WPM 2021/22 Squad Speculation, Confirmation and Mutual Termination

Macarthur is set to land Juric, so that is one less NSW option for Hemed.

Ball likes Wellington,  his kids like Wellington but his Wife prefers Australia!!!!

YoungHeart

AucklandPhoenix

Ok then this will get you talking. List of a league salaries 

https://salarysport.com/football/a-league/highest-paid/

Apparently the third highest paid player in the league by some way and if true that’s a truck load of money

I think this list shows just how good Matty Ridenton's agent is.

 So we paid out $200k for a lemon named Ridenton? Surely we were never that desperate

whatever

YoungHeart

AucklandPhoenix

Ok then this will get you talking. List of a league salaries 

https://salarysport.com/football/a-league/highest-paid/

Apparently the third highest paid player in the league by some way and if true that’s a truck load of money

I think this list shows just how good Matty Ridenton's agent is.

 So we paid out $200k for a lemon named Ridenton? Surely we were never that desperate

It is just part of a defensive strategy to prevent poaching.
"If we can pay that much for Ridenton, guess how much you would have to put on the table if you even want to consider poaching any useful players"

Mainland FC

whatever

YoungHeart

AucklandPhoenix

Ok then this will get you talking. List of a league salaries 

https://salarysport.com/football/a-league/highest-paid/

Apparently the third highest paid player in the league by some way and if true that’s a truck load of money

I think this list shows just how good Matty Ridenton's agent is.

 So we paid out $200k for a lemon named Ridenton? Surely we were never that desperate

It is just part of a defensive strategy to prevent poaching.
"If we can pay that much for Ridenton, guess how much you would have to put on the table if you even want to consider poaching any useful players"

Nek Minnit.. Aussie teams outbid us for Davila.. Devlin.. Ball..? Hemed..?

Just to emphasise: this seems like complete bollocks from a rather unreliable source.

martinb

Just to emphasise: this seems like complete bollocks from a rather unreliable source.

 Yeah but this can be said about everyone else's posts too.....

Mainland FC

martinb

Just to emphasise: this seems like complete bollocks from a rather unreliable source.

 Yeah but this can be said about everyone else's posts too.....

Posts quoting the team or journalists with ties to the team vs an unsourced page on a random site?

Watched a couple of highlights from Phoenix Reserves as well as OFC Championships, Alex Paulsen is a great GK for his age. 

Screenshot_20210706-222405_Instagram.jpg 251.06 KB

Now we know the Sarpreet rumour was rubbish as expected 

Another year of squatting coming up, No new players except recycled duds, no ambition, rebuilding once again. Can just see it now another mid table/bottom half season finish.
Surely there has to be some decent players out there to replace Hemed and Ball and Rufer as well as Devlin. The Club prob said no again to more money by the looks of things.

Royz

Another year of squatting coming up, No new players except recycled duds, no ambition, rebuilding once again. Can just see it now another mid table/bottom half season finish.
Surely there has to be some decent players out there to replace Hemed and Ball and Rufer as well as Devlin. The Club prob said no again to more money by the looks of things.

Looks like Royz tried to write something but seems to have come up blank. What a shame I love hearing his amazing wisdom

Singh doesn't exactly look ecstatic in that photo does he?

Ufuks the man

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Now we know the Sarpreet rumour was rubbish as expected 

Nickname 'The Red Shorts". Someone's put a lot of thought into that one!
He's still in Bavaria.

He was probably thinking about how to answer the next question in German

Oi Oi Edgecumbe

He was probably thinking about how to answer the next question in German

Mein hund hat keine nase!

RR

Spoke to Ufuk Talay, who is currently in lockdown in Sydney, about pre-season and recruitment.

Key points: His return to Wellington has been delayed.
Final 2 imports likely to be a 9 and 10.
Looking local (Aus/NZ players) for CM and CB.
Tim Payne likely to shift back to RB. https://t.co/SEQuDQsr4g

— Phillip Rollo (@ByPhillipRollo) July 7, 2021

Wonder who we've got lined up as a local CB to replace Payne? Big shoes to fill after last season.

From the stuff article RE Hemed:

He was still holding out hope that top goal-scorer Tomer Hemed would re-sign, but the former Israeli international, who is holidaying in North Queensland, is yet to make a definite call on his future either way.

