Contracted Players - Return of the Long Pins

Nix 14/15 to go on a record winning streak, every single result of which is a 5-4 victory. #weknowyoudontbelieveus

So... Welnix are the new scapegoat?

I wonder when I can break out the "I Told You So" sign which I've been hiding for three seasons. I knew there would be issues with a board who were keen to run a football team for Wellington but didn't actually have clue one about football. Just because Gareth has shut up with his "technical advice" in public doesn't mean he's not still making (dumb) calls behind the scenes.

Wouldn't be surprised, frankly, if Ernie says "f**k this for a game of soldiers" and is off.

Success would be accidental, it seems to me.

SACK EVERYONE! 

If we re-sign Huysegems, do we even have space for any more imports next season? There are zero quality Australia/New Zealand defenders/midfielders just going around right now. Next season isn't looking much better this far out.

We gain about 8 players back from injury. That'll help. 

Big challenge coming up for Merrick and Welnix. Put it bluntly signing the number of kids we did hasn't paid off. It may in a year or two, but we needed quality back up in our midfield and got nothing. Hernandez and Huysegems were Herbert signings. 

Cunningham has impressed, but this pre-season will be a big test for Merrick and for Welnix. 

I know he's getting old and injury prone, but if Stein doesn't re-sign, then I would make a play for Smeltz. He is a proven goal scorer in an out and out striker role who would feed off service from Carlos and I am very confident that given chances like Stein has had in the last couple of weeks he would still take them. Put it this way, he's not going to be any slower or less effective than Stein who a lot of people want to keep. Ernie could place some speedy youngsters either side of him (Boyd, Krishna etc) and it is a place where we do have some depth if (when?) he does get injured (Brockie, Boyd, Krishna). Plus, most importantly, he wouldn't be an import.

Then we can direct all out attention to using the import slot for a box to box / defensive mid. This is an area that we have no depth in, and as evidenced this year can kill our game very quickly. We need someone decent here, not a journeyman Aussie (e.g. Matt Thomson) or promising kiwi (e.g. Chris James), and there aren't a lot of decent Aussies available. This should be our import spend.

Didn't he resign for Perth?

Ah we finally see that we have resigned players who reached their zenith three seasons ago. Ill watch the last game, ill follow the team next season but heck im gutted and disappointed with the Nix, players and management.

Really dont think they will Stein.. which im okay with..

Nope. talk of going to Adelaide or Roar.

Smeltz is probably a better finisher and wouldn't be an import, but his general play is not as effective, he was in much worse form this season, and I think he would actually be slower than Hysugems now. There is also the question of whether he actually wants to be here. Because we desperately need a good midfielder I don't think we can really afford to use another import spot anywhere else so the non-import status is tempting.

Another possibility if you were looking at non-imports is Archie Thompson. No idea whether the Tards will sign him again and if not whether he would even want to move his family here for a season. But could be worth an enquiry.

Kosta > Smeltz

Maybe in general but not really by what we need. Kosta is much more similar to Boyd, Cunningham and Krishna. Also he doesn't really score a lot of goals. We need someone to replace Hysugems as a central striker and Kosta will not fill that role.

If Kosta can provide one cheeky back heel in the penalty area for Boyd/Krishna/Kenny to score from each season, then he is worth a spot.

With the various seasons coming to a close over in the european arena, including the UK, I think we could get a few replacements. I appreciate we have limited import slots and also only 1 marquee slot but it might be worth investigating.

I think the Phoenix do need to work on trying to get one or two older All Whites back in the country. I'm not saying we should replace Huysegems with Fallon or Killen but surely either player couldn't hurt? Isn't Killen unattached or something? I'm not saying his style would be great for the Phoenix or that we should be willing to pay him a lot of money. It's just that one of the advantages we have is that we are the only professional New Zealand team. Surely some All Whites would take a minor pay cut to play here?

Chris James is definitely a player I hope the Phoenix would at least look at.

I was all for Killen a couple of years back but he is well past it. Crap.

Fallon crap too!

Smeltz is too slow now and he's had a lot of injury this season plus he's not getting any younger

Should offer Rhys Jordan a trial in the UK off season IMO. He should have hardened up some by now.

What do you guys suggest then? We aren't going to get New Zealanders in the prime of their career unless we offer them a lot of money. I mean, shit, we signed Shane Smeltz from Halifax Town of all places. Now we think Crawley Town are too good for us? Smeltz would be a terrible buy because he would cost too much. I reckon we could get Fallon or Killen quite cheap.

We aren't going to sign any top quality Australians (when have we ever because they would need to be paid more to play here than in Australia) and it seems like we won't sign any overseas New Zealanders. So that means our squad next season will be exactly the same except maybe someone to replace Huysegems and maybe some Aussie state league players. Melbourne Heart will be a lot better next season although I'm not sure about Perth. You would have to say that this team has wooden spoon written all over them.

Do we absolutely need another experienced striker?

We have Brockie, Cunningham, Krishna, Boyd, Hernandez, Ridenton and Hicks as possible front four attacking players. You could throw Fenton in there and if you wanted to you could probably re-sign Ifill and/or Watson. 

Against that for deeper Midfield players you have Lia, Muscat and Riera. I don't think Cunningham or Ridenton work in this role and shouldn't be played there next season. I don't like the idea of Caira, Boxall or Brindell-South being pushed up there, they are not suited imo. Fenton could potentially be moved there in some formations but it would be a gamble to rely on him adapting to yet another position.  I guess you can sort that out pre-season.

I'm assuming Leo will not be re-signed and I don't really know where Rufer could be played.

Although we could obviously do with a great goalscorer I don't think it is a priority. Midfield is much barer and where we simply haven't got a presence. If you want to play a possession game you need to be able to transition the ball through the middle and we don't have the players to do that.

I wouldn't be adverse to someone like Smeltz, but I just don't think he is now worth as much as he will likely be asking for and potentially may not even make the starting lineup. Looking at the squad now, having Cunningham and Krishna both as imports is quite limiting. I think relying on a combination of Brockie/Iffill/Watson/young inexperienced aussie or kiwi for that one spot on the field might be the best we can do in this situation.

Player announcement coming up at 1pm

Stein and Leo gone.