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Squad Development 2017/18

mack

By mack
in Western Sydney Wanderers

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luisenrique

luisenrique

Posted
Posted

I know it was said in jest but man it would be unreal if we signed Totti. One of the most underrated players of all time, and still got it. Even at 50% he would own this league.

Good to see that the club are trying to sign Antonis and Nico back. I know Nico didn't tear it up in the second half but with a full season behind him I think he could step up a level. Plus if he had better players around him this time his impact would have been greater.

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Neverbloom

Neverbloom

Posted
Posted

i dont think this has been posted but

 

Western Sydney coach Tony Popovic has axed eight players in his annual purge but will do everything in his power to ensure on-loan stars Nico Martinez and Terry Antonis return next season.

The Wanderers on Thursday announced the departures of captain Dimas Delgado, vice-captain Mitch Nichols, Perth Glory-bound Scott Neville, Uruguayan midfielder Bruno Pinatares, veteran attacker Ryan Griffiths and young trio Liam Youlley, Stefan Zinni and Emilio Martinez.

They join Mario Shabow, who has signed for Newcastle Jets, and foundation player Shannon Cole, who flagged his departure earlier this week.

It leaves Popovic with plenty of work to do to rebuild his squad but he has already set the foundation for next season with 18 players locked away.

However, the futures of Martinez and Antonis are out of the club's hands.

Antonis was central to the Wanderers' late-season improvement and established an impressive attacking midfield partnership with Kearyn Baccus, after arriving on loan from PAOK in January.

The 23-year-old Antonis' contract with the Greek Superleague club runs for another year, while Martinez is tied to parent club Olympiacos until 2019.

"They're two players we obviously like," Popovic said.

"It's not as simple as us having a decision on that. We'll speak to their clubs and see whether something is possible.

"If it's not, of course we have to look for alternatives, but we'll be in discussions with both clubs.

"There's a few (other players) we want to look at. We need to improve in that final third, not in terms of our play but our conversion and goals we score."

The Wanderers' other priority will be recruiting a reliable striker to join the excellent but ageing Brendon Santalab.

Popovic has had no luck in that department over the past two seasons after Federico Piovaccari and Kerem Bulut failed to fire.

But Popovic has stressed goals should come from the whole squad, rather than just a centre-forward like Santalab, who contributed one third of Western Sydney's goals this season.

"That's an area we're looking at but I don't think it's just the striker," Popovic said.

"Our striker this year scored 14 goals but we didn't get enough contribution throughout the rest of the group.

"If you look at the champions (Sydney FC), their striker scored 15 goals but they had contributions all over the park."

The Wanderers are still yet to confirm the long-speculated signing of Dutch midfielder Roly Bonevacia from Wellington Phoenix, which would leave Popovic with two foreign spots left to fill.

Imports Jumpei Kusukami and Aritz Borda are contracted for another year.


Read more at http://wwos.nine.com.au/2017/05/11/09/04/wsw-to-make-antonis-martinez-inquiries#6QtRbFG6mx6BiHIR.99
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Prydzopolis

Prydzopolis

Posted
Posted
12 hours ago, Paul01 said:

Francesco Totti refuses to rule out playing on. Possibility?🤔

Robbie Keane's wife now ok with a move away from Rodeo Drive.

Let me just nip this in the bud.

Totti wants to play another year, the new sporting director (moggi ex Sevilla SD) has effectively called an end to Totti's career. Suffice to say Totti is fuming inside but publicly has said nothing. Decision will be made at end of season.

Also, as part of his previous contract, Totti has signed a pre-contract agreement to become a director of Roma for 5 years. No chance of him coming here.

Strikers in Italy are able to last longer they are able to in other leagues. In Italy, it is a lot more technical and not as fast paced. Throw in the heat plus pitches in Australia and he'd fall apart. If that wasn't enough, the equation is simple, we can't afford half of these players. More likely to go to MLS and get a 4-10m USD payday rather than come to Australia for 1m AUD

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Paul01

Paul01

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Posted
25 minutes ago, WanderingToqui said:

I just hope we find an unknown number 9 who tears it up for us.

 

Ahhh to dream!

Look up Helder Postiga🤔

Age 34 height 1.82m. Needs a club!

71 appearances for Portugal with 27 goals. Would need the Popa fitness regime

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ZachMercer

ZachMercer

Posted
Posted
2 hours ago, Paul01 said:

Look up Helder Postiga🤔

Age 34 height 1.82m. Needs a club!

71 appearances for Portugal with 27 goals. Would need the Popa fitness regime

I'd love to see him play again, but alas he probably wouldn't last.

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