Winston Reid (Unattached FC)

Is his body capable of a 30-40 game season anymore? Looks like the UAE league is only 26 games (14 teams, 2 rounds).

Haven't some of his injuries lately been soft tissue related, like his hammys? Not that unusual as you get older. Playing in the warmer ME, reduces the chances of those sort injuries. Who really knows.

I thought Winnie was close to signing in the UAE in the Janaury window. 

I guess now he comes in and plays a couple of games for us and still looks our best player after zero football… 

JasperNix

I thought Winnie was close to signing in the UAE in the Janaury window. 

I guess now he comes in and plays a couple of games for us and still looks our best player after zero football… 

He hasn't been close to our best player in years mate?

Correct,  Best player apart from those in the squad called Chris and play up front

For AW sakes he needs club game time.  He will die in the continental playoff and if we somehow make it to the WC will struggle against those teams loaded with match fit Prem, La Liga, Serie A players etc.

Come to the NIX!

6 months without a club, we must be getting more attractive to him. He doesn't need the money, he needs the game time.

MetalLegNZ

Come to the NIX!

6 months without a club, we must be getting more attractive to him. He doesn't need the money, he needs the game time.

To be fair, it looks like we'll have six months before another game too!

MetalLegNZ

Come to the NIX!

6 months without a club, we must be getting more attractive to him. He doesn't need the money, he needs the game time.

 should have come when Taylor retired.

West Ham are down to one fit centre-back, as they head in to a huge week featuring two London derbies and a Europa League semi final. 

Winston Reid is still available is all I’m saying…

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/61193939

34 years young.

Happy Birthday @WinstonReid2 🎂

📷 @PhotosportNZ pic.twitter.com/L3iIXUbDHT

— New Zealand Football (@NZ_Football) July 3, 2022

surely he's given up now and the all whites game will be it? 

Any other news beyond my best guess? 

Elemenop

surely he's given up now and the all whites game will be it? 

Any other news beyond my best guess? 

 That's what I reckon, he's been a free agent for 15 months, so you'd assume if he was willing and able to sign for a club at any level it would've happened by now. His body is just too unreliable at this point, which is a shame; I think, since the Olympics, he's had more games where he's gone off injured than full 90s. He'll get the farewell at Eden Park (touch wood he doesn't get injured in Brisbane) and then it might be time to transition him out.

I still find it strange that he hasn't found a club, I can perhaps understand why an injury-prone player might avoid a 50-game season in the Championship or League One, but I'm not sure why he hasn't found a gig somewhere with a shorter season (MLS/Danish League/A-league etc.), and/or where he can cash in for one or two final years (e.g. China or the middle east?) 

I'd have thought there would be a middle ground between the physical challenges of the very top leagues and retiring completely. Fair play to him if he's not interested, I'm just a little surprised by that.

It is a little strange. He has a lot of coin from his west ham contract, but it appears he still wants to play. You would have thought some club in Denmark or the nix would have offered him a pay as you go. I would have hoped the nix have at least tried 

Yeah but it’s not like the West Ham money is still coming, and like you said he appears to want to keep playing. I mean fair play to him, he’s been loyal to NZ football and he can do whatever he likes, it’s just a bit curious.

Yep, presumably he got a pretty nice lump sum to end his West Ham contract early and he'd only accept that if he was either going to retire or wanted to play first team football rather than trying to fight his way into the team. Seeing as he's done neither, but is keeping him match fit (Hay said Reid is the fittest he's ever been, although coaches always say that about aging and injury prone players) is an odd situation.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/129922648/all-whites-captain-winston-reid-to-retire-from-international-football

Winston Reid has confirmed he will retire from international football after the two games against Australia, playing his final All Whites match at @edenparknz this Sunday 🇳🇿

— New Zealand Football (@NZ_Football) September 19, 2022

While saddened by this, it is not unexpected. But I am surprised its only from international football. Fingers crossed he has club lined up. 

Yeah, I did note that he said international, not all football.

Chances of him pickiung up a gig in Europe? Asia maybe? Have the nix got an offer on the table? Given his lack of football I can't imagine there are any EPL teams knocking on the door, possible a championship team or two. His injury history creates a risk.

Just cancel his return flight and see what happens. Well, you're here now Winston, why not just lace up the old boots for the nix ay.

theprof

Chances of him pickiung up a gig in Europe? Asia maybe? Have the nix got an offer on the table? Given his lack of football I can't imagine there are any EPL teams knocking on the door, possible a championship team or two. His injury history creates a risk.

I reckon his Russian wife wouldnt want to live down here, just a theory :)

LFCNZ

theprof

Chances of him pickiung up a gig in Europe? Asia maybe? Have the nix got an offer on the table? Given his lack of football I can't imagine there are any EPL teams knocking on the door, possible a championship team or two. His injury history creates a risk.

I reckon his Russian wife wouldnt want to live down here, just a theory :)

Why not? Plenty of people from Russia live here.

I genuinely think the Eden Park game will be his last as a serious footballer.  

