It’s been a busy couple of weeks as players look for “new directions” and clubs thank them for their “contributions”.
It-s been a busy couple of weeks as players look for “new directions” and clubs thank them for their “contributions”.
Wellington Phoenix made the first move, signing New Zealand defender Ian Hogg until the end of the season. No disrespect, but it might be too little too late for Ricki Herbert-s side.
Melbourne Heart watched another one of their talented youngsters pack his headphones and hair gel for more exciting climes. Did Michael Marrone-s move to an unnamed Chinese Super League club really need to be shrouded in so much mystery? He was hardly defecting through the Iron Curtain. Anyway, it was Shanghai Shenxin and reportedly worth more than $250k.
Rocky Visconte was the first to say the party’s over at Brisbane Roar, heading down south for the bubbly optimism of Tony Popovic-s Western Sydney Wanderers.
Meanwhile, the much-hyped but rarely spotted Julius Davies swapped the ascending Melbourne Victory for the spent fizz of Brisbane Roar.
Suncorp hunk Erik Paartalu was next to leave through the orange door, heading for a red dawn with Chinese Super League outfit Tianjin Teda.
But Roar assuaged their heartache by signing 31-year-old Jade North on a three-year contract.
The Mariners seem to have extended their post-Christmas sales a little longer than planned, with Tom Rogic swapping the grim Central Coast for the grass skirts and cocktails of Glasgow, with his much discussed (although not yet completed) move to Celtic.
Mariners keeper Mat Ryan appeared to be next to order the deep-fried Mars bar and Iron Bru, only for a shoulder twinge to change his mind about heading to 98th-division side Rangers.
Bernie Ibini could be the next Mariner on a plane if his trial with Belgian side Club Brugge goes well. We don’t know what they eat in Belgium. Chocolates and beer?
Graham Arnold looked to restock his baby Mariner stocks by whisking attacking utility Nick Fitzgerald away from Brisbane Roar.
Adelaide United finally called time on the Sergio van Dijk saga, the story with more endings than The Lord of the Rings, with the out-of-favour striker heading to Indonesia and the excellently named Persib Bandung Bermartabat.
Tiago Calvano swapped one battle for another, however, as Newcastle sent him skipping down the F3 to join Frank Farina-s heavily wounded Sydney FC, while the Jets upgraded local youngster Andrew Hoole from junior burger to Big Mac.
And just this morning, Ange Postecoglou swooped for Victorian youngster, Francesco Stella, fresh from Scottish minnows Rangers.
