You would also have to hope though with where Singh and Cacace ended up players see us as a viable stepping stone now and dont just dismiss us. Even if Declan dosnt rate us the evidence is plain to see. Would be very surprises if some people arnt starting to consider the Phoenix path can actualy get you somewhere if you have the talent.
Let's say your are 17-18 years and you get an offer from the Nix and one to play for some 4-5th tier in Sweden. It should be a no brainer.
Maybe they train very hard over there, but I doubt the game quality is very good. Tier 3 has 84 and Tier 3 has 144 clubs. Sweden has a population of 10mio.
The Ole philosophy seems all about Europe (look at Declan's twitter account to get a feel for that). That will only be reinforced now with a base at Torslanda in Sweden for players to come and go. That's basically what Pjinaker did starting out there, and then trialling around Europe. I'm sure it's a bit reassuring for likes of Garbett, Wilkins, Just etc - that Uncle Declan and some of their old Ole mates are not far away.
It's actually not a bad idea, a little Euro base. Contrast that with the Bill Tuiloma story of trialling on his own, ping ponging around various clubs on the old continent, into a cold miserable autumn and being on the verge of giving up, until OM gave him a chance. That's the hard challenge for many other Kiwi kids in the past, travelling to the other side of the world all alone.
Parker-Price and Wooldridge are both age 21. Swedish 5th tier pub football is not their goal, but at least currently they are being looked after, and I'm sure Edge senior and others (Dan Keat etc) are spruiking them around their network of various agents and clubs.
Overall for NZ football the more Kiwis at pro clubs the better, and there will always be plenty locals at the Nix now, with the Weenix Academy doing a great job, plus a few others coming from the Handy Prem etc.
But McCowatt's likely one season aside, Ole alumini seem to be giving the Nix a swerve for whatever reason(s).