Wellington Phoenix Men

Ernie Merrick - former Phoenix manager

3094 replies · 671,649 views
almost 13 years ago

Rufer has passion and seems to be popular with the media, but he isn't what we need as coach.

We have just got the wooden spoon despite 'having our best ever squad'. It is not the time for a manager light on experience. We need someone who can recognise the issues and fix them. That comes with experience.

If we were going for someone light on experience, I would rather go for Greenacre instead.

Permalink Permalink
almost 13 years ago · edited almost 13 years ago · History

 i would definitely put greenacre in the mix, but i'd like to have a kiwi

360footballnews.com

Permalink Permalink
almost 13 years ago · edited almost 13 years ago · History

Rufer has passion and seems to be popular with the media, but he isn't what we need as coach.

We have just got the wooden spoon despite 'having our best ever squad'. It is not the time for a manager light on experience. We need someone who can recognise the issues and fix them. That comes with experience.

If we were going for someone light on experience, I would rather go for Greenacre instead.

I endorse your post sir


Just read the article that said Milne, Fitzgerald and Marinovic should have been at WC2010. Made me seriously go 'da fuqq?' Milne is a modified LB (and not a standout) at City and Fitzgerald has shown his form... Makes me wonder what type of players he would bring in...

Grumpy old bastard alert

Permalink Permalink
almost 13 years ago

UK Kiwi wrote:

Wynton`s record as coach with the Kingz wasn`t that bad !!!!???

Mid table finishes in the old Australian NFL. He may well bring his brother Shane in too as assistant if he's selected.

I look forward to Yellow Fever's hymn singing before games should Wynton get the job. I think our boy goes for the more fervent evangelical stuff and I think the shirts-off episodes will have to end.

Permalink Permalink
almost 13 years ago

 Wynton's first job as coach: an exorcism! The reason Totori has been shit is possession by Island demons.


Ramming liberal dribble down your throat since 2009
This forum needs less angst and more Kate Bush threads



Permalink Permalink
almost 13 years ago

nufc_nz wrote:

My source tells me Welnix are close to signing a new coach.

 

"Ye shall (soon) know the Truth, and the Truth shall set you free."

"At the end of the drive the lawmen arrive...

I'll take my chance because luck is on my side or something...

Her name is Rio, she don't need to understand...

Oh Rio, Rio, hear them shout across the land..."

Permalink Permalink
almost 13 years ago

I was talking to Noah Hickey last week and we got on the subject of new Nix coach and also Wynton Rufer (not in the same conversation topic) Noah said that they have tried to bend over backwards to work with Wynton but he is set in his ways and won't change. Basically said he is very difficult to deal with.

Did no one read this? I was talking to Noah on 11 April and he had been on a phone conference with three English based coaches that day. The impression I got from his comments about Wynton was that there is no way in hell that he will be coaching the Nix.

Permalink Permalink
almost 13 years ago

I don't really think anyone seriously believes he has a shot. More the 'what if' scenario...

Grumpy old bastard alert

Permalink Permalink
almost 13 years ago

I was talking to Noah Hickey last week and we got on the subject of new Nix coach and also Wynton Rufer (not in the same conversation topic) Noah said that they have tried to bend over backwards to work with Wynton but he is set in his ways and won't change. Basically said he is very difficult to deal with.

Did no one read this? I was talking to Noah on 11 April and he had been on a phone conference with three English based coaches that day. The impression I got from his comments about Wynton was that there is no way in hell that he will be coaching the Nix.

Are you implying that the likely new coach is going to be one currently English-based?

Permalink Permalink
almost 13 years ago

Trueblue wrote:

I was talking to Noah Hickey last week and we got on the subject of new Nix coach and also Wynton Rufer (not in the same conversation topic) Noah said that they have tried to bend over backwards to work with Wynton but he is set in his ways and won't change. Basically said he is very difficult to deal with.

Did no one read this? I was talking to Noah on 11 April and he had been on a phone conference with three English based coaches that day. The impression I got from his comments about Wynton was that there is no way in hell that he will be coaching the Nix.

Are you implying that the likely new coach is going to be one currently English-based?

