2015/16 Transfer Speculation

He is not a patch on Roux (and thats saying something) and even further behind Fenton.

How about going after a PRK players? Thought Chol Min Kim (10) was pretty handy. 

Gareth, is that you?

Having watched both NZ games on tv, I haven't  seen znything from the Kiwi players that would want me to see them in the Nix. Even Ridenton whom I hoped would kick on in his career, has looked pretty ordinary.

Must be tough for the Phoenix boys in the squad to go from a fully professional set up and getting quality mentoring from Ernie on a daily basis to playing with a mix of Pro and Amateur players in the U20 All Whites squad.

No excuse for them being poor.

Ridenton and Rufer have both had less than flattering tournaments so far... if anything it's shown that they are probably lucky they were given such long deals as a few of the other locally based lads in that side look more deserving of a deal

Yeah, can't say much about Rufer. Played out of position, and then dropped to the bench..

Again, not sure if serious, but just in case: the DPRK (with one or two major exceptions) doesn't let their star players work abroad; and if you tried to get him to defect, his whole family would end up in a gulag back home.

A couple play in Japan, right? (guess those are the exceptions you're talking about)

I also don't think Rufer and Ridenton are being helped by the way we are trying to play and at times who they are playing with.

There is no way Billingley is one of the best strikers in the country at his age... yet he starts?? I'd taken Judd Baker over him anyday, despite his apparent dickhead attitude.

I don't believe the best players have been picked in the squad or on match days.... and more importantly the way have been told to play limits them.

Patterson is clearly our most technical and attacking threat, but has come off the bench in both games. Why?

Worth a try. They are starting to open up a bit. Strangely not playing this arvo... #contracttalks

That's what I was thinking of, since there's a large Korean community in Japan who pledge allegiance to the North. But it seems I may have outdated information and they're starting to loosen up a bit.

I heard (from the guy I went with to Brazil v Hungary in NP) that all the Korea DPR players and staff hide or are hidden behind blacked out windows of their bus whenever they venture out from their hotel. In other words, they are travelling blind. Even here, in harmless li'l old NZ.

Well Billingsley is 17 ... I'd go as far as saying he's probably worth a youth contract

I'd still have doubts. HIs touch is heavy and technically he looks the least capable out of our forwards (stevens, houltheson and Rufer).

Perhaps when he grows into his body a bit more he wont look so gangly and awkward.

Jude Baker? Is that a pisstake Metal Leg. I thought he was average in the couple of games I saw him in in the last 6 months.

Scott Neville?

[Edit: WSW just announced signing him, phew]

Not Archie - Link

Thank goodness for that.

Shame about Archie but all things considered it's probably for the best. He wouldn't have been exactly cheap and given his age, he might have ended up sitting half the season on the bench or on the physio table.

Let's hope Ernie works some magic a-la Roly, but for a striker (or two) this time.

The reason is that Japan would not accept their defection (would not allow them to stay) and would not allow them to leave Japan except to go back home.  Apart from any specific agreements they may have signed regarding these players, Japan does not accept asylum requests.

The 'star' player for the DPRK in the 2010 world cup had never even set foot in North Korea before he was picked for the side. Japan is so obsessive about homogeneity that the great-grandchildren of those that came from North (or South) Korea who have resided all their lives in Japan are ineligible for a Japanese passport and so amazingly enough through the Chongryon affiliated players (DPRK society in Japan) who have their own north korea schools end up with north Korean passports and play in the Japanese league as North Koreans.

The rest of the team is pretty much a dedicated football military unit that eat sleep and football all day together in Pyongyang. The best thing is they have the worlds largest stadium to play in.......

It would be nice to hear about possible new signings as its this off season already seems to have dragged on and still about another 3 months to go....come on Nix throw me a few bones!

List of Premier League released players.

Archie off the table. Guessing we aren't able to wait to see if he comes through, and we have something else on the table.

Chris Heard??? Aussie can play CB RB and midfield I think.

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/jun/09/socceroo-chris-herd-given-villa-lifeline

Yeah wasn't he shopped around all the teams? I wonder if anyone else tried to take the punt.

This might be Carlton Coles level?

More likely Carlton Banks' level.

I saw it reported as "There was a will, but not a way" which suggests Archie was seeking a lot more money than the Phoenix were willing to pay.

Could be a negotiation tactic possibly?

Former SFC  & currently tearing it up in the NSW PL for APIA Blake Powell is supposed to be trialling for you guys soon.

Lol, just scored his 19th of the season.