Alex Paulsen (AFC Bournemouth | England) [Loan: Lechia Gdańsk | Poland]

Gotta love how this discussion slowly went from "omg AP got offered a multi-million deal by a prem club!" to "ain't no way he's 6'3" lmfao

theprof

Hibs would be a great landing spot for him, I just dont want the nix to lose him.

It’s exactly the level he should be aiming at. But I’d be raging if he landed at Hibs. As a dons fan, I’ve been trying to get our club to think about signing him all season 😂 he’d do well, but actually we’ve got a new manager who is going to play like chief. It makes so much sense and gutted it’s not going to happen. Delighted for him either way, a) to get this level of attention and b) either way, it should give him a great deal of confidence (as well as the nix). 

upthenixforever

Gotta love how this discussion slowly went from "omg AP got offered a multi-million deal by a prem club!" to "ain't no way he's 6'3" lmfao

maybe measured when he had his old haircut
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTjUMucvAH34hZ2cU_gqjgJAO0PqLrsP5vKdg&s

Another gong for AP (as well as Surman & Wootton). Data driven team of the season from Opta.

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Chuck another £1,000,000 on the asking price. 😅

Been looking into his manager and ironically managers Steve Corica also, but I hope his agency does not stuff it up as he does not have too many high quality performers. The others include Cam Davlin, Trent Sainsbury, James McGarry.

Oh look, he’s exactly the same height as Oldie and OVH

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Hutcho137

Been looking into his manager and ironically managers Steve Corica also, but I hope his agency does not stuff it up as he does not have too many high quality performers. The others include Cam Davlin, Trent Sainsbury, James McGarry.

Devlin & McGarry. The agent should know a bit about the SPL then.
Sainsbury (still only 32) is in the Qatar league these days.

Honestly he might be short for a keeper but he more than makes up for it in athleticism. The kid has crazy hops and you can see just how coordinated he is. You take him out of football and he'd be a special athlete in almost any sport. 

I think with how football is now leaning into more ball playing keepers you will start to see shorter and shorter players. Paulsen has already proven his shot stopping is good and probably ready for the next level. What sets him apart is that he is probably already nearly world class with the ball at his feet - and that is the way the games is going with keepers.

coochiee

Hutcho137

Been looking into his manager and ironically managers Steve Corica also, but I hope his agency does not stuff it up as he does not have too many high quality performers. The others include Cam Davlin, Trent Sainsbury, James McGarry.

Devlin & McGarry. The agent should know a bit about the SPL then.
Sainsbury (still only 32) is in the Qatar league these days.

Oh great ... it's Tony Rallis then :/

Need an Alex Paulsen passing mixtape tho https://t.co/Ik2UVwOmhm

— The Niche Cache (@thenichecache) May 31, 2024

Had a snoop and the Louis Landgdown guy above seems to be some ex EPL video analyst, who may even teach the disclipine at University now. So someone with some street cred on assessing player talent

https://x.com/loulangdown

Who cares about his height? We all know he's good enough to make it at a high level.

I really hope the Nix tell Bournemouth etc to walk on unless they show some real coin. That current offer is laughable. 

He's as good, if not better then many starting keepers in the Championship who have 10+ years pro football behind them (ie playing at a higher level then Hibs in the SPL by a country mile). He will only get better and surpass them. The Nix should be looking to wring out every last penny they can get.

Doloras

Well, there's a second factor, what Alex and the people in his corner think is best for him. Marco's dad was all keen to take him to Europe early, which didn't turn out as well as we'd hoped

Problem with Marco's dad was that he was looking for job for himslef

Yeah I’m not liking this pro-Hibs chat. Much of the Scottish league is garbage. The only real argument for Scotland is that he’d be in view of scouts from a lot of big teams but if he’s been sold to a big team already who cares. Absolutely should be loaned back to Wellington.

Mark Birighitti won A-League Keeper of the Year & absolutely stunk up the joint in Scotland. He was at one of the weaker teams that season but didn't play this season in the 2nd tier.

If he was signed & did get loaned out, an ambitious National League side wouldn't be a bad option. Lower level but gives him a chance to adapt & get his feet under himself in a new country. 

Geez, national league. Come on give Scotland  a little credit. Our recent All Whites who have played there have hardly set it on fire 

Going to Europe is tough. Really tough. It's more cut throat there than the friendly ALM. New challenges like promotion and relegation, playing through a long winter, team mates from all around the world, who want your spot and will do anything to get it.

I remember folks on here disappointed because Libby only signed for a middling Belgian team as his first Euro gig. But as has been proven, it was the perfect initial stop on the continent. Compare him to Singh going straight to giants Bayern.

I reckon Hibs would make alot of sense. Similar culture, language (sort of!), a club that will finish somewhere about 3rd-9th on the ladder. Part of the wider Foley football group, which will help ensure he at least gets an opportunity of starting. Where else should he go. He's unlikely to be amongst Bournemouth's top 2 keepers. So he just plays youth football? 
Other partner club Lorient in France, where he doesn't know the language?

Plenty of other ALM players start off in the SPL. It's tough enough as a first gig. Better he actually plays than rides the pine somewhere. He only has to be there be for season. If he shines in the SPL, clubs in The Championship will look at him, for another loan deal. And if he's brilliant he might even crack the Cherries EPL squad by 2025. Big IF

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Sounds like he's gone. 
Deal done - 3 year deal to the 🍒's

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This moved quick.

Congrats to AP, the Nix and all the coaches and mentors he has had so far that helped him get to this. 

Honestly a little disappointed in the fee. Should have held out for what Adelaide got for Gauci.

I hope add ons are realistic and that we have a good sell on clause. 

Sad to see him go, but you just know he's going to have a brilliant future in the game.

