Contracted Players - Return of the Long Pins

Kwabena Appiah-Kubi has supposedly signed a 18 month deal according to Simon Hampton on  twitter.

Ernie has largely been on the money thus far. If he strikes out on this one, he will still be against the average.

Updated:

EXPIRES END OF 2014/15:

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Michael BOXALL

Tyler BOYD (u21)

Josh BRINDELL-SOUTH

Kenny CUNNINGHAM (f)

Jason HICKS

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EXPIRES END OF 2015/16:

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Kwabena APPIAH-KUBI

Roly BONEVACIA (f)

Nathan BURNS

Tom DOYLE

Andrew DURANTE

Louis FENTON

Lewis ITALIANO

Roy KRISHNA (f)

Vince LIA

Michael McGLINCHEY

Manny MUSCAT

Matthew RIDENTON (u21)

Alex RODRIGUEZ GORRIN (f) (+1)

Alex RUFER (u21)

Ben SIGMUND

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EXPIRES END OF 2016/17:

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Glen MOSS

Albert RIERA (f)

I still rate Boyd way higher so am scratching my head a bit at this decision. Ernie gets the benefit of the doubt of course.

I find that difficult to agree with. It doesn't seem like Cunningham will get a deal and the club/Ernie ranks him ahead of Boyd.

except the club hasn't played him hardly all season...there is some culpability with the club here...

I think it's strange that Boyd, in his brief spell on the park in the A League and from what I've read about the WeeNix games, has looked like a better option than Kenny off the bench but has been below him in the pecking order. Even if Boyd has said that he's definitely off at the end of the season, so what? Surely you play your best players if you want to perform well. Clubs play players who are leaving all the time. And it's not like Kenny is a young fellow who's benefitting from exposure to first team football so it's not an investment in the future either. Either Ernie just doesn't rate Boyd (although he had him as regular starter last year) or there's some backroom clash that's pissed off the club/Ernie enough that they are punishing Boyd by freezing him out. By itself the whole "Boyd won't be here next season argument" isn't a good reason for not playing him this season.

Agree Conan.

Btw. You should get along to the ASB Premiership games and have a watch. It's really good stuff.

If Boyd is not playing because of a contract dispute then you are just hurting yourself.

Well if his rumours are to be believed, his attitude has contributed to him not playing. 

I can't recall where I read it, but I am sure there was an article recently which mentioned Boyd and painted his work ethic in a very positive light. I really wish I could find it but from memory it went along the lines that he was the one who stayed half an hour to an hour after training practicing shooting or something.

Assuming this is true, I can't really see what the issue is unless he is greeting the coach with a fudge you

It's maybe not what you are thinking of but I have seen him training at Wakefield Park a lot. I once saw him training there the day after he had got back from Adelaide after scoring his two goals. This is why the bad attitude doesn't make much sense to me from what I know.

There are other elements to attitude than whether or not you do extra training.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/a-league/661...

"We want young players who want to grow with the team and be coached."

weren't there also rumours of not playing due to having a contract minutes clause also? And he must have an extremely poor attitude, and it must have changed from last year when he played a lot. Not wanting to recontract is not a reason to not play a player, especially when you've already released a striker and have few strikers on your books, and a smaller than regular squad.

Not sure the problems are all Boyd's here, until I hear otherwise. I mean in basically one of his only hit outs he's got two goals. Surely the club and manager's role are to manage talent?

Let's not forget that we picked Carlos Hernandez last season. Does Boyd have a worse attitude than him?

Perhaps he developed an ego given how much he played last season. Apparently he was shooping himself around the US but got no interest. 

He's a lot quicker and a lot fitter. Couldn't see Carlos doing much of a job as a wing forward for us at the moment.

Until there's evidence to support this, don't think it should be plastered all over the forums. Not unusual for players (or anyone in any other job, for that matter) to try and sniff out better deals.

How would Carlos going if he was switched in for Krishna? Better or worse than Boyd? How would he do on defence running up and down the side line for 94 minutes? Be honest mate. You're right that there are the Jimmy Downeys of this world, but it doesn't hurt to be fit and have a good burst of speed in a forward.

You say "clearly there is a reason Ernie who works with him all week does not think he is ready." I agree. I am just trying to work out what that reason could be. People went straight to the poor attitude rationale with Chris James and I find it disappointing anyone would assume that about someone we do not know and have no right to judge. 

No one has said he is the messiah. All we have said is that we can't understand why he isn't in the team when he has looked good for the first team, is banging them in for the reserves and has no obvious attitude problem. No one is saying that Boyd is some great player and in fact I don't think anyone has even advocated that Boyd should currently be in the start XI. Furthermore we haven't actually been criticising Merrick for not picking Boyd.

We are just asking, why?

