Who's signed for next season

[shinAUFC]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Sydney get docked points a few seasons ago for salary cap breaches?

Wasnt that season 1?

129k fine but keep the championship seems like a nice swap imo

[bpowell454]

Apparently the FFA are looking at changing to the marquee rule to make it possible for the clubs to have 2 foreign marqueee instead of the current 1 aussie and 1 foreign.

The foxsports article I read didnt say whether this would increase the amount of foreign players allowed in a team or if it just means you could move a 2nd foreigner outside the cap and bring all your aussies into the cap.

[salmonfc]

And now Griffin's having a whinge about it.

Every time he speaks to the media, he comes off as a whiny prick.

[Jumbinho]

And now Griffin's having a whinge about it.

Every time he speaks to the media, he comes off as a whiny prick.

If it walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck...

[EdDog]

I actually think he talked sense in that article. We can't afford to compete now. It does advantage the rich.

[Futbol_Crazy21]

Melbourne Victory lose Oz marquee, can't find replacement........

Two international marquees! 2 months before the season starts! Brilliant!.........

And now Griffin's having a whinge about it.

Every time he speaks to the media, he comes off as a whiny prick.

True, but given the circumstances I'd be whinging as well, they just want to introduce a new rule 2 months before the season starts that in the short term just so happens to benefit MV......

[Jumbinho]

Melbourne Victory lose Oz marquee, can't find replacement........

Two international marquees! 2 months before the season starts! Brilliant!.........

And now Griffin's having a whinge about it.

Every time he speaks to the media, he comes off as a whiny prick.

True, but given the circumstances I'd be whinging as well, they just want to introduce a new rule 2 months before the season starts that in the short term just so happens to benefit MV......

Before he goes off whingeing, it might pay him to realise that Kosta Barbarouses is from this place called New Zealand (not in Australia!) and Victory have already filled their foreign quota. The sky is not falling in just yet.

Thats my main problem with Griffin, always happy to run his business through the press, but his mouth always seems a couple of steps ahead of his brain.

[EdDog]

Are New Zealander's considered foreigners for Australian clubs?

[Futbol_Crazy21]

Before he goes off whingeing, it might pay him to realise that Kosta Barbarouses is from this place called New Zealand (not in Australia!) and Victory have already filled their foreign quota. The sky is not falling in just yet.

Thats my main problem with Griffin, always happy to run his business through the press, but his mouth always seems a couple of steps ahead of his brain.

Ah I forgot about Barbarouses *facepalm*. To be fair I don't think Griffin mentioned anything about that, he just said that MV and MC management liked the idea.

[Jumbinho]

This was the particular Griffin quote I was referring to:

“Melbourne Victory can stand back now and not having an Australian marquee and they’ve had ample time to get an Australian marquee.

“But now they can off and buy another Berisha for a million dollars which gives them an enormous advantage.”

[ChillyPhilly]

Are New Zealander's considered foreigners for Australian clubs?

Yes. Unless they hold an Australian passport (e.g. Shane Smeltz) or citizenship (Andrew Durante).

[mcjules]

I kinda agree with Griffin

The problem with the Marquee rule is that it's just being used to put a couple of players outside the cap. Giving the east coast clubs the ability to sign two is starting to remove part of the purpose of the salary cap.

Piovaccari and Holosko are the latest two players to have come in as marquees. I watch a fair bit of euro football and I had never heard of either. They may be good players but they don't do much to boost media exposure, crowds or tv ratings.

If Melbourne City want to sign Villa and Pirlo as their two marquees and Victory Keane and Gerrard, AU would be applauding it but they're not using it this way. Instead we get Koren, Janko and the two aforementioned who while won't destroy the league, they could break open the odd game and earn a team an extra 3 points that they wouldn't have had otherwise.

Basically the FFA need to tighten up the rules so the marquee spots are used for their original intention. One other exception I'd make is for them to be used for players that have been in the league already and have become fan favourites as at least people know who they are. Examples of these are Broich, Berisha & Chelo.

[red wombat]

The marquee system hasn't worked very well where clubs have simply thrown big money at players - SFC are prize examples there though it ADP worked on a commercial level. Where the system has been used to keep good players within a club or to improve what they have/need, it has been useful. However, nothing should dilute the Australian content of our league and this change will do exactly that. Personally, I think we already have too many foreigners within the league because although they're only a small part of the squad, they get played before locals (as they should) and thus become a large part of starting line-up. If they want more money to be available for players, they can make more money available for Australians. I think the league is getting beyond being a retirement home for old players now and being able to keep young players here longer or bring older players back earlier will make it stronger still. Bringing in more foreigners will work against that. Keep the league competitive (by not caving into the 'scrap the salary cap' call amongst other things) and the league will continue to improve. Make it a playground for four rich clubs and it will falter.

[EdDog]

Wasn't 10 minutes ago when the FFA wanted to reduce the import quota.

Now just sign two outside the cap. All G.

[ChillyPhilly]

The FFA is more confused than the Queen at McDonald's. Totally clueless with what they're doing.