News has emerged in the past few days that Melbourne City and Perth Glory are considering a swap between strikers Bruno Fornaroli and Andy Keogh.
I would say the reason behind this is that Melbourne City are looking to get something for Fornaroli who wants out, while the Perth Glory are looking to fill their second marquee spot.
Today, a passionate and pessimistic Perth Glory fan, me, will do an investigation as to whether this is a good trade or not.
My first thought when I heard this rumour was, are you serious?
For a team that has already made drastic changes to its squad in the Perth Glory, currently at the top of the ladder, and then wants to get rid of the player who has scored 7 goals in 11 games (and has been their captain for most of the games due to Diego Castro being injured).
Bruno Fornaroli of Melbourne City. (Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)
In the tactical side of things, Warren Joyce is currently playing youngster Lachlan Wales up top, on his own, in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
What you want to see in the 4-2-3-1 formation is that the wingers are quick, skilful dribblers that can get into the box, while the Attacking Midfielder is usually someone who can play through balls to the striker or the wingers.
Keogh doesn’t really fit into that. He’s strength is his heading. He likes having those 2 wingers that can push up like the 4-2-3-1 formation, but also another striker which is how he has a few assists this season.
For that reason, Tony Popovic’s 3-4-1-2 formation suits the Irishman the best, as Jason Davidson and Ivan Franjic can be those people looking to assist the headers, and Chris Ikonomidis or Joel Chianese to be the other striker that he can assist or be assisted by.
What about Fornaroli in a purple jumper? Bruno Fornaroli is similar to Andy Keogh, apart from maybe one thing. Fornaroli basically likes to play as a lone striker waiting to receive those through balls from the Central Attacking Midfielder.
This means he would basically fit perfectly in the current Melbourne City team. If the Glory were to sign Bruno Fornaroli, he would turn the team into a lone striker formation, and that won’t work.
Ikonomidis will have to play as a winger which means he can’t score goals as much. And Ikonomidis being a winger, would push Jason Davidson and Ivan Franjic back into a boring full-back role.
You may argue that Fornaroli is the better player and I should be happy being a Glory fan. That’s a fair point. The Uruguayan’s goal rate is around two goals every three games, while Keogh’s is around one every two games. Although when I heard this my anger was in a different place.
Let’s go in a time machine and rewind back to about 2012 and send Steven Gerrard to Manchester United in exchange for Wayne Rooney heading to Anfield, its just not going to happen is it?
The rivalry between Melbourne City and Perth Glory is nowhere near as big as Manchester United and Liverpool, but it is a weird one. The Perth Glory is Melbourne City’s bogey team.
There was that game in the 2016-17 season at NIB Stadium where the Glory beat City 5-4, and then a week or two later the Glory prevailed again at AAMI Park in the Quarter Final 2-0.
Then earlier this year, in a game I attended, when Adam Taggart scored a last minute header right in front of where I was actually sitting, to win 2-1.
Bruno Fornaroli and Andy Keogh have played in so many of these games that I don’t see how you can welcome them with open arms.
I won’t be. I certainly don’t want someone who has brought a fair amount of pain to my club, and then just have them play for the club. Will Melbourne City fans think the same? Maybe ask some.
Andy Keogh with the Perth Glory
So in conclusion, this swap probably won’t work on the tactical side and the fans or cultural side.
Next week, I’ll be previewing the Socceroos Round of 16 clash, if they get there.
Ducky
Roar Rookie
As died in the wool Glory fan from the beginning my heart sank when these rumours started. Mainly as Andy is such a team player and Bruno seems to be v very loose cannon!
EGC
Guest
It's certainly interesting. Not sure if I would think of Keogh and Fornaroli as like-for-like swap. Nice thoughts. As brilliant a striker that is Fornaroli, Keogh is much more a team orientated player that has no issues with working back in defense to support his team. He is also very good at being a leader in directing the attack much like Castro. This makes him a better fit with the sort of team that I think (being the operative words) Popa is trying to build. The lone up-front striker just doesn't cut it with the current Glory set up. All we have to do is wait and see what happens.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
I’ve admired Castro and would have liked him to have come to City earlier as a replacement for Mooy. A Castro/Fornaroli combination would have been sweet however Diego is 36 now and Father Time waits for no one.
Jordan Klingsporn
Roar Guru
Reasons? Probably similar to mine with Keogh.
