‘It was always going to be difficult keeping a championship winning squad together.’
It is a phrase that has been thrown around a lot over the last few months by the management team at Adelaide United.
But as the 2016-17 season edges closer and closer, the time for excuses is over.
The Reds have kept the majority of their spine from last season intact, but with losses in key areas and round one just over a month away, fans are growing impatient.
Bruce Djite, Craig Goodwin, Stefan Mauk, Pablo Sanchez and Bruce Kamau have departed, and as yet their replacements have yet to emerge.
It was no secret that Goodwin had European ambitions once the previous season was over, and Mauk was rumoured to be drawing the attention of overseas clubs even before his move back home.
Questions must be asked of Adelaide’s recruiting for not having replacements lined up, despite ample time and plenty of prior notice of their impending exits.
Adelaide trio Ryan Kitto, Ben Garuccio and Marc Marino returned to South Australia early in the offseason, with Jesse Makarounas crossing over from the dark side around the same time.
It was all quiet on the transfer front though until Henrique came back to the A-League late last month, with gun Adelaide City winger Nikola Milesunic joining just days later as a mature aged rookie.
While the majority of these names are young with bags of potential, it is hard to see them running too far in the shoes they are expected to fill.
Marino was marked to deputize for Djite during the upcoming season, but his shock departure to Suwon FC has left the former Melbourne City man as the only out-and-out striker on the United list.
There were whispers of former German international Kevin Kuryani arriving as a guest marquee and rumors are circulating that a Spaniard is expected to take up the club’s final foreign spot, but so far nothing has come to fruition.
Adelaide native Mario Karlovic trained with the Reds on their preseason tour of Malaysia last week and played a half off the bench, but having spent the last few years of his career in Asia, a signing of his calibre will not spark hysteria from the terraces – likewise with FFA Cup standout Danny Choi, who has been linked recently.
Choi may well turn out to be a star, but he is not the signing the fans are desperate for.
A quick glance around the league will tell you that the majority of Adelaide’s title rivals have improved their squads, while the champions have remained stagnant.
It is a tough pill to swallow when a player like James Troisi – an Adelaide boy and a perfect replacement for Goodwin out wide – signs with a rival club after United failed to present him with an offer, despite positive meetings.
Or even former Red Jacob Melling signing for Western Sydney, when his presence would have been welcomed alongside Marcelo Carrusca and Isasis in midfield.
United CEO Grant Mayer penned a letter to the fans late last month which addressed some talking points of the offseason, a large chunk of which was dedicated to transfer business.
He stated that United were talking to a former Socceroo based overseas, and had a shortlist of three strikers with one to take up the final visa spot.
It is an unusual move for a CEO to make and something that Adelaide fans are not used to, but at this point in the transfer window, talking to a player and signing on the dotted line are worlds apart.
With a first round clash away to Newcastle Jets fast approaching, it is time for Adelaide to put the money where its mouth is.
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