Auckland FC - Once the Knights, Always the Knights

Showtime Nixie

sorry forgot if coochiee doesnt hear something or see something it can't be true. 

also shouldn't you get personal over an opinion that's weak.

I'll go easy on you because you do a good job on player overseas section. Get out of the library and enjoy xmas.

Time will tell re this Auckland venture. the above comments may age well either way.

Oh dear.

I always used to assume Coochie was a much better, more football oriented version of Mr. Universe. (No, not that one)

Hmm, that clip doesn’t quite explain it…but all seeing enough was my assumption. 

Buffon II

Can’t beat a bit of internet beef between two strangers who know fudge all about each other.

I remember having a two day long argument with Leggy about 6 or 7 years ago over whether or not Bruce Djite would be an acceptable signing as a 2nd or 3rd choice off the bench. This is the forum way (Hope you're well, Leggy).

Jazzy Jeff

Buffon II

Can’t beat a bit of internet beef between two strangers who know fudge all about each other.

I remember having a two day long argument with Leggy about 6 or 7 years ago over whether or not Bruce Djite would be an acceptable signing as a 2nd or 3rd choice off the bench. This is the forum way (Hope you're well, Leggy).

Leggy can mostly be found these days moderating the Obituaries thread. Hoping he's keeping cool in Brisbane. Bit sweaty in QLD at the mo. 

martinb

Buffon II

AucklandPhoenix

Some muppets need to look at the title of this thread before using the semantic word 

He's got a point here. When i'm in the Arsenal thread and say 'we' i'm clearly not talking about the Phoenix. This thread is about the Auckland A-League team.

But you’re a fan of the Phoenix (hence using this forum) who is also an Arsenal fan. You’re an Arsenal group in the Phoenix pub. 

It would be a nonsense to have a significant subgroup of Arsenal fans who were equally committed Spurs fans. Like the Phoenix and Auckland, they are derby rivals. 

Other A league club discussion on this board by and large doesn’t use ‘we’ as it is Phoenix fans reporting or talking about another club. As this thread is. It’s not an Auckland thread on an Auckland board. 

Weirdly, many Brentford season ticket holders also have tickets for Chelsea, Fulham, QPR and to a lesser extent Tottenham and Arsenal as for most of their existence the club was a bottom feeder so everyone supported them if their main team was away. 

That's how I'll be as a Nix and Jaffa fan going forward.

some big names in there, cant see the likes of Singh or Zawada joining them though, both have options in Europe.

I would be shocked if Sail isn't their keeper. No way Glory will want to pay him decent money to sit on the bench next season. 

RR

I would be shocked if Sail isn't their keeper. No way Glory will want to pay him decent money to sit on the bench next season. 

Yipe Sail & Woud more likely that Tzanev who left NZ as a 10 year old.
He'll likely find another UK club if moves on from the Dons. 

Sail
Elliot - Visa CB - Domestic CB - de Vries
Howieson - Visa DM
Rojas - Visa Mid
Visa Striker - Visa Striker

Wouldn't be the worst start. 

Bench - Woud, Domestic CB, Deklan Wynne, Jack-Henry Sinclair, Luis Toomey, Jesse Randall/Joey Champness, Riley Bidois.

He probaly wants to stay in Europe (and may even get signed by someone this Jan window - Oxford United?) but Pijnaker could fill that domestic CB slot. Or as AV says Tuiloma maybe released early by Charlotte - will have to see what their new MLS coach thinks of him.

Otherwise yes may need Corica & McFlynn to find some Aussies. 
27 yr old Tyler Schrijvers (with Green Gully in the VIC NPL) was talked about for the Nix a few years ago. Trevor Zwetsloot also comes to mind.

Bazeley will promote a few of his U23 squad to Corica. Likes of GK Scott Morris could be good squad pickups.

Weirdly Voerman in that article implied or straight out said that the coach was still undecided? 

