2014/15 Transfer Speculation

I reckon you're spot on there - previously coached by Ernie. Anyone seen him play?

He's Scottish and Kiwi don't forget...!!

Weemac would be a fantastic signing. Marquee?

Will not happen

TETL

(too early to tell)

If we don't sign McGlinchey then ideally we would sign another midfielder (or even a defender don't get me started) rather than a striker. Brockie/Boyd/Krishna are just going to have to do as far as strikers go. Brockie is not ideal but he is a good finisher even if he lacks all the other skills we would want. I can't see us signing many (any) big name Aussies or snaring Barbarouses. Therefore McGlinchey and getting a top quality foreign player are essential to improving our squad.

Relying on Brockie to be our main goal threat does not fill me with much hope.  We need a new goal scorer. Don't really care where they play or how they score as long as they can.

I think that I would have to agree with your sentiments, also Ryan54 im not sure that barbarouses would add anything significant

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/10040978/Hernandez-departure-piles-pressure-on-Merrick

Ernie;

"I have spoken with several very good players who, the chances of getting, are probably 80 per cent against us and 20 per cent for. But unless you're in it you're never going to win it. I won't confirm McGlinchey but that's the sort of quality of player we're looking for. He is 27 with great pedigree."

"We want quality players who are keen to do well for this club, who are very mobile and can play a more modern, possession-type game yet break quickly as well.

"The club has given me the funding to be able to find the right players while still remaining financially stable. That's what the club's about and I agree with it."

The other thing people forget about Brockie is that even when he was banging in the goals a lot of us were still critical of him for his lack of movement off the ball, unwillingness to press defensively, and general perceived lack of effort for the team. Maybe Ernie can coach that out of him but if he's like that again next season I don't think he'll fit in the style Ernie's trying to play.

 

This is really exciting. 2 import spots, possibly a 3rd depending on Ifill. Decent coin possibly available to spend on transfers. Long a$$ off season. And the first time Merrick's had a chance to do some good work in this space. Would have to be another +1 for WeeMac, but it still leaves that gap in AM/St and I'm still not sold on our defence, another full back to take the pressure off Boxall would be great.

Point 1:
Gorrin
Krishna
Riera

Point 2:
Fenton

So we need to replace:

• Our top goalscorer
• Our top assist-maker
• Our club legend/talisman/impact player.

 

No pressure Ernie.

Have you killed Kenny?

Premature departure exclamation.

I am beginning to get annoyed at this forgetting Kenny or assuming he'll go home with Carlos. Perhaps we assume that because Carlos has broken English while Kenny has little-to-none, that Carlos is Kenny's boss and he'll take home Kenny in his luggage, which is an insult to Kenny.

What a dickish thing to say. I didn't know Andrew Durante, Ben Sigmund and Manny Muscat were factory labourers.

More a reference to the fact the club supports players who work for each other and doesn't like tall poppy types.

I'm all for this - a poisoned changing room is good for no one.

Ricki had his faults - but establishing a strong and positive team culture he got right.

Stein & Costa? + Ifills depending on whether we re-sign no?

Edit: forgot about Gorin. Still can't believe his signing.

Well Hicks is a Plumber.

I know he has played further back for the AW's but isn't Payne an attacking mid?

Last sentence of today's article;

"Merrick was confident fellow Costa Rican Kenny Cunningham was happy at the Phoenix and would report for pre-season on June 2."

It's a bit of a pity Carlos didn't work out. I never felt he was a good fit but he still produced some amazing plays. I think we do want someone more consistent and hardworking but we also need some creativity and goal scoring ruthlessness in the team.

Chris James worth a look now? Might not be what we want but actually getting a straight replacement for Carlos could be unrealistic. 

Wonder how Ifill is looking from a recovery point of view.

I am now looking forward to a Brazilian style "oh, I just missed my flight!...By five days..."

I Moss say Ifill it was only a matter of time before Carlos was Gorrin. Most couldn't Caira less here I think.

People seem to forget we have 4 imports signed. Kenny, Riera, Krishna and Gorrin. There is only 1 import spot spare now Carlos has gone.

 

(The Krishna signing is a waste)

My understanding was that he's played all over the midfield including on the wing for Blackburn youth and NZ age-group sides, but that CAM is his preferred role.

Totally agree "Blue Collar" isn't a derogatory term. It's a type of work that people usually do in an environment where there is no place for a high-maintenance attitude.

The stripey doesn't even have a collar

 

And you think we should go in with the same defence that has leaked 100 goals in two seasons? I get the Phoenix want a marquee man who is exciting and the rest. I just think it is bizarre that the real deficiency with the Phoenix over the past two seasons hasn't even been identified by the club itself or even by most of the fans. Okay our defence is better with Reira in front and if Gorrin is decent then Sigmund and Durante are going to have an easier job. It seems quite a large leap of faith to me.

Having a defensive line play consistently together is a huge advantage though, don't forget that.

How many fullbacks did we go through?

Same goes in the defensive midfield role - with Riera we ran a much tighter ship, once he got injured all hell broke loose.