 “The offer has been put there, we’ve had a few discussions with him but nothing has been 100 per cent settled or agreed to,” Talay said.

Ryan

RR

Spoke to Ufuk Talay, who is currently in lockdown in Sydney, about pre-season and recruitment.

Key points: His return to Wellington has been delayed.
Final 2 imports likely to be a 9 and 10.
Looking local (Aus/NZ players) for CM and CB.
Tim Payne likely to shift back to RB. https://t.co/SEQuDQsr4g

— Phillip Rollo (@ByPhillipRollo) July 7, 2021

Wonder who we've got lined up as a local CB to replace Payne? Big shoes to fill after last season.

From the stuff article RE Hemed:

He was still holding out hope that top goal-scorer Tomer Hemed would re-sign, but the former Israeli international, who is holidaying in North Queensland, is yet to make a definite call on his future either way.

 “The offer has been put there, we’ve had a few discussions with him but nothing has been 100 per cent settled or agreed to,” Talay said.

Adam Mitchell or Sam Brotherton are probably the main ones that come to mind, but never know if they’d commit to it, especially if it’s a one-year deal on low money. I heard Sam Brotherton wants to go back to the US to finish his degree, and Mitchell has a solid job as a real estate agent. Kaltack doesn’t have citizenship, and the only other NZ-based defenders with AWs caps are Hudson-Wihongi, Doyle and Gulley. Of foreign based players there are: James Musa, Kyle Adams, Nikko Boxall, George Stanger, Deklan Wynne. Of course any number of Australian NPL players or recycled A League players also available as local players.

Also interesting that he’s not looking at the foreign DM, rather the 9 (Hemed) and a 10. You’d think having two expensive strikers means they would play a large percentage of minutes together, so probably expect Waine to go into a Sotirio or even-less-so role next season. Seems some clamour for Ollie Whyte and Trevor Zwetsloot in that midfield role, but have to wait and see who might get a trial. I saw Antonis and Brillante mentioned, but I’m always sceptical that Australian players will look here as a last resort, and often are a bit washed (Mitch Nichols, Nathan Burns, even Devere)

Has Jordan Elsey been linked anywhere?

dunnix

Has Jordan Elsey been linked anywhere?

Linked heavily to the Jets

dunnix

Has Jordan Elsey been linked anywhere?

Only the Jets or overseas (I don't think they mean in a NZ sense of things)

There isn't much of note in the way of off contract or free agent Aussie CBs. Mrcela, Susnjar, Fox, Hyphen, Flottmann, Ziegler & Golec I can think of atm.

You would have to think Nikko Boxall. Plays as a LCB. 29 years of age and has spent more time overseas (183 games). So you can say he is quite experienced for a NZ defender. 

RR

dunnix

Has Jordan Elsey been linked anywhere?

Only the Jets or overseas (I don't think they mean in a NZ sense of things)

There isn't much of note in the way of off contract or free agent Aussie CBs. Mrcela, Susnjar, Fox, Hyphen, Flottmann, Ziegler & Golec I can think of atm.

Would take Mrcela and Ziegler on that list probs the only ones that are close or better than Payne

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/a-league/125665343/phoenix-coach-ufuk-talays-return-to-wellington-delayed-by-covid19-outbreak

Sounds any new targeted CB signing would be a starting CB immediately alongside Taylor (so Laws on the bench), which you think would rule out any domestic players like Brotherton and real estate agent Mitchell (his weekends must be busy!). Would take anyone currently playing Northern Region football many months to get up to A League fitness etc.

So some off contract Aussie from the A League? Then if Uffie can't find the right fit, Payne stays as a CB - and Louie gets a bit lucky in the short term anyway?

Zwetsloot can play CB or DM. I think he's currently playing CB in Victorian NPL. He's young, and presumably after his long injury layoff (was in Werder Bremen youth system when injured), hungry to play at a higher level than NPL. Could be a real good squaddie pickup, if he fits what Talay is looking for.

Announce Andrew Durante

Let's be brutally honest. The only people talking Zwetsloot as an option are on here, with it fired by (I'm guessing) his agent or his family.

Bloke is playing for a mid table team in state league football and nothing I have read suggest he's dominantly a stand out there.

If he'll come for a trial you might have a look but some of the fangirling on here is laughable.

