I just hope he stays away from other A-League sides for many years to come. Couldn't take another Phoenix player not quite making the grade overseas, but banging them in against us
I just hope he stays away from other A-League sides for many years to come. Couldn't take another Phoenix player not quite making the grade overseas, but banging them in against us
If he wanted to move to Melbourne to be around family Western would be his best chance I reckon. Victory have Rojas, Folami and Ikonomidis who are better, and City have Tilio, Nabbout and Leckie.
If he did go to Europe it’d be interesting to see how he’d go. Guys like Rojas and Arzani were also dribblers/creative wingers at A League level who couldn’t work it out in Europe, but went over with more hype than Piscopo has. Rojas only managed one or two first team games in Germany, before indifferent spells in Switzerland, Netherlands and Denmark, as did Arzani, who’s now a squad player in the Belgian second tier.
His goal scoring record would need improving, he only has 4 non-penalty goals in 46 games, and would need to be less wasteful with his tendency to shoot from outside the box whenever he gets a chance. It’s a shame they’ll be no fee if he does leave, given they gave him a three year contract, but from the outside it looks like there was no attempt to sell him last season, so it doesn’t look like that bothers them too much.
They got Piscopo pretty cheap from Serie C, and with Davila leaving and the problems getting new visa players into Aus/NZ - probably became a pretty easy decision to keep him to see out his contract.
Would definitely want to keep the vast majority of those out of contractors. And Reno especially, probably more so as I don't want other aleague clubs getting him, and the fact that we actually paid a fee for him. Hasn't played as much as I hoped he would due to injury, but he's getting better and the arrival of Gael seems to have unleashed him (just as we hoped it would). Not holding much hope out, but hey, what else can we do.
Great news for the kids and the club. 14 signed players for the upcoming season means we're not going to have to rebuild from scratch yet again. And to me that hints at Uffie wanting to stay until the end of his contract and give it a really good go of it next season.
Re: Piscopo, where did people read about Serie A interest? II love Reno but don't think he's anywhere near that level. Yes he can dribble and has a great pass but he's been too injury prone and inconsistent to get a move like that. I'd say he has about a 70% chance of getting a sumptuous contact extension with us or a new deal elsewhere in the A-league and maybe 15% of having interest in Asia somewhere and 15% more around the likes of Belgium/Holland, maybe Scandinavia
Great news for the kids and the club. 14 signed players for the upcoming season means we're not going to have to rebuild from scratch yet again. And to me that hints at Uffie wanting to stay until the end of his contract and give it a really good go of it next season.
Re: Piscopo, where did people read about Serie A interest? II love Reno but don't think he's anywhere near that level. Yes he can dribble and has a great pass but he's been too injury prone and inconsistent to get a move like that. I'd say he has about a 70% chance of getting a sumptuous contact extension with us or a new deal elsewhere in the A-league and maybe 15% of having interest in Asia somewhere and 15% more around the likes of Belgium/Holland, maybe Scandinavia
Commentary in the Victory game said he had Belgian and Greek clubs interested. That is the only overseas interest that has been reported afaik, so nfi where Serie A came from.
I've seen him play loads for Argyle and Leeds, my two other teams. He's a piss poor signing for us. Was regularly booed off the park at both clubs.
Would much rather play Alex at the back then him.
He was one half of the defence that nearly got Argyle relegated last season. Very much a desperation signing and if he's the best we can get the club has some serious cashflow/recruitment issues
Comment hasn't aged well.
A very nicely taken header, and only 1 goal conceded in 3 games - that being in the 92nd min.
Yet another very smart signing by Uffie/Gill. They just continually get it right re the visa guys especially.
I've seen him play loads for Argyle and Leeds, my two other teams. He's a piss poor signing for us. Was regularly booed off the park at both clubs.
Would much rather play Alex at the back then him.
He was one half of the defence that nearly got Argyle relegated last season. Very much a desperation signing and if he's the best we can get the club has some serious cashflow/recruitment issues
Comment hasn't aged well.
A very nicely taken header, and only 1 goal conceded in 3 games - that being in the 92nd min.
Yet another very smart signing by Uffie/Gill. They just continually get it right re the visa guys especially.
The one mistake I think I saw him make (which lead to a roar chance) he quickly righted by sprinting back to try and atone for it. I’ve been really impressed by him since he’s been in the team. Has a good deal of calmness about him.
