ALM Squad 2025-2026

[pjennings]

I think we currently have the following squad. Please feel free to correct or add.

We currently have 28 players including 5 visa players. 18 are already signed for next season, with Sabit Ngor on loan until 31/12/2025 with Heidelburg.

Brian is supposedly off to Asia which will free up a visa spot. Trent must be considered a chance to retire with his achilles injury and Kuz and Tappy have had real problems with injuries

Contract expires 2025 (10)

Brandtman
Duarte
Kaltak
Kuzevski
McCalmont
Paull
Smith
Theoharous
Warshawsky
Wilson

Contract expires 2026 (10)

Di Pizio
Edmondson
Faisal
Feijão
Herrington
Kuol
Ngor
Pavlesic
Roux
Tapp

Contract expires 2027 (8)

Ajanovic
DeLima
Doka
Eames
Mauragis
Peraic-Cullen
Sainsbury
Steele

 

[Ancient Mariner]

Who of the following players whose contracts are expiring should we keep.

Brandtman
Duarte
Kaltak (supposedly trying for Asia)
Kuzevski (fitness liability)
McCalmont
Paull
Smith (writing is on the wall already)
Theoharous
Warshawsky ( 3 goal keepers?)

 

[Yorkshire Mariners FC]

Only brandtman, duarte, Paul and maybe kuz

 

[Ancient Mariner]

If we do not sign McCalmont we will be very light in the middle.

Our midfield has been an open gate in defence most of the season and has never taken charge of the game. You really need a general in that position directing play and we have not had it.

McCalmont is a pretty good player but never really took charge. Is that because he is unable or was it because of the 3 5 2 structure with attacking play going down the wings?

 

[priorpeter]

Tappy will be like a new signing for us (again) in that spot. We saw (and often marvelled) at how good he was in that role just behind niz and maxi last season, the grunt in the midfield we need. I back him to be a big force for us in 25/26 there

 

[Michael]

Of the players off contract I’d be keeping Alfie (if Jacko walks he will too), Duarte and Paull no questions. Paull showed great improvement in the face of a lot of doubters. I think Kuzi has just had too many major injuries unfortunately, great kid. A very tough call could be coming for Brandtman, plenty of potential and decent for the academy but hasn’t really transferred to the first team, goes missing too much. I think it is time to move on from Theo, this should’ve been his big break out season. I’m a genuine fan of him but he hasn’t cut the mustard.

From the still contracted players, imo, I’d be making concerted efforts to offload Kuol, Eddy, Wilson, Feijao, Pav and Ngor. And honestly I’m 50/50 on steely, again, I do like steely but he just has not shown the improvement I expected to see. Especially after being given a regular start. Sains is a club legend to me and I won’t hear anything different, but I’d be shocked if he doesn’t retire.

I truly hope whatever is happening with charlesworth, happens swiftly. Jacko in my eyes is the right man for the job, back him. Meet his needs. We’ve got enough of a base of bright youth in Migz, De Lima, Duarte, Faisal, Scicluna, DPC etc. some astute senior signings and we’re fine again. Get the back of house in f**king order.

 

[Spacks]

Brandtman - Keep
Duarte - Keep
Kaltak - Release
Kuzevski - Release
McCalmont - Keep
Paull - Keep
Smith - Release
Theoharous - Release
Warshawsky - Release

 

[priorpeter]

Of the players off contract I’d be keeping Alfie (if Jacko walks he will too), Duarte and Paull no questions. Paull showed great improvement in the face of a lot of doubters. I think Kuzi has just had too many major injuries unfortunately, great kid. A very tough call could be coming for Brandtman, plenty of potential and decent for the academy but hasn’t really transferred to the first team, goes missing too much. I think it is time to move on from Theo, this should’ve been his big break out season. I’m a genuine fan of him but he hasn’t cut the mustard.

From the still contracted players, imo, I’d be making concerted efforts to offload Kuol, Eddy, Wilson, Feijao, Pav and Ngor. And honestly I’m 50/50 on steely, again, I do like steely but he just has not shown the improvement I expected to see. Especially after being given a regular start. Sains is a club legend to me and I won’t hear anything different, but I’d be shocked if he doesn’t retire.

