2015/16 Transfer Speculation

I agree with you that if you take those 2, an import (and it looks like Ernie has flagged that for a striker reading todays rag), perhaps Boxall (?) then the other 2 spots need to be quality like you say. I would expect 1 to be a FB or we are going to be a little light back there.

Fixed

Anyone think that Rufer and Ridenton will stay? Not sure if they are progressing fast enough with us; though obviously it's a bit hard to tell.

They have another year at least.  

Dimairo an option for a fullback spot as well.  Ernie has been quoted as saying 3 of the Academy/WeeNix players were in line for deals and that was before Rogerson appeared on the scene.

Yeah I saw DiMairo at Kiwitea and he seemed the goods but that was one game. I guess they are cheap deals too

I think 3 would be the maximum for the academy. Your import, 2 experience pros out of Australia/NZ... Any more than that would be cutting into your own depth for the sake of development/payroll. When you consider, Hicks JBS, Boxall, Boyd, Griffith and Cunningham are leaving,  3 of those spots next year are weenix, already our depth will not be as strong so those 2 other spots needs to be good footballers (along with your import).

This year Rufer and Ridenton need to show the benefit of 2 years as pros. I still think Rufer is the better of the two and that Ridenton is too slow but they will move up the pecking order for sure. If they can't show the investment in them, you have to cut them and find others.

I would be interested in how Howieson is compared to Ridenton in terms of whom is the better footballer. Similar age and position (ish?)

Howieson is a Hicks/Lia replacement?

Shame we are carrying over 17 but if thast the reality then teh question siwho is going to make the difference between 4th and first or second.  I would double up on a top striker and sacrifice a midfielder(Weemac dropping back to cover AM) to avoid a repeat of the last 6 games when goals dried up..or that 1 new striker gets injured or fails.

Maybe a workable plan B would mitigate that but it didnt work this year so Im not sure it would next.

The 'Nix should become an attractive option for players too if you look at what Merrick has done for Nathan Burns. The coach is a selling point for sure.

Be nice if we could get the additional 3 youth players deal like the Aus sides have and we were chasing.

Howieson Dec '94, Riddention March, '96.

I thought we got this.

http://www.fourfourtwo.com/au/news/zullo-crossroad...

Sign him up

dbl post

Feton & Zullo as FBs

I think signing a player on the come back from ACL would have a lot of risks. If he was 2 years into it, then sure but fresh off? He wont come cheap either and he wont sign a cheap deal cause if he is nobbled, that pay day needs to count.

I am sceptical if the reward outweighs the risk.

Nathan Burns had injury concerns before signing for us.

It’s in stark contrast to the struggling Jets, who have battled to trouble the scorers with just four goals all up in their winless start to the season.

It could easily have been so different.

Burns played with the Jets last season on loan from Korean club Incheon but battled a troublesome knee which required surgery and ultimately led to the club’s decision not to bring him back.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/football/newcastle-jets-admit-we-got-it-wrong-after-letting-nathan-burns-leave-for-wellington/story-fnk6pqot-1227143780825

from 14/09/2014

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/10497908/Pho...

Despite the on-field loss, the Phoenix have had a win off it, with Football Federation Australia changing its rules and allowing Wellington to sign three youth players to complement its A-League squad.

Well that changes a lot of things!

Thanks yellowsite.

Three more rows for your spreadsheet (-;

Think Ryan's point is that only leaves 1 (or 3) spots for any other first team squad players to WeeNix.

Ifill was also injury prone; that turned out okay. Burns came here with injury issues as well which is the reason the Jets didn't sign him.

Guess on the flipside, we also signed Pantelis. 

Don't agree that he would come with a big price tag; bigger than Boxall, sure, but not out of this world.

On top of the extra 3 youngsters, we still need 3 u21 players for the 1st team? Rufer and Ridenton meet that criteria for next season so need one more u21 player at least, then the add on 3 youth players? Really need to increase the amount of pros available for Weenix to at least 6 then (and non-negotiable).

Or then there's Pantelis.

It's official (we all knew it anyway)

"Kenny Cunningham is one of five players officially released by the Wellington Phoenix today with Michael Boxall, Josh Brindell-South, Tyler Boyd and Jason Hicks also departing."

Really sad to see Boxall leaving. Thought he came on in leaps and bounds this year in an unfamiliar position; not perfect by any means, but had real promise. He is in his late 20's, though, and perhaps the money on offer in South Africa was too good to turn down and we couldn't offer him anything better.

Think it's a real blow when we have no other CB cover and Siggy + Dura are getting on, though. To have a guy who has been in and around the squad for a couple of years now and who finally broke through leave at this point is disappointing.

A professional player should play professionally no matter which club squad he is asked to play for.

Brisbane is surely in the box seat. Stefanobhead is getting on in years, plus Zullo's home town. I'm sure the den would love Ramon to 'bring him home'.

For sure, but need to be in it to win it etc - I thought Burns would go back to to Adelaide and he came to us.

For whom/in what way? From context I think you mean "Nix are stupid letting him go", but how could they have stopped him, if the SA League is as big-money as we hear?

Slow? No fastest in the squad over 50 metres apparently.

See Zac Anderson is available, been released by the Mariners, could do worse, Aussie so no import slot and A-League experience

Sad to see Boxall go,  I thought he had improved so much this season and could see him challenging both Durante and Siggy for the CB positions next season

sure enough dura n siggy did the job this season, but i think boxall leaving is a big loss for the club, yea he is 27, but if they could have held onto him i would have backed him to be starting CB next year(I had the same thought this year though). but hes off to room with brockie so good luck to him.

whats killen doing these days? (please note this is out of mild interest, not signing interest)