Ernie has been quite open and honest about players this season but hasn't said a whole lot about Boyd. Means that there is something more going on there, for sure. We'll probably find out what when he leaves.

Ego would not surprise me and knowing whom his 'mentor' is, the stories that he was considering playing for the US (yeah right) shopping himself in the US, getting an AW cap and fronting a Weetbix commercial, it would not surprise me if this was all ego related.

I go back to this - he is a bench player in a small league. He will either be at the Phoenix or in some small league in Europe. Either way, he thinks he is better than where he is and if you look at the supposed lack of interest in US, then that should give him the reality check he needs.

If he was as good as he thinks, offers would come in - it seems they are not. He is not an aerial threat and is still one footed (but looks to have improved that) He is far from the finished product but has a lot of potential. Maybe he thinks he has fulfilled that.

I was on Boyd's side there briefly until your post Vader. I then also recalled the up yourself comments a year ago by Boyd about making himself available for the great US of A before New Zealand. 

Maybe he is up himself and has an attitude problem.

You guys obviously trust the media a lot more than I do. If you take away all the journalistic words here is what Boyd actually said:

"I've got American parents and I've got an American passport so at this stage I'm not sure," Boyd said.

"I'll just keep my options open. I'm not sure if they're [US Soccer] aware that I can play for America but at this stage I'm not too worried. I consider New Zealand my home so that [the All Whites] would probably be a good opportunity but at this stage I don't know. I'll just keep my focus on A-League at the moment."

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/9609964/Amer...

You don't know anything about context. Maybe some reporter finds out he is eligible for America and says Tyler do you want to play for the USA? What we never hear and what is very relevant is whether the player offers information or responds to a question. If Tyler just brought that comment up it would be weird. However, if someone in the media asked Tyler then you could interpret his words as an extended "no comment." Maybe the interview was 8 minutes long and they just picked this bit out of it?

I still don't like making assertions based on little evidence but assuming you are correct, the further question then is having a big ego enough to not be picked on the bench? Maybe you don't offer him another contract if he has an ego problem but you still pick him if he is good enough. The only reasons not to select someone are because they are not good enough or they are disruptive to the team environment. Having an ego is not disruptive in and of itself unless it stops you from passing the ball and the like.

Reminds me a bit of Ross Taylor when he hadn't been selected for NZ and he went away and smashed 200 in a short time. All he can do is play well in the level down. If we look at the football he should be putting a lot of pressure on Krishna for his spot at the moment. Kenny doesn't seem to have contributed that much when he's come on tbh.

I suspect from the way 2ndBest is talking he's heard anonymous words from people inside the camp. There's a story and we may get it at some point.

Ryan, i agree with what you say...we just want to know why.

JV, i agree with you too.. we won't find out until after he leaves; or alternatively, the story disappears as he gets his chance more regularly.

However, Brockie is gone, Kenny will be gone, Burns...we'll see; and Ernie has just signed Appiah for 18 months.

Ernie has been quiet on the matter but his actions speak loud and clear: Appiah is a like for like replacement - both lads have got a bit of pace and technique about them and both show a bit of potential.

In current circumstances I could see Newcastle or Central Coast risking a visa spot to pick Boyd up; at least he'll have an even chance of playing first team football; and if he does then who could blame him, and good luck to him.

post match press conference after the Adelaide game where.  Doesn't sing a lot of praises for Tyler, just says he did well at training.  

http://www.a-league.com.au/video/wellington-phoenix-press-conference/1091453

I don't really think this will be a popular view, but if a kid refuses to sign a contract extension you don't bother with his development any further.  You can't allow any young player to think they are bigger than the team and the club.  The long game is having kids develop, a number becoming club stalwarts and hopefully some earning transfer fees and going on to play for NZ.  We cannot compete with the bling clubs for money and imports, so this is our club game plan.  Develop kids and do it better than anybody else.  You don't balls that all up by letting one kid take you for a ride and encouraging every next kid to say, nah, want to be a free agent, and at the same time thinking they can still get shop window game time.

No idea if any of that applies to Boyd, but that's how I'd play it if I was running the club and that situation arose.

I don't have a problem with a player playing hard ball with the club and refusing a contract.  If they think that is best for their career then they have every right to make that call.  They just need to understand, at that stage, that hard ball works both ways and the club then owes them nothing and should get on with the clubs future and not distort it's culture and strategy to continue playing them.  You simply cannot afford to encourage kids to refuse contract extensions.

And, no, I don't care if it might jeopardise a championship crack.  Clubs are more than one good year.  You earn your title consistent with your culture, or you risk all.  That's how you build strong clubs.  Not by bending with the wind for short term gains. 

Would have been best for him to line something up in the January transfer window, if that's true.