Michael Boxall (Minnesota United | USA)
At the heart of defence, at least one more quality centre-back would add the requisite depth and competition. Jay DeMerit and Carlyle Mitchell looked like the makings of a very good partnership as the season wound down, but as with Thorrington in midfield, the club will need an insurance policy in case their captain struggles again with injuries next campaign.
Greg Janicki never looked comfortable in his limited appearances and while Michael Boxall made a number of impressive performances, Soehn commented on a number of occasions that the rookie struggled with the amount of game time he was given in the absence of DeMerit.
Perhaps if Boxall was played in more of a third centre-back role, stepping in when necessary rather than starting more often than not, he could be eased into the professional game and his best would shine through.
``Jay definitely puts that out there on the field, yelling non-stop. If anyone else - like my mom or girlfriend - was yelling at me that much, it would probably get annoying. But to have someone like that next to me yelling constantly is just great.'' - Vancouver Whitecaps rookie Michael Boxall, on playing with Jay DeMerit.
Boxall and Nanchoff are not looking likely to be starters this season and will be mainly relied upon for injuries, suspensions and fatigue. How are they meant to keep themselves match fit and sharp from training alone? How are they meant to be able to try and stake a place in the starting line-up if they haven't got adequate vehicles to do this and showcase their talents?
Ten games, spread unevenly over the season, will not fully allow these players to do this. They need more.
http://www.metronews.ca/vancouver/sports/article/1107506--away-from-the-numbers-holding-too-much-back-from-reserves--page1
Man- I wonder how much they signed him for...Eee-yong-pyo at right back for us and Manny to the midfield...
2 kiwis played for the whitecaps u23 with a full 90 for Boxall as a CB and 75 minutes for Ben McKendry as a defensive midfield. But Boxall appeared for the first time of the year on the bench for the first team, wednesday in the canadian championship
But Rennie didn’t want to risk too much. He started captain Jay DeMerit at centre back along side Carlyle Mitchell, rather than giving young Kiwi Michael Boxall his first action.
Canadian teenagers Russell Teibert and Bryce Alderson were also left on the bench.
http://www.sounderatheart.com/2012/5/12/3015737/sounders-u23-season-opener-vancouver-whitecaps
So there may be room for some experimentation, especially in one or two of the group games at the Nations Cup. Michael Boxall could be shifted from his current defensive role into midfield. The 1.88m Boxall, currently with the Vancouver Whitecaps, has always looked a player with potential; one whose skill-set could adjust to the international stage. The 23-year-old, who played a pivotal role in New Zealand's 2008 Olympic campaign, made his All Whites debut against China last year. Herbert seems a fan.
"We didn't use him in the recent game at home," says Herbert. "It'll be good to have [Boxall] back in the squad. I thought he was very good against the Australians [last year] in a pretty depleted side."
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10807127
Released by the Whitecaps. Lame balls
http://blogs.theprovince.com/2012/06/22/whitecaps-waive-centre-back-boxall/
"YOU WANT ME TO SIGN WHERE ???"
Barry Robson, a 33-year-old Scottish international, is eligible to play once the transfer window opens on June 27. He landed in Vancouver on Sunday and met the media and his teammates on Monday morning.
The Whitecaps were already at the MLS roster limit and had maxed out their current allotment of 10 international roster spots (though teams can trade for more).
By waiving Boxall, they’ve made room for Robson on both fronts.*
The Whitecaps picked Boxall first in the supplemental draft last season — the draft of players not taken the MLS SuperDraft. He made 19 MLS appearances as a rookie but with the club bringing in Mitchell late last season, then Martin Bonjour in the off-season, Boxall fell down the depth chart.
He didn’t play a first-team minute this season and instead saw time with the reserves and USL Premier Development League squad.
“I’m obviously disappointed,” said Boxall. “To be told you’re not really needed is very disappointing.
“What makes it hard is just how sweet Vancouver is and how supportive everyone is toward the Whitecaps. The way the fans have accepted and really loved this team, that’s going to be my fondest memory.
“But I guess with how my opportunity has been the past 5-6 months it’s probably a good thing.”
In MLS, there’s a 48-hour claiming period for waived players that begins once the league delivers notice. The waiver draft order is determined by points per game and once a team picks a player off waivers in a given season, that club goes to the bottom of the priority list.
