12 spots taken, being based in Welly for the season we probably run with 21 contracted again (instead of 23). That leaves 9 spots
1) Visa - Davila replacement 2) Visa - Hemed/Striker replacement 3) Visa - Use to fill biggest need 4) Devlin - Might need to use Visa to replace if he goes to the Jets 5) McGarry - LB competition for Sutton 6) Laws - Back up CB 7) Paulsen - Reserve GK 8) Old - Hot prospect for the future 9) Possibly another RB option?
@Bullion, Statistics are apparently secondary to unfounded bias. I don't understand why people support Wellington if they hate the city, better off supporting Sydney FC if it's so much better.
As far as signings, Fenton's a real servant to the club and a great signing - I think the dislike for him is because he's pro-active and visible. Ironically if he was a worse player he probably wouldn't get as much of a bad rep.
Devlin, McGarry and Hemed now please... Shouldn't be too hard to keep those guys, right? 😉 Seriously, I know Hemed is very likely gone and Devlin has plenty of suitors but at if we want to be competing next season we should try to keep our in form players as much as possible.
Happy for Fenton and for the Nix. As far I remember the club always supported him when he was injured. He is coming into his prime and I’m pretty sure we see more good football of him.
Let's be real, international or Aussie stars might just not like living in Wellington. It appeals to some (Ifill, Greenacre), but lifestyle/environment, even weather is a factor (thoughI don't think anyone who's lived most of their life in the UK will mind the weather, honestly.)
If Tomer is going somewhere there are more Jews, maybe Uli likes it somewhere where there are more Mexicans.
I know very wealth people can enjoy a good quality of life where ever, but to make us feel a bit better The Economist ranks Wellington higher than most Aussie cities at least.E3b4NW5WQAEosjL.jpg38.67 KB
A study saying that Wellington is the #4 liveable city in the world should be instantly discredited if it says that Auckland is #1!!! :D
Everyone knows the economist is full of it these days 😉
My god this talk about lifestyle is tedious. People play for clubs for lots of reasons: money, minutes, family, location, coach etc. There is not point speculating whether a player will come or go based on those factors because noone has any idea what is important or not for a player.
My god this talk about lifestyle is tedious. People play for clubs for lots of reasons: money, minutes, family, location, coach etc. There is not point speculating whether a player will come or go based on those factors because noone has any idea what is important or not for a player.
But we have a sub par public bus service! Players are going to take that into account!!
I saw Tomers wife's post and didn't take it as he was definitely leaving and when someone asked if they were heading to NZ she put this... Screenshot_20210611-003249_Google.jpg288.92 KB
Another photo. The question is “are you moving from Australia already?” Her answer is “mmm, the more I think about it, the more I like it here and will stay”67E816B7-FCE4-4071-9B57-0C61C9620A59.png4.52 MB
My god this talk about lifestyle is tedious. People play for clubs for lots of reasons: money, minutes, family, location, coach etc. There is not point speculating whether a player will come or go based on those factors because noone has any idea what is important or not for a player.
"Noone"? Is that the guy who plays for Melbourne City? No one knows.
Let's be real, international or Aussie stars might just not like living in Wellington. It appeals to some (Ifill, Greenacre), but lifestyle/environment, even weather is a factor (thoughI don't think anyone who's lived most of their life in the UK will mind the weather, honestly.)
If Tomer is going somewhere there are more Jews, maybe Uli likes it somewhere where there are more Mexicans.
I know very wealth people can enjoy a good quality of life where ever, but to make us feel a bit better The Economist ranks Wellington higher than most Aussie cities at least.E3b4NW5WQAEosjL.jpg38.67 KB
A study saying that Wellington is the #4 liveable city in the world should be instantly discredited if it says that Auckland is #1!!! :D
What this study tells me is that we should be wary of our players being poached by Gamba Osaka, Adelaide United, and Dolphins FC.
Another photo. The question is “are you moving from Australia already?” Her answer is “mmm, the more I think about it, the more I like it here and will stay”67E816B7-FCE4-4071-9B57-0C61C9620A59.png4.52 MB
and yet on Hemed's own insta page he is asked where he s playing next season and his answer is "hopefully Wellington"
Look guys you just open another thread to repost Instagram photos of Hemed’s wife if you want? Also this gives me hope maybe Hemed will stay in Wellington for football, but the family may do some time in Australia and the other insta contract chat is a bargaining tool...
Is everyone discounting the possiblity that Hemed would play for Wellington but his family would stay living in Sydney? It doesn't seem impossible. Or that he and his wife have different preferences? I'll just wait and see what happens.
Slightly surprised that Traore has been thrown over. I can see quite a few other clubs being interested him. He's still got good pace, he's tough to get around and has an excellent workrate.
Roux is a great attacking weapon but his A League career is littered with defensive errors. Wouldn't be comfortable having him in the back four personally.
Kaltak has been watched multiple times with the Phoenix and done pre-season with them over the years (remember he started in Wellington as a teenager and has played for Wairarapa and wharf over the years).
He's definitely not unknown to the Phoenix staff and in the environment but hasn't managed to go any further in what must be approaching a decade playing in NZ.
Jets have released Nigel Boogaard, Ali Abbas, Roy O'Donovan, Matt Millar, Jack Simmons, Luka Prso, Ramy Najjarine, Liridon Krasniqi and Syahrian Abimanyu
Haven't seen Millar play much in the last few years, but he did well for CCM and could push Louis for the RB spot?
Jets have released Nigel Boogaard, Ali Abbas, Roy O'Donovan, Matt Millar, Jack Simmons, Luka Prso, Ramy Najjarine, Liridon Krasniqi and Syahrian Abimanyu
Haven't seen Millar play much in the last few years, but he did well for CCM and could push Louis for the RB spot?
Millar is heading to the UK. He had interest from clubs after his loan stint, they just didn't wanna pay a transfer fee.
Traore left the league as a fantastic attacking LB, he returned as a bang average one. I don't think he has ever recovered since the leg injury. He hasn't had good coaches during his return tho.
Roux was a stand out in a bad CCM team but again, never been the same player post injury.
If we didn't think Paulsen was ready to sit on the bench, maybe you sign Crocombe for a season. Would rather give Paulsen a chance tho.
Jets have released Nigel Boogaard, Ali Abbas, Roy O'Donovan, Matt Millar, Jack Simmons, Luka Prso, Ramy Najjarine, Liridon Krasniqi and Syahrian Abimanyu
Haven't seen Millar play much in the last few years, but he did well for CCM and could push Louis for the RB spot?
Irrespective of their age, Boogaard & O'Donovan are still good players and would add to our squad. Not that I'm suggesting we go for them, but they would be handy additions.
To be honest I wouldn’t mind Crocombe as a backup on a one-year, he’s got the experience to step in if necessary, and could be happy as a bench player, given he’s done it at both Victory and Roar.
Means that Paulsen can still iron his game out at Lower Hutt/Weenix, as opposed to going over to sit on the bench in away games. Last season with games in Wellington we saw Zac Jones warm up with Sail and Marinovic, so Paulsen could do that. Also (I’m not sure so correct me if I’m wrong) if Paulsen signs a pro deal he’ll be ineligible to play for Lower Hutt in Central League, only for the Weenix which is only 9 games in the new format. 9 games (assuming Sail doesn’t get rotated at all) is not many a season for a 19yo keeper, so staying him on the current deal might not be that bad.