2014/15 Transfer Speculation

Brockie is basically a pure finisher.  If he was a better finisher he would be useful but he misses too many easy chances - just far too streaky.

My personal theory on him is that he's got a knack of scoring (mostly ridiculous goals) from broken play, partly because he's clearly got great natural timing when hitting a ball. When he was put up top by Ricki our team was pretty ragged and there was a lot of broken play for him to score from and a higher-than-usual percentage of them came off. It doesn't mean that he's natural goalscorer in the way someone like Smeltz is, or else his record would be a lot more consistent. I think of everywhere on the pitch he's most comfortable playing as a winger too. 

We didn't really play a 4231 past round 4 or 5. It was setup as 4312 (442 diamond). This is a good summary during our purple patch: http://leopoldmethod.com.au/wellington-5-0-melbourne-victory/

Is Smeltz a natural finisher?

Its often said, but he has had just as many barren seasons as good seasons.

Personally I think both are pretty limited and tend to have the same issues: can't dribble with pace or purpose, so so in the air and don't make attacking runs in behind defenders.

Reading that makes me optimistic for the new season with all the pace that we have and more time with Ernie.

Barren seasons? Suggest you go and have a look at his record

2007-2009      Nix                      39 App     21 Goals

2009-2011      Gold Coast         38 App      28 Goals

2011 -2014     Perth                   58 App      28 Goals

That included last year when he has injured for a large part of the season but did make a number of Apps of the bench. So essentially over eight years  he is averaging better than a goal every two games. He must be doing something ok.

Completely disagree that Smeltz has had as many barren seasons as good, at least in his time in the A League.

Anyway, any ideas for a no. 10 if/when the WeeMac deal falls through? Can be an import at least.

James

Fixed.

Your right,

Christiano Hames is our man.

I thought Hames had already been ruled out by the club, and Giannou is more a traditional striker than an attacking mid?

Yeah he has been ruled out by Merick in the past, but has to be a better bet than Ridenton in the short term and helps a Kiwi who for whatever reason can't find a job. Saying that the rumors are we have a few hundred k to play with under the cap so should be able to find someone quality

If we have a bit of space for an import and Wee Mac (in theory...) That's bloody impressive. Mind you, I would be intrigued to find out how many are on the bare minimum. Boyd, Fenton, Shermy, RYdenton, Rufer, Italiano, Krishna, Caira, Hicks...

Interesting to see they were quick to remove Carlos' name from the website but others like Stein etc are still there. Even Burns has been added. No Gorrin though.

One of the benefits of being a Kiwi team I guess is that allot of our players have nowhere else to go until they are of the quality to be foreigners in another team.

Exactly!

Makes you wonder why we kept hiring expensive Australian journeymen in the past and ran squads on the small side.

Because Ricki was really conservative with his recruitment and seemed reluctant to trust players who hadn't played at at least A-League level before.

Weemac in the front 3? Eh? Winger at a pinch, maybe, but surely he'd be better in the middle.

Yeah, but Ernie said we'd be playing with more traditional wingers?

Think he'll be in the middle.

He's naturally a wide player, and much better at it.

He often runs games from out wide, can get overrun/go missing in the middle and is generally wasted there.

Given the number of wide players already in our squad do we even need him then? Surely a specialist quality central attacking mid is the priority? Or if Gorrin is going to do that, a holding mid?

Here's a specky. Someone on Facebook posted on the Nix FB page that they reckon they saw Wee Mac at the match in Petone, comment was liked by a bunch of people including Norrie McGlinchey, Michael's father... 

If he was he was no where near Nix Bench

A good write up on stuff about Waikato Ball  trialing for the NIX next week.

Groom raves about him, most natural player he's coached!

but he plays for Claudelands... which is shite? not sure why he's not at Wanderers etc if he is as good as mentioned.

Hamilton is very parochial.  People don't tend to move clubs much.

I see the article you mention is on our news links on the front page of our site but the link ends up in the Fever Tech Team  outreach forum!

Proper link below....

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/10225667/Wai...

Compared to Rojas and Wood? I'm guessing they mean because he's talented and from Hamilton, not that he's a similar type of player to a big physical striker and a small technical winger.

will see in the coming weeks

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/sport/footbal...

Burns seems to see himself as an attacking mid rather than a striker, he also compared himself to Carlos Hernandez (ironically by saying he doesn't compare himself to Carlos) so it seems as though he would prefer that position.

Ernie's quotes suggest that he sees Burns as a striker though, will be really interesting to see what position the final big signing is in.

RE: Waikato Ball, I thought the programmes were playing a practical joke on everyone with his name but no! 

Just on the Rojas/Wood/Thomas/Boyd comparison thing - They all bundled in the goals or stood out at the NRFL Premier level, Ball plays for a poor Div Two side. Haven't seen much of him but been told he looks alright, but not in the class of the previous four. But to be fair, it's hard to look good playing alongside some of the guys in the Claudelands squad, not the prettiest of football.

such a good name - sign him!

All the best players at Claudelands play reserves. Poor coach and relationships to blame.

doesnt have anything to do with you playing reserves does it Metal leg??? And further more go teach the youth of tomorrow and get off here.

I love the quotes from waikatos mum "his older brother was better, but didnt want it"

"Named after the regoin, not the beer"

Not playing reserves moved on to the Relics with all the other older guys. Meaning players like Dylan, Ewan and Cam who would all walk in to that team. All technically brilliant, quick and good off both feet and under 20... but don't want to play first team... 

student teacher taking all my lessons... i'm bored!

Wee macs official