If it was the case it has definitely been tidied up now! Some trolling perhaps? Were they briefed earlier and off the record that Greenacre had been chosen? Or just an earlier draft that’s been on the laptop for a couple of months.? 

I swear it said that the coach spot was undecided! 

Terrible journalism 

martinb

Weirdly Voerman in that article implied or straight out said that the coach was still undecided? 

If it was the case it has definitely been tidied up now! Some trolling perhaps? Were they briefed earlier and off the record that Greenacre had been chosen? Or just an earlier draft that’s been on the laptop for a couple of months.? 

I swear it said that the coach spot was undecided! 

An earlier draft that's been sitting on the laptop for awhile I'd say, waiting to file to fill in holiday quiet media period. Skeleton staff over the Christmas break and the stretched or hungover sub editors ain't picked up the error.

AucklandPhoenix

Terrible journalism 

Posted as "AP sports reporters", so dunno if its AV's work?

So why would Auckland?

RR

I would be shocked if Sail isn't their keeper. No way Glory will want to pay him decent money to sit on the bench next season. 

Napier Phoenix

So why would Auckland?

RR

I would be shocked if Sail isn't their keeper. No way Glory will want to pay him decent money to sit on the bench next season. 

The Glory are invested in Cook as their number 1 now. Auckland needs a first choice Keeper and other than making a play for Woud, there isn't any other obvious option right now. Hook him up with a GK coach that can get him back to his best & you will have a top quality ALM Keeper.

While we are on the subject of goalkeepers I think Corica should look at Marinovic before Woud, and maybe even before Sail. Marinovic at his worst is far better than Sail's, he's always reasonably solid, at least he was for the Nix and All Whites. Wouldnt demand much in the way of wages given he's been out of a job for a while and I don't think Sail will be keen to take a pay cut to join Auckland given he has been quite open about having higher ambitions than the A-League. 

No one seems to have any idea what Marinovic is up to, but his last game of competitive football was 14th Jan last year in Israel. He was released early, so maybe got a bit of a payout? He did sit on the bench for the two China AWs friendlies later in March. 

Still only 32. You'd think he'd be interested in trying to go to the 2026 WC, even if he's not the no 1 AWs keeper. So yeah could well be interested in a move back to the ALM with Auckland, but only if he's basically going there as the no 1. Same with Sail, who won't be getting much overseas interest sitting on the bench at Perth, regardless of any higher ambitions.

Wondering who the first singing/s will be. I get the feeling that they might try land a high-profile marquee signing, and announce this first.

With the right signing, this would drum up a lot of media/public interest, and also help attract local (NZD/AUS) talent.

1] Auckland is the city of Sails, so I could see Oli being there!!

2] Wasn't Corica one of the louder voices that did not want the Nix (A kiwi team) in the A League?? My how times change.

3] I wish Auckland all the best, it is exciting times for football in New Zealand. At last a Derby Match and some rivalry. be interesting to see Auckland fans at one end of Sky Stadium and Wellington fans at some spot in Auckland. "You're not singing, you're not singing, you're not singing any more......." Fun times ahead.

Napier Phoenix

So why would Auckland?

RR

I would be shocked if Sail isn't their keeper. No way Glory will want to pay him decent money to sit on the bench next season. 

Sail comes from Auckland so would be good for helping get the locals on board

coochiee

martinb

Weirdly Voerman in that article implied or straight out said that the coach was still undecided? 

If it was the case it has definitely been tidied up now! Some trolling perhaps? Were they briefed earlier and off the record that Greenacre had been chosen? Or just an earlier draft that’s been on the laptop for a couple of months.? 

I swear it said that the coach spot was undecided! 

An earlier draft that's been sitting on the laptop for awhile I'd say, waiting to file to fill in holiday quiet media period. Skeleton staff over the Christmas break and the stretched or hungover sub editors ain't picked up the error.

haha you think they have sub editors these days!

How about....

Matt Riddenton? I thought he looked good in the a league. Seemed real fit and a hard worker.  Wouldnt be a bad kiwi squad player. 