If Boxall was on a semi-guaranteed contract, the Whitecaps will free up his cap space because he’s been waived before July 1.
With his international tag, it could be difficult for Boxall to find another home in MLS.
“I’ve just got to wait and see what happens in the next few days,” he said. “I’ll have a word with my agent. I’ve really got no preferences. I’d be open to going anywhere.
“To be a professional football player, there’s always going to be challenges. I’ve just got to look at the positives and stay focused and I’m sure something’s going to come up.”
While Boxall couldn’t find minutes with the Whitecaps first team this season, he was recently called up to the New Zealand national team for Oceania Football Confederation World Cup qualifying games.
“I was very disappointed to not be involved with the first team games but to be away and have a different focus for three or four weeks and play some meaningful games against quality opposition was definitely very refreshing,” he said.
I'm sure you could find a Fever "girl" that looked like that but you'd need her parents permission to take her photo & put it on the forum....
the Whitecaps waived defender Michael Boxall (and rumors are Vancouver is closing in on Carlos Bocanegra)
All Whites centre back Michael Boxall is also on Herbert's radar after being cut by the Vancouver Whitecaps, although salary-cap constraints could make signing him tricky.
"I haven't spoken to Michael but that's a possible discussion. If we could get him under the cap then it's a chance."
Would be a great signing I think can play holding mid as well as cente back and a good young kiwi plus outside of Dua and Siggy we have no other specialist CB's.
All Whites defender Michael Boxall could be on his way to Wellington, after being cut by the Vancouver Whitecaps in the MLS.
According to Australian reports, coach Ricki Herbert tabled a two-year offer for the 23-year-old after the Canadian club exceeded their international quota.
It could be a good move for Boxall and the club. He would offer strong competition to Andrew Durante and Ben Sigmund while being in Wellington would only enhance his international prospects, with Herbert having a track record of enduring loyalty to his Phoenix players when All White squads are put together.
All Whites defender Michael Boxall could be on his way to Wellington, after being cut by the Vancouver Whitecaps in the MLS.
It'll never happen.
Michael Boxall @Boxall2 FollowFollowingUnfollowBlockedUnblockPendingCancel
Wellington Phoenix@WgtnPhoenixFC 10 h
Phoenix announce latest signing http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/wellingtonphoe …
Retweeted by Michael Boxall 7:31 PM - 15 Jul 12via TweetDeck · Details
Michael Boxall@Boxall2Looks like I can return the suits and ties, cancel the job interviews and put on hold my dream of becoming an accountant...
Boxall is an excellent signing IMO. I have been very impressed by his play for the AW's. He appears to be a good athlete with good technique and temperment.
Exactly what we need. A young kiwi who has had a go overseas, gained some experiance and is now back home. With both our incumbent CB's over 30 Boxall is now ideally positioned to come in eventually and have along career at the Nix.
There is zero chance that Dura and Siggy will go through this season without missing games through injury and suspension. I would have no worries about Boxall then slotting straight in. A much better option than bringing in some junior player.
Boxall will get a chance round 2, with Siggy most likely going to Tahiti with the All Whites. Hopefully he has a stormer, and creates a problem of who to pick when Siggy gets back.
Yeah in a smaller squad Im not so sure Boxall will be getting called up - especially if we have Nelsen, Smith, Reid, Siggy & Vicelich all available.
Dura could be eligible very soon too I understand?
Dura will be eligible next year.
Started for the Cannons in a 1-1 draw last night, against Bentleigh Greens.
Went missing for large parts of the game apparently.
I've always wondered how a CB goes missing in a game.
If he's not getting noticed, surely that suggests he's doing alright, because whomever he's marking must have been up to jack.
Or it could mean the striker was having a field day and the guy marking him was nowhere to be seen
It was 1-1, if the striker had a field day then he couldn't hit a barn door... ;)
"He couldn't hit a barn door with a bannana"
He set the standard in the last ten minutes when his determination to find an equaliser saw him surge forward on several occasions and ultimately tee up Diaco’s goal with a clever square ball.
Theodoropoulos singled out Boxall for praise after the match, but said his side owed the result to Italiano’s stunning saves.