After selling stars Goodwin and Isaias, Adelaide United needed to find – among other things – a quality defensive midfielder. A midfield general, if you like.
Well ahead of the kick-off of the 2019-20 A-League campaign, they had the money from these sales and from releasing Baba, but as per usual, Adelaide were very sluggish in the transfer market.
There were some very good Aussie A-League players available but the club’s insistence on predominantly bargain-basement signings and low wages means they go into the season short of defensive quality under new manager Gertjan Verbeek.
(Photo by VI Images via Getty Images)
Mirko Boland and Vince Lia are too slow to cut it in this position and Riley McGree – albeit a good signing – is more of an attacking midfielder.
United have also failed to replace Taylor Regan, so when injury strikes, watch out.
Championship teams are built on defence as Tony Popovic demonstrated last season, despite the fact his Perth Glory team failed to win the A-League’s ultimate prize against Sydney FC on grand final day.
Craig Goodwin has also not been replaced and when the eastern states are spending up big, Adelaide is well behind.
Each year they try to get away with the bare minimum, but this year, Adelaide’s lack of recruiting is going to hurt.
Of course they could fix the problem even now, but after hearing excuse after excuse from the club’s new director of football Bruce Djite, can we really expect some deadline quality signings?
So with an inferior squad than last year and a new coach with new ideas, United will struggle to make the finals and it should be no surprise.
I hope, of course, that I am wrong but realistically I don’t think I will be.
In fact, I expect that it will be Marco Kurz and Melbourne Victory that will have the last laugh.
EJ
Roar Pro
Agree looking at the list I think they’ve got 1 or 2 spots left, one being an import spot, not sure how having youth players effects squad lists my understanding was maximum 23 player squad but with youth players this number is generally much bigger
EJ
Roar Pro
Totally agree with you, but a new coach might lead to a style which is a bit different, who knows we might no longer see the classic isaias boot it down to the end of field straight from kick off haha. While I don’t think at this point that we’re going to struggle, I think we can’t get an idea of the hole isaias has left and whether it’s been filled or not til season starts and after for some getting our first view of Adelaide playing A-League opposition on Tuesday
scotty
Roar Rookie
Thanks ej some good points there mcgree costing united 100k was reported in an article recently Im hoping that bruce will be spurned into action and the more dialogue on the subject the better If we want to be serious about our prospects we must have a squad with quality and depth I wonder how many games we would have won without our captain last yr ,not many and thats why im so insistant that we find a quality replacement that can dictate the game from the middle ofthe park
Fadida
Roar Rookie
The number of spots is the key. 2 good signings changes everything
EJ
Roar Pro
First of all, I do respect your opinion, you’re clearly a frustrated United supporter, you wouldn’t be the only one out there Maria does replace Galloway at full back, but is able and capable of playing on the left wing if needed, not a direct replacement but can play there. McGree actually cost the club more in the region of 900k € to 1 million€. Transfrmarket reports his value at 1million. https://www.transfermarkt.com/riley-mcgree/profil/spieler/428061 His fee from United to Club Brugge when we first sold him was 100K In terms of Isaias, massive lost, but from what I’ve heard Verbeek is much more attacking, perhaps playing McGree as a CAM with two CM in Boland, Konstandopolous, and Lia will work and a cdm isn’t what’s needed, Verbeek and the players have said that there is a more focus on an attacking style. Lia while ageing is a good veteran and midfielder and probably doesn’t get a lot of credit that he deserves. Have to give Boland a chance and a full year. Was at the Perth game where he got injured, was very bad tackle on him and you could tell that he was finished for a very long period on the sidelines. While Konstandopolous is a very capable midfielder and if he takes his chances could be a potential star red player. While Goodwin, I think his void could be filled by the current squad we have, Kitto is capable scoring 6+, Halloren can and even Mileusnic and if Ospeth can be the striker we finally have searched for I think we’ve got a good attacking options. Even Blackwood can score a fair few if he takes his chances and becomes a bit more clinical. Don’t forget McGree who scored 7 for City last year. Just remember, the club is in China recruiting a Chinese player at the moment, could be that player to fill Isaias, or even a defensive position. Also on the comment about reagan, injuries did strike last year, Elsey had a foot injury in the latter part of the year, and Marrone filled this role brilliantly. I think we need another centre back but I think Marrone can fill this role, so its not totally alarm bells if it happens
EJ
Roar Pro
Not sure they have too many left but are supposedly bringing in a Chinese player, Djite in China at the moment working this through
Fadida
Roar Rookie
How many squad places do tbey have to fill?
scotty
Roar Rookie
Wrong wrong wrong I support united but accepting management's propaganda is not the way foreward The owners need to be made accountable for selling 2 stars and banking most of the cash and giving feeble excuses on there lack of signings Fact check how many players have left adelaide last yr and how many came in
scotty
Roar Rookie
Franko let's do some fact checking here Maria is not goodwins replacement He replaces scott Galloway at fullback Opseth is a free transfer and McGree was 100k Given that they got 450k for goodwin and also sold isiais why havnt they signed a quality defensive midfielder to replace the captain That is my point.and it will be uniteds downfall unless they act quickly
Rodger King
Guest
Scotty, Scotty, Scotty ...……… if you are going to go fishing, you should have at least some decent bait on the hook. It's too obvious you're a Victory fan, hence you don't like us and we don't like your lot. If i were you I'd be looking at your own deficiencies rather than look over the boarder at us, you do understand, that jealousy is a curse don't you. Hope you enjoy the season as much as we will, but some how I don't think you will.
EJ
Roar Pro
Agree with u mate, Toure has looked good in the cup, and youngsters like Brook, D’Arrigo and Armiento all look good, many of United’s current players came through the youth system, Strain, Marrone, Izzo and Kitto to name a few
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
The article also seems to miss the point that a big part of Adelaide's approach from inception has been about giving local youth a chance. There's some real talent at the younger end of Adelaide's squad.
EJ
Roar Pro
Also on Craig Goodwin, the Reds have signed striker Kristian Ospeth, now I do not know whether he will light the league on fire but he could be the striker that the Reds need, if he gets his game going he could score and fill the 10 goals that was left by Goodwin Also, I’d give Mirko Boland a chance, missed most of the year due to injury, injured his hamstring v Perth in a horrible tackle, give him a full pre season, and season and I think he might surprise a few
Franko
Guest
You could shorten the article to simply "Adelaide; I don't like them". There were some very good Aussie A-League players available but the club’s insistence on predominantly bargain-basement signings and low wages - They signed McGree for a transfer fee and the Norwegian had a $1m fee hung over him for a while. They've arguably spent more than previous years, not less. United have also failed to replace Taylor Regan, so when injury strikes, watch out. He left at Christmas last year and was largely replaced by Marrone who did such a good job in the end kept Elsey out of the XI. <emCraig Goodwin has also not been replaced and when the eastern states are spending up big Michael Maria is his replacement, he worked with Verbeek at Bochum and FC Twente. Adelaide will NEVER win a spending competition with the eastern states. Look, they may not win the league, they may not gel or get injuries or whatever. But this article is very short anything close to an accurate analysis of the off-season. In fact this winter has been considered a stark contrast by many to past winters of late and low quality A-League recycle signings. With a solid start in the FFA cup amd emergence of youngsters there is every reason to be positive. I for one can't wait for the season to start.