Please be Kevin Keegan!

"Ive just re-visited this and once again realised that C-Diddy is a genius - a drunk, Newcastle bred disgrace - but a genius." - Hard News, 11:39am 4th June 2009

Permalink Permalink
almost 13 years ago

 Star Time article says no kiwi in the mix. But Merrick is (yuck)

Permalink Permalink
almost 13 years ago

I have heard that there are currently interviews happening in the UK

All I do is make the stuff I would've liked
Reference things I wanna watch, reference girls I wanna bite
Now I'm firefly like a burning kite
And yousa fake fuck like a fleshlight

Permalink Permalink
almost 13 years ago · edited almost 13 years ago · History

So 3 in the UK, Eddie Merrick...

Anyone else? (for those of us that didn't buy the SST)

Grumpy old bastard alert

Permalink Permalink
almost 13 years ago


Lee Norfolk.

"At the end of the drive the lawmen arrive...

I'll take my chance because luck is on my side or something...

Her name is Rio, she don't need to understand...

Oh Rio, Rio, hear them shout across the land..."

Permalink Permalink
almost 13 years ago

And not forgetting Neil Warlock.

"At the end of the drive the lawmen arrive...

I'll take my chance because luck is on my side or something...

Her name is Rio, she don't need to understand...

Oh Rio, Rio, hear them shout across the land..."

Permalink Permalink
almost 13 years ago

"The identity of the former Man U player is not known but he has apparently held coaching positions in the UK and abroad." D Richardson, NZ Herald. Bryan Robson coached Sheffield Utd, West Brom - and was Thailand manager 2009 - 2011

"At the end of the drive the lawmen arrive...

I'll take my chance because luck is on my side or something...

Her name is Rio, she don't need to understand...

Oh Rio, Rio, hear them shout across the land..."

Permalink Permalink
almost 13 years ago · edited almost 13 years ago · History

Jerzy Merino wrote:

And not forgetting Neil Warlock.

Was speculation that some coaches with EPL coaching experience had applied. these are the guys I can think of with experience and are unemployed atm: Shearer, McLeish, Grant, Megson, Dowie, Hughes, O'Neill, Warnock, Coyle, Jewell, Di Matteo, Keane, Eriksson, Kean.

Probably would be Grant, he was linked to the Sydney job (but wanted a bucket load of cash).

[Edit: Forgot McClaren]
Permalink Permalink
almost 13 years ago

Jerzy Merino wrote:

"The identity of the former Man U player is not known but he has apparently held coaching positions in the UK and abroad." D Richardson, NZ Herald. Bryan Robson coached Sheffield Utd, West Brom - and was Thailand manager 2009 - 2011


Robsons the only person I can think of that fits the bill as well... although I'm sure there are plenty of ex Man Utd players who have held "coaching" roles of some sort. would have to go through all the ex players back 30 years or so and see what happened to each of them.... any takers??? 
Permalink Permalink
almost 13 years ago · edited almost 13 years ago · History

Jerzy Merino wrote:

And not forgetting Neil Warlock.

Was speculation that some coaches with EPL coaching experience had applied. these are the guys I can think of with experience and are unemployed atm: Shearer, McLeish, Grant, Megson, Dowie, Hughes, O'Neill, Warnock, Coyle, Jewell, Di Matteo, Keane, Eriksson, Kean.

Probably would be Grant, he was linked to the Sydney job (but wanted a bucket load of cash).

[Edit: Forgot McClaren]


I can't imagine we can afford any of those names. But out of all of them I'd love Coyle.