We might see him do an Ifill and play amateur/charity games but that will be it.

Marto

I genuinely think the Eden Park game will be his last as a serious footballer.  

We might see him do an Ifill and play amateur/charity games but that will be it.

Agree. If there was any chance he would play for the Nix then he should have been doing pre-season.

I wouldn't discount a move to the middle East. Winnie has earned enough money never to have to work again but he might like one last payday and the opportunity to feel like a footballer again and why not maybe even win some silverware. I feel like something must be cooking for him to inky retire from International football and not from the game as a whole 

Talay said on the latest Fever FM podcast that he has spoken to Reid and he is not very keen on finishing his career with the Phoenix due to reasons which Talay is unable to speak about at the moment. It's disappointing to hear but was always looking quite unlikely to begin with.

So far away from her extended family?  Are you married? lol 

Ryan

LFCNZ

theprof

Chances of him pickiung up a gig in Europe? Asia maybe? Have the nix got an offer on the table? Given his lack of football I can't imagine there are any EPL teams knocking on the door, possible a championship team or two. His injury history creates a risk.

I reckon his Russian wife wouldnt want to live down here, just a theory :)

Why not? Plenty of people from Russia live here.

I'd wager it's either money related or just don't rate the league.

Wusty Wab

Talay said on the latest Fever FM podcast that he has spoken to Reid and he is not very keen on finishing his career with the Phoenix due to reasons which Talay is unable to speak about at the moment. It's disappointing to hear but was always looking quite unlikely to begin with.

LFCNZ

So far away from her extended family?  Are you married? lol 

Ryan

LFCNZ

theprof

Chances of him pickiung up a gig in Europe? Asia maybe? Have the nix got an offer on the table? Given his lack of football I can't imagine there are any EPL teams knocking on the door, possible a championship team or two. His injury history creates a risk.

I reckon his Russian wife wouldnt want to live down here, just a theory :)

Why not? Plenty of people from Russia live here.

I'm not married but I'm in a 20 year relationship with someone from that part of the world. But, I don't think anywhere is close to Russia right now, Europe or New Zealand.

Ryan

LFCNZ

So far away from her extended family?  Are you married? lol 

Ryan

LFCNZ

theprof

Chances of him pickiung up a gig in Europe? Asia maybe? Have the nix got an offer on the table? Given his lack of football I can't imagine there are any EPL teams knocking on the door, possible a championship team or two. His injury history creates a risk.

I reckon his Russian wife wouldnt want to live down here, just a theory :)

Why not? Plenty of people from Russia live here.

I'm not married but I'm in a 20 year relationship with someone from that part of the world. But, I don't think anywhere is close to Russia right now, Europe or New Zealand.

Of course the other issue that might stop him playing in NZ is taxation.  

I think you'll find Winnie did not get a one off payday from WH and they are instead paying him in instalments which would be tax free in the middle east as he is no longer a UK/EU resident.  If he came home the IRD would be all over him as one of NZ's highest earners.

Marto

Ryan

LFCNZ

So far away from her extended family?  Are you married? lol 

Ryan

LFCNZ

theprof

Chances of him pickiung up a gig in Europe? Asia maybe? Have the nix got an offer on the table? Given his lack of football I can't imagine there are any EPL teams knocking on the door, possible a championship team or two. His injury history creates a risk.

I reckon his Russian wife wouldnt want to live down here, just a theory :)

Why not? Plenty of people from Russia live here.

I'm not married but I'm in a 20 year relationship with someone from that part of the world. But, I don't think anywhere is close to Russia right now, Europe or New Zealand.

Of course the other issue that might stop him playing in NZ is taxation.  

I think you'll find Winnie did not get a one off payday from WH and they are instead paying him in instalments which would be tax free in the middle east as he is no longer a UK/EU resident.  If he came home the IRD would be all over him as one of NZ's highest earners.

This could be a very good point. Though I thought once his Hammers contract was terminated by mutual consent, it was finalised with a one off final cash payment??

Either way it could well be a taxation issue, that has him currently living in the UAE.

Tax is only an issue for Reid if he is a tax resident. He has not lived in NZ since he was a child. Depending on where he is a resident would affect his tax status (Denmark etc).

I thought he had a payout.

coochiee

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/nz-teams/129984593/ryan-nelsen-hopes-nz-football-can-find-role-for-retiring-all-whites-captain-winston-reid

you'd like to think that NZF can utilise his experience if he decides to stay on NZ. If he decides to live off shore maybe they utilise him as a scout or something?

theprof

coochiee

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/nz-teams/129984593/ryan-nelsen-hopes-nz-football-can-find-role-for-retiring-all-whites-captain-winston-reid

you'd like to think that NZF can utilise his experience if he decides to stay on NZ. If he decides to live off shore maybe they utilise him as a scout or something?

Might as well have him as an assistant coach/scout based in Europe, as Rory was until recently.

Odds on next 2-3 years AWs will play far more games in Europe/North America, than they will in their own Confederation.