Contracted Players - Return of the Long Pins

krishna is a winger, cunningham if he stays is a winger, wee mac isnt really a striker, appiah kubi strikes me as a wide option too

The Costa Rican flyer who plays for Wellington Phoenix New Zealand, Kenny Cunningham, decided to return to Costa Rican football for next season.

Cunningham spoke to the Nation from Oceania and said that family situations return to domestic football and I told the New Zealand squad that will not continue.

"My idea is to return to Costa Rica starting next month, this weekend begins the last day of the regular season and then follow the finals, and then finish my link. The decision took because I would like something closer actually my plan is to return to domestic football, "he said.

The fact that a father for the second time was very influential midfielder prefer to leave your outdoor adventure.

"I was just being a dad and I know my baby, just for Skype. Also I want to be on par with my wife and my son, so I prefer to live in Costa Rica," he said.

The footballer said the Wellington tried by all means to renew. "They insist that I go to renew, but I already told them I'm going to do, they would like me to go but my decision is made," he said.

that was after next season isn't it? Heard he wanted to spend 2 years here. 

Too many people think the worst.

Not sure how that's thinking the worst; it's being reasonably realistic?

Though I'm not worried about next season until this season is over - this is our best season ever, lets enjoy it. Players will always come and go, it's part of the fun of it.

For some reason, people think that all our good players are suddenly departing and we won't be able to find replacement. 

Probably because our recruitment has struggled in the past and their have been murmurs about Roly and Burns for the last few months.

I've got a lot of faith in Ernie's ability to recruit well, though, especially now we have a better profile after this season. (as long as our license issues are sorted by the end of this season)

Well I look forward to seeing Reid play for Arsenal/Tottenham/Liverpool next season.

Yep, I think we're in a great space to recruit this off-season. In terms of a-league clubs I'd say the ranking in terms of attractiveness for players would be:

1st choices = Sydney + Victory - big cities, pay more than other teams generally, good teams (probably playing for silverware this year), well coached, big crouds, will get lots of profile. BUT not a lot of cap space left in either budget

2nd tier = Adelaide + Nix + Brisbane - good teams (playoff positions this year), well coached (maybe not so much for Roar), attractive playing styles, good crouds (not so much Nix) BUT a little less profile, and/or lifestyle not so good (mostly Nix)

3rd tier = M City, WSW, Perth - Have all had some level of success but some real issues also - WSW with results this year, City with no proven success and pretty boring playing style, Perth with salary cap issues.

Last cab = CCM, Jets - real worries over stability, results on the park, coaching, smaller markets etc etc

Thus, once Bling + Tards close up the chequebook (which won't take long), I think we're at the top of the queue for signing people now. Last year we would have been 3rd tier at best, with only really Jets below us once City had been brought out.

All I'm saying is people are too premature in going all emo. It's like this was our year, and next year we'll be back at the bottom.

At the risk of repeating myself: there seems to be a self-defeating thought pattern, whereby all our players are either mediocre, shark, or too good for this club and therefore on their way out ASAP.

At the risk of repeating myself: there seems to be a self-defeating thought pattern, whereby all our players are either mediocre, shark, or too good for this club and therefore on their way out ASAP.

Yep, I think we're in a great space to recruit this off-season. In terms of a-league clubs I'd say the ranking in terms of attractiveness for players would be:

1st choices = Sydney + Victory - big cities, pay more than other teams generally, good teams (probably playing for silverware this year), well coached, big crouds, will get lots of profile. BUT not a lot of cap space left in either budget

2nd tier = Adelaide + Nix + Brisbane - good teams (playoff positions this year), well coached (maybe not so much for Roar), attractive playing styles, good crouds (not so much Nix) BUT a little less profile, and/or lifestyle not so good (mostly Nix)

3rd tier = M City, WSW, Perth - Have all had some level of success but some real issues also - WSW with results this year, City with no proven success and pretty boring playing style, Perth with salary cap issues.

Last cab = CCM, Jets - real worries over stability, results on the park, coaching, smaller markets etc etc

Thus, once Bling + Tards close up the chequebook (which won't take long), I think we're at the top of the queue for signing people now. Last year we would have been 3rd tier at best, with only really Jets below us once City had been brought out.

I think next season everyone apart from us and CCM will have a marquee player to some extent. Tinkler has talked about opening the cheque book and buying two marquees. How much of a salary hit would people be willing to take just because we are a good team? Would go you to Wellington for a 100k if Newcastle were offering 130k?

It is sad to see Hicks go because he was a player who could come in and do a specific role for the team. I am going to assume that he wanted a fair bit of money. If he was willing to sign for cheap then we should have kept him.

Welly's lifestyle isn't going to be liked by Australian players as much as back home.