what island players would be worth looking at? If Totori was the best of them, then he was hardly the shining example.
so I'll repeat the question, what young island players are there?
Queenslander 3x a year.
so I'll repeat the question, what young island players are there?
Things may be looking up for Benji. It is known that the NSWPL is at a higher standard than the ASBPrem, although not nearly as tough as the A-League. So perhaps Benji will be able to show some of his old form in that league, and maybe even earn a bit of coin, who knows.
Things may be looking up for Benji. It is known that the NSWPL is at a higher standard than the ASBPrem, although not nearly as tough as the A-League. So perhaps Benji will be able to show some of his old form in that league, and maybe even earn a bit of coin, who knows.
so I'll repeat the question, what young island players are there?
shouldn't really answer it on account of your tone but Georges Gope-Fenepej whose at Troyes or Cesar Lolohea whose currently playing Ligue 2. Two examples of good young players in the region that are getting professional experience and might one day be worth looking at...
Queenslander 3x a year.
so I'll repeat the question, what young island players are there?
shouldn't really answer it on account of your tone but Georges Gope-Fenepej whose at Troyes or Cesar Lolohea whose currently playing Ligue 2. Two examples of good young players in the region that are getting professional experience and might one day be worth looking at...
but would he be good enough to hold an import spot, as has been mentioned, in France they play as locals not imports.
Queenslander 3x a year.
Was just pondering....how would Ernie know that Totori wasn't up to it? Did he decide in one week of training? Trust Greenie's judgement? Watch last seasons 2 appearances or whatever it was
The same way everyone else not named Ricki Herbert knew after watching 1 appearance..... you don't think Ernie sat at home and didn't watch a single A League game do you? I maintain that this would have been raised at the time of the interview and him signing.
Grumpy old bastard alert
Was just pondering....how would Ernie know that Totori wasn't up to it? Did he decide in one week of training? Trust Greenie's judgement? Watch last seasons 2 appearances or whatever it was
The same way everyone else not named Ricki Herbert knew after watching 1 appearance..... you don't think Ernie sat at home and didn't watch a single A League game do you? I maintain that this would have been raised at the time of the interview and him signing.
No i don't think that...but do you think he would be taking notes on players from every team?
And thanks Patrick!
The same way everyone else not named Ricki Herbert knew after watching 1 appearance..... you don't think Ernie sat at home and didn't watch a single A League game do you? I maintain that this would have been raised at the time of the interview and him signing.
No i don't think that...but do you think he would be taking notes on players from every team?
He would've watched all the Phoenix replays by now.
Watching Totori in the shooting practice before the matches would be enough to raise eyebrows. I feel a bit sorry for him, he does have some nice skills, he could definitely beat players and create problems for the opposition, but am quite relieved he has gone.
He would've watched all the Phoenix replays by now.
He would've watched all the Phoenix replays by now.
I hope for his sanity that he didn't have to sit through all 27 games that we served up
The same way everyone else not named Ricki Herbert knew after watching 1 appearance..... you don't think Ernie sat at home and didn't watch a single A League game do you? I maintain that this would have been raised at the time of the interview and him signing.
The same way everyone else not named Ricki Herbert knew after watching 1 appearance..... you don't think Ernie sat at home and didn't watch a single A League game do you? I maintain that this would have been raised at the time of the interview and him signing.
No I don't think that...but do you think he would be taking notes on players from every team?
And thanks Patrick!
Ok I'll paint it to you in a different manner.
You turn on TV to watch a random game, any game. How long is it going to take you to assess the talent on the field by watching on TV? You look at the stats and for an uninjured import, he was only able to make 15 appearances mostly as a bit part sub. You watch any highlights show and he NEVER features. Regardless what kind of person you are, you are going to make your own assessments very quick. I would also add that if you had intentions of trying to get back into the A League (and this is working on an assumption that Ernie was waiting for an opening to apply for) then he would be versed in the landscape and knowing that Ange and Popa ain't going anywhere anytime soon so what teams do I likely need to watch.