I truly hope whatever is happening with charlesworth, happens swiftly. Jacko in my eyes is the right man for the job, back him. Meet his needs. We’ve got enough of a base of bright youth in Migz, De Lima, Duarte, Faisal, Scicluna, DPC etc. some astute senior signings and we’re fine again. Get the back of house in f**king order.

This whole ‘injury prone’ sentiment about Kuzevski irks me somewhat. He’s had 2 injuries at 24 years old; his last injury prior to that was an ankle at 13 years old. He’ll be fit and firing for the start of the new season, and if we don’t re-sign him our loss will absolutely be another club’s gain.
Brandtman could (and hopefully will) go on to be a fantastic player for us. Rate him easily up with Migzy.

 

[Spacks]

This whole ‘injury prone’ sentiment about Kuzevski irks me somewhat. He’s had 2 injuries at 24 years old; his last injury prior to that was an ankle at 13 years old. He’ll be fit and firing for the start of the new season, and if we don’t re-sign him our loss will absolutely be another club’s gain.
Brandtman could (and hopefully will) go on to be a fantastic player for us. Rate him easily up with Migzy.

Mariners Squad 2023/2024

Just looking at transfermarkt. I'd take maragus, wales, hore for sure. Few others, maybe as a roughie. Wales could play that AM role Nizzy has been slotting into post Tulio. Has had issues converting chances but if you can improve that rate you’ve got a hell of a player on your hands

www.ccmfans.net

 

[Big Al]

Tappy will be like a new signing for us (again) in that spot. We saw (and often marvelled) at how good he was in that role just behind niz and maxi last season, the grunt in the midfield we need. I back him to be a big force for us in 25/26 there

Could also be CB to cover Trent’s loss

 

[Stuartmcateer]

Really the conversation is steered by who are we able to bring in that is better than what we have.

Smith, Theo and jack would be gone for me. Kaltak has already said he wants a pay day (fair enough).

Paull probably has to stay given kaltak going and sains injured. I would keep Duarte. Alfie has looked better without Steele and since we started playing more direct the last few weeks so probably keep.

Kuz and brandtman are keep if we can't get anyone better or minimum wage to free up funds for more quality. Brandtman goes missing in games for long periods and kuz makes some dead set baffling decisions on the pitch - I sometimes wonder if he hasn't yet worked out that half step to ease back from flat chat before he tries to control the ball or pass or cross. He always looks like he is 1 pace and it's 100mph.

We need a quality CB to cover sains and kaltak leaving and a striker that can actually score goals.

 

[Yorkshire Mariners FC]

Visa spots make the difference in our league. Doka (and in previous seasons Kaltak) is the only one performing at that level. Edmo. 1/5 is a poor return and a major reason why we had a shit season. Those who think Alfie deserves one of those spots on the basis that he is better than Steele (who had a very poor season) are deluded. Especially is we cannot get rid of fajiglio. That would mean only one visa signing in the off-season, which would not make a difference in my opinion. If Jacko (unlikely given what we know about Charlesworth) stays his recruitment reputation is on the line because it was a failure this time around.

 

[Ancient Mariner]

When rebuilding the most important thing is to have a strong experienced spine to build around.
Keeper, central defender (organiser of the defence), central midfielder (director of play), attacker (goalscorer or goal provider). Get those right and the rest drops into place.

Looking at the back.
DPC will be our keeper, not experienced enough, but will benefit from this seasons exposure and hopefully will be enough. He will have to do.

We are looking at a massive problem in the centre of defence. Kaltak looking OS, Sainsbury with a maybe career ending issue, and Paul out of contract. If we lose all three we are left with just Hetherington.
If Kaltak can get his pay day in Asia, good on him he deserves it and I wish him well.
If he does not, I would like to see us hang on to him, but we will have a battle. Other A-League clubs will be chasing him (probably SFC who have problems at the back) who will make higher offers. Likewise other Clubs will be chasing Paul. If Sainsbury does not retire he has a long road back and may not see much of next year.

As a start to building the spine we definitely need one high quality, experienced central defender. Someone like Sainsbury ex international with a couple of good years left in him who can still dominate the A League. We will need three others to complete the stocks. Hetherington has another year to run. We will need two more, at least A-League competent, depending on what happens to Kaltak and Paul. Hopefully we can re-sign Paul as a start.

