Spare me the task of trawling through hours and hours of footage and compiling countless reams of research in the search for a perfect A-League import.
It must be the most tireless and inexact science of all; piecing together fragments of form and information about players and determining whether they are indeed the perfect accompaniment to the existing squad.
Get the job right and the rewards can be considerable. Yet for every masterstroke, there are numerous failures.
Sydney FC’s championship run in 2018-19 is perhaps the most lucid example of both, with Adam le Fondre proving to be one of the most influential players throughout the season, scoring 18 goals and providing exactly what manager Steve Corica had hoped for up front.
There was plenty of information on which to form an opinion around le Fondre, as was the case with Dutchman Siem De Jong, who also played a pivotal role in Sydney’s championship.
Contrastingly, De Jong’s countryman Jop Van Der Linden proved an abject failure in the harbour city, with poor form and a recurring hip injury restricting his play to just nine A-League matches. The injury has since accelerated his retirement.
The hit and miss nature of recruitment in the A-League is personified in the above examples.
While luring the likes of Keisuke Honda and Ola Toivonen to our shores brings no real surprises in terms of their quality, lesser names always bring a sense of trepidation in the fans and a nervousness in those who opened the chequebook to attract them in the first place.
Adam Le Fondre of Sydney FC (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)
Historically there have been some duds. Most notably for me was Western Sydney’s marquee Italian in 2015-16.
Federico Piovaccari apparently had the Wanderers’ coaching staff in absolute astonishment when they first saw him train; such was his indecision and clumsiness on the ball.
It perhaps would have been somewhat humorous if not for the investment made; an investment that lasted just 12 matches where Piovaccari managed two goals and a host of misses.
The Italian has now joined his 2oth professional team, Cordoba in Spain and has scored 11 goals in 33 games.
As regrettable as that signing may have been for the Wanderers, clubs also hold on tightly to those men whose time in Australia becomes a charmed one.
Adelaide’s Isaias enjoyed six glorious seasons in the city of churches, Andy Keogh has chalked up 128 matches with the Glory and teammate Diego Castro is now part of the A-League furniture after signing a recent two-year extension on his contract.
Roar legend Thomas Broich and Sydney FC’s Milos Ninkovic will go down as two of the best to ever grace our shores and are further examples of recruitment decisions that have been worth their weight in gold.
With such extreme levels of fortune involved in the signing of experienced international players moving towards or beyond the age of thirty, it is no wonder that Brisbane Roar took a leap of faith in signing 33-year-old Irishman Roy O’Donovan.
They know all too well of what he is capable. Both the good and the bad.
A total of 39 goals in 79 A-League matches tells anyone all they need to know about the striker and if not for the best part of a full season spent on the side line thanks to suspension, his record might be even more formidable.
The Roar have obviously taken the ‘devil you know’ approach, feeling certain of what they gain by recruiting O’Donovan and avoiding the potential pitfalls associated with signing a new face to provide potency up front.
Roy O’Donovan when with the Jets. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
However, that hasn’t stopped the Roar’s new manager Robbie Fowler taking a leap of faith in signing 26-year-old Welshman Aaron Amadi-Holloway from Shrewsbury Town or Tom Aldred from fellow English League One side Bury.
The Central Coast Mariners are also attempting to eliminate unnecessary risk by offering trial opportunities to Koreans Kim Eun-sun and Lee Sang-ho, rather than bringing either in as an unknown quantity.
Alen Stajcic will get the chance to see them both in action thanks to the time they have on their hands.
Kim and Lee have been a little idle of late thanks to their dismissals from K-League clubs after drink driving incidents in 2018. If anyone was looking for a curious and quirky story to get the recruitment season underway, I think they just found it.
With most clubs yet to announce any of the new foreigners heading our way, the Wanderers have bucked the trend.
Western Sydney’s cards are well and truly on the table after presenting new Swiss recruits Pirmin Schwegler and Daniel Lopar, as well as Pole Radoslaw Majewski.
All three are 32 years of age and will, should the art of recruitment have been mastered by the Wanderers, play a key role in the resurgence of the red and black this season.
That art of recruitment involves more than a skerrick of luck and there are eleven A-League clubs with high hopes that the new players they are about to announce, will make 2019-20 a season to remember.
Fadida
Roar Rookie
I'm pretty sure you suggested Redondo and I were one and the same, in an attempt to discredit both of us. Play the ball. I've not made any mention of anything remotely personal, so I don't think I've "upset people for no real reason" (except having a different opinion, heaven forbid)) Regarding the fact the season hadn't started, if we can't make any comments until games are played we may as well pause all A-league talk until the season is in week 1.
Redondo
Roar Rookie
Lionheart - regarding personal abuse, I wasn't referring to you. Just to set things straight... - I think a successful Roar is critical to the success of the A-League - The appointment of Fowler made me very nervous about the Roar's prospects - Fowler's recruiting has made me even more nervous - I hope I am over-reacting, but this is an opinion website so I said what I think Sorry if that offends
Redondo
Roar Rookie
What's a good Irish lad doing with a filthy English name like Lionheart?
