Contracted Players - Return of the Long Pins

Huh? link?

Well hidden  Welnix GP LTD formerly Welnix LTDhttp://www.business.govt.nz/companies/app/ui/pages/companies/3522632/directorshttp://www.business.govt.nz/companies/app/ui/pages/companies/3522631/shareholdings

So does this mean if he does score a goal, he'd leave us having ticked the boxes on his Phoenix achievement list?

How many overseas player slots do we get tiil end of this season and then how many does it drop too next season.

5 for the season and drops to 4

thanks, had thought 6 for this year.

Add in Rojas as an import at the Victory. His 2 year deal is a nice for him considering that quotas drop to 4 next year and he is not playing much. Be surprised if he sticks the season after that though when they drop to 3 and his deal is up.

Brockie should be close to getting his Aussie passport, so next season might not be a import.

In my opinion...

IN:

Alex SMITH
Manny MUSCAT
Mark PASTON
DANIEL
Dani SANCHEZ (f)
Brent GRIFFITHS (u21)
Niko TSATTALIOS (u21)
Mirjan PAVLOVIC
Ben SigmUnd
Paul IFILL
Andrew DURANTE

UNDECIDED:

Tony LOCHHEAD
Cameron LINDSAY (u21)
Lucas PANTELIS

OUT:

Tony WARNER
Nick WARD
Chris GREENACRE (assistant coach)
Vince LIA
Tim BROWN
Leo BERTOS
Jimmy DOWNEY

And I do realise some in's and outs have already re-signed

drop to 3 the season after that? That seems a little bit silly, what with the quality the league is now. That would definitely drop with 3 imports IMO.

I honestly dont think it will drop the quality of the league that much. I cant think of one team that has more than 3 imported players better than aus/kiwi players.

I guess with the reduction, it will promote youth, but clubs will have to really do the hard work signing foreign players and wont afford flops

Are all those under 21 year old youth players all still eligible for youth spots next year?

I think that was a PFA suggestion, rather than anything official. The ACL is 3+1, so would be surprised if the A-League ever dropped to 3 imports.

Lindsay is but Griffiths and Tsattalios will be too old.

It must be difficult for Ricki when he is trying to re-sign players like Manny that there has been no visible change in back room staff since Terry left (for example we still need an assistant coach, goal keeping coach and now even a CEO).

That does not inspire a lot of confidence to players such as Manny, if they are contemplating similar money offers in Australia.

AucklandPhoenix2012-01-09 16:29:59

Has there been any developments on Tony P's reported interest???

Hasnt he been doing some work for the Tards.

http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news-display/Lindsay-learns-art-of-survival/44232

"If you've got those characteristics then you've got a chance. That's all you can ask and he's got that," said Herbert, who is hopeful of re-signing the New Zealand Under-20 international.

"He's been great for us and well respected by the senior players and that's a real tick in his box.

"He's worked really hard. As a young boy the retention of a professional contract is really important for them. He's done everything that he's been asked to do to retain that.

"I've been really pleased with him and hopefully we can give him some time to be part of what we're doing and give him the confidence of being around the club for a longer period.

"I'd like to see him next year where if he's not in the team he's on the bench and the next one to come into the team. He's pretty close to doing that."

what position?

Good to hear that Ricki sees Cameron Lindsay as a match day player for next season and then a starter the following one. Really hope we see two more Kiwis in the youth spots next season though.

Im actually filled with hope with Lindsay. NZ need a young ball playing CM for the future, and by all accounts, this lad has got the abilities to really push on. And time on his side.

But he is a left back. Its where Ricki has played him previous when I have watched him.

Something is changing as the last two games I've seen he's been in the centre of the park.

I thought he was a RB but when he was signed, Ricki said he saw him as more of a midfielder. Can play off both feet.

Pretty much a kiwi manny muscat (Im just hoping)

More a younger Simon Elliott.  Pulling the strings in midfield.

Hmm yeah i was thinking more his likeness to mannys versatility. But yes I am very pleased with what I have heard of him. Have only seen a little but seems to have good ability to get by a man, good off both feet, and decent decision making and vision.

Wibblebutt2012-01-22 10:06:46

Was reported that we are already in talks with Dirty, so would hope he is the next to sign up. Lochhead and Lia I think would be the next priorities to sign up.

Yeah, of those I'd prioritise Sanchez, Daniel, Lochy and Lia.

Plus Cameron Lindsay. Then I wouldn't care if the rest aren't even there next season. Nick Ward is a good squad player, along with Alex Smith.

I think Lindsay will be re-signed as he'll still be a youth player next season. Wouldn't mind Lia re-signing but if we didn't manage to retain him wouldn't be too upset. I think he's replaceable.

Does anyone actually know if Ward's contract is expiring this season? I haven't been able to find anything official, hence the question mark next to his name.
Wibblebutt2012-01-22 09:04:57

Ward, who has signed a one-year deal with the Phoenix, left Wellington at the end of last season for Greek club Iraklis Thessaloniki.

http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news-display/Nick%20Ward%20Back%20And%20Raring%20To%20Go/41456

Lia and Smith are young by our standards, so I would want to keep them as solid sqaud players. Who knows what else we'll end up with.
I'm worried that the semi official talk of Smith staying round means that Sanchez is unlikely to stay. Especially because I'm sure I heard Greenie was staying on as a player.

Opinion by Michael Burgess on off contract players:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/soccer-football/news/article.cfm?c_id=86&objectid=10780246

Think most of them are spot on. It's a hard call to make, but I don't think Greenacre would be worth using an import slot on. Would like him to stay on in a coaching role, and always could be back up for an injury replacement contract if an import gets hurt for a short while.

I agree. I think that your 4 import slots should be used for players that are 'first names on the sheet' players. Greenacre (and I don't say this is as a knock against him or his talent and work ethic) is by default because we have no other strikers. If the Phoenix are looking for a gun import striker, then as a 4th option, he can't be retained if they want Sanchez as well. I would say for imports, if you take the Ifill and Sanchez as two spots, you are looking for a cracking striker and a RB. That frees up Manny into his stated preferred DM rol and give Brown and Lia a little more room to use their skills away from that DM role they get tagged with but is not suited. That gives you cover and flexibility.

Yup, Greenie still in though in the absence of a better credentialled striker. With regard to Manny, I still have something of a soft spot for Lia at RB.

Here's a question: Could the Phoenix sneakily sign up Greenacre on a player/coach basis, on the understanding that we manage to pick up a gun import then he'll become purely coach?

I ask because I agree that he's getting on a bit, but still think he is a good default option. If he were just a player we would probably have to cut him loose in order to free up an import spot, which would run the slight risk of losing him and not being able to replace him if we don't end up getting anyone else.

But maybe we could avoid that risk by signing him as a player/coach. If we manage to sign someone else, then Greenacre becomes coach, but if not, we haven't completely lost his services, and either way we don't run the risk of losing a good import and not being able to replace.

Could be a good piece of sneaky business imo, and don't we all love sneaky business.