Permalink Permalink
almost 13 years ago

smittyz11 wrote:

Jerzy Merino wrote:

"The identity of the former Man U player is not known but he has apparently held coaching positions in the UK and abroad." D Richardson, NZ Herald. Bryan Robson coached Sheffield Utd, West Brom - and was Thailand manager 2009 - 2011


Robsons the only person I can think of that fits the bill as well... although I'm sure there are plenty of ex Man Utd players who have held "coaching" roles of some sort. would have to go through all the ex players back 30 years or so and see what happened to each of them.... any takers??? 
Berg?
Permalink Permalink
almost 13 years ago

smittyz11 wrote:

Jerzy Merino wrote:

"The identity of the former Man U player is not known but he has apparently held coaching positions in the UK and abroad." D Richardson, NZ Herald. Bryan Robson coached Sheffield Utd, West Brom - and was Thailand manager 2009 - 2011


Robsons the only person I can think of that fits the bill as well... although I'm sure there are plenty of ex Man Utd players who have held "coaching" roles of some sort. would have to go through all the ex players back 30 years or so and see what happened to each of them.... any takers??? 
Berg?

true.. but I read it as coaching. Don't think it'd be either tbh. It'd be someone who played a couple of games for united and then moved on or something like that, before moving into coaching. not expecting a big name..or even a name I actually might remember tbh. I'd love to be proved wrong though 
Permalink Permalink
almost 13 years ago

Gah, can someone please suggest another person that meets the articles criteria please. Really don't like the thought of it being Berg.

Permalink Permalink
almost 13 years ago

2ndBest wrote:

 Star Time article says no kiwi in the mix. But Merrick is (yuck)

I realise that many on this forum are no fans of Merrick and would rather see a local (Kiwi) coach or a UK import. But Merrick ticks some of the boxes on WelNix list and should not be ignored. He is a winning coach (got the A-League double of minor premiership and GF win twice with Melbourne Victory), knows the local scene, travel times and money cap limits etc., very well.

He may want to return to coaching in A-League but is wary of taking the only other job on offer (the one with Pissant Reds). He'd be cheaper than a UK trained coach of good calibre, although way more expensive than a local Kiwi product.  I do not think we have good enough local coaches at the moment here in NZ to take the Phoenix further than where we are now, because the A-League has improved massively this year.  I think Greenacre would do just as good if not better job than other local candidates (OK, I have no more than a gut feeling to support this statement).  Although Merrick would not be as good as some top level UK coaches, he'd be good enough for the current A-League level.  Player retention / recruitment would also be better because he'd know where to look and who to ask, either here or in Oz.

Actually, getting outplayed quite a bit these days

Permalink Permalink
almost 13 years ago

What exactly is wrong with Merrick ?

The most successful A league coach I believe. Or is he past it now ?



Permalink Permalink
almost 13 years ago

nufc_nz wrote:

What exactly is wrong with Merrick ?



Heh. You may be shocked to learn that Merrick plays pretty much the same kind of game as Herbert did.


Ramming liberal dribble down your throat since 2009
This forum needs less angst and more Kate Bush threads



Permalink Permalink
almost 13 years ago

nufc_nz wrote:

What exactly is wrong with Merrick ?

The most successful A league coach I believe. Or is he past it now ?

Kevin Muscat is the most successful manager in A-League history, 100% winning record. 
All jokes aside, if we just consider the winning percentage of people who have managed 50 games or more, Arnold is 1st with a 53% winning record, Postecoglou is second with 51%, Merrick third with 46%.
 
If we look at the total number of games won, Merrick is first with 70, but Ricki is second with 57, so games won is not a good way to gauge who is the best. 
 


Yellow Fever - Misery loves company

Permalink Permalink
almost 13 years ago

Doloras wrote:

nufc_nz wrote:

What exactly is wrong with Merrick ?



Heh. You may be shocked to learn that Merrick plays pretty much the same kind of game as Herbert did.

QFT.

Yellow Fever - Misery loves company

Permalink Permalink
almost 13 years ago

smittyz11 wrote:

smittyz11 wrote:

Jerzy Merino wrote:

"The identity of the former Man U player is not known but he has apparently held coaching positions in the UK and abroad." D Richardson, NZ Herald. Bryan Robson coached Sheffield Utd, West Brom - and was Thailand manager 2009 - 2011


Robsons the only person I can think of that fits the bill as well... although I'm sure there are plenty of ex Man Utd players who have held "coaching" roles of some sort. would have to go through all the ex players back 30 years or so and see what happened to each of them.... any takers??? 
Berg?

true.. but I read it as coaching. Don't think it'd be either tbh. It'd be someone who played a couple of games for united and then moved on or something like that, before moving into coaching. not expecting a big name..or even a name I actually might remember tbh. I'd love to be proved wrong though 

 

Ole Gunnar Solksjaer...

