With still two weeks of finals football still to be played, the process of rebuilding the shattered remnants that remain from Perth Glory's disastrous 2010/2011 season is already well and truly underway. With players being ditched as early as January and a total of 10 players officially deleted from the Glory payroll, Fergie has moved equally swiftly with the chequebook as he did with the axe in filling out the squad with the talent he believes will allow him to improve on his currently dismal A-League coaching record.
Fan favourites Andy Todd and the retiring Jamie Harnwell aside, the names leaving Perth are hardly likely to leave a gaping hole in the hearts of the Glory faithful. Neither Vrteski nor Velaphi ever established themselves as potentially dependable A-League keepers. Velaphi had his fans and his moments, but a tendency towards spectacular blunders is not a great trait in a goalkeeper and especially not one in a struggling team. Baird and Sekulovski drifted between serviceable if unspectacular and woefully inept at A-League level. Jukic, Fondyke, Griffiths and Skorich were given limited game-time as youngsters but none really showed themselves to be future A-League stars in the making.
Sadly, the names coming in so far have done little more to excited Perth fans than those going out could achieve. There's not a lot to criticise about the signings of Dodd, Berger and Vukovic but none of them jump off the page as players capable of completely reversing the fortunes of the side. Neil Young might be a good signing only because he's a product of WA, but is likely to do nothing more than keep promising youngster Alex Pearson out of the first-team squad. Heffernan probably offers the most coming into the team. Fullback is becoming an increasingly important and difficult position to fill with the rise of the 4-3-3 formation. Unfortunately, Ferguson's almost certain 4-4-2 line-up for as long as he is in the business of running a football side means that Heffernan's waning talents are likely to be further obscured by team structure or lack-thereof.
With 5 of 10 replacements already confirmed and nothing to suggest anything other than an even balance of incoming and outgoing talent so far, the next few signings will be critical. Strong rumours continue to link Shane Smeltz with the club and the former Johnny Warren medallist and 2-time A-League top scorer could well be a massive coup. The Kiwi's performance in the recent final against Adelaide shows that he is not just a capable goal-scorer but also a capable match-winner. However, whether the 'Mr Glamour' of the glamorous Gold Coast side can fit in with the hardnosed Ian Ferguson system and whether the talented forward can do with the likes of Burns and McGarry behind him what he has achieved with Culina and Traore at Gold Coast remains to be seen.
It also remains to be seen whether Smeltz coming in results in the shuffling of Mile Sterjovski in the other direction, which *could* mean as many as 3 new marquee signings if Robbie Fowler is also not re-signed and Tony Sage is willing to once again pull out the chequebook. The chance to bring in younger and fresher marquees who are more suited to the style of coaching employed by Ian Ferguson might just mean a chance for success against the odds next season. Imagine, for instance, a fast-paced rigid and direct Scottish style system with Sol Campbell's presence anchoring the defence, Isaka Cernak's pace driving the counter on the flank and Joel Griffiths joining Shane Smeltz to give every attack the chance of resulting in a goal. Add the solid contributions of Neville, Heffernan and Berger going forward plus the nullifying presence of Burns, McGarry and Chris Coyne on the park and it may not be a pretty team, but it just might be effective.
Of course, as is all too familiar a habit for Perth fans this time of year, we start putting together potential best Xis that could compete in the A-League and ignore the fact that without adequate guidance and structure, even great teams will only achieve a portion of their 'on paper' potential. Fergie like Mitch before him has so far shown a complete lack of ability to offer this guidance, and on that form it will certainly take bigger names than Dodd and Berger to give Perth Glory fans hope for next season.
