2015/16 Transfer Speculation

yes we could always do better, but reality is we never quite seem to be able to get that "better player" over the line

Don't see him posing quite the same threat to the ability of local KFC'S to maintain constant stock levels at least :)

Well of course we COULD sign Messi but the likelihood isn't high.  Within the confines of what the A League offers who would you prefer?

Really not the sort of  player who should be a priority for us right now, unless we are losing Roly. We desperately need defensive cover and I would far rather we kept our last import slot free for a defender than using it on another midfielder.

How would you fit him, Roly, and WeeMac in a formation with Kosta and Krishna too? 

1. I don't think it is the position we need to strengthen (Ernie has gone on record saying we're strong in midfield but we need re-inforcements up front and at the back)

2. I don't think he fits the team setup, unless Ernie has changes in mind

Are you saying that we couldn't sign a player better suited to our team than Finkler? Cmon. We've signed Ifill, We signed A-Rod, we signed Roly - no reason we can't aim higher.

Not sure why everyone always says 'oh yeah, we'll just sign Messi'. It's the Hitler of football conversations.

If we are losing Roly, then he'd be a fine signing.

double post

In Ernie we trust :)  Who knows, perhaps he's looking at a 3-4-3 for next season <gulp>...

1. I completely agree that we need to strengthen defence,  We've also been fairly scathing about our ability to put the ball in the net so IMHO having someone to coordinate the front third like Finkler did hugely successfully last season is a heck of a good step in the right direction.

2. Not that I could even consider getting inside Ernie's head I don't agree.  I think the skills that he brings - particularly operating in concert with Roly would be formidable as teams wouldn't be able to solely mark Roly out of the game to close us down as happened this year.

The Messi comment was obviously tongue in cheek but you get the drift - by all means substitute Ronaldo, Bale, Ibrahimovic or any other "top flight" player du jour.

Change formation Krishna up top with Kosta and Wee Mac either side of Roly or Finkler then two deeper midfielders, one a defensive type player and the other a player that transitions the ball from defense to attack - probably Finkler - negates the need for him to track back some much and he can go forward for set pieces.

A narrow diamond im guessing:

Krishna         Kosta

        Finkler

  WeeMac    Roly

        Riera

Roly isn't a play maker, we need better service to our strikers. Also the team were talking about Riera and Krishna being potential kiwis this year. So we might still have import slots.

So we would then be using an import slot on A-Rod, who wouldn't be a starter in that formation? Ok, that's not too bad but it seems like we would have a team stacked with midfielders: Finkler, Roly, WeeMac, A-Rod, Riera, plus Ridenton, McGarry, and maybe Rufer and Lia. In the meantime we have 2 CBs, one of whom is about to turn 34 and the other who has only played a handful of games at pro level. With the salary cap and squad size limits you can't just sign players because they are good, you have to think of the balance of the squad

I think Rufer is in danger of missing out on a new contract - it's wait and see apparently. Lia 50/50 as well - they have offered a deal on less  money

I find this to be a really odd rumoured signing unless there is more information to come.

How do you fit in Moss, plus a back 4 and then  A-Rod, Reira, Roly. Finkler, McGlinchey, Krishna and Kosta = 12. 

I do not believe in putting imports on the bench as they are the point of difference and should be starters. Otherwise you are wasting an import slot on not improving team performance and every other team has the hop on you.

Just odd.

Shark signing. Victory reject. Need someone waaaay better. He doesn't shoot from audacious areas outside the box enough. Boooooooo.

Back 3? Go for the City style of conceding a few goals but just scoring more?

I'm not sure who you're trying to parody here. There are people on both sides of the argument and tbh I think we're just happy to have something to talk about.

Didn't think this sort of position would be a priority, but can't help but feeling really excited about it. A genuine no.10. 

Roly has been playing there a bit but seems better deeper, where he can wriggle out of tackles and feed someone like Finkler. 

Not sure how the formation and personnel will work but lets friggin do it I say. 

