Encouraging Players Linked

Encouraging Players Linked

After reading the article on the front page, have to say I'm very pleased with the player's we've been linked with. Chris James is quality, having seeing him with the U20's where he ran the show there. Elliott is signed for Fulham, but after seeing Elrich, also on the books of Fulham, it makes you wonder. But he really would be a great aquisition. Vicelich would be another good signing, but something makes me think he would want marquee status, which Elliott would probably want aswell.

 Whats Porter's contract status, anyone know?

Pretty pleasing that all but 1 are Kiwis.

i don't know that vicelich would want it if he is as keen as he says he is to finish his career off in weelington, we could do better for a marquee than him tbh probably anyway, and i expect aswell as these kiwis they'll be looking for  a big overseas signing

With so many All Whites either in the team already or being linked,  Im worried about what we may have to put on when the All Whites are due to play.  It could be embarrassing. 

biggest cliche i've heard since the start of the phoenix. its not like we've got a coach who has no interest in the all whites, Ricki and the team will be on top of this

The FFA are changing the system so that the A-League don'tplay in international windows.

Removes the major hindrance to AW players.

[QUOTE=Hard News]The FFA are changing the system so that the A-League don'tplay in international windows.

Removes the major hindrance to AW players.
[/QUOTE

And the Olyroos.

and some elliot guy who plays for hartlepool.

Hopefully Ricki and Tony P will be casting their net wide, and not just focusing on the UK.  Unlike for the first season, they now have the time to do that.  In my view, the NZ players should not form the core of the team because they're simply not good enough (with the exception of Ryan Nelsen, who is too good for the A-League).  Instead the core needs to come from the imports and the marquee player and these players need to be chosen with consideration to the entertaining brand of football Ricki is trying to play, and which is important if the Phoenix brand is to succeed.  The rest of the squad then gets put together around this core group of players.  I'm not too concerned about the team being made up predominatly of NZ players if there are Aussie players who can fill the non-import spots.  What's more important is the Phoenix being able to produce an entertaining and winning brand to generate the week-to-week crowd interest.  Hopefully more NZ players will come through in the following seasons, although I think the refusal of FFA to allow a Phoenix youth team crucially creates a hugely uneven playing field in the A-League, which leaves the Phoenix with a major competitive disadvantage in the A-League in the years to come. 

Core requires stability.

Do marquees and imports provide that?

Attention Tony P, I'm still waiting for the tickets and other travel documents to show up mate. I've got the video camera charged up for you. Passport is valid and packed with my toothbrush.

His mention worrys me. He used to play for Newcastle (and we all know what their defensive record is like) and is currently playing in league two. Age 34. I thought he was more of a left back but can play CB aswell I suppose... unless Ricki wants to play Lochhead at left mid consistently.

Part of the idea with introducing marquee players into the A-league was that they would bring crowds. In Jardel's case, I'm not sure he could even do that. What a disaster he turned out to be for them.

Have the Phoenix tried to contact Sitivi Liva? The kid is class.

I'd never even heard about him before. Do you think the Phoenix should try to get him as one of their u-20 players? Or is Costa, Greg, and Jacob all going to be under 20 for the next season?

Duno if he's playing for Valencia Juniors. I'd hardly want to move back

Agreed.

Unless he gets dropped from Valencia, dont hold ya breath

It's all crap.

It's from the Sunday News.  Probably just an invented name from checking a copy of Football manager.

The Liva thing is a well known hoax, and if anything, a startling reminder why people shouldn't trust Wikipedia.

It's not even on Wikipedia. So it's trusting some other B-grade wikis...

He was on wikipedia for a while. I thought the mention of his hat-trick on debut against China would be enough to raise doubts amongst any sane football fan.  Leeds_Chris2008-02-04 09:47:48

I don't think the FFA refused to allow one, they just refused to fund one.

If a way can be found to pay for it, I can't imagine them having a problem with it.

[/QUOTE]

for this year's squad I'm glad there are a number of one year contracts, as stability at the bottom of the table is not what we are after

agreed though, that the new recruits (or at least a high proportion of them) would be best signed for at least 2 years (and the length of contract needs to fall within duration of our current licence)

related to HH's point  guest players would probably undermine the squad feel
(but part of me wouldn't mind seeing a 'relative' star turn out for us for part of the season!!, not logical perhaps but exciting)


tigers2008-02-04 17:54:03

But then if we get it wrong next season,  which is possible, and Ricki gets sacked, then we have dud players on 2 year conracts

the recruitment process is less rushed this time round, also players are being recruited to address particular weaknesses - rather than to construct a whole squad from scratch

so less risk than last season, and i presume players are more likely to sign a two year contract

we will also have this year's two year lads coming off contract which gives us some room to move at the end of next season

Nix players are returning to training in March. Will be interesting if half a dozen of them get told to get on their bike just after they return.

I'd love to see Leilei Gao back in NZ, but I guess we have our attacking wide midfilders niow.

from memory only players who are already contracted (i.e. in this a-league season) can play in the O-league
tigers2008-02-04 21:38:50

true, my mistake didn't read the actual words in your post 

I'll practice  ... A,  zh i a  - ah got it now

he's obviously had an impact OOE, you even 'pronounce' the word "now" like he might

It will be interesting to see what greets the players when they return, whether some are on a short leash, or sent packing soon after returning. Something will change, that's for sure. Whether it's a slash and burn exercise remains to be seen, and obviously there are contracted players who are unlikely to be sent packing.

lets pay big money for ivan and elliot n get maybe 5 injury free games between them!yay