20/21 Season - Wellingong Phoenix

Here we go!

Not gonna have a Trans-Tasman bubble sorted in 10 weeks, so I guess we are playing our games in NSW to start with.

161 Matches total which means:

Everyone plays everyone else twice (132 Matches, 22 rounds) 

4 additional games for each team (24 Matches, 4 rounds)

5 match finals series (Same as last year with top 6)

So we have somewhere between 26 and 29 Phoenix games to look forward to. 

Assuming a grand final on the weekend of June 19 or June 26 means 22 or 23 weeks of regular season play, so there will need to be an additional 3 or 4 rounds of football made up midweek.

Key question, if season is to start with a hub in NSW, and Christmas in Aussie - can player's families join them? As no quarantine required now in NSW, maybe that's a yes.

If a no, fear that group of 12 contracted players could quickly be 11, or even 10 - as without their families with them I don't see likes of esp Davila or Ball being very happy.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/a-league/12...

Guess the key question will be who bears the cost of families going over - can't imagine it being a cheap exercise.

Great summation.

So we know if this 22+4 round regular season is caused by Covid and "next" season will be a 33 round season?

Davilla has reposted the Phoenix's 'football is back' post so I would assume so far he's happy with any arrangements made!

They have said they will stay at 26 matches until they have 14 teams (when they will also stay at 26 matches, but it will be a pure home and away draw).

14 teams would be good for the game, Not sure if the A League with this covid crap would go with it. I assume Canberra and either Hobart or another Perth side?? Just guessing, what do others think??

Cant get 11 teams right at the moment. Will struggle to reach 14

if davila is playing for  the nix at christmas santa doest need to come with any other xmas presents.

If he is there we will hold our own this year and maybe do well, if he is not we are fudgeed

Great we have a date, now lets sign uo those 8 players

Since we are going to be based in Aus. It's open licence for Talay to sign young Australians. Really hope the current NZers that are off contract and a few more make the cut. Lewis and JHS to name a few possibilites.

See SFC Youth finished 5th in NSW NPL (missed semis which are this weekend), and below article gives them a big wrap. With senior SFC squad being pretty settled, don't be surprised if Talay signs a few kids from there.

https://www.ftbl.com.au/news/every-a-league-transf...

Though you would hope that a few Kiwis like Lewis, McGarry are also given a chance.

Guess we have to be optimistic but i do wonder where all the money is coming from to fund this bubble. FFA have more confidence than i would that the States will have resolved their border issues come kickoff time.

Providing NSW can keep their Covid situation under control, reasonable chance only the 3 VIC teams, Nix and probably Glory won't be sleeping in their own beds - ie in a bubble, to start the season.

I think we are in for the spoon this up coming season, No games at home and poor squad its really going be a uphill battle.

and so it begins

this gives me real confidence.  We now have a date and something to look forward to.  hopefully we can start finilizing a squad now

At least it isn't interfering with Bathurst for once.

This but unironically. Seriously. Not over losing Taylor.

We still got Uffie, Rufer and Devlin, and, okay, Elliot going hurts...Davila, Ball, Domey and the champ, Mr Morrison? 

Phoenix Till I Die, I know I am, I'm sure I am, I'm Phoenix till I die.

We're doing very well in the situation in my opinion.

Will remember Taylor fondly and follow his games, but hey- 27 December! Merry Christmas!

geez we may even still have Stefan Marinovic. 

Pitty they couldn't work it out earlier to stop "Senor Capitano" leaving. :-(

Harry Maguire might be looking to stepping down a step or two after his recent performances...... And I note a sick note ex United, Arsenal and Watford just got released. Could be a useful forward at this level.

i think this season is the most important in the nixs history when it comes to both new signings and survivial (both financial and playing)

Focus must obviously be on survival but at the same stage using this crises to our advantage long term 

If we sign a bunch of sydney kids to one year contracts i dont think thats going to achieve anything long term

If however we sign a bunch of young kiwis and also the potential kiwi targets overseas (collier, musas etc) and adopt a siege mentality, imagine what a foundation that could lay for our club long term

If you are going to do it, this is the year to lay the foundation, even if we end up second last, it aint exactly going to impact on our home crowds 

Time to do it

Considering both Musa and Collier are seeing game time in the MLS, you are being excessively ambitious. 