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
be assured Rd, Waz is a very different person to me. I have met him, he's a football person, originally from England. I'm a fourth gen Ausy of Irish heritage with a rugby background, never played football.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
oh dear, I've just come back to read yesterday's mail and look what I see. I don't do personal attacks, or if I sway that way on the rare occasion as I am but man, I do so diplomatically, in the least insulting way that I can. Without any evidence, we haven't played a game yet, you go straight to the juglar. You always go straight to the juglar, and you go early and you invariably have the other d coming in on your side, on que, on time. My advice is simple, just be a little careful about how you say your things lest all you do is upset people for no real reason.
Rodger King
Roar Rookie
I'm pretty certain that's everyone's goal come game 1.
Fadida
Roar Rookie
You, and Waz are on one side of the argument, RF, Redondo and myself, and JB it appears, are on the other. Mature adults can focus on a discussion, not on the person making the point
Fadida
Roar Rookie
Fair points Buddy, and I've been watching the Lampard talk. The bottom line to me is that he's a coach with one decent, not great season, of Championship football, and been touted for one of the biggest jobs. Why? Because he was a great player. The 2 aren't the same . I've said all I've said on recruiting
Waz
Roar Rookie
So jb, what you’re saying is you can look at a players Wikipedia entry and decide whether they are going to be any good. I’m not even prepared to enter in to a discussion on that point. It’s nonsense.
Redondo
Roar Rookie
And the answer there is no connection, sometimes people just agree with each other. Also, I’m just a little surprised by the personal abuse hurled at Fadida because he made a quite valid point about Fowler’s recruitment.
Redondo
Roar Rookie
I was going to ask the same about you and Waz
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
are you two one and the same? related? or is this all just coincidental?
Buddy
Roar Rookie
Yep -I’m hoping for a shift in direction and culture - not one direction!
Buddy
Roar Rookie
Fad – isn’t that the crux of it though and the interesting part of the whole topic? Lampard was an extremely successful player and has taken the path into coaching and is duly qualified. Who will give him a go and on what basis and is Roman Abramovich changing course and trying something new? I’m ignoring the less than helpful comments that have little bearing on the actual subject and repeat, the debate in the UK is not hysterical. Not at all negative or dismissive in spite of his lack of experience and the fact he will be at one of the leading clubs in the country. Steve Corica – ok A League is a different level but the same applies. Surely the main feeling last year was one of curiosity as to how well he would go in moving from assistant to the number one job at SFC. Now this season we have another roar recruit (pun not really intended) and I am curious to see how he will go in Brisbane and what he will bring to the club and the league. I don’t see the need to shake my head in disappointment before a ball has been kicked. As for recruitment, well that’s the game we all love watching and being surprised or not so surprised.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
Roar has spent to the max cap in recent years, whatever are you talking about Kangas? There's been no talk of Roar cutting funds. They have under spent on marquee players recently, and no marquee yet for next season, but they haven't ruled it out. I'm thinking Sterling maybe.
invicta
Roar Rookie
Fowler does have a recruitment plan at least. 1. Selected younger players (all less than 30) except O'Donovan O'Donovan knows the a league and australian conditions so should be fine. Many overseas players struggle with the hard pitches, heat and fitness required. Visa players have often struggled with injuries. Getting older visa players runs the risk of injuries or top quality ones come here under an injury cloud hence on loan or cheap eg Siem De Jong. 2. Fit, Australian Players in Midfield He has picked mobile, young Australian players in midfield so far rather than foreigners. Roar has lacked mobility in the midfield for a while. O'Neill, mells and mauk could be hard to break down. 3. Similar heritage Why wouldn't a British manager and British assistantsx2 select British visa players?? I haven't seen any negative comments about Markus Babbel selecting German speaking players and Yeboah. 4. Visa defenders He has selected 3 visa spots for defence where roar leaked goals. Not sure if it matters much if there are english, brazilian, greek, german or aussie in that position to be honest. English players from lower leagues might teach youngsters like O'toole and reardon some of the dark arts and some youth players how to head a football. Overall, I was not jumping out of my chair at the signings but can appreciate his plan. I would like to see how other clubs fare. This could be the biggest test for Steve Corica -- how to replace Brilliante and maybe O'Neill ? Loss of Brosque? Melbourne Victory --- loss of Barbourosus, manager who to anchor midfield. Adelaide's loss of Isias Melbourne City could actually come through this year with a relatively settled squad and an attacking manager.
Fadida
Roar Rookie
The squad was indeed full of joggers; Boogs, Ugarkavic, Jackson, Georgievski, Kanta, Petratos, Vargas etc. Incredibly one paced (one of my criticism pre season). He's still sharp though, O'Donovan. I would have like Jets to have kept him, a guaranteed 10 goals, but not for 2 years. And yes, every time he goes in for a tackle you'd cringe. Every time
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
RF, to be fair to Waz, he does as much, perhaps more for Roar as a fan than any other A League fan anywhere. His efforts for his club are admirable. The A League would benefit if we had a few more of him around at every club. I think he's earnt the right to speak up - doesn't mean you have to agree.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
the striker, Khadija Shaw
jbinnie
Guest
Waz - Just as a matter of interest had a look at Leroy George's CV and from the data and comment available it is obvious the lad was undoubtedly a talented footballer (played with Dutch under age national teams) and did well at Utrecht,but it is just as obvious he is a lad who has a problem with his attitude and that is probably why he arrived here from Turkey (and didn't last too long at Victory). Cheers jb.