IT'S time to take stock.
Another June 30 has rolled on by and like conscientious accountants everywhere (my 'other life' profession), I normally develop a sudden urge to count things at this time of year. In technical jargon, it's end-of-year stocktake time.
I thought it thus appropriate to do an assessment of the Reds' current stocks. Have they improved from last season or is the club carrying some out-of-date lines?
Beginning at the pointy end (3rd floor .. bedding, cookware, luggage & rugs), things are looking up. Cristiano continues the journey from last year and should benefit from being more settled, with a full pre-season behind him. Let's just hope he's no Lone Ranger in attack.
The potential "Kemosabes" (can that word have a plural?) are Lloyd Owusu from the UK via Ghana and young Francesco Monterosso, who was the leading scorer in the National Youth League last year. When compared to an often injured Paul Agostino and an inconsistent Robert Younis last year, I'd say that stocks have risen.
Next it's the middle of the park (2nd floor .. sportswear, leather goods, cards & gifts). Returning from last season are Dodd, Pantelis, Sarkies, Reid & Barbiero. They present a solid core and major injuries aside, should not weaken in overall output.
Added to this group are Adam Hughes from the UK, young Joe Costa and most recently, Korean Shin In Sup. On the minus side of the ledger the club has lost Diego (to the Nix), Spagnuolo (gone to get a tan) and Salley (who could be greatly missed).
My overall assessment though is that through the middle of the park, the club has only improved. Diego would be a big loss if he had been playing consistently but that was never the case. Hughes should add some needed grunt and be a good support for Paul Reid. Shin In Sup will (hopefully) add some creative flair that has at times been missing.
It's the descent towards the back (1st floor .. women's wear, jewellery, fashion accessories, cosmetics) that has me slightly worried. The club has lost the big guy, angry Sasa. Also gone are Costanzo (like selling coal to ..), Valkanis (who now directs off-field as opposed to on) and (who) Isy Erdogan.
The losses have been partly offset by the signings of prodigal son Ian Fyfe from the (old) Bling and local youth team product Michael Marrone. Returning from last year are Cassio, Cornthwaite, Mullen, Alemao and Jamieson.
To me this is where the stocks look a tad thin. Fyfe is a solid defender who should partner well with both Cornthwaite and Mullen but the defence doesn't have that 'brick outhouse' look about it that big Sasa brought to the table. Someone has to assume the 'intimidatory' mantle or collectively the unit as whole needs to pick up the slack.
And so to the ground floor (menswear, umbrellas, watches, gift wrapping). The dynamic duo from last year, Eugene Galekovic and the boy wonder, Mark Birighitti, both return. Eugene was simply superb last year and there should be no reason why he can't be even better. He's a quality keeper.
Quickly doing some numbers on the calculator, I'd say that the overall strength of the Reds' squad has improved. Stocks have risen, but it's the 1st floor that presents some concern. The defence has a youthful freshness to it that could either be a wonderful positive or a disastrous negative.
Time will tell. I'd say though, write the Reds off or mark them down at your own peril.
