Wellington Phoenix Men

2022 pre-season

253 replies · 43,389 views
almost 4 years ago
With yet another announcement of a pre-season tour to Australia by a premier league team (this time Leeds and Crystal Palace), do you think there's any chance we'll get anything over our side of the ditch this year as well? Was the West Ham/Newcastle tour a few years ago considered a success? Are there any connections with people at Nix HQ (or even players) which might make particular teams more likely? Discuss.
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almost 4 years ago
I'd love to see another Westham/Newcastle/Syndey/Nix type mini tourney held here! No idea how much of a success it was or wasnt but surely if the likes of Leeds and Crystal palace are spending money coming to Aus we could be involved in getting other teams to come down under for a game or two in NZ.

Queenslander 3x a year.

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almost 4 years ago
Unless someone other than Welnix funds it cant see it happening sadly. Certainly wouldnt expect Welnix to be expected to pay for it given what they have had to outlay the last couple of years.

GET YOUR SHIRTS OFF FOR THE BOYS

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almost 4 years ago
No, but it also wouldn't be a bad idea to do something to re-engage with the winder fan base.
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almost 4 years ago
As much as I'd love it to happen. Especially with Newcastle to have Chris Wood come through by about July in between seasons we tend to be down to about only 4 or 5 contracted squad members, and right in the throes of a full squad rebuild. Not sure how feasible it would be for that reason let alone the financial side.
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almost 4 years ago · edited almost 4 years ago · History
Ryan
No, but it also wouldn't be a bad idea to do something to re-engage with the winder fan base.

Ask the IRD to fund it. They basically did last time.

Edit - is was way off. I thought these games were in the Terry days. But no funded by Welnix, and this article said it cost over $2M at the time.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/sport/242980/west-ham-and-newcastle-visit-tops-$2-million
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almost 4 years ago · edited almost 4 years ago · History
Fitzy
With yet another announcement of a pre-season tour to Australia by a premier league team (this time Leeds and Crystal Palace), do you think there's any chance we'll get anything over our side of the ditch this year as well? Was the West Ham/Newcastle tour a few years ago considered a success? Are there any connections with people at Nix HQ (or even players) which might make particular teams more likely? Discuss.
These tours are organised by event promoters in conjunction with State Governments, who are putting in cash to attract them. So its very unlikely.
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almost 4 years ago
RR
Fitzy
With yet another announcement of a pre-season tour to Australia by a premier league team (this time Leeds and Crystal Palace), do you think there's any chance we'll get anything over our side of the ditch this year as well? Was the West Ham/Newcastle tour a few years ago considered a success? Are there any connections with people at Nix HQ (or even players) which might make particular teams more likely? Discuss.
These tours are organised by event promoters in conjunction with State Governments, who are putting in cash to attract them. So its very unlikely.

Yeah I presume the only groups remotely likely to make any money from the games are the touring clubs, not the local ones? Still, I think the Wellington Economic Development people or whatever it is should consider it, on the grounds that I would enjoy it quite a lot. 
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almost 4 years ago
We probably wouldn't have to do it on the same scale as the previous tour with 3 visiting teams (2 from UK all the way to Wellington), 4 games, 3 cities etc

We could just enquire about having 1 of the UK teams that are already in Australia, popping over to Wellington for a 3 day, 1 game situation.

Probably not this season due to the covid hangover / squad inconsistencies. But maybe in a years time when life is *hopefully* a bit more settled
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almost 4 years ago · edited almost 4 years ago · History
My understanding was it still costed the owners a lot of money to have Newcastle and West Ham play in NZ the last time they did it. With the drain on finances from being in Australia, the women's team and the WeeNix. I doubt having International club teams come play is high on their priority though a "because we are back home" and good PR case could be made for it. Plus not doing it on such a big scale wouldn't cost as much, It's down to them.

The games where big sellers, though the ticket prices where really cheap at like $35. I believe the cost of Newcastle and West Hams travel and accommodation had to be covered as well as the three stadium hires (Forsyth Barr, Westpac and Eden Park). Sure there was local council funding provided but I'm sure I remember it being a money loser for the owners. 
I'm an optimistic pessimist. 
I'm positive things will go wrong.
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almost 4 years ago
billyspleen75
We probably wouldn't have to do it on the same scale as the previous tour with 3 visiting teams (2 from UK all the way to Wellington), 4 games, 3 cities etc

We could just enquire about having 1 of the UK teams that are already in Australia, popping over to Wellington for a 3 day, 1 game situation.

