2014/15 Transfer Speculation

The reality is that Sigmund was going to get signed for another year based on his current form and on Sigmunds current form, Boxall would not have been starting next year either. He has surveyed and like Brockie, done the best for him. I have no issue with that at all. He has played to his best when he has but he was not good enough to supplant Sigmund or Durante so on the basis of that, he largely had to move on from a point of view of himself and from the point of view of the Phoenix because he is always going to be 'the back up'. 

Its comparable to Tony Warner at Liverpool. If you have ambitions to play and all you do is sit on the bench for X years, well you were probably not good enough to crack it in this team and you move on to find a chance where you can unless you are content to be the back up and cash the cheques. At 26, its too young to settle for that. I'm not putting the boot into Boxall at all but the reality is that its been 3 (?) years and you can rightfully argue that there is no chance of him improving out of sight based on that 3 year cycle nor getting the chance of major mins unless there is injury over the next 18 months if he did sign for 1 year. From what we have seen, what potential can you say is 'untapped' having been in a professional environment for nearly 5-6 years.

We now need to look at the development of the academy guys to start that development cycle again and the boy Evans who played CB at the weekend is one. I think the Phoenix need to look at a starting CB (which Ernie has flagged as looking for a defender) and shuffle Sigmund to back up status and invest in the development of Evans looking at next years squad. I think when you look at Ernies comments about looking for a 'defender' either the club knew Boxall was looking elsewhere or they were not looking to re-sign him. Why else would you want to look for a defender when you have a capable back ups in Boxall, JBS and one of Manny/Fenton/Doyle and have talent coming through in the academy team knowing you are likely to have Sigmund and Durante next year - we were already well covered! Do we look to mould Doyle into a CB? Less attacking needed, tall, good in the air, natural left foot and move Durante right........

Are you saying Ernie should have dropped one of his 2 CBs to give him a chance?

Clearly Boxall is over our maximum height requirement for outfield players and playing him would create too much of risk that we could score from an attacking set piece. It's hard on the lad, but unless he's going to shave a few inches off his height, what can we do?

Auckland City's John Irving an option to replace Boxall?

Currently trialling at Portsmouth in the UK.

For two seasons was Everton's "Reserve team player of the year" apparently.

Import could be an issue.

He's an import...

     Bit of a strange comparison. Warner was never going to get anywhere near the position of first goalkeeper or even reserve at Liverpool.

 Boxall though could have taken either Siggy or Durante's place or at least seriously challenged for it. That's if both of those guys had been a year or two older.

I think at 26 he feels he must be reaching his prime and wants to play. I think it's unfair that you don't feel he's up to it when he's been in a side massively in transition, ravaged by injury last season and only just hitting it's full potential this season. You've also got a pairing with Siggy and Durante that since way back to 2009 knows each other very wel  and have been in phenomenal form this season.

Would Siggy have ever shifted McKain if he'd stayed after he got moved back to partner Durante? Probably not and he may have moved on like Boxall is doing. Doesn't mean he was not good enough.

Like everything in life it's all about the timing and I just think Boxall has been unlucky at the Phoenix. A long injury to the other CB's and things could have been very different.

Don't really have import spots to spare though.

Depends.  If Boxall goes at year end then a chance Cunningham will but I would think we'd be looking at an import slot for a forward if we have to replace Boyd, Brockie and Cunningham.

Great, 2nd in the league, best attack, best defence, and STILL we get the "Ernie doesn't know what he's doing" crowd.

that statement is clearly in jest.

I think timing for him has been the major factor and as I said, he has not cracked it the last 3 years and wont crack it next year. If Siggy and Dura were 37, then he would more than likely have got a run I suspect. As to whether he is good enough, the 'unlucky' factor can be removed if Boxall was better than or showed he has the potential to be better than one of those 2. When you think about the last 3 years as an indicator, has any coach showing a sign of looking to move one of those 2 to the bench for Boxall? Its not a case of he is *not good enough* but he was certainly not *better* than the incumbents so really, it was time to move on looking forward to next year cause its unlikely that he would have been better than one of those 2 next year.

Way to take a joke well.

So I was the only one to whom that looked like a sarcastic "What a loser Ernie is, Boxall could really help us but Ernie's let him go" comment?

Yep.

I thought D was playing along.

(never explain your jokes, but having smileys can help)

We do suck at attacking set pieces though 

;)

Show me the stats!

I'd take "as good as" a Siggy and Durante currently in a heartbeat. I reckon one of those two will slow up and I think it's a shame he could not have hung in for another season as I reckon he would have cracked it.

http://in-the-back-of-the.net/2014/12/29/corner-ch...

I heard something on radio sport hinting that Boxall doesn't know much about this topic. Is that taken as confirmation or denial?

Seems the whole transfer thing's bull shark: Boxall denies all knowledge.

Transfer window silly season is upon us !!!

https://nz.sports.yahoo.com/football/news/article/...

Wouldn't surprise me that there is some talk behind the scenes (possibly between agents/clubs) that has been picked up and reported incorrectly.

Damn pre written press releases

Preseason I think a lot of us thought Boxall could/would/should have taken one of Siggy and Dura's spots by the end of the season. Their good form has taken probably everyone by surprise and has pushed their succession back by a year or so. Personally I really hope Boxall sticks around long enough to take one of those spots when it becomes available.

Hope Boxall stays,  I think he could be a great player for the Nix,  a captain in the making

'Boxall off to SA

".... We're excited to have signed Michael, and we wanted to have him here sooner, but his club indicated that he was very important for them and that they didn't want to lose him now," SuperSport chief executive Stan Matthews said." ...'

- today's NZ Herald

Michael Mcglinchey situation?

He must be off. Why would a chief exec come out and say that if it wasn't true?

Agree it's curious. Not sure how reputable the site is though:

http://www.soccerladuma.co.za/news/articles/league...

Nothing on the SuperSport United web page:

http://www.supersportunited.co.za/news?start=10

Nor Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/SuperSportUnited

Nor Twitter:

https://twitter.com/supersportfc

Whereas they do mention signing of Zimbabwean striker Kingston Nkhatha.

I notice that only "a Phoenix team spokesperson" has been quoted for the Phoenix's response:

https://nz.sports.yahoo.com/football/news/article/...

My personal suspicion is it's all cobblers. At least I hope it is.

Or they pre-wrote the press release without actually signing him and an intern at the South African Football Association released it accidentally.

Or there are discussions behind the scenes with a Boxall or his agent requesting local (NZ) media not to comment, except nobody told the SA media.

i think he's gone burgers. Going to pick up a championship with us this season and then head off for some starting XI footie.

I got told by a family member of one of the players on Sunday that Boxall was gone and Boyd is off too, States I think with his passport.