "leap ahead" next season,in fact the opposite could be claimed. Gone from the "den" are Aloisi signings Khalfalla,Maccarone,Oxborrow,and Gamiera and if you add last season's departures of Brioch, Steffanuto, (retired) and,McLaren, Oar, Petratos,and Borello, precious little has been done so far to replace that "seam" of talent. Taggart on paper ,could fill the bill replacing McLaren and the Dane could replace Oar, and or Khallfallah, but in my experience overseas player coming to Australia usually take around 6 -9 month to settle, and the Dane may well take that time, as witnessed by Bautheac, the most recent import.. So if you don't mind me asking my old mate, from where do you draw your confidence?, for it cannot be from the signings and departures of the last 3 seasons. They actually beggar description. Cheers jb.

Which one is clumsy smurf?

Grumpy Smurf has gone Maybe a promotion for brainy smurf or clumsy smurf

Who knows how this will play out? Good on Popovic for taking a chance outside what he already knows. Sometimes that is exactly what a manager/player needs to grow. Could be a disaster but I think he might do okay. Lowe was passionate but tactically inept, especially in defence. Now for the next big appointment. Who is captain smurf?

yeah, sure, about 70%. How’s he going to do it? A fast striker ✔️ Two quality wingers ✔️ A great goalkeeper ✔️ A solid defence ✔️ That’ll get him halfway there. The final two pieces are the AM (DDS or Mauk?) and a marquee-visa DM (probably the biggest risk). So I can see how Roar will improve, the weakest link may well be Aloisi though. Jets though? Got some big decisions to make, that’s harder to do.

Waz ??

Roar will need to improve about 70 percent and with aloisi in charge ,, not likely imo

Yeah, I think Ernie will need to perform the same overhaul on the squad this year as he did last, maybe not as dramatic but just as significant. Then the long preseason allows teams to really prep for opponents. Jets will find it tougher next year. I’d expect SFC to come back to the pack with key losses but I’d expect them still to be up there. Roar will be better, Victory too, so too Glory, City will still be strong. That’s a likely top 5 right there. There’s a long way to go of course but next season will be harder, much harder.

There could well be merit in what you say Waz - Jets will need to improve and recruit better for the spots they have. Maybe a poorer consistency from a few more teams this past season helped a little. Doing the same will not surprise teams again. Then again it was no accident and the bulk of the Jets squad remains. Always an advantage. So at this point you have to expect Poppa will make Perth better than the Kenny Lowe version; who knows what Mulvey will be able to ring from the oil-less rag of the Mariners; Sydney will rebuild but may just hope the ghost of Arnold past will keep them up there; Wanderers may find there way a little better... ...not to mention Adelaide, and what Aloisi might try with younger legs. One thing is for sure: you won’t get nothin’ for ‘Nix. Barely finished this season and already the next one is shaping up nicely. ?

Glory has started to turn the club upside down and shake out all the deadwood and they need to too. Glory need a cultural shift of huge proportions and that includes SAGE keeping out of things. Perth will need to lift their professionalism, starting with a tough pre season ( I'd send them on an SAS camp!)

Roar won’t finish outside of the top 3 next season. Jets will find it hard to achieve the same success playing the same way, which they will,

Not Glory related but: There’s an election due soon, next 6 months or so, the RSF have been advised discussions have been taking place between various parties including club, politicians and other stakeholders with a view to possibly building a boutique stadium in Brisbane for Roars use. The RSF have begun gathering supporter feedback on the topic, the initial step is the simple survey. So far we’ll over 300 responses have been received - feel free to give your input below and share with friends and family ? https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdi358wDPTIHOY322MpQ7X2XAKUn71Gj_n35NYW64v4MEBchQ/viewform

Or suck in any flare smoke, except at Wanderers away games . . .