He hit Sotirio with a perfectly placed lobbed pass for the third goal last night too, it was his that Sotirio turned inside to Sandoval - the pass made the touch look good imo.
I'd be very happy if I am wrong. I'd love Uffie and Reno to stay with us next season and beyond. I know Uffie is contracted till the end of the 22/23 season, but if the Mark Rudan episode is anything to go by, contracts mean very little if someone really wants to leave and go somewhere bigger and better.
I think we better to decide who want to keep more, because I suspect the Welnix pockets aren't deep enough to keep both long term. martinb
newzealandpower
OzNix
He'll (Reno) be joining WSW next season along with Ufuk Talay :) It's going to be a repeat of Rudan and Western United.
I think whilst Reno might go, you're very wrong about Uffie. All the signs point to him staying right now.
I like the words you are using much more than others I have read!
I'd be very happy if I am wrong. I'd love Uffie and Reno to stay with us next season and beyond. I know Uffie is contracted till the end of the 22/23 season, but if the Mark Rudan episode is anything to go by, contracts mean very little if someone really wants to leave and go somewhere bigger and better.
I think we better to decide who want to keep more, because I suspect the Welnix pockets aren't deep enough to keep both long term. martinb
newzealandpower
OzNix
He'll (Reno) be joining WSW next season along with Ufuk Talay :) It's going to be a repeat of Rudan and Western United.
I think whilst Reno might go, you're very wrong about Uffie. All the signs point to him staying right now.
I like the words you are using much more than others I have read!
You keep Uffie, 100% no further questions asked.
Sure Reno has come into some great form this season, especially over these past 4-5 games, but based on Uffie's ability to recruit and build a quality squad even with covid disruptions and being based away from home for the past 18 or so months (and the financial ramifications that has brought) - I'd back him to the hilt to be able to sign someone up who would be thereabouts equal to, or even better than Piscopo over the long term (and who knows, Piscopo might even decide that he likes the setup and the group around him to want to give another year even...) He hasn't missed a beat in regards to that so far in his time with us, and it's not a quality that will drop off with him either. It's possibly his best trait - research, read, watch and analyse what the squad needs, and so far, it's worked very, very well for us.
I'd also like to think that signing Van Hattum and Surman to long term deals recently is his way of moulding a squad for the future with him at the helm. Time will tell, but I believe he's setting a platform for the club to build upon, and it's allowing him to build a well rounded squad going into the next couple of seasons.
Who knows what's going on to be fair, but I know who I'd be keeping at the club. Give him the money he wants and watch him get the rewards he deserves.
I'd be very happy if I am wrong. I'd love Uffie and Reno to stay with us next season and beyond. I know Uffie is contracted till the end of the 22/23 season, but if the Mark Rudan episode is anything to go by, contracts mean very little if someone really wants to leave and go somewhere bigger and better.
I think we better to decide who want to keep more, because I suspect the Welnix pockets aren't deep enough to keep both long term. martinb
newzealandpower
OzNix
He'll (Reno) be joining WSW next season along with Ufuk Talay :) It's going to be a repeat of Rudan and Western United.
I think whilst Reno might go, you're very wrong about Uffie. All the signs point to him staying right now.
I like the words you are using much more than others I have read!
If it was a choice between either or (and it's plainly not, so not sure why you'd suggest it could be), then you'd try keep Talay every time.
But Uffie's got another season to go on his contract, has moved his wife (and I think son who is in the Nix Academy) to Wellington in the past, pre Covid. I doubt Welnix would agree to again let a coach leave early to break a contract. They only did it with 'family man' Rudan as he spun a yarn about not being happy away from his family still in NSW. The MM saga suggests there were serious flaws in the family man image.
Different with Talay, and even if he wanted to go to WSW or whoever, I don't think Welnix would let him go, and rightly so.
Piscopo. I just think he's Melbourne Italian homeboy through & through, and that's where he will go next, if not overseas.
I'd be very happy if I am wrong. I'd love Uffie and Reno to stay with us next season and beyond. I know Uffie is contracted till the end of the 22/23 season, but if the Mark Rudan episode is anything to go by, contracts mean very little if someone really wants to leave and go somewhere bigger and better.
I think we better to decide who want to keep more, because I suspect the Welnix pockets aren't deep enough to keep both long term. martinb
newzealandpower
OzNix
He'll (Reno) be joining WSW next season along with Ufuk Talay :) It's going to be a repeat of Rudan and Western United.
