Darije Kalezić: We hardly knew ye.

cheaper at the time?

Darje can't setup any other way until he gets quality defensive reinforcements. Why would you risk being hammered. We'll still create enough chances to win tonight's game if we're more clinical with our finishing.

I think his honesty about lack of quality in certain areas is refreshing. Just a pity whichever defender(s) they're targeting hasn't come through yet, and maybe won't until some of the unwanted actually move on. 

I like the way he's trying to lift the bar now he knows much more about the A League.

From the audio:

Q) So are you giving up on this season?
A) No

And then later says "we are going to do everything to finish as high as possible"

Is the audio public? The Phoenix did a good job of live streaming interviews and press conferences at the start of the season but seem to have given up.

Another example of a complete 180 from the club's position at the start of the season!!!

Should be able to download it here https://we.tl/Fhfgwh2gtw

Note audio isn't great because of the wind.

Maybe that's Darije telling the Football Committee/Dome to pull their heads in and get real.  If so, all strength to Darije.  He's been a quick learner.  

But should the club do a 180 on its strategy just because it gets a new manager?  This was clearly an Ernie Merrick beef which the club have then run with.  Darije wants to change it but he could be gone at the end of the season.  Now I personally agree that we should be signing kiwis and we just have to deal with the International breaks as best we could, but it just demonstrates that lack of joined up thinking!!  No wonder we are where we are...

Coincidentally, I'm also looking for a job at the moment ;)

Ernie Merrick became Manager at the Jets in May 2017, Darije Kalezic took over as Manager of the Phoenix in June 2017. I suspect that Ernie's not thinking of writing off this season  

What?

We're not talking about the writing off the season decision (which has proven to be missreported), but the decision to no longer sign kiwis. That may have been Ernies with Darje having another preference which is why the policy has changed.

Well, Ernie ruined the team in a few transfer windows. When he got the signings right he did very well at the Nix but he made some horrible signings in his last two seasons, or he signed very good players but without seeming any regards for the squad as a whole.

Yes, but our recruitment for the season was clearly based on a policy of not signing kiwis (reported in the media), Darije now half way through the season says we need to sign more kiwis plus we are releasing a couple of average Aussies in Lowry and Abbas, clearly both signed for that exact reason.  

In the meantime several current All Whites who were available have been signed by Anthony Hudson in the MLS.

So why did we take that approach when recruiting for this season without talking to the coach?  It's just bad planning!

Well, it seems like we did a lot without talking to the coach properly. I'm prepared to give Darje a little more leeway than most on here because it seems clear to me that the fault lies with the club and coach not being on the same page at the start. And the club moving without his complete understanding of the A-League, club, players, etc.

The people saying it was madness not to hire Darje last year are right, but hindsight is like that unfortunately.

did he say what his reason for this is?

Because we're getting dicked and leaking goals like a seive?

So where are all these Kiwis of A league quality coming from and why are some so sure they will sign with us rather than an overseas contract. Not sure why the current gaffer thinks he can do something that hasnt worked to well so far.

Seems many on here as well as some in the club are wanting something that frankly we dont have the time frame to pull off.Given the +3 metric rubbish we have been set and where we are currently i fail to see how we have the time to pursue the goal of having mainly Kiwis in the team.

Coming back to the coach generally I think we have to see something resembling the end game for next season during this season in order for him to stay in place.  You can't just get by saying we are rebuilding and not count results for the rest of the season

Darje's rebuilding the squad with quality players, and clearly has the Board's ear about what needs to be done to. Would be great to get two new defenders in during this window. If so, they won't be Kiwis. 

Agree - but Darje's made it clear unless we get more quality across the board - then it's virtually mission impossible long term.

Right now only Paracki, Kaludjerovic, Burns, McGlinchey, Krishna and Rossi would make the squad, let alone starting lineup for any of the other top 6 clubs. 

Disagree. Look at Newcastle's squad - bunch of seemingly average players performing above their station. Even Hoffman is scoring.

Our squad on paper is not worse than theirs.

Lets be realistic - what quality Aussies and Kiwis are we going to get? Burns was a bit of a coup.

um no the kiwi bit

Think they'll find one or two.

I've always presumed getting more kiwis in the squad was a longer term project.  Plus the AWs problem.  Though that's maybe less of an issue immediately.

I'm very happy/hopeful the Dome and Ernie happy BS speak is over and we have a coach who is telling it like it is and addressing problems realistically.  I hope it works out well.

I don't know the scene well enough to argue a case, but I don't see people here baracking for kiwis with the definite pedigree experience and leadership to help turn this club around.  At least none that aren't aiming for higher things and are not looking at the 'Nix, or aren't already playing in better leagues, and apart from the wishful Singh support.  I'm just not hearing genuine kiwi solutions to the problem. 

Meantime we're crap, have been for years and need short term fixes, not kiwi development projects.

But, sure, if he can find a class kiwi or two that really will help turn the club around and who aren't going to disappear every international window, all good.

But we were better than this last year and he took over the team in the summer, so we have become a worse team in the time he has been in charge.  There are reasons for that but that's a reality.  

How do you sign an overseas contract without performing at a lower level? Unless your lucky enough to have a foreign passport of course and go overseas on your own accord.

Thanks for that!

I don't think we should be as bad as we are currently and we've gone backwards since last year

Because there are no good enough Kiwi's to jumo in and have a proven record. Ifill thinks Watson is the best number 9 kiwi in the league. 

I am wondering why he said it - is it his opinion? - and if so what benefit will getting more kiwis in the team bring? Or is it a club goal that he is promoting? - have they actually ever come out and said that is one of the aims of the club?

So, listening to that I drew some different opinions to what stuff reported and also the tweets.

He said categorically that they haven't given up on this season so the whole given up on this season tweet is completely contradicted by his actual quote. But he won't have his ideal squad until next year to play the football he want's, but they're going to do everything possible to finish as high as possible this year.

The three transfer windows quote was in relation to getting kiwi players.

He mentioned several times that the Dario Pot is loyal, so I guess Rado was still on his mind.

He also said the quality of the squad isn't so much the question but that they need more leadership on the field and more pro-active players.

All in all Darje was much more positive than the spin that the media gave his comments. I wish the Phoenix made these things available in their raw form because the media isn't always honest.

Ifill was Watsons mentor so there's a bit of bias there IMO.

He doesn't say why he said it, a reporter said that the NZ public is angry that they don't have enough Kiwis and does he want to bring more Kiwis into the team. To which he said yes he does.

We find, develop and promote players to play in the A-League.

We are passionate about developing young kiwi talent into professional footballers for our first team or even higher levels across the world.

http://www.wpfa.org.nz/

Whether that means more kiwis in the first team, I guess you can debate.

wondering if it is in the club mission statement - but I'm beginning to think they don't have any strategy docs

Sure, but he stills play against all the local Kiwi who should step up. I guess all the local are young 'talents', and what we need is the 'pro-active' 'leadership' playrs that get the job done.