Thought I'd have a go at some wild speculation about who our Uli replacement could be, limited it to South/Central Americans because of the rumours that the player we're talking to is from there. There's a whole bunch of options, none of whom we'll likely sign but hey, might as well throw some names in the hat.
Yesús Cabrera
30, AM, Colombian
Mentioned by someone on the Nix Fans Facebook pages. Cabrera is off contract at Club América in Colombia and is highly rated. Has interest from Junior FC in Colombia and from Turkey. Pretty unlikely we'll snap him up as his América exit is due to wage disputes, but I'm not familiar with the Colombian football pay rate so maybe a marquee wage compares?
Is he better than Uli? - Probably
The Mexican contingent:
Marco Fabián
31, AM, 43 Caps 9 Goals Mexico
Off contract at FC Juárez, Fabián is an incredibly talented player who's won a case full of trophies. He's won the Gold Cup, DFB Pokal, Copa MX, CONCACAF Champions League and an Olympic Gold Medal. Didn't make the Mexico squad that came to NZ in 2013. Main stumbling block for the Nix - Fabián was being paid over $2m USD a season in 2019 in the MLS, well out of our budget.
Is he better than Uli? - Yes
Carlos Vela
32, RW, 72 Caps 19 Goals Mexico
Yeah, this one is pretty unrealistic. He'll be off contract from LAFC in December but could go earlier as he's been struggling with injuries. One of the best ever MLS players and would likely be one of the best A-League players ever too. Despite the unlikeliness he has expressed his desire to come to Australia previously. Reckon he'd likely be destined for Sydney or Melb City if he came to the A-League though.
Is he better than Uli? - Definitely
Ángel Sepúlveda
30, RW, 8 Caps 2 Goals Mexico
Off contract at Querétaro FC of Liga MX, although it's unclear who owns him. Transfermarkt says he moved to QFC from Club Tijuana but it sounds like the Xolos might still own him? Hard to nail down his contract situation but it sounds like Querétaro are keen to keep him if they can. Looks like a very solid Liga MX player and is highly rated by Querétaro fans from what I can see. His 8 caps and 2 goals for Mexico came in 2016/17 back when Uli was a bit-part player for Santos Laguna.
Is he better than Uli? - Probably
Luis Ángel Mendoza
31, RW, Mexican
A soon to be free agent as he is to leave Mazatalán FC (Liga MX) this month. He was part of the Mexico squad that came to NZ in 2013 but never ended up getting a cap. Has only ever played for Mexican teams, winning the Liga MX Apertura and Clausura in 2014/15 with Club América and Santos Laguna respectively. Was actually a teammate of Uli's at Santos Laguna, playing 12 games together. Mendoza scored 1 and assisted 2 in those games whilst Uli scored 3. Nicknamed "Quick" with a blistering 83 pace on FIFA21.
Is he better than Uli? - Maybe, but I wouldn't be certain.
Carlos Peña
31, CM/AM/RM, 19 Caps 2 Goals Mexico
Is set to leave CD FAS in El Salvador so soon to be a free agent. Was part of that 2013 Mexico squad and played in Welly. More of a CM but has been playing as an AM for FAS, winning the league title in 20/21. In 2017 he left Mexico for Rangers and is regarded as a bit of a flop over there, but he's reinvigorated his career since returning to Central America. Still, Uli was a flop in India and look how he turned out for us, Rangers gotta be a little better to flop at than Delhi Dynamos right?
Is he better than Uli? - Maybe
The Brazilian contingent:
Isael da Silva Barbosa
33, RW, Brazilian
Off contract at Ferencváros in Hungary, bit of a journeyman this guy. Left Brazil back in 2013 for Europe, played in Portugal for a bit, then a short spell in Russia before spending a good few years in Kazakhstan where he won 3 league titles, followed by 3 league titles in 3 seasons in Hungary. Has played against the big guns in the Champions League which could mean he has some great experience, but could also mean nothing (see Kopczynski...) Nix have had mixed results with their Brazilian imports, but a new Daniel would be very welcome.
Is he better than Uli? - Maybe, but a journeyman can be hard to judge
Lourency
25, RW, Brazilian
Is off contract at Gil Vicente in the Portuguese top flight having played the full season, scoring 5 and assisting 1 in 34 games. Is still a young player at 25 and Gil are only his second full time club, having come through at Chapecoense. Interestingly, he was meant to be on the 2016 Chapecoense charter flight that crashed and tragically killed 71 people, but stayed home to compete in a youth tournament for the club. He's not the most prolific player, but 68 games in the Potuguese top flight over two seasons is impressive and great experience (Tyler Boyd anyone?).
Is he better than Uli? - Not sure. He could be, but is still young.
Heberty
32, RW, Brazilian
Now this guy would be a gamble. He's off contract at Bangkok United after 8? seasons in the Thai league. He's the all time top scorer in the Thai league with 130 goals in 190 games for 5 different teams. He left Brazil back in 2012 for Japan and has been in Asia ever since. Definitely would be a gamble to pick this guy up, would rather grab someone from the J-League or something if we're looking to Asian clubs.
