It’s the silly season, and what better way to pass time during the transfer window than by speculating about potential moves and making wild statements based on rumour and innuendo.
That’s exactly what we’re doing at the Corner Flag, by looking at the bottom six NPL clubs and the A-League free agents or off contract players that could just be the shot in the arm they need, using obscure connections such as nationality or proximity to make the call.
It’s just a bit of light reading before the weekend, so don’t get your hopes up too high. But don’t worry, we’ll take all the credit if any of these moves do pan out.
READ MORE > Swapping A-League duds with NPL studs
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Sasa Ognenovski to Northcote City
The 2013 VPL Champions are a shadow of their former selves, with the current squad unrecognisable to the one which won league honours a couple of seasons back. One area which is particularly under-strength is the defence, as City have conceded 31 times in 12 games – league’s worst – with the days of Chiappetta, Konstantinidis and Eager marshalling their defence long gone.
What they need is some presence and experience at the back, and who better than the 2010 AFC Player of the Year? The former Socceroo’s season ended abruptly as a niggling injury forced him out for the season. With his contract set to expire, A-League fans may have seen the last of the big ‘Og Monster’. A move back to Melbourne and the NPL would see the former Melbourne Knights and Preston Lions defender surely become the most intimidating figure on the pitch, and we are certain that Loza’s Macedonian connections could see this move eventuate.
Cameron Watson to Oakleigh Cannons
The honeymoon may be over for Arthur Papas after his Oakleigh side after they lost their first game under his tenure last week. Over the border, Adelaide United’s elimination against Sydney in the A-League semi-finals might signal the end for Victorian Cameron Watson’s five-year stint with United.
Watson has previous VPL experience, representing the Melbourne Knights and Oakleigh Cannons between 2007 and 2010. A move to the latter could be ideal for both parties, with Papas reportedly on the lookout for a quality number six.
Not that we’re trying to perpetuate the ‘Choakleigh’ stereotype, but Watson does also have an unenviable finals record, reaching the play-off stages on six occasions without ever winning a Grand Final, meaning it could be the perfect marriage between club and player.
Jamie Maclaren to Green Gully
While Gully’s most notable problems have been at the back this campaign, the fit-again veteran pairing of Rodrigo Vargas and Daniel Jones should lead to more defensive stability. Up the other end, the departure of club stalwart Matthew Sanders has left a huge hole to fit up front, a hole which can be filled up by a former Gully junior in Jamie Maclaren.
The Young Socceroo is back in his home town of Melbourne and after meeting with the PFA has indicated an expression to terminate his contract with the Perth Glory after the salary cup drama that engulfed the club’s season. Maclaren spent much of the season as a super-sub but still managed to score nine goals including a hat-trick against Melbourne City and having been starved of game-time for much of the season, a short stint at the club where it all began for him might prove pivotal in launching a mid-season revival for Bob Stojcevski’s men which would move them away from a relegation battle.
Labinot Haliti to Dandenong Thunder
Having spent the last three years at the Wanderers as an important squad player for Tony Popovic’s side, Haliti somehow managed to avoid the mass cull today. However, rumours surfaced throughout the season that the Kosovo-born forward was hungry for more game time, and if another A-League offer were not to come up, the hierarchy at Dandenong Thunder could do no worse than lure him to George Andrews Reserve.
With most of the goalscoring responsibilities resting on the shoulders of young gun Yusef Ahmed, veteran Veton Korcari and youngster Jarryd Barnes could do with some competition for the number nine spot. Given Haliti’s Albanian background, a move to the 2012 VPL Champions could be a match made in heaven.
The female populace at Dandenong may also be pleased to see Haliti celebrating his goals with his trademark shirt off celebration.
Archie Thompson to Werribee City
Oh we know what you’re thinking. What sort of obscure connection can you possibly make between Archie and Werribee City?
Well, two things.
Rumours continue to persist about the Victory legend’s contract status. Will he stay, will he leave, will he retire? He said he wants to play on, and while we are sure that some other A-League or overseas club would still take him (the Ernie Merrick connection at the Nix, for example) if Muscat doesn’t offer him a new contract, why not stay at home in the NPL?
Anybody who has spent enough time around Werribee supremo Nino Ragusa knows he’s proclaimed his desire for a proven goalscorer, and what better candidate to have than the A-League’s all-time top scorer. He’ll be sure to be bang in goals, particularly with the services offered by the likes of attacking wingers Cristaldo – a former Victory teammate – and Zappia.
The other reasoning is that Thompson doesn’t live too far away in Point Cook, and as City are the closest NPL club in the area, it could just be the best local option for Thompson.
Mate Dugandzic to North Geelong Warriors
With the winger’s time at City coming to an end following his release this week, Dugandzic could need a confidence booster, coming in the form of a return to the state leagues where it all began at the Melbourne Knights.
This time, instead of returning back to Somers Street, who have already plucked the Warriors’ star winger Robbie Zadworny, Dugandzic could go the other way to cover the departure. North Geelong could not only rejuvenate his career, but he could go a long way to resurrecting the Warriors’ season, with the club desperate to avoid relegation in their first season back in the top flight. Plus, the club already has form in trying to court A-League players down to Elcho Park this season.
We’re sure rock star coach Micky Colina wouldn’t mind the services of the one-time Dinamo Zagreb man, who could carpool with the gaffer down the Princes Highway from Melbourne.