Now when you consider that Totoris' finest moments last year was his two touches for a throw in and murdering a certain goal and/or hat trick and his others were thinking that he did not need football skill, he would just try run past everyone and fail, it does not take long to tell that he bleated worse than an actual donkey.
I still maintain that this was a done deal on signing on the contract.
Grumpy old bastard alert
He would've watched all the Phoenix replays by now.
I hope for his sanity that he didn't have to sit through all 27 games that we served up
I still maintain that this was a done deal on signing on the contract.
I still maintain that this was a done deal on signing on the contract.
When I spoke to Domey after the announcement (to be fair, I was slightly drunk at the time after Gareth bought us beer), I got the impression that Ernie released him after seeing him in training and coming to the conclusion that he was shit. That doesn't mean that Ernie didn't have any preconceptions about Benji before he got here, but I don't think it was a part of contract negotiations
Fair enough. I guess when I try to time line it all out, its gone down extremely quickly and what's more, the paymasters said yes without what would appearr to require too much prompting.
Grumpy old bastard alert
Jeff must be the top poster in this thread.
I'd rather have Benji than Ricchardhino any day, and considering the amount of players who showed the ability to take on a player and create something anywhere on the pitch for us last season I'd say the pressure is on Merrick and the haters in this thread.So what is motivating it, in your opinion?
Grumpy old bastard alert
Everyone knows that I'm an actual honest-to-god commie with no tolerance for racism, but I would agree with you that I can't see any of that in the Totori dislike. For me, Totori was like Toto: I welcomed him to the club, I looked forward to him being given a chance, and when he was given a chance he was a dud. End of story. Back to semi-pro level for him.
I've noticed a trend, BTW, that people are claiming that the only reason their favourite player wasn't signed / turned out to be a dud was apparently Ricki Herbert hated them / ruined them. Ricki may be gone but that doesn't make him to blame for Aaron Clapham just not being up to it, she said changing the subject.
totally agree, we wasted three import spots last year - two we on players that were not up to starting 11 standard in Totori and smith and one in Dani who was largely played out of position so struggled to earn a starting spot.
Queenslander 3x a year.
So what is motivating it, in your opinion?
Cool
I think Merrick has probably identified with that and his statement that he wants a pacy striker seems to hint that he feels that's a point of difference we don't have.
Grumpy old bastard alert
So what is motivating it, in your opinion?
[/quote] I bet you a bag of rusty nails its starts with R and ends with acism which has entirely nothing to do with it. Comparing Totori, an import to Bertos, a local is not a comparison. Imports should be starters, not guys that cheerlead and 'offer something different'. He should be infinitely better than most of the squad to hold an import slot and the reality is that was not good enough for the reserves. That's what fucks me off, the waste of an import slot and to be honest last year, we wasted a few of those on Dani and Smith. If we had 3 imports last year who were a hell of a lot more use than those 3, we would not have sat in the toilet for the season.[/quote]Run the ball over the sideline with no-one within 10 yards of him? That requires some special talent...
Not really, Ive been watching the same High School player do it for the last three years. 10 times in one half was exasperating.
"Who ate all the pies"
"At the end of the drive the lawmen arrive...
I'll take my chance because luck is on my side or something...
Her name is Rio, she don't need to understand...
Oh Rio, Rio, hear them shout across the land..."
I think Totori had the ability to do things that a lot of the players in our team don't with the ball at his feet, but we didn't see any of that end up in goals and wins.
I couldn't agree more !
Yep, but that meant he had only a step or two to do anything, before the ball was no longer at his feet
loved his pace, and his footballing skills seemed a mild upgrade on Downey, but much in the same category and did not seem to get better
Has been signed by Waitakare United for the OFC Champions League.
That'll be interesting. The presser said
It is Totori who is likely to cause most concern for opposition defences, however, and Shelley says the former Wellington Phoenix striker did not need much convincing to return to one of his old clubs.
“He indicated that we were the only team he wanted to play for, which was pleasing because I’m sure we weren’t his only option,” Shelley says.
In his own conditions, I am sure he will go ok. Does he still have the pace and has his confidence not totally been ruined by the Phoenix stint?
Grumpy old bastard alert