Is he better than Uli? - Probably not, seems like a big fish in a small pond, although the Thai league is ranked above the A-League in the AFC Coefficient.
Wellington Nem
29, RW, 3 Caps Brazil
Off contract at Fortaleza in the Brazilian top flight, only joined in March but the club have the option to extend based on his performance. Looks unlikely that they will though as he doesn't seem to have registered an appearance for them. In fact, looks like he might not have played since 2019, having missed the entire 19/20 season. Former Shaktar man who's won 3 Ukrainian league titles, 2 Ukrainian cup titles and 1 Copa do Brazil back in 2012. Looks like he did his cruciate ligament in 2017 which has probably majorly impacted his career since. Would definitely be a risk to sign but come on, what a name he has. Wellington in Wellington? He'll be selling jerseys by the truck-full.
Is he better than Uli? - Pure Talent? Yes. Ability today? Maybe not, he's missed a lot of time post injury and there's a reason his valuation is a 10th of what it was a few years ago.
The Peruvians:
Paolo Hurtado
30, AM, 38 Caps 2 Goals Peru
Currently a free agent after leaving Lokomotiv Plovdiv in the Bulgarian first tier. Came to NZ back in 2017 but didn't feature against the All Whites. He's spent the majority of his career in Portugal playing for Vitória de Guimarães and Paços Ferreira. He was actually at Vitória at the same time as Tyler Boyd but left for Turkey the season before Boyd broke into the first team. They've played against each other once in Turkey but only for 18 minutes. Hurtado seems to have been pretty injury prone the last few seasons which is probably why he went to Bulgaria and is now without a club. If fit he could be decent, but missing large chunks of the last few seasons isn't too promising.
Is he better than Uli? - Probably not. Back in his Portugal days he would've been, but I don't see it now.
Not Uli replacements but thought I should mention that Wilder Cartagena and more importantly Yoshimar Yotún are both off contract. They both came to NZ for the playoff game and are DMs. Cartagena is leaving Godoy Cruz from the Argentine top flight, is only 26 and has 5 caps for Peru. Yotún is off contract at CD Cruz Azul, with whom he just won Liga MX. He's 31, still starts for Peru and has 91 caps and 3 goals. He's pretty unlikely as a Devlin replacement but would be an incredible signing, here's hoping he fell in love with Aotearoa à la Stevie T. Would probably be too expensive too but worth a look at least.
Realistically the club probably aren't even looking at any of these players but it's always a bit of fun to speculate. Here's hoping whoever we pick up is class though, 2021/22 is our year after all. COYN!
Yesús Cabrera
30, AM, Colombian
Mentioned by someone on the Nix Fans Facebook pages. Cabrera is off contract at Club América in Colombia and is highly rated. Has interest from Junior FC in Colombia and from Turkey. Pretty unlikely we'll snap him up as his América exit is due to wage disputes, but I'm not familiar with the Colombian football pay rate so maybe a marquee wage compares?
Is he better than Uli? - Probably
The Mexican contingent:
Marco Fabián
31, AM, 43 Caps 9 Goals Mexico
Off contract at FC Juárez, Fabián is an incredibly talented player who's won a case full of trophies. He's won the Gold Cup, DFB Pokal, Copa MX, CONCACAF Champions League and an Olympic Gold Medal. Didn't make the Mexico squad that came to NZ in 2013. Main stumbling block for the Nix - Fabián was being paid over $2m USD a season in 2019 in the MLS, well out of our budget.
Is he better than Uli? - Yes
Carlos Vela
32, RW, 72 Caps 19 Goals Mexico
Yeah, this one is pretty unrealistic. He'll be off contract from LAFC in December but could go earlier as he's been struggling with injuries. One of the best ever MLS players and would likely be one of the best A-League players ever too. Despite the unlikeliness he has expressed his desire to come to Australia previously. Reckon he'd likely be destined for Sydney or Melb City if he came to the A-League though.
Is he better than Uli? - Definitely
Ángel Sepúlveda
30, RW, 8 Caps 2 Goals Mexico
Off contract at Querétaro FC of Liga MX, although it's unclear who owns him. Transfermarkt says he moved to QFC from Club Tijuana but it sounds like the Xolos might still own him? Hard to nail down his contract situation but it sounds like Querétaro are keen to keep him if they can. Looks like a very solid Liga MX player and is highly rated by Querétaro fans from what I can see. His 8 caps and 2 goals for Mexico came in 2016/17 back when Uli was a bit-part player for Santos Laguna.
Is he better than Uli? - Probably
Luis Ángel Mendoza
31, RW, Mexican
A soon to be free agent as he is to leave Mazatalán FC (Liga MX) this month. He was part of the Mexico squad that came to NZ in 2013 but never ended up getting a cap. Has only ever played for Mexican teams, winning the Liga MX Apertura and Clausura in 2014/15 with Club América and Santos Laguna respectively. Was actually a teammate of Uli's at Santos Laguna, playing 12 games together. Mendoza scored 1 and assisted 2 in those games whilst Uli scored 3. Nicknamed "Quick" with a blistering 83 pace on FIFA21.
Is he better than Uli? - Maybe, but I wouldn't be certain.