Probably not this season due to the covid hangover / squad inconsistencies. But maybe in a years time when life is *hopefully* a bit more settled

It’s also a WC year and I wouldn’t be surprised if any International players bypassed Leeds and Palace’s trips to Oz for example.
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almost 4 years ago
coochiee
billyspleen75
We probably wouldn't have to do it on the same scale as the previous tour with 3 visiting teams (2 from UK all the way to Wellington), 4 games, 3 cities etc

We could just enquire about having 1 of the UK teams that are already in Australia, popping over to Wellington for a 3 day, 1 game situation.

Probably not this season due to the covid hangover / squad inconsistencies. But maybe in a years time when life is *hopefully* a bit more settled

It’s also a WC year and I wouldn’t be surprised if any International players bypassed Leeds and Palace’s trips to Oz for example.
 For them the WC is a long time away, they might be keen for it to help build their fitness and sharpness, especially fringe players.  The timing of this years WC is great for players, as they will not lose their off-seasons for once as is normal in a WC year.
Supporter world's best and worst football teams: Waikato/WaiBop, Kingz, Knights, Phoenix, The Argyle, The Whites & the All Whites

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almost 4 years ago
Any word on whether the A-League will break for the world cup? I guess they're waiting to see if Aus/NZ qualify first. 
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almost 4 years ago
coochiee
The Hurricanes won't know themselves, Rugby League park is such a shark hole, it doesn't even have a flat pitch.

What's happening to Martin Luckie park? The nix still going to use that too or are they dropping it after so much was invested in it? With the team being away because of covid it was probably hardly ever used.
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almost 4 years ago
Ryan
coochiee
The Hurricanes won't know themselves, Rugby League park is such a shark hole, it doesn't even have a flat pitch.

What's happening to Martin Luckie park? The nix still going to use that too or are they dropping it after so much was invested in it? With the team being away because of covid it was probably hardly ever used.

martin luckie park has been well used over the years, the kids have been training there and using it regularly. might change now that the facility in Upper Hutt has been opened though.

Queenslander 3x a year.

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almost 4 years ago
theprof
Ryan
coochiee
The Hurricanes won't know themselves, Rugby League park is such a shark hole, it doesn't even have a flat pitch.

What's happening to Martin Luckie park? The nix still going to use that too or are they dropping it after so much was invested in it? With the team being away because of covid it was probably hardly ever used.

martin luckie park has been well used over the years, the kids have been training there and using it regularly. might change now that the facility in Upper Hutt has been opened though.


Would seem daft to use it when you've got a world class facility.  Guess they may run academy games out of there?
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almost 4 years ago · edited almost 4 years ago · History
WanderingSheep
theprof
Ryan
coochiee
The Hurricanes won't know themselves, Rugby League park is such a shark hole, it doesn't even have a flat pitch.

What's happening to Martin Luckie park? The nix still going to use that too or are they dropping it after so much was invested in it? With the team being away because of covid it was probably hardly ever used.

martin luckie park has been well used over the years, the kids have been training there and using it regularly. might change now that the facility in Upper Hutt has been opened though.


Would seem daft to use it when you've got a world class facility.  Guess they may run academy games out of there?
Only thing I guess is there's going to be a lot of teams based out in Upper Hutt - three nix teams, multiple rugby teams, etc. plus people that want to rent the facilities.  
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almost 4 years ago
Seems like we will not be competing in the Australia Cup. 
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almost 4 years ago
Magnificentman
Seems like we will not be competing in the Australia Cup. 

What makes you say that? 
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almost 4 years ago · edited almost 4 years ago · History
RR
Magnificentman
Seems like we will not be competing in the Australia Cup. 

What makes you say that? 

They posted on their Instagram a list of qualified clubs which did not include the Phoenix. That post now appears to have been deleted. Must've been an error then.
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almost 4 years ago
that makes sense - the deletion.
only the bottom two teams of the league enter at the qualification stage, the rest are automatically in the round of 32 I think?

Queenslander 3x a year.

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almost 4 years ago
theprof
that makes sense - the deletion.
only the bottom two teams of the league enter at the qualification stage, the rest are automatically in the round of 32 I think?

Top 8 automatically qualify. Bottom 4 playoff.
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almost 4 years ago
I wonder if the sporting authorities did thorough home on the site?
Proud to have attended the first 175 Consecutive "Home" Wellington Phoenix "A League" Games !!