James Musa. Not in the MLS and maybe missed his chance for mins there.. would be a decent local CB option. 

Elemenop

How about....

Matt Riddenton? I thought he looked good in the a league. Seemed real fit and a hard worker.  Wouldnt be a bad kiwi squad player. 

James Musa. Not in the MLS and maybe missed his chance for mins there.. would be a decent local CB option. 

Not sure about Ridenton, seems content playing NPL level in Aussie and may/may not have a half decent career on the side. 

Can count Musa out too as he has already extended his contract with the Colorado Switchbacks for the upcoming USL season. Funnily enough I saw him in New Plymouth not long before Christmas along the coastal walkway. Assume he's still got strong links to the Manawatu/Whanganui region?

Better targets might be Deklan Wynne, Jesse Randall, Riley Bidois, Sam Brotherton or Luis Toomey. 

At a stretch I would have included Logan Rogerson and Ollie Whyte as options - But it seems Rogerson is already headed back to Europe, and after a little further digging, Ollie Whyte was on a 1+1 that was signed before last season kicked off, so one would assume he's probably triggered that second year.

You couldn't completely rule either out, but I'd think Corica & Co will be looking at either higher quality experienced local Aussie/Kiwi players, or younger promising guys with hopefully big upside. 

Musa will be 32 in April, missed lot of the last USL season with injury, and has signed a new contract extension with Colorado Switchbacks anyway. He'd have to get out of that deal to turn up for ALM preseason July-August. Ridenton who knows, but he may consider his pro football days over.

Alex Greive anyone? Would probably fit that high profile signing that everyone seems to be pining for.

Haven't seen his name bandied about, but things certainly add up.
• Auckland boy.
• Contract up in Scotland at seasons end, where he hasn't really gone above his role as a bench/impact player.
• 10 cap All White so will have that name recognition that the owners will be after, a name that resonates with the general football aficionado, even those that aren't immersed in football may loosely know/recognise the name. 
• Close ties to his old club Birkenhead. Traditionally strong footballing base out those ways. Could be good use to get that lot on board - Forge those links!

If this mob are going to go big, then a signing like Greive will be the sort of move they'll have to be making from the get go. Imagine if they could get him and someone like Marco Rojas as well...

Has Greive got it or is he more like Monty Patterson or Jack Pelter? I thought Patterson looked the goods at age group, but he never quite made it. The A league is better than you might think sometimes…

martinb

Has Greive got it or is he more like Monty Patterson or Jack Pelter? I thought Patterson looked the goods at age group, but he never quite made it. The A league is better than you might think sometimes…

Greive would go alright in the ALM. 10 goals a season with luck. He ain't no Monty. 2 goals in 420 SPL mins this season, and from memory unlucky to have one chalked off for a marginal offside. Suspect yes this will be his last campaign with St Mirren. But for a guy who was plucked straight out of the National League he's done bloody well. Does he want to stay in Europe (English lower tiers??) or come home to the 09. Just don't put him on pens.

I wonder how many signings Auckland will be able to make this month/in the coming months that they won't be able to announce until much later, for any of several potential reasons. The Nix preemptively announced the departure of Sail, Lewis & Ugarkovic last season but their destinations weren't announced until much later. 

It could very well be that the team name/logo is the next major announcement. Unless completely unattached players like Marco or Stefan are picked up, there'd be no need to delay an announcement for them surely. 

imanixsupporter

I wonder how many signings Auckland will be able to make this month/in the coming months that they won't be able to announce until much later, for any of several potential reasons. The Nix preemptively announced the departure of Sail, Lewis & Ugarkovic last season but their destinations weren't announced until much later. 

It could very well be that the team name/logo is the next major announcement. Unless completely unattached players like Marco or Stefan are picked up, there'd be no need to delay an announcement for them surely. 

Nix reserves lads are fair game at this stage as well, although I'd imagine any signings from that pool of players probably won't eventuate until further down the line (not high profile enough, marquee etc etc).