"Ive just re-visited this and once again realised that C-Diddy is a genius - a drunk, Newcastle bred disgrace - but a genius." - Hard News, 11:39am 4th June 2009

Permalink Permalink
almost 13 years ago

Solksjaer would be fairly cool, though surely Greenie is the same kind of player??

man in a pub was talking up Phil Neville too as a player-coach...would be great in our midfield...

unhappy that there are no Kiwi coaches in the mix. Is there really no NZ coach who could make the step up or is trying to make the step up? Should be a pathway for coaches and players...

On that note- where is Ricki next looking for a job? Can he get a decent gig somewhere? Perhaps as an assistant in a decent club somewhere to build on?

What does NZ gain from picking up Merrick? Merrick had Thompson and Muscat, handy players...



Permalink Permalink
almost 13 years ago

C-Diddy wrote:

smittyz11 wrote:

smittyz11 wrote:

Jerzy Merino wrote:

"The identity of the former Man U player is not known but he has apparently held coaching positions in the UK and abroad." D Richardson, NZ Herald. Bryan Robson coached Sheffield Utd, West Brom - and was Thailand manager 2009 - 2011


Robsons the only person I can think of that fits the bill as well... although I'm sure there are plenty of ex Man Utd players who have held "coaching" roles of some sort. would have to go through all the ex players back 30 years or so and see what happened to each of them.... any takers??? 
Berg?

true.. but I read it as coaching. Don't think it'd be either tbh. It'd be someone who played a couple of games for united and then moved on or something like that, before moving into coaching. not expecting a big name..or even a name I actually might remember tbh. I'd love to be proved wrong though 

 

Ole Gunnar Solksjaer...

Or maybe even Jesper Olsen who is Asst Manager at the Jam Tards?

"Ive just re-visited this and once again realised that C-Diddy is a genius - a drunk, Newcastle bred disgrace - but a genius." - Hard News, 11:39am 4th June 2009

Permalink Permalink
almost 13 years ago · edited almost 13 years ago · History

C-Diddy wrote:

C-Diddy wrote:

smittyz11 wrote:

smittyz11 wrote:

Jerzy Merino wrote:

"The identity of the former Man U player is not known but he has apparently held coaching positions in the UK and abroad." D Richardson, NZ Herald. Bryan Robson coached Sheffield Utd, West Brom - and was Thailand manager 2009 - 2011


Robsons the only person I can think of that fits the bill as well... although I'm sure there are plenty of ex Man Utd players who have held "coaching" roles of some sort. would have to go through all the ex players back 30 years or so and see what happened to each of them.... any takers??? 
Berg?

true.. but I read it as coaching. Don't think it'd be either tbh. It'd be someone who played a couple of games for united and then moved on or something like that, before moving into coaching. not expecting a big name..or even a name I actually might remember tbh. I'd love to be proved wrong though 

 

Ole Gunnar Solksjaer...

Or maybe even Jesper Olsen who is Asst Manager at the Jam Tards?



Jesper Olsen has never coached in the UK though.

Bryan Robson, Henning Berg and Ole Gunnar Solksjaer are the obvious ones I can think of.

Steve Coppell? Currently Director of Football at Crawley Town but he's never coached outside the UK as far as I know.

Permalink Permalink
almost 13 years ago

It's quite obvious the anti Rufer squad do not actually realise what he achieved in Football in at the top level, sadly it is also obvious the Phoenix decision makers don't either.  

Permalink Permalink
almost 13 years ago

louie wrote:

It's quite obvious the anti Rufer squad do not actually realise what he achieved in Football in at the top level, sadly it is also obvious the Phoenix decision makers don't either.  


But he wasn't coaching at top level.... There's a difference.


Permalink Permalink
almost 13 years ago

Doloras wrote:

nufc_nz wrote:

What exactly is wrong with Merrick ?



Heh. You may be shocked to learn that Merrick plays pretty much the same kind of game as Herbert did.





