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History for Jeff Vader

2014/15 Transfer Speculation

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Posted May 20, 2014 20:52 · last edited May 20, 2014 20:53

james dean wrote:
Like our big off season recruit??


The reason why I've always favoured kiwis is:


- you can only sign 5 foreigners


- kiwis are foreigners in both Asia and A-League so you're more likely to keep hold of them and they have less options so noty as much salary pressure


- we apparently have to overpay to get Aussies to Wellington


- we're a NZ club and that's important for the club identity


I personally find it surprising that when you have a guy available who is going to start for the national team you can't find a place for him at the Phoenix.  There may be reasons for why he isn't being picked up, but to me, they have to be pretty good reasons.  The idea that we already have other up and coming players in his position is an explanation, but when those players aren't as good as him then that is a failure of recruitment strategy.  It was always likely he would be available at the end of his time at Blackburn, if so why didn't we sign Hicks on a one year deal, see how he goes and then he could be replaced by Payne if he was available and the deal could be worked out?


There is a lot of confidence in Welnix to work out the off field stuff, but I personally haven't seen a lot of really great decision making or strategic thinking when it comes to running the club  I'm not saying it's an easy job, but there definitely have been some odd decisions.  Here's a short list - not all of these are wrong decisions but they do to me indicate a lack of clear direction and some of them are quite odd:

- signing Hernandez under Herbert when it was clear Herbert wouldn't be round the following season rather than leaving that cap + overseas spot available for an incoming manager


- giving Hicks a 2 year deal straight off


- not replacing Riera when injured


- a 2 year deal for Krishna and then not playing him at the end of the season


- re-signing Vince Lia, especially for another 2 years


- signing Gorrin as foreign player when he's so inexperienced 


- re-singing Italiano when you have both Williams and Spoonley available, both who seem more than adequate as backup and are NZers
 

- choosing not to sign a RB and converting Fenton


Anyway, enough from me on our current recruitment.  I think we still need 3-4 starters to really improve on last year, a fullback, midfield playmaker, a wide player (I think we're crying out for some width) and a central striker.

 

So much this. I admit I got a bit hot for Matt Thompson last year when it was rumoured he was trialling but when you consider we signed Rufer and gave him 20mins, he would have actually benefitted from playing ASBP 90mins week in week out (plus a winter stint in State League) and Thompson would have played more than 20 min when our midfield got bare. I accept that Rufer is in the name of youth development however but how many mins are people giving him this year? He would most likely be the last cab on the rank in terms of our midfield options at the moment.

I have only listened to part of the pod but its pretty much echoed here. Kiwis are a gold mine for us because they are limited in options in AFC. Payne has been a consistent performer when he has played for the AWs and I don't recall anyone saying he played bad. Most accounts are he is hardworking with a good attitude and the AW squad guys could confirm that ala Term Xs reference to Chris James. He is in the country, off contract, is a Kiwi so you get him in for 2 weeks for a trial and see for yourself. You don't do that because you really don't like what he brings or you have a massive ace up your sleeve you are about to pull out which makes looking at Payne pointless. As Smithy/EG said, why come out and pin your colours to the mast early when you don't hurt yourself by having him in for 2 weeks and you also find out how further along you are with WeeMac (which is a 20% chance?) 

I can accept that Chris James is talented and Ernie may have been told to pass him by because he is a bit of a nutbar but Payne? I just do not understand what boxes he does not tick for us. The only thing being 'we have players there already' but those players and the depth they bring gets exposed very quickly and he would be an upgrade. So much strangeness around it.

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Jeff Vader edited May 20, 2014 20:53
james dean wrote:
Like our big off season recruit??


The reason why I've always favoured kiwis is:


- you can only sign 5 foreigners


- kiwis are foreigners in both Asia and A-League so you're more likely to keep hold of them and they have less options so noty as much salary pressure


- we apparently have to overpay to get Aussies to Wellington


- we're a NZ club and that's important for the club identity


I personally find it surprising that when you have a guy available who is going to start for the national team you can't find a place for him at the Phoenix.  There may be reasons for why he isn't being picked up, but to me, they have to be pretty good reasons.  The idea that we already have other up and coming players in his position is an explanation, but when those players aren't as good as him then that is a failure of recruitment strategy.  It was always likely he would be available at the end of his time at Blackburn, if so why didn't we sign Hicks on a one year deal, see how he goes and then he could be replaced by Payne if he was available and the deal could be worked out?


There is a lot of confidence in Welnix to work out the off field stuff, but I personally haven't seen a lot of really great decision making or strategic thinking when it comes to running the club  I'm not saying it's an easy job, but there definitely have been some odd decisions.  Here's a short list - not all of these are wrong decisions but they do to me indicate a lack of clear direction and some of them are quite odd:

- signing Hernandez under Herbert when it was clear Herbert wouldn't be round the following season rather than leaving that cap + overseas spot available for an incoming manager


- giving Hicks a 2 year deal straight off


- not replacing Riera when injured


- a 2 year deal for Krishna and then not playing him at the end of the season


- re-signing Vince Lia, especially for another 2 years


- signing Gorrin as foreign player when he's so inexperienced 


- re-singing Italiano when you have both Williams and Spoonley available, both who seem more than adequate as backup and are NZers
 

- choosing not to sign a RB and converting Fenton


Anyway, enough from me on our current recruitment.  I think we still need 3-4 starters to really improve on last year, a fullback, midfield playmaker, a wide player (I think we're crying out for some width) and a central striker.

So much this. I admit I got a bit hot for Matt Thompson last year when it was rumoured he was trialling but when you consider we signed Rufer and gave him 20mins, he would have actually benefitted from playing ASBP 90mins week in week out (plus a winter stint in State League) and Thompson would have played more than 20 min when our midfield got bare. I accept that Rufer is in the name of youth development however but how many mins are people giving him this year? He would most likely be the last cab on the rank in terms of our midfield options at the moment.

I have only listened to part of the pod but its pretty much echoed here. Kiwis are a gold mine for us because they are limited in options in AFC. Payne has been a consistent performer when he has played for the AWs and I don't recall anyone saying he played bad. Most accounts are he is hardworking with a good attitude and the AW squad guys could confirm that ala Term Xs reference to Chris James. He is in the country, off contract, is a Kiwi so you get him in for 2 weeks for a trial and see for yourself. You don't do that because you really don't like what he brings or you have a massive ace up your sleeve you are about to pull out which makes looking at Payne pointless. As Smithy/EG said, why come out and pin your colours to the mast early when you don't hurt yourself by having him in for 2 weeks and you also find out how further along you are with WeeMac (which is a 20% chance?) 

I can accept that Chris James is talented and Ernie may have been told to pass him by because he is a bit of a nutbar but Payne? I just do not understand what boxes he does not tick for us. The only thing being 'we have players there already' but those players and the depth they bring gets exposed very quickly and he would be an upgrade. So much strangeness around it.