Stefan Colakovski (Perth Glory FC | A-Leagues)

My view.  An outstanding signing. Great impact player. Never gives up. Always looking to score. Gritty and determined to win at all costs. The sort of character that the Phoenix needs to bolster a winning mentality. Great signing Chiefy.

Cola is sweet

Saying all the right things

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/350447040/first-interview-new-phoenix-signing-stefan-colakovski

coochiee

Saying all the right things

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/350447040/first-interview-new-phoenix-signing-stefan-colakovski

Havent been on  stuff in a while, Christ the app is horrendous to navigate now. As you say, he’s definitely saying all the right things!

Just watched the press release on YT after getting home from night shift - Very forthright, and extremely well spoken.

Three minutes into it though and he's already an instant favourite!
"The Biggest club in New Zealand."

Love him already. 

Do we know what European club had lined him up before it fell through?

Typhoon

My view.  An outstanding signing. Great impact player. Never gives up. Always looking to score. Gritty and determined to win at all costs. The sort of character that the Phoenix needs to bolster a winning mentality. Great signing Chiefy.

I dont know him, but Im relying on your positivity!

loyalgunner

Do we know what European club had lined him up before it fell through?

I was thinking along the same lines. Like I thought he had gone to Europe, not got anything and then was back at Perf. Regardless, stoked we get him for a year. Hope he kicks on for us

loyalgunner

Do we know what European club had lined him up before it fell through?

Asked some ITK Glory guys & they hadn't even heard a rumour about what country it was in.

My suspicion is that this was an "aspirational" rumour from his agent at that time. 
Or maybe he only got lowish offers from lowish clubs.  Even if my hunch was proven to be true, it is hardly a reflection on the player.  So many other factors play a role in a successful transfer.

If he wants to go back and field some bigger offers, he's got to have a big season.

Not a bad time to have him in our line up!

Bananas

If he wants to go back and field some bigger offers, he's got to have a big season.

Not a bad time to have him in our line up!

Though from my hazy memory, all the talk of Piscopco looking to launch into Europe from the Nix - made him sometimes appear a little selfish. Remember the cringe squabble with Waine over who was to take a penalty, one game at The Gong. 

Hopefully Cola is in Welly first & foremost to help the Nix succeed. Suspect he is, and Chiefy has spent some time chatting to him about that sort of stuff.

coochiee

Bananas

If he wants to go back and field some bigger offers, he's got to have a big season.

Not a bad time to have him in our line up!

Though from my hazy memory, all the talk of Piscopco looking to launch into Europe from the Nix - made him sometimes appear a little selfish. Remember the cringe squabble with Waine over who was to take a penalty, one game at The Gong. 

Hopefully Cola is in Welly first & foremost to help the Nix succeed. Suspect he is, and Chiefy has spent some time chatting to him about that sort of stuff.

That's a fair point too.

Hopefully he sees the Nix success last year and the number of player movements from it as a sign that a rising tide floats all boats.

But you're right, that can be the negative that can happen in the wrong environment.

To be honest dont think it matters if that isnt the first reason he came to the Nix for. Because to achieve his aim of getting to Europe he has to be performing at his best no matter the reason. 
Listening to him talk he seems pretty determined and doubt Chief would have signed him if he had doubt about his motives.  

coochiee

Bananas

If he wants to go back and field some bigger offers, he's got to have a big season.

Not a bad time to have him in our line up!

Though from my hazy memory, all the talk of Piscopco looking to launch into Europe from the Nix - made him sometimes appear a little selfish. Remember the cringe squabble with Waine over who was to take a penalty, one game at The Gong. 

Hopefully Cola is in Welly first & foremost to help the Nix succeed. Suspect he is, and Chiefy has spent some time chatting to him about that sort of stuff.

I think, to be honest, that that's more of a personality thing with Piscopo. Plenty of selfish moves during his time at the Nix and any other club he's been in. So many pointless long shot attempts when there were passes on, etc.

I don't get the same vibes from Cola so far.

Piscopo had all the talent in the world and none of the mentality

valeo

Piscopo had all the talent in the world and none of the mentality

You can bet on it!

Chiefytheman

IMG_20241218_194933.jpg 216.92 KB

Well thats not great but an opportunity for likes of Supyk, Brooke-Smith and GSR to take their chance. Maybe even Jay Herdman could be worth signing now hes out of contract.

Well that sucks. I was really hoping he could provide a lot of impact off the bench for us this season.

Also, if he does not extend, since we only have him signed till the end of the season, Colakovski might've just played his final game with us.

Sorry to see this, I hope he recovers well.