I think whilst Reno might go, you're very wrong about Uffie. All the signs point to him staying right now.
I like the words you are using much more than others I have read!
If it was a choice between either or (and it's plainly not, so not sure why you'd suggest it could be), then you'd try keep Talay every time.
But Uffie's got another season to go on his contract, has moved his wife (and I think son who is in the Nix Academy) to Wellington in the past, pre Covid. I doubt Welnix would agree to again let a coach leave early to break a contract. They only did it with 'family man' Rudan as he spun a yarn about not being happy away from his family still in NSW. The MM saga suggests there were serious flaws in the family man image.
Different with Talay, and even if he wanted to go to WSW or whoever, I don't think Welnix would let him go, and rightly so.
Piscopo. I just think he's Melbourne Italian homeboy through & through, and that's where he will go next, if not overseas.
I don’t know why you think the club wouldn’t let him go. Almost, if not, everyone that has wanted to break their contract has been allowed to go in the past. If a coach wants to go, you probably want him to go too. He is not going to do you any favours as long as they stay.
It is kind of a funny thing having a contract to keep someone against their will, in any other industry that would be pretty illegal. In most contracts that I've had there's a contract expiry term but also I could quit with two weeks notice.
But, Rudan left because a) he's pretty self serving, and b) he had a clause in his contract.
Just because one person behaves a certain way doesn't mean someone else does. I can't think of many other players or coaches forcing their way out of a club while contracted except when they were surplus to requirements and it was probably a mutually beneficial situation for them to leave.
So, we've had one person who we wanted to keep leave while contracted and we're fixated on that while ignoring the hundreds of other people that the club has employed that haven't behaved that way.
Talay is as good as gone, no way he stays under the current circumstances which goes well into next season. No home matches, no spending or very limited, Cant hold onto his top players, Wellington has a very depressing atmosphere of horrid weather and grey sky's to return to. Saying all that where does he go? SFC don't play youth nor does WSW preferring the imports and over 35s. Victory has Popa but if he dont last i think Talay would go there.
It is kind of a funny thing having a contract to keep someone against their will, in any other industry that would be pretty illegal. In most contracts that I've had there's a contract expiry term but also I could quit with two weeks notice.
But, Rudan left because a) he's pretty self serving, and b) he had a clause in his contract.
Just because one person behaves a certain way doesn't mean someone else does. I can't think of many other players or coaches forcing their way out of a club while contracted except when they were surplus to requirements and it was probably a mutually beneficial situation for them to leave.
So, we've had one person who we wanted to keep leave while contracted and we're fixated on that while ignoring the hundreds of other people that the club has employed that haven't behaved that way.
To be fair they also let Kosta break contract didn't they??
But Talay seems to genuinely have enjoyed his time in Welly pre Covid. He has a strong background working with young talent (ex Aussie age group stuff), and he's getting plenty of that coming through the Weenix Academy.
There is also unfinished business. He had a genuine chance of a shot at the title his first season 19/20, until Covid saw the team decamped to NSW. Then the next 2 seasons the Nix have had one hand behind their backs based in Aus.
22/23 shapes as actually the first season he'll have on a all season level playing field. Unfinished business. If he bought the toilet seat to NZ for the first time, he would become the most sought after coach in the A League. High chance at least one of the 3 Sydney coaching jobs will be vacant pre season 23/24. What's the rush to leave the Nix, 1 year early.
But for sure Welnix will need to give him the players (esp visa) he'll want for 22/23. They will be under pressure to do that.
Yep, I forgot about Kosta - they let him break in what was a pretty tough time for the club.
I wonder though if he was performing well and wasn't on some insane money (if the rumors were even remotely correct), and the club wasn't putting all its effort in fighting the FFA, if they would have been more reluctant to let him go.
Yep, I forgot about Kosta - they let him break in what was a pretty tough time for the club.
I wonder though if he was performing well and wasn't on some insane money (if the rumors were even remotely correct), and the club wasn't putting all its effort in fighting the FFA, if they would have been more reluctant to let him go.
Pretty sure Gui FInkler walked out that same season, along with Vidosic Junior & Senior (after like 3 games?), hard to blame them given the walking disaster that was Kalezic though.
it's the same noise that has been made about our manager coach since we've had an asssie being successful, Rudan and Talay have both had other cubs 'looking' at them Rudan left after saying he wouldnt, which has us all a little nervous that the offer of a club closer to home and less of an anti feel from the others is appealing to our current manager.
