Squad Development 2021

[Jefski]

6 hours ago, mintoff said:

 

C R  made a very big mistake that cost the team two points when he replaced Tass with Ziegler.

CR said after the game that Tas was injured. He had little choice.

[Jefski]

6 hours ago, THEWANDERERSPOST said:

This is very true.

Duke scored seconds into a game against Newcastle when we lost like 5-1 or something.

Mcgowan has been great this season and is being unfairly judged, he was poor last season but seemed like he was going well under Robinson until getting injured (and playing through it) in the derby.

The best thing CR did was to give McGowan the captaincy. Being the captain, it's now his responsibility to hold things together. It's been a great move and one I think worked until he got injured.

[Niksreed]

Mutch leaves quarantine Friday 

[Keithie]

I wonder what team we will see this Saturday night , Tass came off injured , Muller came off Injured McGowan injured

Gunna be tough against the Bulls this week but their is a lot of positives ahead,  Mitch Duke back on the park,  Jordan Mutch on the park and Muller and McGowan over their injuries 

All is Rosie at the wanderers in about 4 weeks  

  PS: Hope Tass is ok cant think the result if Ziegler plays.

 

Edited February 2, 2021 by Keithie

[Robvad10]

3 hours ago, Keithie said:

I wonder what team we will see this Saturday night , Tass came off injured , Muller came off Injured McGowan injured

Gunna be tough against the Bulls this week but their is a lot of positives ahead,  Mitch Duke back on the park,  Jordan Mutch on the park and Muller and McGowan over their injuries 

All is Rosie at the wanderers in about 4 weeks  

  PS: Hope Tass is ok cant think the result if Ziegler plays.

 

at least milligan will be out for the cows as well. 

[MathyouWSW]

Duke posted on his Instagram page (roughly 3 hours ago) that he was on the plane and leaving the Saudi Arabia International Airport (pretty sure it was King Khalid International Airport, can't confirm that).

So, he'll probably arrive sometime tomorrow night
 

[Cynth]

8 minutes ago, MathyouWSW said:

Duke posted on his Instagram page (roughly 3 hours ago) that he was on the plane and leaving the Saudi Arabia International Airport (pretty sure it was King Khalid International Airport, can't confirm that).

So, he'll probably arrive sometime tomorrow night
 

Quarantine? Does that mean he will be able to play in two weeks? 

[MathyouWSW]

Just now, Cynth said:

Quarantine? Does that mean he will be able to play in two weeks? 

Depending what time he arrives (I'm assuming sometime tomorrow night in Sydney), he'll commence quarantine either on Friday or Saturday.

[mintoff]

10 minutes ago, MathyouWSW said:

Duke posted on his Instagram page (roughly 3 hours ago) that he was on the plane and leaving the Saudi Arabia International Airport (pretty sure it was King Khalid International Airport, can't confirm that).

So, he'll probably arrive sometime tomorrow night
 

He will have to spend 14 days quarantine.

 

[mintoff]

1 minute ago, MathyouWSW said:

Depending what time he arrives (I'm assuming sometime tomorrow night in Sydney), he'll commence quarantine either on Friday or Saturday.

Yes, if he will be match fit.

[wswnick]

Duke arrives tonight by 10pm

[Sithslayer1991]

2 hours ago, wswnick said:

Duke arrives tonight by 10pm

so 19/02/2021 would be when he finally gets with the team. 

[wswnick]

Olyroos preparations scheduled for 22nd to 30th March (coincides with A-League regular season) and 25th May to 15th June (coincides with A-League regular season and finals).

 

Currently we don't have a WSW match during the first window. We have 1 match scheduled in second window against Wellington, and any finals game we may be part of.

[THEWANDERERSPOST]

2 hours ago, wswnick said:

Olyroos preparations scheduled for 22nd to 30th March (coincides with A-League regular season) and 25th May to 15th June (coincides with A-League regular season and finals).

 

Currently we don't have a WSW match during the first window. We have 1 match scheduled in second window against Wellington, and any finals game we may be part of.

Thats why Robinson has assembles a squad I guess.

Most worrying positions where I feel like there isn't enough quality are the fullbacks.

Both Russel and Aquilina will likely get picked.

Ziggy can play RB and Georgievski can fill in at LB.

[Carns]

Baccus and Tass would probably be picked too.

[wswnick]

Maybe even Margush if his form keeps up (he's 23)

[THEWANDERERSPOST]

13 minutes ago, Carns said:

Baccus and Tass would probably be picked too.

Agree, my point was more the fact that we have decent cover in midfield and CB's with mix of talented youth (Natta) and experience (Mcgowan, Mutch).

11 minutes ago, wswnick said:

Maybe even Margush if his form keeps up (he's 23)

Was thinking this as well. Would be a huge loss going into the finals. Would likely be second fiddle to Glover considering their most recent squads.

As silly is it may sound, considering some of the sacrifices some players have had to make so far, is there any chance some of these players would be willing to risk a spot with the Olyroos to play finals footy?

Edited February 4, 2021 by THEWANDERERSPOST

[Carns]

It's way too early to assume the Olympics will even go ahead considering how Covid is. I know Japan are doing everything to make it happen, but it's not that simple.

[wswnick]

18 minutes ago, Carns said:

It's way too early to assume the Olympics will even go ahead considering how Covid is. I know Japan are doing everything to make it happen, but it's not that simple.

These preps will happen regardless of Olympics going ahead. 

[wswnick]

Duke's officially in quarantine

[mintoff]

11 minutes ago, wswnick said:

Duke's officially in quarantine

He will be able to play, if fit on the 21st of February against the Nix away

[MathyouWSW]

Duke posted an instagram story around 10:30pm that the bus was heading to the quarantine hotel around 10:30pm. 

