Contracted Players - Return of the Long Pins

IPL is probably better money if he can get a contract there tho...

Wellington Phoenix coach Ufuk Talay says at present the only player definitely not coming back next season is Libby Cacace. Those off contract are Hooper, Steinmann, Hudson-Wihongi, Devere, McCowatt, Elliot, McGing and Scott. @newstalkzbsport pic.twitter.com/nLhJONRhSf

— Jason Pine (@pineyzb) August 28, 2020

Definitely have to re-sign Elliot and TAHW and McCowatt

Also remember now that McCowatt had a short stint in Holland a few years back. I think it was at Thomas's old Dutch club PEC Zwolle. Link at the time probably being Ole.

So wouldn't be surprised if he's currently back there, kicking a ball around, having a bit of a chat.

It would hardly be a huge shock, if he didn't sign on again with the Nix. Boyd is the only other Ole grad I can think of that played for the Phoenix, and he never stayed long enough to nail a first team spot. 

Be interesting to know how much guidance likes of Pjinaker, McCowatt, Just etc still seek from Declan re their next club move. Quite a bit I reckon.

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.

Boyd = Declan not Ole

From the limited time I saw of McGing he looked more than capable as well. If he's happy to be a squad player definately worth re-signing, particularly if DeVere isn't coming back for whatever reason.

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.

McCowatt has ambitions to play in Europe. With the A-league unlikely to start until January, there is no better time for him to head off and trial at clubs for a few months. He has us as a backup option if nothing comes from it.

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).

Boyd = Declan not Ole = semantics

If the A-league had a set restart date and there were no question marks over its finality I'd be quite pissed at both the Nix and McCowatt for not agreeing on a contract extension. However, given how volatile the situation is at the moment, I actually support the youngster's decision to dip his toes in European waters and see what comes of that.
No doubt he and Uffie will have discussed his and he'd be welcome back at the club in a few months should Europe not work out

hopefully but the nix were quite tough on the central mariner kiwi last year who did exactly the same thing

So there is form

Talay isn't walking into a new gig with only a handful of players signed this time around. He knows what McCowatt brings & the club won't be complaining about not having to pay him for 2-3 months either.

well I looked back 4 pages and couldn't find a McCowatt page so- Niche Cache said that he didn't really kick on. How do we rate his season? Or his position? Had his best period almost as a box to box midfielder after the resumption with some long runs from deep through the midfield and the amazing piece of work for his assist of Hooper on the counter. Didn't really get his shooting boots on, but maybe that kind of counter attacking fluid front three role wasn't there?

Where would he play if we got him back? Is he better than Piscopo? Were they both underachievers on the goal front or are they reliant on better strikers?

Both are definitely behind Libby on the dangers of their dribbling, though he probably had more space.

How would they compare to David Ball, another dangerous dribbler, assist maker and scorer of some great goals.

Maybe expectations were a bit high for McCowatt but he gets a definite pass mark for the season from me. In some respects he was unlucky that we had that rare thing for the Nix: squad depth. Even so, I think we saw enough to suggest that in the right set up with consistent game time he will go from strength to strength, just perhaps not quite as quickly as many hoped. Not all players can be an immediate sensation like Marco or Libby or Singh.

If you compare McCowatt to other young guys in the league playing in similar roles then I reckon he held his own well, eg, imo he was as good as Lachy Wales for Melb City who is more experienced and was a regular starter. 

Was impressed with Piscopo. Building up to lockdown and then again post-lockdown he was a real improver. Once he overcame that tendency to try and beat one player too many he looked fantastic. Looking forward to seeing him again next year, and hopefully McCowatt too. It definitely adds another level of enjoyment to watching the Nix when there are so many promising young Kiwis in the mix.

McCowatt gone according to dominion

 Macarthur or Euro?

Helsingør, Danish league. Wilkins and Just are there. Disappointing to lose him, honestly think he needs another year here before going to Europe but ah well.

He'll be playing and getting paid rather than sitting on his arse here for a couple of months before probably being asked to re-sign for possibly less money than he had been on to play in a league that won't start before 2021, and that no-one has any idea how it will actually be set up given all the logistical uncertainties at the moment. It's really a no-brainer if it's an option that's open to you.

Pretty sound read from Niche Cache (written obviously before McCowatt left).

http://theniche-cache.com/football/2020/9/3/a-welly-nix-2020-21-offseason-primer

Disappointed we never got to see the best out of McCowatt, I don't think the wide midfielder role best suited his skills. It opens up space to give Sam Sutton a deal now, so that is a silver lining.

Sadly for us the A league is not a great look at the moment. But hey- give it a week the announcement of an agreement on wages, salary caps, fans in the stadium and a trans-Tasman bubble and we may be feeling a bit better!

Might help before any of that happens if a league sponsor is found.

Isn't there a chap who has a gazillion dollars in Westfield or something?

Meh, if he cracks on brilliant but was/is behind Piscopo who outshone him.  Really think Piscopo will be a beast later in his career, and will shine for the Socceroos, not so sure about McCowatt, hope he proves me wrong though!

Wow I really thought McCowatt did incredibly well most times he got on the pitch. He was dynamic, mobile, fast, tricky, good vision etc. For someone his age, coming straight from the Handy - I thought he would be more highly rated.

I also think had he signed with his current club 15 months ago in the Danish 2nd division and had he gained promotion to the first tier with them, he would be kept in higher regards.

I think he's going to have a tremendous career personally as he has all the skills needed to succeed. Gutted he won't be playing for us next season though as I think he would have made yet another step up.

Helsingor got promoted from Danish 3rd tier (2nd division) and are now in the 2nd tier (1st division).

Fact they were only in 3rd tier last season, has been mentioned as likely main reason why he choose Nix for a year, over joining Just and Wilkins initially in Denmark.

Just to clarify here - Helsingor were in the third tier last season, and have been promoted to second tier now. Helsingor may be in the First Division, but the top tier in Denmark is Superliga.

EDIT: What Coochie said.

Ooops got that wrong, thanks for clarifying... Stil think he'll do really well over there

He will do well... I still think his close ball control at pace needs to be better, it got away from him a little bit at times.

Good when standing stall and shifting weight to create space, but needs to improve his dribbling IMO to become a very good player.

Wellington striker Gary Hooper has an offer from Kerala Blasters. There is a slight difference in valuation but it should be made up in bonuses. Hooper also has interest in Russia and is speaking with a European club, with a decision expected soon. [@MarcusMergulhao]

— A-League Hub (@AleagueHub) September 10, 2020

Reports from India says he has signed a 1 year deal with Kerala

ISL will start the new season as a hub based in Goa. Though in this case I suspect player's families will be able to join them.

Nicer place to be (Goa) then the UK, Russia and most of Europe through the northern winter.

Hooper's departure, or I guess more accurately non return is confirmed.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/a-league/12...

Was always gonna happen when the TV deal was cut sadly.

I don't know if I'd want to go to India right now, Covid is finally kicking off there and I think it is only going to get a lot worse before it gets better. Good luck Hoops, it was fun having you here.

Is Stevie T signed for next season?

Huge blow to the Wellington Phoenix with captain Steven Taylor departing the club by mutual consent.

Full story soon on @newstalkzbsport and @nzheraldsport pic.twitter.com/8vQc3kZaci

— Jason Pine (@pineyzb) September 14, 2020