WPM 2021/22 Squad Speculation, Confirmation and Mutual Termination

RR

theprof

I though Talay had said Payne was the fave for RB? Maybe that's changed?
Otherwise we now have 3 RBs, Payne, Fenton, Elliot

I would expect we had admitted defeat in trying to sign someone better than Payne at CB. All the Aussie options have signed with Aussie clubs.

Old & Paulsen are probably gonna get deals, so we look something like this atm

nix2122.png 163.89 KB

Not even that unhappy with that lineup. One ore two more players and we're good to go.

I'm super happy with this news, not least because I really think Payne/Taylor combo at CBs is one of the best we've had.

Fenton started out as a right midfielder and scored on his debut. Perhaps he could be put back there and have Ball moved into the middle?

Excellent! I was sad when he left.

RR

theprof

I though Talay had said Payne was the fave for RB? Maybe that's changed?
Otherwise we now have 3 RBs, Payne, Fenton, Elliot

I would expect we had admitted defeat in trying to sign someone better than Payne at CB. All the Aussie options have signed with Aussie clubs.

Old & Paulsen are probably gonna get deals, so we look something like this atm

nix2122.png 163.89 KB

So Import AM and ST seems like what we're going for so probs need 2 CM/DM locals and then another local CB.

Friar Tuck

CD316297-AE83-466A-A389-CB01E852F4B7.png 673.05 KB

I like this a lot. 
I think also that it might be possible for someone from Sutton, McGarry or Elliot to be played further forward. Fenton is utility cover and may even hold his place depending on performances. But Uffie’s talk about Payne suggests a deeper RB crossing earlier to find Hooper. With the other boys as a different tactical option. 
Interesting to see what Uffie will do, how he will play and how he will keep everyone fresh. We definitely have greater depth in some positions than last season, but also have Hooper for Davila and Hemed. 
I wouldn’t want a starting midfield of Rufer and Lewis as first choice. Needs a Devlin replacement. 
Anyway- continues to be exciting times at the Nix! 
Who’s going to surprise? Old? Elliot? McGarry? Waine? A different academy player entirely? Sotirio? 

martinb

Friar Tuck

CD316297-AE83-466A-A389-CB01E852F4B7.png 673.05 KB

I like this a lot. 
I think also that it might be possible for someone from Sutton, McGarry or Elliot to be played further forward. Fenton is utility cover and may even hold his place depending on performances. But Uffie’s talk about Payne suggests a deeper RB crossing earlier to find Hooper. With the other boys as a different tactical option. 
Interesting to see what Uffie will do, how he will play and how he will keep everyone fresh. We definitely have greater depth in some positions than last season, but also have Hooper for Davila and Hemed. 
I wouldn’t want a starting midfield of Rufer and Lewis as first choice. Needs a Devlin replacement. 
Anyway- continues to be exciting times at the Nix! 
Who’s going to surprise? Old? Elliot? McGarry? Waine? A different academy player entirely? Sotirio? 

We might not have the academy players available unfortunately. If the borders aren’t open they won’t take any of them over to Australia I wouldn’t think, and just leave them to play national league, and of course fringe first team players wouldn’t get the opportunity of game time for the reserves either.

I also wonder if they have to be based in Australia again that will come into consideration with recruitment, so looking more at NPL/ex A League guys for those spots instead of guys from Central/Northern League, and also whether it might bring the budget for visa players down too.

Import Attacking Midfielder
Import Striker
2 local Defensive Midfielders
1 local CB

NZPhoenixFan

Import Attacking Midfielder
Import Striker
2 local Defensive Midfielders
1 local CB

those bottom 3 spots will be difficult with quality. I think id prefer if the import striker was a local pick up and 1 DM becomes an import. 

kwlap

NZPhoenixFan

Import Attacking Midfielder
Import Striker
2 local Defensive Midfielders
1 local CB

those bottom 3 spots will be difficult with quality. I think id prefer if the import striker was a local pick up and 1 DM becomes an import. 

I agree with this think we really need to use the import slot to replace Devlin if we can get a similar import to Steinmann there will help us a lot more than an extra ST where we can have Ball and Waine competing for that.

I seem to recall that he left because he was pursuing something overseas (maybe Europe) and the latter didn’t work out. Ufuk had taken over here by then and either didn’t want him back, already replaced him or both,

WanderingSheep

billyspleen75

valeo

wilbaker

I know Pijnaker is at Rio Ave but doesn't seem to be close to their starting 11 maybe a loan deal for him would be a good coup

I really rate him. I actually think it's for the best that Reid and Boxall aren't playing, these are important competitive minutes for him and the likes of Stensness.

Stensness is the best thing Rudan's ever done :)

 Apart from him having Aussie links, was there a reason he left us for CCM?

Always presumed because he knew Rudan was gone and possibly feared the worst? 