And I think Mutch has completed his quarantine by now

Edited February 4, 2021 by MathyouWSW

[MathyouWSW]

 

[Hughesy]

11 hours ago, Carns said:

It's way too early to assume the Olympics will even go ahead considering how Covid is. I know Japan are doing everything to make it happen, but it's not that simple.

The logistics associated with the Olympics are impossible within the realms of COVID restrictions unless they just let it be a free for all. Having seen the drama with a half strength Aus Open down in Melbourne that has probably 1/100th of the amount of people, I can’t see how the games can go ahead. 

[MathyouWSW]

Not sure if this is the right thread for it but Duke was recently on the ABC Grandstand and spoke about his stint in Saudi Arabia: https://www.a-league.com.au/news/abc-pod-duke-reveals-extent-saudi-struggles-garb-cornthwaite-unwrap-sensational-matchweek-7?fbclid=IwAR3woqZP3GIBFa-R9jNocpQ0mGxRa08t-AAqkbovBWB2kANk5XRRIz7BUvs
 

Western Sydney Wanderers striker Mitchell Duke has revealed the details of his 'three week battle' with Saudi Professional League club Al-Taawoun to negotiate his return to Wanderland on loan for the remainder of the 2020/21 A-League season.

Speaking on the ABC Grandstand Football Podcast to Daniel Garb and Robbie Cornthwaite, the Socceroos striker admitted he developed a 'ball of negativity' while playing out of position for the Saudi Arabian side, away from his wife and children in the UK.

The talismanic striker says he's buzzing as he quarantines ahead of a return to his beloved Wanderers, to reconnect with his network of family and friends he yearned for throughout his stint overseas.

Duke returns to Wanderland after three-week battle with parent club

"It was a genuine conversation. I assumed they were going to take my word seriously and give me a chance as a striker, but instead they turned it against me."

12 games into his stint at Saudi Professional League side Al-Taawoun, Duke knew he was in need of a change of scenery.

Living away from family and friends and playing on the wing for the Saudi side - as opposed to his preferred position as a number nine - Duke approached the club to ask for his chance spearheading the attack.

The 30-year-old expected to have a constructive conversation with the club. Instead, he was given an unexpected ultimatum - and in the fallout he found his way home.

"I felt myself getting away from the football side of things, and getting a bit negative," Duke told Garb and Cornthwaite on the ABC Grandstand podcast.

"I was approaching training and approaching games with that negative mindset… almost like ‘poor me, this is rough, what am I doing?’ 

"I was also not enjoying the football side of things very much because I wasn’t playing striker. That kind of played into this position I ended up being in in January...I approached the club early January and said ‘I’m not happy because you guys are playing me winger, I’ve played 12 games to start the season and not played striker once’. Our top goal scorer by round 12 was our centre back - that’s not acceptable on any level. The fact I wasn’t given a chance as a striker just kind of felt like I was devalued, I wasn’t respected enough to be given that chance as a striker.

"I’m old enough now to step up and actually use my voice and be like ‘you know what, give me a chance and if you don’t give me a chance you need to let me look at other possibilities for my career', because stats-wise it was killing me"

"They didn’t take it very well. Once they realised I wasn’t completely committed to the club, they kind of turned on me a bit… (they) were like ‘okay, cancel your contract then’.

"It was rough, I was surprised because it was a genuine conversation that I assumed they were going to take my word seriously and give me a chance as a striker, but instead they turned it against me.

"It was a three-week battle after that to work out a solution. I did have quite a few other clubs that were willing to take me out on loan, but they were so adamant on me cancelling my contract they just killed so many deals.

"They even originally rejected the Wanderers early January as well, so I was thinking ‘I’m going to be stuck here and they’re going to keep trying to make me cancel my contract’.

"Come the last day of the transfer window - for most of Europe anyway - they finally agreed to let me go to the Wanderers, which was a nice big relief. 

"I wasn’t going to see my wife and kids until June, anyway. So I was either going to be stuck in Saudi (Arabia) not happy, or come back home where I know I’m going to be happy, I’ve got my own family and friends network here and I love the club that I was coming back to, so it was a win-win.

"It’s rough knowing I’m not going to see my baby girl until she’s about five months old, but my wife was very supportive and understanding (saying) ‘you know what, at least you’re going to be happier within yourself going back to Australia’, so I was buzzing with how it’s worked out."

[sonar]

Given the statements by Duke about his Saudi club you would think he won't be going back after the loan period..........mutual termination....?....or will they play hardball and make him honour his contract.,,?

[MathyouWSW]

Just now, sonar said:

Given the statements by Duke about his Saudi club you would think he won't be going back after the loan period..........mutual termination....?....or will they play hardball and make him honour his contract.,,?

I would say mutual termination. You think he would want to go back to a negative environment where they aren't giving him any opportunities to play at his preferred position? I would say no. 

[sonar]

1 minute ago, MathyouWSW said:

I would say mutual termination. You think he would want to go back to a negative environment where they aren't giving him any opportunities to play at his preferred position? I would say no. 

I'm quite happy to say I'm not that savvy on how football player contracts work. It's a very different world to your usual employment contract(s).

 

[JustWandering]

Isn't it Duke that has insisted on remaining under contract with Al Taawoun? From what Duke is saying, it appears that Al Taawoun wanted him to terminate his own contract so that they would not have to pay him any more money. Since he has flatly refused, they are loaning him out so that at least some of his contract is financially covered externally. 

[mack]

Yeah it's a bit strange. I'm surprised the Saudi club didn't just hand him a filled out release form and a ticket back to Australia after telling him his pay would cease immediately.

Maybe they decided to just kick the can down the road 6 months and push WSW to pay a transfer fee if he comes good again here.