I don't get the "higher ambitions than the Nix" bit.
The Nix is the highest standard of football in the country. His players are more likely to launch a career through professional football in Australia than through "amateur" football in New Zealand. So do they not rate the players the Nix are producing (Singh, Cacace etc), or do they just dislike the Pheonix for whatever reason?
Either way, I can't help but feel that Ole kids avoiding the Phoenix only serves to hamstring potential career development.
I'd say based on last season that's debatable, yes the A-League is the highest standard, but the Nix definitely weren't, both Team Wellington and Auckland City were better
remember its not all one way, The Nix did announce at the start of last season they weren't going to concentrate on kiwi's so as an academy developing kiwi kids what you going to do?
The Nix don't seem to have a lot of ambition other than staying in the A-League (which will be decided off the field) so is it worth going to a pro club because they are a pro club or wait and try your chance in europe without the mark of having a bottom dwelling club on your CV?
It wasn't last season, I think it was Ernie who said that no international breaks made it hard to pick a lot of NZers though the club has invested in a youth academy in Wgtn and Soccer School in Akl so they are not against developing NZ talent - the 'Nix still supply a lot of players to all age groups of NZ football so it is a good shop window.