That sucks, hope his recovery goes well

Timing wise for the club probably helps that it's right before the January window

I guess for him it means he'll likely be looking for another A-League contract next season somewhere (who knows maybe Chiefy has been impressed enough in training to give him a go next season) to again prove himself worthy of an overseas move

Best wishes for a speedy and full recovery, Cola!

That sucks for the dude. 
As much as I’d been critical of his impact, I’d hoped it would improve. And certainly if he was coming on with Marco at 60 or 70 minutes he’d have to rate his chances of picking up something.  As well it was a little confusing as to how Chief saw his impact role. He was never Taggart through the centre.

ACL’s suck, but hopefully he can come back with some determination. 

Aw man that is shark! Especially given the comment I made in the WSW game thread. Even with surgery that is 6-8 months recovery. Season over. I doubt Ball has travelled for the WSW game but he might get a bench spot now until the Jan window when no doubt we'll bring in an injury replacement.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360528225/wellington-phoenix-forward-stefan-colakovski-suffers-season-ending-injury

Nooo :'(
This is shark. I was looking forward to watching him grow into the team.


It's almost like he read the critical comments here and did it to spite the fans.

"Oh so you guys think I'm useless? Let's see how you go without me, then!"
*does ACL on purpose*

Gutted for him. Had the chance to talk to him a couple of times in recent weeks and he seemed genuinely excited to be in Wellington. Tough for him given his overseas move fell through.

Hopefully he can at least get the surgery out of the way soon and then take advantage of the NZCIS facilities to help with recovery!

I'm genuinely so sad for him. He did seem happy and keen and like he'd fit into Welly quite nicely.

He'll be able to talk to Rufer who's done it and come back to become an even better player, it isn't the career death sentence it used to be.

Was liking the effort he bought and he's a proven quality A-League player. Expecting OVH, Ball and GSR to be the potential benefactors of the injury, in that order based on the season so far.

Nelfoos

He'll be able to talk to Rufer who's done it and come back to become an even better player, it isn't the career death sentence it used to be.

Was liking the effort he bought and he's a proven quality A-League player. Expecting OVH, Ball and GSR to be the potential benefactors of the injury, in that order based on the season so far.

Doing an ACL when you are only signed to a 1 year deal is rough. He clearly wanted to try and get himself another deal in Europe.

Whilst he hasn't impressed me off the bench, I know the talent is there & maybe he might be willing to look at extending his deal now.

Until you know what his recovery is like you'd be crazy to offer a new deal.

Names escape me, but weren't there 2 up and coming pros who did their ACL playing for NZ and basically never recovered. 1 doing it on debut??

Henry Cameron jumps to mind, was rhe one who did it on NZ debut.

The way medicine treats and rehabs ACLs has come a long way, even since the dark days of Anthony Hudson selecting anything with a pulse.

MetalLegNZ

Until you know what his recovery is like you'd be crazy to offer a new deal.

Names escape me, but weren't there 2 up and coming pros who did their ACL playing for NZ and basically never recovered. 1 doing it on debut??

MvDM has a contract on the table depending on her recovery.

Not suggesting we sign him to a 5 year deal but let him know what we are willing to offer, depending on his recovery. 

MetalLegNZ

Until you know what his recovery is like you'd be crazy to offer a new deal.

Names escape me, but weren't there 2 up and coming pros who did their ACL playing for NZ and basically never recovered. 1 doing it on debut??

Henry Cameron (still only 27) did he ACL in Oman on AWs debut. He was worthy of a national team callup, having played 10 games in The Championship with Blackpool.

Liam Graham (age 32) also did his ACL playing for the AWs under Hudson. This time in New Caledonia. Graham or Cameron both tried comebacks post their injuries (including stints in the Handy Prem), but neither have played for a long time now.   

Trevor Zwetsloot also did his ACL, with Des's excellent U20 side at the 2019 WC in Poland. His career looks like it's fading out early.

Think all 3 of these guys become club less (well professional club less) soon after their injuries. Big difference between having to soldier on all alone attempting your comeback, as opposed to rehabbing at NZCIS, with it's world class facilities and medical support systems.

Dont think its the Phoenix style to cast someone aside,so wouldnt be surprised or disappointed at some sort of deal with recovery dependent clauses put in place. As coochie says NZCIS is the place you would think he would want to be rehabbing at.

One man can fill the boots ... Oscar Faulds. they need someone, big, powerful and coachable and who (especially in the Phoenix case) won't break the bank. Oscar Faulds

Sounds like Faulds is back in Europe trying to get signed somewhere there in the Jan window.

Day in the Life of a Pro Footballer | Stef Colakovski
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z25RMU6xb_o