Regarding additional signings, I agree that if NSW (or Victoria) is again likely to come in and out of lockdowns this season, it is better to sign up an NPL player instead of bringing in a visa player that will then spend his season time in a small room in Wollongong.

Mainland FC

Regarding additional signings, I agree that if NSW (or Victoria) is again likely to come in and out of lockdowns this season, it is better to sign up an NPL player instead of bringing in a visa player that will then spend his season time in a small room in Wollongong.

It's better to buy the best player that the club can afford in order to win the league.

And then decide that he loves it so much that he wants to stay over there.

Mainland FC

Regarding additional signings, I agree that if NSW (or Victoria) is again likely to come in and out of lockdowns this season, it is better to sign up an NPL player instead of bringing in a visa player that will then spend his season time in a small room in Wollongong.

carlind

martinb

Friar Tuck

CD316297-AE83-466A-A389-CB01E852F4B7.png 673.05 KB

I like this a lot. 
I think also that it might be possible for someone from Sutton, McGarry or Elliot to be played further forward. Fenton is utility cover and may even hold his place depending on performances. But Uffie’s talk about Payne suggests a deeper RB crossing earlier to find Hooper. With the other boys as a different tactical option. 
Interesting to see what Uffie will do, how he will play and how he will keep everyone fresh. We definitely have greater depth in some positions than last season, but also have Hooper for Davila and Hemed. 
I wouldn’t want a starting midfield of Rufer and Lewis as first choice. Needs a Devlin replacement. 
Anyway- continues to be exciting times at the Nix! 
Who’s going to surprise? Old? Elliot? McGarry? Waine? A different academy player entirely? Sotirio? 

We might not have the academy players available unfortunately. If the borders aren’t open they won’t take any of them over to Australia I wouldn’t think, and just leave them to play national league, and of course fringe first team players wouldn’t get the opportunity of game time for the reserves either.

I also wonder if they have to be based in Australia again that will come into consideration with recruitment, so looking more at NPL/ex A League guys for those spots instead of guys from Central/Northern League, and also whether it might bring the budget for visa players down too.

National league will be finished in December, only 6-8 weeks after A League starts. So you could bring some Weenix players over to Aussie after that.

But I'm optimistic, A League will be a normal H&A season no later than year end. Much will depend on how the NZ Govt see the TT bubble.

Is Nick D'Agostino still available? He would be a great option, if a little small physically.

dunnix

Is Nick D'Agostino still available? He would be a great option, if a little small physically.

Word is he's close to signing with WU. He's not huge but he's really strong and good in the air. Would've been a good signing I reckon.

Great news about Elliot though, very happy with that.

Screenshot_20210730-124639_Facebook.jpg 483.29 KB

So there's the Aussie midfielder. Interesting.

Born in Italy, but Aussie parents, assume he'd count as a local?

valeo

Who the

The next Reno Piscopo? Wellington Phoenix sign Australian-Italian midfielder

115 senior appearances at 22 years old ain't bad! Doesn't sound like a like-for-like Cammy replacement though, and the A-League is probably a step up from Serie C (although I'm happy to be told I'm wrong!)

another Talay gem?

valeo

So there's the Aussie midfielder. Interesting.

Born in Italy, but Aussie parents, assume he'd count as a local?

Has Aussie citizenship and represented them at u23 level. So will be a local who looks to be a pretty good signing on paper over 100+ appearances in Serie C at 22 is impressive

Describes himself as a box to box midfielder, sounds great!

So Devlin replacement then

If there's no chant to the tune of Mrs Robinson then I'll be disappointed

Obviously the scouting rated him a better prospect, than a local like Oli Whyte. In Uffie we trust.
https://us.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-c1/20202021/girone-a/r60062/

fudge yea! Cant wait to see Nic in action. 

Nice job Mr Rollo

image.png 33.1 KB

Happy with Elliot! Happy with Pennington! 
Between him, Reno, Kirwan and Scimia I'm getting my fill of Kiwi/Aus/Italian connections going on... Pretty amazing! 

mjp2

Nice job Mr Rollo

image.png 33.1 KB

If you'll notice, he had the articles pre-written to release as soon as the Nix made their announcements. Mans got sources.

And here's to you, Mr. Pennington
Phoenix loves you more than you will know
Whoa, whoa, whoa
Fever bless you, please, Mr. Pennington
Midfield holds a place for those who play
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey

coochiee

Obviously the scouting rated him a better prospect, than a local like Oli Whyte. In Uffie we trust.
https://us.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-c1/20202021/girone-a/r60062/

Judging both their resumes I'd too rather go with Pennington. 100+ games in Serie C while Whyte can only get game-time in the Handy Prem.