As far as I can tell there's a few players positioning themselves at Northern League clubs, while there's also a few who have headed, or are on their way to heading offshore.

Still think Greive would be a good shout as a very solid first signing. Chuck in a Marco Rojas and/or a Callan Elliot and that would be a very decent starting foray into the transfer market for this Auckland outfit.

The standard bigger Kiwi names being thrown around plus Barba.

Though McFlyn is unwilling to divulge potential targets, FTBL understands that veteran Wellington Phoenix attacker Kosta Barbarouses, 33, is on a long list which includes All Whites winger Marco Rojas, 32, who is a free agent after departing Chilean giants Colo Colo in mid-2023.

The scroll of names is also thought to include the likes of Perth Glory’s understudy goalkeeper Oli Sail, who is looking to exit the club after losing the top spot.

Compatriot, Turkey-based former Newcastle Jets and Brisbane attacker Joey Champness, 26, is also under consideration along with defender Nando Pijnaker, another Kiwi international,  currently based in Ireland with Sligo Rovers.

Auckland City midfielder Cameron Howieson is seen as capable of making the step up whilst ex-Wellington Phoenix right back Callan Elliot, currently without a club, is a possibility.

Socceroos attacker Brando Borrello, who has impressed with Western Sydney Wanderers since his return from Germany, could be a more high profile target.

Another non-Kiwi attracting attention is in-demand Newcastle Jets defender Mark Natta.

McFlynn stressed that all possibilities are on the table as the club begins building its roster backed up by Foley’s deep pockets - his Black Knight Football group also owns English Premier League club Bournemouth and holds a stake in French Ligue Un club FC Lorient.

“The owner has a vision of a highly competitive team constructed around a core of Kiwi players, with the squad rounded out by visa imports,” McFlynn told FTBL.

Marco deal all but done.

Sauce? 

Mikey Boxall signed for another year with Minnesota. With MLS season finishing Oct-Nov 2024. He'd be a Jan 2025 window signing at the earliest. I see Tuiloma more of a chance of leaving the MLS earlier.

TAHW is an interesting suggestion! He'll be 29 in March, and from memory is now working in the UK and playing pub football over there. Does Piney know something? Otherwise seems a little daft mentioning him. But the others for sure all possibilities, though I'd say Musa maybe past it for the ALM.

Good list of kiwis here … Rojas, Sail, Howieson, Kirwan, Elliot, Champness + Pijnaker all seem feasible.

Hard to see Kosta leaving Wellington, given his family ties.

I’d add Tuiloma, M.Boxall, de Jong, Wynne, F. de Vries, Collier, Hudson-Wihongi, Musa, Sinclair + Randall. https://t.co/sBmPhlpuj1

— Jason Pine (@pineynz) January 4, 2024

coochiee

Mikey Boxall signed for another year with Minnesota. With MLS season finishing Oct-Nov 2024. He'd be a Jan 2025 window signing at the earliest. I see Tuiloma more of a chance of leaving the MLS earlier.

TAHW is an interesting suggestion! He'll be 29 in March, and from memory is now working in the UK and playing pub football over there. Does Piney know something? Otherwise seems a little daft mentioning him. But the others for sure all possibilities, though I'd say Musa maybe past it for the ALM.

Good list of kiwis here … Rojas, Sail, Howieson, Kirwan, Elliot, Champness + Pijnaker all seem feasible.

Hard to see Kosta leaving Wellington, given his family ties.

I’d add Tuiloma, M.Boxall, de Jong, Wynne, F. de Vries, Collier, Hudson-Wihongi, Musa, Sinclair + Randall. https://t.co/sBmPhlpuj1

— Jason Pine (@pineynz) January 4, 2024

Think he must have seen the same pic I did on Insta and made a jump ⬇️

Screenshot_2024-01-05-00-08-00-74_1c337646f29875672b5a61192b9010f9.jpg 295.45 KB

Interesting. 

coochiee

Interesting. 

Social media these days is such a rich tapestry. 😂