Better than Payne at the back is a high bar. Payne to right back suggests we’re guna be slinging in crosses and maybe two up front is not such a mad possibility? 
Maybe we’ll be playing through the center less without Uli?

Re: CB options. Uffie did let Devere and McGing go, so he must have some pretty good plan in place for who he wants to bring in. if it was someone like Elsey or Mrcela for example then yes you would shift Payne to RB. 

RR

Macarthur is set to land Juric, so that is one less NSW option for Hemed.

Duke is not returning to WSW. They are likely going hard for Hemed

Payne's crossing is no better than Fenton's. Both servicable players in the role but not stand outs IMO. Suprised to hear Talay talking about Payne going back there. Him and Taylor did well at the tail end of the season.

Zwestloot looked decent for the U20's for NZ, based on that I would bring him in for a trial. He was the next cab off the rank outside the starters going into the u20 tournament. Clearly a player of potential who is hungry. 

It has also been mentioned that we are in the market for another import striker. Leaving Hemed aside, does this mean Bally is leaving? Some sources indicated that Sydney clubs were interested?

I mean we have Hoops, Bally and Ufuk wants to get another import ST. 

Ball will play with Piscopo (and new signing) as the advanced midfielders. It would be two of Hooper, Waine and Hemed, or two of Hooper, Waine and new striker. 

MetalLegNZ

Payne's crossing is no better than Fenton's. Both servicable players in the role but not stand outs IMO. Suprised to hear Talay talking about Payne going back there. Him and Taylor did well at the tail end of the season.

Zwestloot looked decent for the U20's for NZ, based on that I would bring him in for a trial. He was the next cab off the rank outside the starters going into the u20 tournament. Clearly a player of potential who is hungry. 

I wouldn't say Payne is the best crosser but he's got a lot better of a cross than Louis. Didn't see it as much this year but last year he did get a few assists from RB and he can actually whip it in rather than Louis whose crosses are a lot more floaty.

NZPhoenixFan

It has also been mentioned that we are in the market for another import striker. Leaving Hemed aside, does this mean Bally is leaving? Some sources indicated that Sydney clubs were interested?

I mean we have Hoops, Bally and Ufuk wants to get another import ST. 

NZPhoenixFan

It has also been mentioned that we are in the market for another import striker. Leaving Hemed aside, does this mean Bally is leaving? Some sources indicated that Sydney clubs were interested?

I mean we have Hoops, Bally and Ufuk wants to get another import ST. 

No, as soon as we signed Hooper the club said we were still in discussions with Hemed and wanted to keep him. That was well before the press started talking about teams approaching Ball. 

Payne is much better than Louis at long passing and early crossing. I think Louis is quicker, with better feet and is strong playing one touch down near the byline. 
Maybe Payne’s move indicates a desire for 442? Or 424? Looking at Italy- they have a bunch of strikers right? 90s Man U usually had 4 decent strikers on the books. 
Also- what chance Reid to Nix? 0.1% maybe, but he is a kiwi who is better than Payne, so fits criteria! 

martinb

Payne is much better than Louis at long passing and early crossing. I think Louis is quicker, with better feet and is strong playing one touch down near the byline. 
Maybe Payne’s move indicates a desire for 442? Or 424? Looking at Italy- they have a bunch of strikers right? 90s Man U usually had 4 decent strikers on the books. 
Also- what chance Reid to Nix? 0.1% maybe, but he is a kiwi who is better than Payne, so fits criteria! 

 
Payne was better until covid. Then his crossing was shark. Fenton improved this season as the season progressed . Moving Payne to CB saved him IMO.

Tony Rallis: "There's a few more exciting acquisitions to happen at the Jets, that Arthur Papas is working on. There'll be an exciting announcement from the Jets in the regards to the Asia, South Pacific region."

Fiji is in the South Pacific and India in Asia, let's hope they don't have Krishna. Going well for a club with no owners 

We have been drawn with the winner of Western United vs Newcastle Jets for FFA Cup Round of 32. 

NZPhoenixFan

We have been drawn with the winner of Western United vs Newcastle Jets for FFA Cup Round of 32. 

With the travel bubble to Sydney closed and Talay and a few of our players being stuck over there we might be quite underdone for this.

Edit: Apparently the flights that our government are running to get Kiwi's home are also available to Australians who reside in NZ, hopefully the Nix staff and players fall into that camp.