 

[Meerkat]

This whole ‘injury prone’ sentiment about Kuzevski irks me somewhat. He’s had 2 injuries at 24 years old; his last injury prior to that was an ankle at 13 years old. He’ll be fit and firing for the start of the new season, and if we don’t re-sign him our loss will absolutely be another club’s gain.
Brandtman could (and hopefully will) go on to be a fantastic player for us. Rate him easily up with Migzy.

You beat me too it @priorpeter Pete .. we have known Sash a decently long time and he is in no way injury prone. It was ironic actually before the first ACL, we were chatting with his Mum who said she rolls her eyes at him if he goes down and tells him to get back up.. he was never seriously injured. The ACL and the recent knee injury are literally just unfortunate and hardly makes him “injury prone.”

We will back Sash all the way.

 

[Josho Howe]

Legit asking, why are we keeping Alfie? We need a way stronger presence in midfield. He's small, loses a lot of duels, isn't that strong on the ball, not a great passer and gets dribbled past quite easily. I think we can do better with that visa spot.

 

[pjennings]

Of the players off contract I’d be keeping Alfie (if Jacko walks he will too), Duarte and Paull no questions. Paull showed great improvement in the face of a lot of doubters. I think Kuzi has just had too many major injuries unfortunately, great kid. A very tough call could be coming for Brandtman, plenty of potential and decent for the academy but hasn’t really transferred to the first team, goes missing too much. I think it is time to move on from Theo, this should’ve been his big break out season. I’m a genuine fan of him but he hasn’t cut the mustard.

From the still contracted players, imo, I’d be making concerted efforts to offload Kuol, Eddy, Wilson, Feijao, Pav and Ngor. And honestly I’m 50/50 on steely, again, I do like steely but he just has not shown the improvement I expected to see. Especially after being given a regular start. Sains is a club legend to me and I won’t hear anything different, but I’d be shocked if he doesn’t retire.

I truly hope whatever is happening with charlesworth, happens swiftly. Jacko in my eyes is the right man for the job, back him. Meet his needs. We’ve got enough of a base of bright youth in Migz, De Lima, Duarte, Faisal, Scicluna, DPC etc. some astute senior signings and we’re fine again. Get the back of house in f**king order.

TBH it has been shown that the club can regenerate between seasons. Losing so many after the 2023 grand final and Tulio have way through last season and then winning again last year.

After last years GF we lost 5 starters and 2 subs. Tappy only played in 3 games because of injury, MDP only played a part in 10 games because of injury. Edmo only played 11 games and our main signing Trent played in 16 games (mostly unfit until the game he hurt his achilles.

Jacko spoke about a lot of people working hard in the background to 'secure the future' of the club. Is that selling or added investors.

To my mind to secure the future means

1) developing non football income
2) strengthening our academy
3) securing our youngsters for longer.

 

[Lunchbox Legend]

Wilson will go if he can find another club to take him. Already sat through two seasons with hardly any game time. Can't afford to do that again. Doubt if anyone else on the 2026 list get's offered something elsewhere so they will stay.

As for those off contract:
Brandtman - Keep
Duarte - Keep
Kaltak - Gone probably
Kuzevski - Keep (he won't break the bank but still potential)
McCalmont - Keep
Paull - Keep
Smith - Will leave
Theoharous - Disappointing, hasn't taken his chances to impress and has probably gotten worse as the season has gone on.
Warshawsky - Release. Rate him more than Pav but needs to play and Pav is still under contract

 

[Stuartmcateer]

TBH it has been shown that the club can regenerate between seasons. Losing so many after the 2023 grand final and Tulio have way through last season and then winning again last year.

Difference is we kept the spine.

Vuka, kaltak, hall, niz, max, faz, storm.

Added quality in doka and torres.

We haven't done either this time around.

 

[FFC Mariner]

Jackos midfield solution is a 36yo injury prone Spanish DM.
Hardly fills you with confidence

 

[Meerkat]

Difference is we kept the spine.

Vuka, kaltak, hall, niz, max, faz, storm.

Added quality in doka and torres.

We haven't done either this time around.

Spot on.