"On a warm summer's evenin', on a train bound for nowhere..."
Kenny Rogers might just as well have been singing about being a Reds fan this season. The similarities are there. In truth he was singing about a gambler and viewing life as a game of cards. You've got to know when to hold 'em and know when to fold 'em. You've also got to know how to contact the Gambling Helpline.
With only three A-League games remaining it's time for the Reds to look ahead. The squad for the upcoming ACL is pretty much set but it is with future A-League seasons in mind that I present my hold 'em or fold 'em list (assuming that current contract obligations were no hurdle).
Galekovic - no dispute here, definitely a hold 'em
Birighitti - only 18, has showed promise thus far, also a hold 'em
Alemao - an enigma, at times can be brilliant, but in reality it's not often enough - fold 'em
Cassio - when on song he earns his stripes in the key import player category, so still a hold 'em
Cornthwaite - a tough call this one, only 24 but not enough of an attacking element to his game. I can't see him being part of a championship winning team - fold 'em
Fyfe - has performed admirably in his first season, more suited to a right fullback role though - hold 'em
Jamieson - may well end up folding by his own choice, a disappointing season by his standards. Still has a huge up-side though, so if the decision were mine, a definite hold 'em
Marrone - has already agreed to shuffle the deck elsewhere, which is a shame. His gliding runs through crowded midfield areas have been a delight to watch. He would have been a hold 'em
Mullen - an injury-interrupted season, still only 20, a definite player of the future. Can see him holding down a central defensive spot. Hold 'em
Rudan - another tough call, one of the better players this season. At 34 age is against him. It's time to build a new defensive unit - fold 'em
Barbiero - inconsistent but one can't fault his effort. At times shows flashes of brilliance and at 25 should now be stepping into his finest playing years - hold 'em
Costa - only 17 and has played for the Joeys, so he must have something - hold 'em
Dodd - has emerged as a better player the longer the season has gone on, scoring 4 goals to date. Definitely a hold 'em but with one proviso, he relinquish the captaincy
Hughes - falls short from an on-field performance point of view - fold 'em
Leckie - the find of the season, great to watch and still only 18 - hold 'em
Pantelis - has scored 4 goals this year, but form has been up and down. Like Cornthwaite I can't see him being part of a championship winning team. Tough call but fold 'em
Reid - a season of fully-fit Reid influence in central midfield may well have yielded vastly different results this year. Hold 'em
Sarkies - talented but injury-plagued, has already decided himself to fold 'em - a decision I'm not unhappy about
Shin - I keep looking for the spark of potential to blossom but in fairness he's had limited opportunities. Still only 20, but hard decisions need to be made - fold 'em
Cristiano - does not score enough goals - only 3 in 24 appearances this year. Fold 'em
Owusu - has been disappointing, his style seems out of sync with the rest of the team. Effort can't be faulted but we need more than that - fold 'em
Monterosso - 13 goals last year and 12 goals this year in the youth league, shows definite potential as a goal poacher - hold 'em
So the wash-up - of the current squad of 22 players, 12 to stay and 10 to go (some by their own choice). Two players have already been signed (Flores and Boogaard) so that leaves 8 more to come in.
Too many at one time? Too much of a gamble? Perhaps the biggest gamble is in not making the tough calls.
