Losing McGing, Devere and Hudson-Wihongi means there will be several defensive signings. Payne will be planned as CB, which means a right back will need to be signed, plus at least one more centre back. Players would surely have to be upgrades on those otherwise what would be the point, though if they are planned to be backups that might not be possible
I wonder if TAHW is being let go in order to play some amateur football before the new season. If we don't re-sign him in pre-season, surely we look at Zwetsloot
Has Zwetsloot been at the Oly Whites camp in Auckland? Other Kiwis like Brotherton, and Adam Mitchell must be in the reckoning for a trial at least.
TAHW sadly hasn't impressed in the chances he was given. Wouldn't Nix announce it, if their plan was just to release him temporarily to play some Northern League football?
No, Trevor wasn’t at the Auckland camp.
I obviously want TAHW to succeed so I’d always advocate for him, but this season he didn’t play once with Taylor, which would make him look a lot better, and last season he only started twice at centre back, both after lockdown when I can’t say any Phoenix player looked that good (understandably). I thought he was serviceable at centre back, but this season got stuck in a cycle of not playing, so not having match-readiness, so not playing etc
The bubble between Melbourne and NZ had been suspended until just the other day, so even if he wanted to make the Auckland camp, he wouldn't have been able too.
He isn't what he used to be but for the right price, I wouldn't be against picking up Ivan Franjic as RB competition for Fenton.
Actually wondering if Zwetsloot has some sort of Australian lineage, that would allow him to play as a local for an Aussie A League side? All I can find is a mix of NZ, Dutch and born USA. Just interesting that he chose to play his winter football in Victoria, and I read somewhere that he spent sometime at the Victory before the NPL season started.
Did an A League assistant coach, who was also once his national U20 coach, reach out a few months back?? Continue your injury comeback in the NPL, during which we can see where you are at.