Auckland FC squad: 1. Michael WOUD, 2. Hiroki SAKAI, 3. Scott GALLOWAY, 4. Nando PIJNAKER, 5. Tommy SMITH, 6. Louis VERSTRAETE, 7. Cameron HOWIESON, 8. Luis TOOMEY, 10. Guillermo MAY, 12. Alex PAULSEN, 14. Liam GILLION, 15. Francis DE VRIES, 17. Callan ELLIOT, 18. Finn MCKENLAY, 22. Jake BRIMMER, 23. Dan HALL, 25. Neyder MORENO, 27. Logan ROGERSON, 28. Luis Felipe GALLEGOS
(One to be omitted)
Ins: Nil
Ins: Nil
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: Nil
Wellington Phoenix squad: 1. Josh OLUWAYEMI (gk), 3. Corban PIPER, 4. Scott WOOTTON (c), 6. Tim PAYNE, 7. Kosta BARBAROUSES, 8. Paulo RETRE, 9. Hideki ISHIGE, 10. David BALL, 11. Stefan COLAKOVSKI, 12. Mo AL-TAAY, 14. Alex RUFER (c), 15. Isaac HUGHES, 19. Sam SUTTON, 21. Marco ROJAS, 24. Oskar VAN HATTUM, 25. Kazuki NAGASAWA, 27. Matt SHERIDAN, 30. Alby KELLY-HEALD (gk), 39. Jayden SMITH, 41. Nathan WALKER
(Two to be omitted)
Ins: 6. Tim PAYNE (returning from injury)
Outs: 36. Xuan LOKE (omitted)
Unavailable: 5. Fin ROA CONCHIE (injured)
How long is Woud contracted for? 2 years? He must be seriously regretting his choices, given the #1 and benched immediately when the young upstart returns via the miracle loan deal.
3 years iirc? I think he’s happier here than 4th choice in J2 or J3.
The chance to replace Paulsen when he leaves is his best shot at a number one keeping gig he’s like to get in the foreseeable future. I think he must be happy to be home, still be a contracted professional footballer and to have some potential goals to work towards to further his career.
And if Paulsen is still in Auckland next season he’s definitely wasting his time.