“RUKAVYTSYA makes room, lines it up - and what a goal it was too, Fantastic!” Andy Harper screams as Wayne Shroj adds a third goal for Perth.

This game got me thinking, and it wasn’t about how bad Aloisi is or even how funny it was Sydney scored two own goals. No, it got me thinking why we haven’t signed up Wayne Shroj yet.

Wayne Shroj left Perth Glory (the then NSL club) at the beginning of 2004 to embark on an overseas journey which took him to Romania. After spending four seasons in Romania with National Bucuresti and a club I have no idea how to pronounce (FC Timisoara) he finally decided he would return to the A-League.

Born in Mareeba, which is in Far North Queensland, his obvious choice of club was NQ Fury. Unfortunately he needed a club right away and with NQ Fury not coming into the A-League until next season we could not offer that.

Then came the news that Shroj had signed for Perth Glory, the club he left before going to Romania. But it was not all bad news, on the announcement of his signing it was also revealed that just a one-year deal had been signed paving the way for a move to NQ for the 2009/10 season.

The club has already signed up five players who are currently still involved with an opposition A-League team (if one was to count Jade North), so why is Wayne Shroj not one of them?

There could be quite a few reasons why he hasn’t signed with us, or yet at least why he hasn’t publicly denied joining us next season (in which case it would mean he probably would be joining us), so below are a list of possibilities of why he hasn’t been signed yet.

1. He is enjoying Perth so much he has decided to stay.

2. His excellent form has resulted in more money being thrown at him than NQ can afford.

3. He will not sign with us until his contract is completed with Perth.

4. He had a look at our current squad list.

5. David Mitchell has talked Ian Ferguson out of the signing in which case a chat over the phone would go something like this…

David Mitchell: Hey Ian, I heard you’re interested in signing Shroj.
Ian Ferguson: Yes, yes that’s correct.
DM: Sure, he’s been in good form but have you seen James Robinson?
IF: You mean that guy who scored the goal that got MV into the Grand Final?
DM: That’s exactly who I mean, and being a coach longer than you I would have to say Robinson is a much better player, and you can have him for free!
IF: That’s a tempting offer but I’d have to ask Don.
DM: This is a one time offer, you won’t regret it!

Two second pause…

IF: Done!
DM: Fantastic! Oh and remember this means we get to keep Shroj. (Hangs up phone)

Okay so maybe the last one was a just a little unrealistic, but if Ferguson has the time to negotiate a deal with Robinson then surely he could’ve signed up Shroj by now.

Owner Don Matheson has cited southern media speculation as a reason why some contracts are at ‘extreme’ risk of falling through. For the sake of our competitiveness I really hope that is not the case for the likes of Wayne Shroj, Paul Henderson, and Scott Chipperfield etc. and is more the case of all those James Robinsons out there who we are probably going to end up trying to sign.

So I am left with just one thing to say, and that is ‘What are you waiting for Ian Ferguson? Sign him up!”

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Ian Ferguson quote of the week #1 "I'm excited about getting Robinson because he's the kind of player opposition teams hate defending,”

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