Alex Jones

If he does well, i'd be very surprised if he didn't go back. Not sure why they would get rid of a potential asset for nothing.

I'd compare it to Gamiero's stint with us; always likely to move on.

So had Pie Man.

I meant in contrast to being sent here on loan.

Yeah, circumstances are different - but I mean the end result will be the same.

It used to be really common for British clubs to loan promising young players to NZ clubs back in the 1980's.

Pretty much all of them went back to Britain.

If they didn't stay at the club loaning them out, they transferred to another one.

UK clubs saw the NZ national league as useful place to send young players who they weren't quite sure about ability or behaviour wise to see how they went in a senior league.

Usually the players they sent here were pretty good and in most cases went on to successful careers back in the UK.

Some went on to very high-profile careers and played for England or Scotland.

When Newcastle United played in the Football United tournament here in 2014, the then Dunedin City club management remembered how they had a contract to receive Paul Gascoigne on loan to play in our national league the last time Newcastle toured here in 1985.

But appalled at Gascoigne's behaviour on tour (including acquiring a Mohican haircut in Christchurch), the Newcastle manager tore the agreement up in exasperation and sent two more reliable players to Dunedin on loan instead (including Newcastle's regular centre-back who was coming back from a year out injured).

British youngsters who had a season here on loan in our national league:

John Fashanu later of England, Wimbledon (FA Cup winner 1988) and Aston Villa fame played for Miramar in our national league in 1982 and in the Chatham Cup Final.

Future Norwich City star Peter Mendham (211 Norwich appearances, League Cup winner) played for Miramar in the late 70's and again in 1981 on loan from Norwich.

John McGinlay: Played for North Shore in our national league in 1983-84 (24 games, 10 goals) before going on to play 192 times for Bolton Wanderers (118 goals - tenth highest of all time for Bolton) and thirteen times for Scotland (4 goals). Won the English second tier in 1996-97 and was top goal-scorer.

Brian McAllister: won our national league with Napier in 1989 and then on to the English top flight with Wimbledon for a decade and three Scotland caps. Made Scotland's squad for the 1998 World Cup but was injured on the eve of the tournament.

Jonathan Gould: On loan to Napier City Rovers in 1989 as a centre-back (they didn't need a goalie) before he went on to fame as Celtic's goalie and won a few caps for Scotland.

Paul Warhurst played for Manurewa AFC for a season in the late 1980's early in his career, was released by Manchester City, but went on to success with Sheffield Wednesday, Blackburn, Crystal Palace and Bolton and England u-21.

Richard Hill: Played a season on loan to Christchurch United in 1983 (top goal-scorer) from top non-league side Nuneaton Borough and returned to score 52 goals in two seasons at Northampton Town, being snapped up by Graham Taylor at Watford, then one of the best top flight sides and making a few appearances, before joining fellow former Christchurch United player, All White Ceri Evans at Oxford United in the second tier.

Thanks Pete, I remember most of those names... nice piece of history.

Certainly helped with national teams selections too, e.g. Manny Malta

But they are all innocent little cherubs

I don't care if he's shark, after yesterday we can't do any worse up top with him there

Welcome Alex and good luck.  For all our sakes.

He enjoys Shed 5 so must fit the NO Tosser rule.

rumour has it that he might be having an issue similar to Konrad Hurrel and is having visa complication getting in to Australia for away games

FFA putting the Boot In lol

Oh noes

Lost for words ????

— Alex Jones (@JonesA_) February 9, 2016

The paperwork is not completely sorted, but Wellington Phoenix say there will be no issues getting Alex Jones to play in Sydney on Sunday.

— Simon Hampton (@SimonHampton9) February 9, 2016

Feels a Tui Billboard ad coming.........

Perfect opportunity to work this song into a chant

I'm concerned that you knew an Aqua song other than Barbie girl tbh

C%^&*h^&*(a^&*(n^&*(t THREAD!

(I'm just feeling champ that I got to the idea first, some 20 minutes ahead of Doloras)

meh, relates to Alex, fits in both threads.

mostly I was just emphasising my second point- that I got to this completely obvious link first

Between the FFA & NZF we must have two of the most incompetent sporting bodies in the world representing the game, how the hell does NZF consistently f*ck up player info? You would have thought that from the Glen Moss world cup debacle, or the Deklan eligibility issue they'd have figured out how to scan & email documents on time by now. 

That's ridiculous, thought not at all surprising if it was up to NZF. They really are a Mickey Mouse outfit. It's hard to imagine a more incompetent organisation in any field not just sport. Even something as simple as sending an email on time is beyond them. Can they actually do anything?

We should have warned him:

Welcome Alex! Wellington is nice but beware of major NZF incompetence.

Have FIFA moved from faxes to email?

I nominate the FFA.

Was the FFA responsible for the Hersi visa issues?

FFS sack the lot of em

hobbits

I think it is time that the Sports Minister (which surely should be in his power) orders an entire review of NZ football. If they can't handle simple paper work then God knows what other mistakes is going on in the background in their little kingdom.

One mistake, fine, two mistakes fine, three ok, four or more then something is fundamentally wrong.

This administration and others are slowly killing NZ football and players of all ages are suffering.

Enough is enough.

Why

Can't

Anything

Be

Done

Right

First

Time

?

*sobs*

First rule of politics.  Never get involved in anything that is shark.  Especially when it is someone else's shark.  And most especially when most of the population does not give a shark. 

Understand that AP but still have to question how the Phoenix have handled this I would be surprised if they are entirely to blameĺess. Let's face it NZ Football make themselves easy targets

I don't think the Phoenix are entirely blameless but from what I can gather I'd say about 10% Phoenix and 90% NZ Football.

Either way I suspect Alex may set a record for least minutes by a Phoenix import since Johnny Chen.

Sery de Campos?

NZF = Pencildicks.

I know someone already has previously but I'm on my phone so can't search very well. Can we get a list posted up of all the NZF fudge ups. Thinking if flicking a message to sports minister just making my feelings heard. I have never written to a minister before but the incompetence is just mind numbing.