Pleased with both these signings. Pennington is obviously a complete unknown but hopefully this turns out to be another uffie master stroke. 
Good work on the song, I can’t wait to sing it at the ROF soon 🤞

Looks like we might have got ourselves even more of a Scrappy Doo than Devlin and explains his loan to Serie C

Everyone deserves a second chance and 19-year-old Italian-Australian Nicholas Pennington is no different.

The Cagliari Calcio youth team captain reunites with his teammates in Hong Kong for the HKFC Citi Soccer Sevens after a whirlwind year which saw him banned for six months for an altercation with a referee and later loaned out to a Serie C outfit in Italy.

From what I can gather he only lightly pushed the ref while sticking up for a team mate

.

mrsmiis

Friar Tuck

Lonegunmen

Sign Joe Bell to a 3 year deal. And get back Stensness. Our midfield would be awesome.

As a Phoenix fan, this would be incredible. As a New Zealand fan, both of those guys are too good and need to be playing in Europe weekly.

Bell has Premier League links according to a Norwegian football journalist on Twitter, so it's a bit of a pipe dream to bring him home. Stensness needs a step up too, he was phenomenal last season which I really didn't see coming and the Olympics are corroborating that

As much as I rate Bell, he's a long way off being a Premier League signing. Only played 10 games for Viking last season. He'd be more likely to go to a League 2 or even League 1 club at a push.

League 2, or League 1 at a push.

Your having a laugh! He is a much better player than that. Whilst I agree he might not be premier league level yet, I have no doubt he could cut it in the Chanpionship.

The Garbett rumour to the premier league, not that one is a push!

TreeFiddy

mrsmiis

Friar Tuck

Lonegunmen

Sign Joe Bell to a 3 year deal. And get back Stensness. Our midfield would be awesome.

As a Phoenix fan, this would be incredible. As a New Zealand fan, both of those guys are too good and need to be playing in Europe weekly.

Bell has Premier League links according to a Norwegian football journalist on Twitter, so it's a bit of a pipe dream to bring him home. Stensness needs a step up too, he was phenomenal last season which I really didn't see coming and the Olympics are corroborating that

As much as I rate Bell, he's a long way off being a Premier League signing. Only played 10 games for Viking last season. He'd be more likely to go to a League 2 or even League 1 club at a push.

TreeFiddy

mrsmiis

Friar Tuck

Lonegunmen

Sign Joe Bell to a 3 year deal. And get back Stensness. Our midfield would be awesome.

As a Phoenix fan, this would be incredible. As a New Zealand fan, both of those guys are too good and need to be playing in Europe weekly.

Bell has Premier League links according to a Norwegian football journalist on Twitter, so it's a bit of a pipe dream to bring him home. Stensness needs a step up too, he was phenomenal last season which I really didn't see coming and the Olympics are corroborating that

As much as I rate Bell, he's a long way off being a Premier League signing. Only played 10 games for Viking last season. He'd be more likely to go to a League 2 or even League 1 club at a push.

What? He played 29 games for Viking last season, and already has 10 games this season. He’s rated as one of the best midfielders in Norway, which is quickly becoming a very well scouted league due to all the young talent coming through, similar to Belgium, just the money is yet to catch up so the clubs aren’t at quite ready to make UCL group stages and what not. 

Recent departures from the Eliteserien have been to AC Milan (Hauge), Watford (Zinckernagel), Ferencvaros (Zachariassen), who were last seasons UCL group stage, PAOK (Pereira) etc. I don’t think League 2, or even League 1 clubs would be able to afford what Viking would want for him, not to mention it wouldn’t make sense to go to a league like that. If and when he’d leave I’d imagine it would be to either a top 5-12 or so league, or to a second tier of one of the top 5 leagues.

Lonegunmen

And here's to you, Mr. Pennington
Phoenix loves you more than you will know
Whoa, whoa, whoa
Fever bless you, please, Mr. Pennington
Midfield holds a place for those who play
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey

Please move this to the chants section, mods! And let's make it happen. Has the potential to be one of the great Nix songs of all times 

Re: Pennington's "history" . I found this article (https://www.google.it/amp/s/amp.calciomercato.com/news/cagliari-pennington-squalificato-6-mesi-ma-il-referto-e-gonfiato-25717). 
First of all, the incident happened in 2017, and secondly it appears there were significant discrepancies between the referee's report and the images. According to the ref, Nicholas man handled him and showed him hard, and proceeded to take the red card out of his hands and threw it onto the ground. He was also barely restrained by his teammates and was reluctant to leave the field. 
From what I can see (and the images aren't super clear), he gers close to the ref but appears to be pretty composed overall. The ref does bend over to pick up a card so it's likely he did snatch it. 
Still it seems way over the top to cop a 6 month ban for what appears to be a slightly over the top protest (as team captain). 

Anyway, I'm sure Uffie would have done his due diligence and is happy with him and his character