ALM Squad Speculation Thread 2024/25 (Part 1)

Fair call, wasn’t sure what the go was in terms of treatment etc. I guess time will tell what will happen. It might still make sense for the club to extend the loan (even with the injury) if they don’t think they’ll find any Aussie defenders that can take over for him. Even if we go with Grant/Mathews or any other primary starting combination, it’s not the worst having a fit Popovic available.

One thing you’re forgetting is, without Rodwell, we’ve been very light on the long term injury list. We risk the possibility of our physio’s losing match fitness

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We could always get Zullo back on loan for (calf) 1 week.

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He said he was worried about the Physio not having enough work.

We don’t want him so overworked that he needs to take stress leave!

A quick skim through a couple of online papers suggest that the milder end can be as little as a month or two and that most athletes can be back in competition within three. If the clock started 2½ weeks ago after the Melbourne sub, it might not even that bad if the alternative signing comes from an East Asian off season and wouldn’t be match fit until a month from now anyway.

On the financial side, we don’t know how much if indeed anything we are spending towards his wages through the loan, what options we had for early termination, how much our or their insurance covers in the case of long injury.

Far too premature to make any judgement.

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how dare you ruin our pre-goo feasting!

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It was also one of the Hoff’s complaints wasn’t it? Stefan Bajcetic was rumoured/reported to have it at Liverpool too, which kept him out of full/repeated training for over a year.

Just seems to be one of those injuries that can either resolve quick or just drag on flaring up with increased activity.

Talk of Matthews leaving in January to Portsmouth has kicked up again.

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If it’s for $2m then we need to let him go imo, but stating the obvious we need do what we can to replace him. Gurd + Grant as CBs…not sure about that.

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Yeah Vince mentioned this on Total A-League. I’m not surprised but I’d be hopeful we can sell him in the end of season window instead and keep him with our squad until then.

Vince also pointed out that Sega is out of contract in July but even if he leaves on a free we’d be entitled to a decent amount of training compensation.

Would be nice to sell and then loan back for the rest of the season

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Portsmouth would be a questionable one as well. They’re currently battling relegation

I’ve been out of it for a bit, moving a family of six interstate (do not recommend).

What’s the go with all the players?

Redmayne?
JCP not starting? Why? Just can’t cover a big enough area?
Popovic is obviously somewhere between precautionary resting and career ending injury?
Grant at CB? That’s fucked but I sort of like it?
Ouahim?
Do we know how long Douglas is out for? Who would he come in for? Time share with Lolley?
Lolley? Still persisting with that hair and weird mo situation? Someone should bang a church bell and get the symbiote off him.

That’s like, half of the first XI with various levels of question mark over them.

From what I’ve caught of the games, moving a player that can defend a bigger area I to CB has maybe worked? But the bigger different ones from the midfield balance. Sena, Holman, Caceres, Segecic is a lot more stable than Sena, Caceres, Ouahim.

7 day rest for a groin strain last match, didn’t fly as a precaution according to Uffie presser

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So does he come back in for Caceres or Segecic? Or Lolley? Probably Segecic going off the CCM game?

Not really - Their manager has recently stated that the A-League is an undervalued source of players for that level - they have Yengi and Farrell and had Silva until recently. So I would say going to a club (which is a decent sized club) with a manager who values the league you are from might be a decent move.

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I would assume Segecic, Uffy doesn’t seem keen to change his starting line up even though Lolley clearly needs a rest.

Im saying more so, going there and then having the likelihood of dropping down into League 1 may not be that good a career option. Especially if you consider the fact that the manager prob won’t stay if they drop

It’s a pretty good level for a player of his age and experience I reckon? He might struggle for minutes in the championship

Redmayne? Assuming has lost his spot to allow HDM an opportunity. HDM definitely suites the sweeper keeper role better and has better distribution. I personally still think that Redders is better in actual goals (although not by too much)

JCP not starting? Why? Just can’t cover a big enough area? Didn’t really play that well and King has massively stepped up, will be hard for him to get back in

Popovic is obviously somewhere between precautionary resting and career ending injury? Jury out but could be out for a few more weeks or a few more months. Also his loan period is ending

Grant at CB? That’s fucked but I sort of like it? Most likely chosen for experience in CB. Jury out, but his last two games have been very strong and our defence has been the strongest it has this year.

Ouahim? Reportedly back next week, rested due to a hamstring issue last game, but no confirmation

Douglas? Out for a month or so

Who would he come in for? Assuming they will rotate between Sega, Lolley and Oahim

Still persisting with that hair and weird mo situation? unfortunately yes, he almost has Hitler vibes

Apparently Matthews is the second most expensive player in the comp???