The Ruf, The Ruf, The Ruf is on Fire!!

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over 3 years ago
Start of the new season maybe be bought forward.
https://www.socceroos.com.au/news/our-opportunity-how-arnold-approaching-qatar-2022

Arnold also revealed that he will be lobbying to bring forward the start of the A-League Men’s season this year to give his players the best opportunity to be match-fit before the World Cup in Qatar.

The A-League Men season is due to get underway in mid-October but in years gone past, disruptions due to COVID-19 have caused the start of the seasons to be shifted. 

Arnold was confident those involved would support his request to provide as much time as possible to assess players for the tournament, which begins on November 21.

“That (starting the season early) is something I’ll speak to James Johnson and Danny Townsend about this week because we need the players fit,” Arnold said. 

I need to be able to see players to select because it takes a good five to six weeks to get started in a new season.

“So that is something that will be spoken about but  I’m sure we will get the support from them."

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over 3 years ago
FIFA's International Transfer Calendar has 30th September penciled in for the start date but some random account on Twitter posted a screen shot of Bein Indonesia advertising a 7th October start.

I'm all for an earlier start tho!
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over 3 years ago · edited over 3 years ago · History
AFL grand final is 24th Sept and NRL GF 2nd Oct.

I’m guessing they will try start ALM Friday Oct 7th Oct.
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over 3 years ago
coochiee
AFL grand final is 24th Sept and NRL GF 2nd Oct.

I’m guessing they will try start ALM Friday Oct 7th Oct.
 Yes, starting the league on either of those weekends would be madness.
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over 3 years ago
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over 3 years ago
RR

This table doesn't make sense to me. How does it work?

Oi Oi Edgecumbe... lets have a clean sheet

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over 3 years ago
Those are the dates for matches in those rounds of the competition. A-League sides will probably get the later dates in July so they have enough time to get up to fitness. That 4th July probably should be 4th August. 
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over 3 years ago
Oi Oi Edgecumbe
RR

This table doesn't make sense to me. How does it work?

Took me a while to read it too, poorly laid out for mine, but quite simply - The round (Round of 32, 16, QF, SF, Final) is at the top.

Whatever dates are below are the match dates for that particular round.

Hope that helps. 👍
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over 3 years ago · edited over 3 years ago · History
This might spell it out easier. Basically some sort of Australia Cup match every week from the week of Mon Jul 18 (three weeks away) except during the September international window.

FWIW Phoenix pre-season is set to start next Friday (or so I was told). Gather the AWs might be back slightly later.

OFC U-19 (U-20) Cup set to take place at some stage in September.

Round of 32 draw: Wed Jun 29 9.30pm NZT

Round of 32 matches to be played
– Thu Jul 21, Sat Jul 23, Sun Jul 24
– Wed Jul 27, Sun Jul 31
– Fri Aug 4

Round of 16 matches to be played
– Wed Aug 10, Sat Aug 13, Sun Aug 14
– Wed Aug 17

Quarterfinals to be played (exact dates TBC)
– Sat Aug 27, Sun Aug 28
– Mon Aug 29, Tue Aug 30

Semifinals to be played (exact dates TBC)
– Sat Sep 10, Sun Sep 11
– Tue Sep 13, Wed Sep 14

Men's international window: Mon Sep 19 – Tue Sep 27

Final to be played
– Sat Oct 1

(A-League Men likely to start on Fri Oct 7)
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over 3 years ago · edited over 3 years ago · History
Yeah, what he said. 👆

I'm excited that potential cup match/es are just a month or so away. Hopefully we get another good cup run out this time around too. 

Would we want another A-League side first up or rather an NPL team so that we can warm ourselves into the thing? 
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over 3 years ago
YoungHe.\rt
Yeah, what he said. 👆

I'm excited that potential cup match/es are just a month or so away. Hopefully we get another good cup run out this time around too. 

Would we want another A-League side first up or rather an NPL team so that we can warm ourselves into the thing? 

NSW has been carnage for the NPL sides. One NPL1 side, two NPL2 sides and Wollongong United from the Illawarra Premier League (the 6th tier) are their representatives. So a nice trip to the 'gong would be nice.
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over 3 years ago
Given how the Warriors been going, it would be nice to have a team I can be optimistic about again.
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over 3 years ago
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over 3 years ago
RR
Season starts 7th October, 3 weeks break for the World Cup.

14 weeks! Plenty of time to get over all the injuries, knocks and niggles.
I hope the players are able to do likewise!
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