Jack George
Roar Guru
No Le Fondre all day
RF
Roar Rookie
Agree with the other posters. Daylight between Fornaroli and Keogh. The swap is only possible because of the unusual circumstances. My money is on it going ahead. Suits both parties.
Jordan Klingsporn
Roar Guru
That point about actually playing in a 3-4-2-1 is probably spot on. Remember against the Mariners on round 5 when we scored the winner, I think it was Davidson who banged it from LM, Keogh missed the bicycle kick at ST and then Ikonomidis followed up at RF.
AusSokkah
Guest
And look at the impact Kilkenny has made at Glory!! My concern as a Glory supporter would be that Fornaroli is not match fit, but that is my only concern. Fornaroli is a better player by almost every measure except maybe headed goals, being offside and flicking long balls on to no one in particular. A lot of the tactical reasons outlined in the article don't stack up. Glory may on paper play 3-4-1-2 but with Ikonomidis and Chianese it was often a lone striker in Keogh flanked by two narrow and deeper attackers in a 3-4-2-1. Keogh has looked extremely poor when confronted by a well organised defence that doesn't give him space to play because he doesn't have the 1 v 1 skills to create for himself. It's probably something that Popa is very well aware of and why there has been discussion about a potential swap.
chris
Guest
Fornaroli at his best would better than any other striker past or present in the A-League. Like I said, I dont know whats happened to him for him to be in this state, but if I was coaching SFC I'd certainly be having a chat with him.
Kangas
Roar Rookie
There is no comparison, Fornaroli is miles better.
Griffo
Roar Guru
There would have to be something seriously wrong with Keogh and Perth for this to occur. This might be nothing more than City agitating the market to see whose bighting so they get some sort of value for money on a unproductive player. That would fit City’s model. Sydney and Adelaide apparently are interested in Fornaroli so City might just already have someone in mind for January to risk Fornaroli scoring a win against City, if rival clubs can fit Fornaroli’s alleged wage demands. Perhaps O’Donovan as has been speculated as his contract is up although Jets probably not in a financial position to meet Fornaroli most of the way.
Waz
Roar Rookie
Only in timing. Fornaroli is the better player (by quite a bit imo) so there’s a win to be had for Glory in doing the deal. If he’s match fit there’s no problem, if not you could blow your title charge. For Glory it’s a case of stick or twist? I’d be nervous if it were my team. Those “nerves” are probably what’s different to yesterday’s comment - The win for City is obvious - they get a striker they can actually play; if I were Glory I’d probably try and do the deal over winter.
Jordan Klingsporn
Roar Guru
I don't think swapping Keogh would be good at all for.... reasons in the article. Would you take Castro for someone, i'm sick of our marquee playing on the bench and always being injured.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Let's take a step back. The only reason we are having this discussion is because Sergeant Joyce appears to have taken a dislike to Bruno, for whatever reason, and believes that handing out a good old fashion caning and banning him from school will send a clear and unambiguous message to the rest of his charges. Nobody disagrees with Sgt Joyce, but nobody. And that was the fate that befell Kilkenny. At this stage of the season, Popa swapping Andy for Bruno does not make much sense. Popa has a stable, functioning team with a striker banging them in. Bruno has been out and would not be match fit. It would be a gamble but something Popa might be considering as an end of season buy. But at that time, I reckon SFC and others might be circling. On the comparison between Andy and Bruno as players, I'd have Bruno any day as he is more the complete player.
Jordan Klingsporn
Roar Guru
Le Fondre for Fornaroli?
chris
Guest
Jordan are you serious? The gulf in quality between Fornaroli and Keogh is as wide as the Sydney heads. I wish SFC could pick him up. He is by far the best striker to play in the A-League and Im not sure what he has done to be in the position he is in now, but someone needs to get him playing again before he leaves our shores. If you honestly believe there isn't much difference between the 2 then you see the game very differently to me
Jordan Klingsporn
Roar Guru
Waz On the expert tips article yesterday, you said this would be a win-win swap. That comment and the comments on this article don't really ad up.
Waz
Roar Rookie
The caveat to your statement (which I don’t disagree with) is why would Perth swop an in form, match fit Keogh in mid-season for Fornaroli who hasn’t played for months? As an end of season swop it’s a no-brainer, but mid-season?
Nemesis
Guest
Smeltz? Not even close. Maybe, Berisha in his years at BRI & 2014/15 his first year at MVFC was very similar. But, I'd still pick Fornaroli over Berisha.
Jordan Klingsporn
Roar Guru
Best striker to play in the A-League got to be Berisha or Smeltz surely.