Permalink Permalink
almost 13 years ago

louie wrote:

It's quite obvious the anti Rufer squad do not actually realise what he achieved in Football in at the top level, sadly it is also obvious the Phoenix decision makers don't either.  



Everyone knows what he achieved as a player. But what about as a club coach? Two 8th placed finishes in the old NSL and hasn't held a Head Coach role since 2001. Hardly a convincing CV.

Has he even applied for another club or international coaching role since then? I don't think Wynton actually wants to be a club coach, otherwise he would have easily picked up a gig somewhere by now. He probably applied for the Phoenix role knowing he would be knocked back, but it allows him to maintain his "outspoken outsider" status.

Permalink Permalink
almost 13 years ago

terminator_x wrote:

louie wrote:

It's quite obvious the anti Rufer squad do not actually realise what he achieved in Football in at the top level, sadly it is also obvious the Phoenix decision makers don't either.  



Everyone knows what he achieved as a player. But what about as a club coach? Two 8th placed finishes in the old NSL and hasn't held a Head Coach role since 2001. Hardly a convincing CV.

Has he even applied for another club or international coaching role since then? I don't think Wynton actually wants to be a club coach, otherwise he would have easily picked up a gig somewhere by now. He probably applied for the Phoenix role knowing he would be knocked back, but it allows him to maintain his "outspoken outsider" status.

I think you are bang on with that. He got testy that Ricki did not acknowledge his names he put forward for WC2010. The media like him, he is well known and also have a 'well if Wynton says its true, it must be' to those not in the know thing going on.

Grumpy old bastard alert

Permalink Permalink
almost 13 years ago

nufc_nz wrote:

louie wrote:

It's quite obvious the anti Rufer squad do not actually realise what he achieved in Football in at the top level, sadly it is also obvious the Phoenix decision makers don't either.  


But he wasn't coaching at top level.... There's a difference.
Fuck! I agree with you. Damn it.

Grumpy old bastard alert

Permalink Permalink
almost 13 years ago

martinb wrote:

Solksjaer would be fairly cool, though surely Greenie is the same kind of player??

man in a pub was talking up Phil Neville too as a player-coach...would be great in our midfield...

unhappy that there are no Kiwi coaches in the mix. Is there really no NZ coach who could make the step up or is trying to make the step up? Should be a pathway for coaches and players...

On that note- where is Ricki next looking for a job? Can he get a decent gig somewhere? Perhaps as an assistant in a decent club somewhere to build on?

What does NZ gain from picking up Merrick? Merrick had Thompson and Muscat, handy players...

If the Kiwi coaches are not good enough (and to be fair, with the overseas level coached, they were never going to be) why are you unhappy.

I do believe they should have one as an assistant to help development pathways and future proofing. Coach + Greenie + Kiwi + Gould. I'll take that.

Grumpy old bastard alert

Permalink Permalink
almost 13 years ago

Jeff Vader wrote:

martinb wrote:

Solksjaer would be fairly cool, though surely Greenie is the same kind of player??

man in a pub was talking up Phil Neville too as a player-coach...would be great in our midfield...

unhappy that there are no Kiwi coaches in the mix. Is there really no NZ coach who could make the step up or is trying to make the step up? Should be a pathway for coaches and players...

On that note- where is Ricki next looking for a job? Can he get a decent gig somewhere? Perhaps as an assistant in a decent club somewhere to build on?

What does NZ gain from picking up Merrick? Merrick had Thompson and Muscat, handy players...

If the Kiwi coaches are not good enough (and to be fair, with the overseas level coached, they were never going to be) why are you unhappy.

I do believe they should have one as an assistant to help development pathways and future proofing. Coach + Greenie + Kiwi + Gould. I'll take that.


'I do believe they should have an assistant to help development and future proofing" 
What does that mean in proper English?

If you are old and wise you were probably young and stupid

Permalink Permalink
almost 13 years ago

Mark Hughes     Coached in England........and Welsh National Team.......Kinda overseas

Gordan Strachan      England and Scotland

Sammy McIlroy      England and Northern Island National Team

?????????????????????

 


 

Permalink Permalink