Carlos Peña
31, CM/AM/RM, 19 Caps 2 Goals Mexico
Is set to leave CD FAS in El Salvador so soon to be a free agent. Was part of that 2013 Mexico squad and played in Welly. More of a CM but has been playing as an AM for FAS, winning the league title in 20/21. In 2017 he left Mexico for Rangers and is regarded as a bit of a flop over there, but he's reinvigorated his career since returning to Central America. Still, Uli was a flop in India and look how he turned out for us, Rangers gotta be a little better to flop at than Delhi Dynamos right?
Is he better than Uli? - Maybe
The Brazilian contingent:
Isael da Silva Barbosa
33, RW, Brazilian
Off contract at Ferencváros in Hungary, bit of a journeyman this guy. Left Brazil back in 2013 for Europe, played in Portugal for a bit, then a short spell in Russia before spending a good few years in Kazakhstan where he won 3 league titles, followed by 3 league titles in 3 seasons in Hungary. Has played against the big guns in the Champions League which could mean he has some great experience, but could also mean nothing (see Kopczynski...) Nix have had mixed results with their Brazilian imports, but a new Daniel would be very welcome.
Is he better than Uli? - Maybe, but a journeyman can be hard to judge
Lourency
25, RW, Brazilian
Is off contract at Gil Vicente in the Portuguese top flight having played the full season, scoring 5 and assisting 1 in 34 games. Is still a young player at 25 and Gil are only his second full time club, having come through at Chapecoense. Interestingly, he was meant to be on the 2016 Chapecoense charter flight that crashed and tragically killed 71 people, but stayed home to compete in a youth tournament for the club. He's not the most prolific player, but 68 games in the Potuguese top flight over two seasons is impressive and great experience (Tyler Boyd anyone?).
Is he better than Uli? - Not sure. He could be, but is still young.
Heberty
32, RW, Brazilian
Now this guy would be a gamble. He's off contract at Bangkok United after 8? seasons in the Thai league. He's the all time top scorer in the Thai league with 130 goals in 190 games for 5 different teams. He left Brazil back in 2012 for Japan and has been in Asia ever since. Definitely would be a gamble to pick this guy up, would rather grab someone from the J-League or something if we're looking to Asian clubs.
Is he better than Uli? - Probably not, seems like a big fish in a small pond, although the Thai league is ranked above the A-League in the AFC Coefficient.
Wellington Nem
29, RW, 3 Caps Brazil
Off contract at Fortaleza in the Brazilian top flight, only joined in March but the club have the option to extend based on his performance. Looks unlikely that they will though as he doesn't seem to have registered an appearance for them. In fact, looks like he might not have played since 2019, having missed the entire 19/20 season. Former Shaktar man who's won 3 Ukrainian league titles, 2 Ukrainian cup titles and 1 Copa do Brazil back in 2012. Looks like he did his cruciate ligament in 2017 which has probably majorly impacted his career since. Would definitely be a risk to sign but come on, what a name he has. Wellington in Wellington? He'll be selling jerseys by the truck-full.
Is he better than Uli? - Pure Talent? Yes. Ability today? Maybe not, he's missed a lot of time post injury and there's a reason his valuation is a 10th of what it was a few years ago.
The Peruvians:
Paolo Hurtado
30, AM, 38 Caps 2 Goals Peru
Currently a free agent after leaving Lokomotiv Plovdiv in the Bulgarian first tier. Came to NZ back in 2017 but didn't feature against the All Whites. He's spent the majority of his career in Portugal playing for Vitória de Guimarães and Paços Ferreira. He was actually at Vitória at the same time as Tyler Boyd but left for Turkey the season before Boyd broke into the first team. They've played against each other once in Turkey but only for 18 minutes. Hurtado seems to have been pretty injury prone the last few seasons which is probably why he went to Bulgaria and is now without a club. If fit he could be decent, but missing large chunks of the last few seasons isn't too promising.
Is he better than Uli? - Probably not. Back in his Portugal days he would've been, but I don't see it now.
Not Uli replacements but thought I should mention that Wilder Cartagena and more importantly Yoshimar Yotún are both off contract. They both came to NZ for the playoff game and are DMs. Cartagena is leaving Godoy Cruz from the Argentine top flight, is only 26 and has 5 caps for Peru. Yotún is off contract at CD Cruz Azul, with whom he just won Liga MX. He's 31, still starts for Peru and has 91 caps and 3 goals. He's pretty unlikely as a Devlin replacement but would be an incredible signing, here's hoping he fell in love with Aotearoa à la Stevie T. Would probably be too expensive too but worth a look at least.
Realistically the club probably aren't even looking at any of these players but it's always a bit of fun to speculate. Here's hoping whoever we pick up is class though, 2021/22 is our year after all. COYN!
Maybe a tiny bit generous on the comparisons to Dávila though. His career circumstances and primary-playmaking playstyle didn't really allow him to unlock his talent, but it was certainly there all this time - just hasn't been in the right situations, what with being in the Chelsea loan machine and all.
Still remember when Yótun elbowed Reid in the spine back in 2017. A red given here and we coulda been in Russia....