Reckon Ernie will get more out of both Kosta and Finkler than f*ckmusket can. 

play him false 9 - similar to what was posted earlier with Kosta/Krishna taking the wide striker roles.

Midfield 3 of Roly, weemac and Riera with Weemac covering the front three incase of injury and A-rod covering the middle three.

I would describe Finkler as a link man - to get the possession we have to link with the speed and pace on attack - could be perfect.

^that sounds quite good to me

Not bad, but lacks goals.

Reeks of Melbourne C too.

Tune in Sky Sport Fri 25, 9.40pm.

I don't see why people think your imports need to be your best players or your point of difference. Your five best players should be your five best players, your imports are no different. There is a salary cap so you just get the best players you can fit under it, if that means you have a team of amazing kiwis and a bench of mediocre imports so be it.

Riera is also 32 and potentially has international duty if he gets NZ citizenship, Bonevacia turned down playing for Curacao but may play for them in the future, we also loose WeeMac to international duty which may also take Ridenton and Rufer if they put in good spells, so we need midfield cover. It seems to me though that Lia is out of the picture as we have way too many midfielders.

I've said this before, and despite what some people think of him, I hope if he leaves the club we find out about it before the end of the season so we can fairwell him, he is the only player (and perhaps employee of the club?) to have been here non stop since the start.

According to Gourdie on Twitter, sources have confirmed to Newshub Sport that Finkler has agreed to join us.

It seems more than a rumour, Victory supporters think he's gone as well.

Those that are saying they can't work this out, have a look at this 

and then get back to me with reasons why we shouldn't sign him.

I put this down to the pending improvement of our training facilities.

We are very (Martin) Luckie.

Thanks Wellington ratepayers.

Not-a-centreback 

;)

As someone who is a Wellington Phoenix fan and not a Wellington rate payer, I approve heartily of the decision to build flashy new training facilities. I also welcome our legion of former, training facility orientated, Victory players. 

As someone that is a Wellington City rate payer I also approve of the facilities, the Phoenix are a paying tenant and like any good land lord the city council is refitting the facilities to meet their needs. No different than if I rent a floor in an office building.

Think this means competition in the midfield. And pressure and variation on players like Roly and WeeMac for their spots. Which is good. I don't see why he'd be an automatic starter, but makes things interesting. 

Freshening up our attack is something in the last few games that wouldn't have hurt. 

As much as I'd like to sign someone able to get a set-piece over the wall/past the first defender, I was rather hoping we would spend the import spot on a defender able to play across the back.

It's obvious that's where we've been light lately, especially now with Siggy retiring and Manny leaving. Plus, if they were 6'4 or something, we'd have something to aim at.

Here's hoping Krishna and/or Riera get citizenship!

Most here have watched quite a bit of him last season and this season so i'm not sure how an agent video adds to the conversation

Anyway, it looks like he's coming, so lets embrace him as a future Nix player and have some faith in Ernie. It will be interesting to see how we bolster our defensive stocks now.

In all seriousness whilst I wish we were getting 26yr old GF and not 30yr old post ACL GF, he will provide competition and something different to what we have - this can only improve our squad and provide Ernie with greater options. Sure, he has weaknesses too but he definitely adds some strings to our Phoenixy bow.

In addition he knows the league, and also can work well with Kosta (and hopefully Roy).

Presumably he's also coming for the right kinda money. Good work.

Its probably just the idea that the players you are bringing into the country from a bigger talent pool can be of a higher caliber.  And if you are taking the time and money to bring them into the country they should be top notch world class players.

I don't agree with it but I can understand why that would be someone's view.

The issue for me is that I think he's been found out a bit this season - as you said, he's a bit older now and he's definitely showing it. Much slower than he was when he first came to the league.

fair enough, but there is a salary cap so that doesn't really bare scrutiny.

What do the Nix pay in rent?

Though, 2ndbest posted a link charting chances created and assits over the last few hal seasons and that #10 was the best for a 'Nix player

Yeah, Carlos created and scored goals but what did his laziness on defence and off the ball cost us?