Rebuilding Perth Glory for the 2021/22 season
April 14, 2019. The day the Glory won the Premier’s Plate for the 2018/19 season. One day I’ll never forget in a hurry. But also, a day in which every Glory fan is wanting the club to relive on a regular basis; being successful, challenging for honours.
While that’s all easier said than done, there’s no denying that there’s definitely a huge amount of potential within the current group of players that are at the club right now. But there’s still some areas that need fixing, if we are wanting success for sustained periods and not just for one season.
The decline following the 2018/19 season has been majorly disappointing. The Glory went from 1st, to 6th, to 9th. All in the space of three years. While it is definitely fair to argue that player departures, COVID, management changes and more recently the reliance on youth has affected the club, finals should always be a goal that needs to be achieved each season.
Since the 2011/12 season where the Perth Glory lost the Grand Final controversially to Brisbane Roar, the club has achieved a finals position in the next 6 out of 9 seasons, with the 2014/15 season not resulting in finals due to Salary Cap violations.
So looking forward to next season, the club has retained the majority of the core members of the team with players such as Bruno Fornaroli, Jonathan Aspropotamitis, Carlo Armiento and Liam Reddy all re-signing for a further two years, with young guns Daniel Stynes, Luke Bodnar and Callum Timmins also re-signing.
This is huge, as all of those players were solid in the 2020/21 season, despite many factors going against them, including a condensed fixture list. Even though the club announced on June 22 that 9 players would be leaving including Neil Kilkenny, Sebastian Langkamp and Jason Geria, there is still a sense of optimism heading into the 2021/22 season.
I feel, that with the acquisition of some new players, as well as retaining the services of Diego Castro and more importantly, Socceroo, Chris Ikonomidis, the club can definitely push for the finals. However, I feel that it is looking incredibly unlikely that Ikonomidis will stay with the club.
There are some players who I would love the club to sign, and while some may be more gettable than others, it is certainly worth considering them, given how much of an impact they would have on the team.
First of all, when it comes to player recruitment, I imagine that Richard Garcia will stick with playing three at the back. This is due to how successful it was for the team, particularly in the back end of the season where the Glory went undefeated in 6 games, winning 4 of those fixtures.
I feel that the Garcia will continue with the 3–4–1–2 system and this is mainly to give Diego Castro freedom. Having Castro as the soul number 10 of the team, doesn’t affect the structure in possession, it allows for Diego to find pockets of space and ultimately create chances.
In terms of who will fill the positions based on the players currently at the club, the goalkeeper will of course be Liam Reddy. A leader at the back and a relatively reliable keeper, who gives the team a sense of trust. In front of him, I would have a back 3 Jack Clisby, Darryl Lachman and Aaron Calver.
Reason being, both Clisby and Calver are quick defenders who are also calm in possession, but will also allow for Curacao international, Lachman, to advance with the ball and break the lines with his passing.
Further up the field with the two wingbacks, this is where there’s some talk about signings. Obviously at left wing-back, it should be Japanese international, Kosuke Ota, who recently signed a 2 year contract extension with the club.
Ota has really impressed me this season and he has been one of the Glory’s most consistent players. His delivery, whether it is from a cross or a set piece, is dangerous and the 2 assists he racked up last season, doesn’t reflect his skill in any way.
As for right wing-back, there’s really only one option that’s at the club at the moment, being 17 year old Josh Rawlins. Don’t get me wrong, he has been a solid player this season, given his age and how well he has performed against big clubs. Certainly a player who loves to get forward, but of course, he’s still a bit raw to be starting games week in and week out.
This is where I would make a signing. The dream would be Josh Risdon. A Socceroo and a former Glory player, Risdon would be ideal considering the experience he would bring to our defence, as well as the knowledge he would pass down to Rawlins.
But from what I have heard, it’s unlikely the club goes for Risdon, as there’s word that he is settled in Melbourne with current club Western United, despite his contract having already expired.
So for me, there’s two options; Storm Roux and Matt Millar. I did an article recently on potential options for the right wing-back role and from that, I chose Roux. Maybe not everyone’s first choice, but considering his age and how good he has been for the Melbourne Victory (not this season), he would be a good acquisition.
In the midfield two, clearly Brandon O’Neill will be starting. Of course, I’ve been wanting him to come back to the club for months now, but his quality is sensational. He’s a super addition, as he is also a Socceroo. I would describe him as an all-rounder. He has a great passing range going forward, and he is resolute in defence.
His partner in the midfield as also caused debate. There’s shouts to have Luke Bodnar and Callum Timmins rotating as his partner, but I’m not overly keen on it. For me, I’d be more inclined to have Timmins in the midfield as he is more calm in possession and he has a wonderful strike. But I want him to compete with another player, so that both can perform at a high level.
Gianni Stensness has got to be someone that the club should be looking to bring in. The New Zealand international had a breakout year this season with the Central Coast Mariners, where he played a large role in getting them to the finals.
Both Timmins and Stensness are similar players in terms of age, ability and type of midfielder. Which is why I would bring Gianni in, so that there is competition for that spot next to O’Neill, which will result in both players needing to put in 100% every week in order to get the spot in the starting 11.
As mentioned previously, Diego Castro will fill the CAM position which leaves two strikers available. A no brainer as to who will be one of them, Bruno Fornaroli. Deservedly, he was the Glory’s best player this season as he took his game to another level.
The top scorer with 14 goals, he also played a tremendously large role off the pitch as well, ensuring that the young players were fitting in with the squad.
There’s no doubting Fornaroli’s quality which is why the club also re-signed him for a further 2 years, which is massive. But the question for me is, who should be Bruno’s partner?
Perth Glory has 1 visa spot available, after the departure of Sebastian Langkamp. I would use that visa spot, as I’m not convinced with Andy Keogh and Ciaran Bramwell being Fornaroli’s partner for the whole season.
A player who I would consider getting is Stefano Pettinari. Currently a free agent after leaving Leece in Serie B, Pettinari would be a brilliant signing for the Glory considering his age, experience in a top level of football, his skill and the fact that he’s played in a front two.
Pettinari probably didn’t have his best season in the 2020/21 Serie B season, considering the season before he scored 17 goals in 35 games for Trapani. The Italian is pretty quick, so he offers something else to Fornaroli and I hope that if we were to get a player like him, then we would see more goals at HBF Park.
So hypothetically speaking of course, if we were to get
- Storm Roux
- Gianni Stensness
- Stefano Pettinari
Then this would be how the Glory would line up.
This team for me would get finals. It’s balanced in all areas of the pitch and the players in each position are very good in their own right. There’s a sense of reliability and solidity in the back 5, the midfield 2 present a sense of creativity and energy and the front 3 screams goals and flair.