Minor point I'd imagine in any Talay decision, but don't think there is much 'anti Nix feeling' amongst the other A League clubs at all now. We are only hearing genuine words of sympthy re Nix's Covid plight, and Morrison seems highly respected with other owners/APL.
They know also that Phoenix FC are one of the more stable clubs in the League now, and the APL needs as many stable clubs as possible to drive good publicity and value to the comp.
I'd agrue that WSW may have a greater dislike from other ALM clubs.
That just made me realise, is Callan Elliot also injured? He was expected to be first choice when signed, and with Payne at rightback again, he seems to be third choice.
He’s only played 45 minutes since the 19th of December, and none since Jan 1st.
That just made me realise, is Callan Elliot also injured? He was expected to be first choice when signed, and with Payne at rightback again, he seems to be third choice.
He’s only played 45 minutes since the 19th of December, and none since Jan 1st.
Probably just not playing well enough. If Sutton gets a AWs call up, which is likely given the timing of the WCQ, Elliot might have to play LB with McGarry out.
That just made me realise, is Callan Elliot also injured? He was expected to be first choice when signed, and with Payne at rightback again, he seems to be third choice.
He’s only played 45 minutes since the 19th of December, and none since Jan 1st.
Probably just not playing well enough. If Sutton gets a AWs call up, which is likely given the timing of the WCQ, Elliot might have to play LB with McGarry out.
Hasn't Louis occasionally filled in at LB? Or am I getting him mixed up with Manny who definitely did? Not reading anything into it but I did notice Louis slotted in to a leftside midfield role when he came on against Adelaide.
That just made me realise, is Callan Elliot also injured? He was expected to be first choice when signed, and with Payne at rightback again, he seems to be third choice.
He’s only played 45 minutes since the 19th of December, and none since Jan 1st.
Probably just not playing well enough. If Sutton gets a AWs call up, which is likely given the timing of the WCQ, Elliot might have to play LB with McGarry out.
Hasn't Louis occasionally filled in at LB? Or am I getting him mixed up with Manny who definitely did? Not reading anything into it but I did notice Louis slotted in to a leftside midfield role when he came on against Adelaide.
Fenton has been subbed on to play LB also. Would expect Payne to get the call up, so both full backs will need replacing.
That just made me realise, is Callan Elliot also injured? He was expected to be first choice when signed, and with Payne at rightback again, he seems to be third choice.
He’s only played 45 minutes since the 19th of December, and none since Jan 1st.
Probably just not playing well enough. If Sutton gets a AWs call up, which is likely given the timing of the WCQ, Elliot might have to play LB with McGarry out.
Hasn't Louis occasionally filled in at LB? Or am I getting him mixed up with Manny who definitely did? Not reading anything into it but I did notice Louis slotted in to a leftside midfield role when he came on against Adelaide.
Don’t think that’ll be repeated tbh- he was okay, but not confident there. Fair enough after years at the back.
That just made me realise, is Callan Elliot also injured? He was expected to be first choice when signed, and with Payne at rightback again, he seems to be third choice.
He’s only played 45 minutes since the 19th of December, and none since Jan 1st.
Probably just not playing well enough. If Sutton gets a AWs call up, which is likely given the timing of the WCQ, Elliot might have to play LB with McGarry out.
Hasn't Louis occasionally filled in at LB? Or am I getting him mixed up with Manny who definitely did? Not reading anything into it but I did notice Louis slotted in to a leftside midfield role when he came on against Adelaide.
Don’t think that’ll be repeated tbh- he was okay, but not confident there. Fair enough after years at the back.
True, but possibly even his minimal LB experience might see him in that spot, with Elliot on the right. Suppose it depends on how they shape up in training. Or maybe just toss a coin.
Tratt, Taylor, Kosta, Rudan, straight off the top of my head. Ryan
It is kind of a funny thing having a contract to keep someone against their will, in any other industry that would be pretty illegal. In most contracts that I've had there's a contract expiry term but also I could quit with two weeks notice.
But, Rudan left because a) he's pretty self serving, and b) he had a clause in his contract.
Just because one person behaves a certain way doesn't mean someone else does. I can't think of many other players or coaches forcing their way out of a club while contracted except when they were surplus to requirements and it was probably a mutually beneficial situation for them to leave.
So, we've had one person who we wanted to keep leave while contracted and we're fixated on that while ignoring the hundreds of other people that the club has employed that haven't behaved that way.
