2014/15 Transfer Speculation

http://www.yellowfever.co.nz/categories/wellington-phoenix-discussion/topics/tyler-boyd-i-m-american

Confirmed

Reputable sauce...

Ta. I love the hive mind....... :)

So, now what?

Looking forward to seeing Joel Griffiths play here for us, think he will make quite a difference.

Dura likes him, that's good enough for me

It's not Boyd's fault for leaving a club which clearly wasn't giving him opportunities.

Just saying. It was fairly common knowledge yet you felt the need to throw a tanty over it being 'fictitious' 

Interesting choice. Good luck to him.

Congratulations: You receive the first Mars Attacks Phoenix analogy Award 

If Griffiths does most of what Dadi did he should be accepted in from the dark side...

Take penalty kicks?

So if he comes into the starting line-up (and that is a big if) would Rodriguez would be the most likely to shift onto the bench? McGlinchey could then shift back into his more usual wide midfielder role in a 433 lineup.

Moss

Box/Louis Siggy Dura Manny

Weemac  Riera   Roly

Burns Nutpuncher Krishna

I don't for the life of me see why you would drop Rodriguez, MOTM on Sunday.  We hold possession so much better with him in the middle of the park. 

With WeeMac, Roly and Riera then you are asking Riera to be everything while we effectively play 5 forwards.  We'd get humped.  Our defenders would have no cover or options for a pass and we'd end up lumping it long.

I know it seems hard to believe now but Roly was actually signed as a DM / CB cover I'm pretty sure although I certainly can't imagine him in either of those roles. I would say we would have to drop Krishna/burns/weemac to fit in Nutpuncher. However nutpuncher won't start this match, no way could he develop the kind of chemistry Ernie demands in one week (surely?)

Griffiths would be on the bench at best, im sure.

With the speed that FIFA moves re clearances of players from this part of the World, it will be sometime in 2019 before Sack Whacker is seen.

Well, he's played every other code of football, and maybe we've got some of Disco Troy's stash lying around.

I wouldn't, I would leave it as is. But how else is he going to fit, and/or is Griffiths going to be happy to sit on the bench for the rest of the season? Possibly, in which case there's no issue I guess.

In regards to a midfield of Weemac, Roly & Riera, surely Roly could sit back a bit more and provide extra cover with Riera. He was signed as a DM after all. I'd actually be really interested to see him play a bit further back in his more natural position.

Griffiths should be on the bench for now. If he were to start then it should be in place of McGlinchey but I think Weemac offers more.

A couple of possible reasons: because we're a team of "not a strikers" who have been looking for a striker all year, and now have signed an (admittedly ageing) ex-socceroo, ex-golden boot striker. And because the last four games Ernie has bemoaned us being able to finish the numerous chances we have been creating costing us quite a few points.

Again I don't actually think that we should start him in place of someone like Rodriguez, who was outstanding on the weekend. But if you think its not a possibility then you're letting your animosity towards the guy get in the way of reason.

If putting him on the bench means he sulks of back to Aussie I'd be all over that.

I suspect he knows the role he has been signed for and understands he's a change option rather than a walk-up starter.

He sits on the bench and is given a chance to prove himself as a sub. He scores goals against quality opposition and we have a problem that is a good one.

If he bangs in winners in some of our upcoming fixtures its going to make it bloody hard for some of us.

Griffiths will probably be 'plan B' off the bench. If things are not working, sub him on and go for a 4 5 1.

We are creating the chances but are missing the killer instinct in the box to put them away, if he brings that I'm happy to forgive his shortcomings. Isn't like there are many other options available.

Griffiths is coming to be thrown on when we need to be a bit more direct, he would have been very handy against Wanderers.

I think Rolly and McG could do with some freshening up.  Pretty high work rate roles they have.  Griffiths will help with that and take a bit of pressure of Krishna and Burns, both to score and for the presence of another central threat impacting on how the marking lines up against us.  In the absence of Boyd I like the options Ernie now has.  This sort of line up gives us a chance to give a few players a bit of a break who are otherwise not easy to rest, and gives them the chance to watch the team from the sideline before playoffs.  Not particularly suggesting starting this way, but the options are there for some to get a bit of perspective and a bit of a break.

            Moss

Fenton/Box Sig Dura Manny

            Riera

   McG/Rolly  ARod

Burns  Grif   Krishna/Appiah

Why have we signed this linesman-punching idiot?

He doesn't fit with the ethos of our squad.

Anyone fancy making a "Nutpuncher Out" banner for the next home game?

I thought the "Kingsmen" was released purely to coincide with the signing of Joel Griffiths. 

The final 15 minutes of the film says it all!

jesus some of the stuff on here and on Facebook is pathetic - I even saw some comments on FB that people would stop going to games if he signed.

Can someone please explain to me exactly why everyone hates him?  It seems like he is a bit of dick (like many, many other professional footballers) and he once gave a linesman a flick on a cock while playing in a game that had nothing to do with us. If he is making our squad better, and increasing the chances of us finishing the season higher up the table we should be welcoming him with open arms.

FFS Frankie stop  bloody making sense its much more fun to bitch and moan.Mind you have to agree why a so called fan would not support their team because of this beats me.

Some of us - apparently naively - thought there was some truth in "Same old aussies - always cheating".

But no, looks like we're lowering ourselves to the ranks of the cheats too.

It's understandable to hack at an opposition player in a moment of red mist, but to attack a match official is assault and he should have been sent to jail.

This

Don't see what the problem is. We are having difficulties at the moment with our attack...too many players of the same style, we have been figured out by the opposition. We need variety off the bench. Ernie has recognized the problem and done something about it. All credit to him. Griffiths is not a nice guy...who cares. Who else did people want signed instead? The aim is to make the grand final....if Griffith helps us get there then great......some people need to get a grip!!!!!!!! The squad has been strenghtened

i am going out on a limb saying this but..... I think he is exactly what we need up front. A target man. Yes, he could score in the past and with our line up and the chances created, i think he might thrive on the service. We can go wide and wd have been missing the tall center forward type that can score since Smeltz. Ifill and Greenacre, Burns/Weemac and Griffiths. Greenacre played a good role, Smeltz was scoring heaps for us. I dont expect a lot from him but now that we have a team that can play and sets up heqps of chances, we just need someone that can muscle their way in and do it. 

Not that I am a fan but I am sick of seeing us get pushed around and off the ball. I am not a fan of the players complaining of late, but perhaps its time we pushed back.