Great for New Zealand Football and the profile for the game down these ways too. Well done to WelNix, the academy, and right the way through the club.

Hopefully we can realise that full £2 million in the near future as well.

Dreamt he was going to end up at Chelsea.  Well bitter sweet for sure, wish he had stayed another season with us.

Can't  see past the idea that he will be loaned back to Auckland.

imanixsupporter

Honestly a little disappointed in the fee. Should have held out for what Adelaide got for Gauci.

I hope add ons are realistic and that we have a good sell on clause. 

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Already trending on twitter too. You love to see it!

Man.  If he gets to develop over there and become a top keeper, that's bloody awesome for the All Whites.

Come on Paulsen.  We're rooting for ya.

Yes massive congrats to Alex, his family and the club. 
I remember a few years ago I think Mrs Mils saying watch out for this Paulsen kid, he's going to be special.

Be great to have an AWs keeper in a top 5 league, or even The Championship. We have had a number of okay, solid GKs, but never a true top level one.

Left field idea, and doesn't fit at all the Nix's model of all Kiwi players now only coming through the Academy, but I'd suggest they take a look at off contract Nik Tzanev. Not seen him alot, but he's always been talked about as being a 'sweeper keeper' ie good with his feet. Seems more a Brit than a Kiwi now, but hey if he's to give himself any shot at making the 2026 WC squad, maybe he needs to come downunder under the nose of Bazeley & co.

Paulsen leaving you suspect is going to mean a sizeable tinker by Chief in how the Nix play.

Happy for him to get a European opportunity, he deserves it and I hope he succeeds and gets plenty of playing time.

Obviously I'm sad to see him go as I'd selfishly love to see him play for the Nix that little bit longer, but when this sort of opportunity comes you just have to take it.

This will be a great advertisement to young local footballers that the Nix academy has real pathways to Europe. Deals like this will help the Nix to sign more young talent into the academy

imanixsupporter

Honestly a little disappointed in the fee. Should have held out for what Adelaide got for Gauci.

I hope add ons are realistic and that we have a good sell on clause. 

Piss poor fee. Should have been £1.5 mil plus. Really hope there are some very good strings attached. 

Could the money gained allow the Nix to get another class import?

It’s a little funny seeing people on Facebook/Twitter being so beaten down and negative that they really expect Paulsen to go to Auckland on loan

It’s a three year deal, which says to me he’ll be in immediate contention for a spot. Remember, EPL analysts see what we see, and they know just how good he is even if he is coming from a far weaker league. Even if he was to go out on loan, it’d be to the Championship or Scotland, not back to the league he’s already proven he’s dominant in. Will use preseason as an opportunity to stake his claim

Great move for the lad.

I said in the first match thread of the season, think it was that 0-0 with WSW, I could see him moving to Europe in 12-18 months. Hasn't even taken that long.

21 years old off the back of a fantastic season, things should only get better for him from here.

mrsmiis

It’s a little funny seeing people on Facebook/Twitter being so beaten down and negative that they really expect Paulsen to go to Auckland on loan

It’s a three year deal, which says to me he’ll be in immediate contention for a spot. Remember, EPL analysts see what we see, and they know just how good he is even if he is coming from a far weaker league. Even if he was to go out on loan, it’d be to the Championship or Scotland, not back to the league he’s already proven he’s dominant in. Will use preseason as an opportunity to stake his claim

Yeah if the plan was to immediately loan him back to the A League why not just keep monitoring him and sign him next year. 

I’m sure they will want to get him into their preseason and spend the first six months giving him high class coaching and having a real good look at him, then if there is no immediate need for him to be in the starting line up or on the bench, a loan will eventuate in Jan to a club in England or Scotland who has the need 

That was fast. Congrats to the man. Huge opportunity and I’m looking forward to following his progress. Must mean he’s not to short after all.

I hope Phoenix backup Duncan is as good as everyone says as it may not be pretty without AP.

Great for him but quite disappointed in the fee to be honest, after all Domey's talk about holding onto players to get what they're worth.

To be fair, IF the reported add ons are all but guaranteed to eventuate, it's a good deal for the club. 4 million NZD.

So presumably Duncs will re-sign and be the number 1. Are Alby and Matt Foord ready to be the back-up, or do we look to bring in another young kiwi.

I’d be stoked if we could lure Scott Morris or Henry Gray back to NZ but they’re both contracted in the UK.

Joe Knowles is probably the stand out u21 keeper in the National League but idk if he’s much better then our two.

I don't think we should be so up in arms about the fee amount. The reality is, it's still a very welcome $1.7 million dollar cash injection that offsets the cut in TV revenue deal the club will be getting next season. We've never had a premier league club come knocking before, but with this you've got proof the system and the academy set up works. And you'd gave to be pretty heartless to stand in the way of a young player who's more than earnt a rare shot at the dream. 

Dammit - was really hoping he'd be with the nix for one more shot! But then stoked for the lad! Chance there to shine and get gametime in the EPL. Hoping now they dont loan him bakc to Auckland!
I guess that makes Duncan our #1, with Kelly-Heald as #2??

Rock Hopper

I don't think we should be so up in arms about the fee amount. The reality is, it's still a very welcome $1.7 million dollar cash injection that offsets the cut in TV revenue deal the club will be getting next season. We've never had a premier league club come knocking before, but with this you've got proof the system and the academy set up works. And you'd gave to be pretty heartless to stand in the way of a young player who's more than earnt a rare shot at the dream. 

 Completely agree - from what i can tell the cap floor is ~$2.25m AUD
With the lessened distribution + Paulsen sale we should have 100% of the 2024-2025 salary covered all ready - for a business that is a very healthy place to be

Decent coin and there might be a nice sell on clause for future revenue as well.

Well done to the lad.