In addition it is highly likely that Carlos will go rogue next season. Post World Cup and last year of his contract I expect big problems
Big call on Carlos
Carlos had huge motivations this year to make the WC. He lost weight and generally made an effort. But he was still a "problem child" at times. Next season he has no WC motivations and he knows he won't be re-signed. It will take all of Ernies man management skills to get a full productive season out him IMO.
We have Khrisna, Riera, Kenny and Carlos tying down 4 import slots. If we use an import slot on a gun midfielder then where are the goals going to come from? Krishna, Boyd, Brockie LOL? Ernie has very little room to move improving the squad
Where is the defence going to come from? We had the worst defence last year and all anyone wants to talk about is who to replace Huysegems with. We made our bed when we signed Krishna who is just clearly not good enough to be an import. The final import spot should either be for a top quality defensive midfielder or a top quality defender. Krishna, Boyd and Brockie will have to do and it would obviously be a major plus if we could sign someone else. Maybe the Victory won't be too keen to hold on to Barbarouses as he does take up one of their import spots?
I think most people are fairly realistic that Siggy and Durante are staying put, but with possible movement on the full back positions, but with Boxall, Fenton, Caira, etc I can't see to much going on in the off season.
The reason people are talking about Stein is that he's gone as is Bertos and theoretically they leave gaps in the squad, I say theoretically as I'd not bat a eyelid seeing Siggy and Adams playing up front as a new strike partnership they way this squad has had to make do over the season.
So even though nobody holds out to much hope of a radical overhaul of the entire squad, folk feel even Welnix will replace those that have gone.
Pretty much agree with Krishna and the import spot, we have to hope he can really step up though.
I understand this but the squad was already overbalanced in favour of attacking players. I agree that Sigmund and Durante are staying and Merrick has indicated he wants a midfielder and a striker. I wonder if our best hope for next season is to pick Sigmund, Durante and Boxall by playing 3 centre backs. Manny and Fenton could then be on the wings and be encouraged to get forward as much as possible.
I guess I'm holding out for a top quality defensive midfielder then. We were so much better when Reira was playing it makes me wonder how good we would have been if we had a top quality defensive midfielder.
I wonder how much pressure Welnix puts on Ernie to sign strikers? Surely he realises that our defence is sub par. What Welnix is correct about is that people want to see attacking football with lots of goals. However, what they ignore is that a team losing 5-0 all the time isn't a good look either. Any gains we will receive from playing attacking football are lost (and then some) when we get thrashed.