@AP another Cammy Devlin or Piscopo is okay with me tho

Also- it's always the most important season for us- Terry going under or can't afford another bad result or metrics or it's our inaugural or our first or best finals run...

I can’t wait until the next season starts. I feel optimistic that we could put out a competitive team. The worry is having to be based in Australia. It just didn’t work last time. Hopefully things will change in the New Year and the team can be based in Wellington. We were great at home last year. As far as the starting eleven goes for 27 December how about this?

                   Marincovic

Fenton. de Vere     Whihongi   ?????

             Rufer.    Devlin

Piscopo.      Davila.       Sotirio

                  Waine

I have assumed that De Vere fancies another season and Davila’s recent social media post means he is interested in coming back. Left back is a issue..... is McGarry an option?

All things considered this is not a bad A-Leage team. A bit lite at the back with Taylor and Cacace absent but it has a very strong midfield and good pace out wide.Ten of the side are from last season and know Uffie systems of playing. Off the bench you would look to Payne to cover RB and DM. You would have to look to the Academy kids to fill the roster and I am sure Uffie can find some gems out of Australia.

De Vere and TAHW haven't be re-signed yet. Get Lewis in to replace McCowatt and we are not too shabby up front, at the back is a massive question mark tho.

A realistic starting XI for next season:

Marinovic

Payne TAHW DeVere McGarry 

Rufer Devlin 

Lewis Piscopo 

Davila Ball

I dont think so. Their minutes are virtucally 10 a game if they are lucky, Those two are basically replacing Hooper and Taylor and their wages are nit flash where they are. 

Also the Nix is potentially just as good a career pathway for ambitious players as the States these days.

Yeah but if you get a green card as a lot of these Kiwi players in the US end up doing, you effectively become a local player and maybe an attractive at least squad player for the 25 odd MLS teams.

Then if you get cut by your MLS club, you also have the 35 odd USL pro teams a level down - where admittedly the pay ain't likely to be great. 

Contrast that to the Nix who are playing in a comp, that has a lot of financial uncertainty and may not exist after this season. Plus I imagine you have as much chance being signed by a Euro club from the MLS, as you do from the A League.

Also the USA offers up a myriad of post career opportunities (football & non-football), far more than little ole NZ or even Aussie. No coincidence that the likes of Nelsen, Brown, Lochhead, Elliott, Wilkinson, Knowles, Oughton, Gleeson, Christie(?) etc have made it their home. Musa at 28 may even be weighing that up now. 

Having said that someone like Brotherton could be worth an approach, if he doesn't have MLS interest now. Could be tired of playing in the low profile USL, and keen to make himself more visible for possible AWs selection. Kyle Adams as well, if Houston cut him adrift.

We have a fair bit of youth... Devlin is young + Waine and Sutton who will all get minutes.

If Rogerson is fit I would like to see him get a look in along with Lewis. 

Are there any decent CB's around. Would Stranger be an option. Looked very promising for the u20's and not getting a look in at the moment at his Scottish Club?? Also, having a memory blank but who is the RB at Auckland who was going well in Scotland before breakin his leg... how has he looked?

Heard from a source that McGarry and Lewis will be signed this week. Could well be bollocks but I'd hope it's true

I think you mean Andrew Blake. Probably worth a trial at least. Trevor Zwetsloot, is another who had a terrible injury but if he's recovered well and not looking to head back to Euro land (was with Werder Bremen youth) worth a look. Looked classy for U19/20s.

You would hope there is a few Handy Prem players that would at least get a trial. From memory both Rudan and Talay in the previous 2 off seasons haven't been adverse to asking players to Welly for a looksee.

Cos Sotirio is boss?

I really hope Devere is keen