meet the new coach, same as the old coach
Ernie Merrick - former Phoenix manager
I'm a fan of Ernie and a defender of him but it is hard to ignore facts when emotion says 'but he is a great guy, historically good coach and done a bit for the club' so I'm not gonna get in people faces with my opinion on it.
What worries me a little is that when it was time for Ricki to go, more than a few of us ignored those signs and hindsight showed us that he should have gone earlier than he did. Is this a similar situation? Its hard to know but the facts are we are not winning and we have a disjointed team on the field.
One thing I would like to know a little more about but don't hear anything about is how the players are finding it under Ernie. We heard whispers of discontent under Ricki towards the end that got progressively louder but is anyone hearing the same under Ernie?
Would it make you happy if the players loved him?
We are losing under his coaching, that is the point.
Towards the end with Ricki, we found out that he lost the shed. The point I am making more is around has Ernie lost the shed?
Do the players still want to play for him and respect him as a coach.
If the answer is yes, then WTF are the players doing about it? Granted some of the tactics are wrong but some of the players are playing below par (and we can argue if thats because of the tactics or despite the tactics I guess).
If the answer is no then he has to go.
Probably about time Merrick makes a call to Phoenix technical football adviser, Ricki Herbert, for this thoughts.
I think Ernie's future depends on what the owners think. To me it is obvious that this team is not good enough and the blame [if that is the right word] can lie in a couple of places and depending where it lays has a bearing on Ernie's future I think.
1. If Ernie has been given the $$ to buy whoever he wants with minimal constraints and the team is crap - Ernie's fault and possibly in the gun.
2. If Welnix have given him x amount of dollars and said 'do you best ' with it and they are quite comfortable with what he is achieving and have no expectations of a league title - then he might be safe.
While fans always want victories and championships, owners are more interested in stability, income and not losing a shark load of money - while we fans think winning championships allows that to happen, the reality [and that is the world the owners live it] show that is not always the case.
I don't think 1 is relevant because we spend a lot more than teams above us, CCM are only paying minimum and we're going to be above the cap.
I don't think 1 is relevant because we spend a lot more than teams above us, CCM are only paying minimum and we're going to be above the cap.
Stealth can report that Ernie Merrick has announced his resignation to the @WgtnPhoenixFC players #ALeague #SST
— Soccer Stoppage Time (@SocStoppageTime) 4 December 2016
Stealth can report that Ernie Merrick has announced his resignation to the @WgtnPhoenixFC players #ALeague #SST
— Soccer Stoppage Time (@SocStoppageTime) 4 December 2016
and just after I post that, Fox Sport also posts that he might have resigned too. Still don't trust SST with providing facts.
Being reported by Fox sports too
Fox Sports miles more credible than SST.
Wellington Phoenix will confirm soon that Ernie Merrick has resigned as head coach. Informed players last night.
— Jason Pine (@pineyzb) December 4, 2016
Was tweeted and then deleted
D'oh! Patrick got there first.
I don't think 1 is relevant because we spend a lot more than teams above us, CCM are only paying minimum and we're going to be above the cap.
Point 1 is we don't have enough money to win the league, but it's only relevant if we're performing at or above teams which spend the same or less than us. If we're below teams which spend considerably less then us then point 2 is the only one that's relevant.
Edit: not that it matters now.
Ernie resigning makes me sad, I've always found him to be very approachable and he has a lot to offer. I hope he gets offered and takes a position with the academy because he has a lot to offer us.
Assuming it's all true, I'm very conflicted about it. Although, I'm most worried about our third manager having a four syllable name so the 'Ernie Merrick's Yellow Army' chant can be replaced seamlessly.
Greenacre has a good record doesn't he? Should have just given him the job in the first place.
pays the "penalty"
I hope he's not just cutting and running, he's gotten us in this fix so he has a duty to see out the season at least until his replacement arrives.
as long as they don't recruit Hudson, this is a good step.
Seriously though, this cannot have been big surprise, who's in the frame?
Here is Wellington Phoenix press release
Hands off Ramon you cods.
Very much like Ernie, sad to see him leave, though at same time hopeful of new opportunities for the Phoenix. Things just weren't quite working out for him.
We need to do something to show Ernie our appreciation, despite not winning silverware, it's undeniable he's done a lot for our club. It will be a bit hard bringing a big tifu all the way to Hamilton though, any thoughts?
Greenacre has a good record doesn't he? Should have just given him the job in the first place.
According to Wikipedia it's a 33% win record, but teams often lift when things like this happen. What we an judge him on is how our attack and set pieces work as they are the parts of the team that he's in charge of. Even when getting a dead ball specialist like Gui our set pieces are still woefull.
I'd say if ACFC would release him and if he wanted the job we should give Ramon a go for the rest of the season. He definitely deserves a chance to step up.
Who cares .. He was one of the most useless sporting coaches in NZ trying to coach one of the most over rated teams who during each game of 90 mins , spend more energy bitching to referees instead of actually playing the game ..
Who cares .. He was one of the most useless sporting coaches in NZ trying to coach one of the most over rated teams who during each game of 90 mins , spend more energy bitching to referees instead of actually playing the game ..
Idiot.
Who cares .. He was one of the most useless sporting coaches in NZ trying to coach one of the most over rated teams who during each game of 90 mins , spend more energy bitching to referees instead of actually playing the game ..
im glad Ernie didnt try to ignore it was time to go. I didnt expect it so fast but Im ok with it
Don't feed the troll, he's just looking for attention.
I don't want to see Greenacre in charge for the rest of the season, he's only ever been in charge of the club when Ricki was away on international duty. It's not quite ambitious enough for my liking. I would feel it would be another write-off season. I want someone with more experience and a proven track record. Though, it's easier to express what I want than actually to get it. Here's hoping for onwards and upwards.
Given the players are now used to playing under a manager with a Scottish accent, surely Alex Ferguson is the obvious choice as Merrick's replacement.
Given the players are now used to playing under a manager with a Scottish accent, surely Alex Ferguson is the obvious choice as Merrick's replacement.
Is Geordie close enough? I hear Big Kev may be free.
This was on the cards. 34% win record isn't good enough.
I hope he was pushed which would show the owners have higher expectations than a lot of others
Sure Ernie will find another gig so best wishes to him.
Who cares .. He was one of the most useless sporting coaches in NZ trying to coach one of the most over rated teams who during each game of 90 mins , spend more energy bitching to referees instead of actually playing the game ..
In all honestly
Why the hell are you even here?
Who cares .. He was one of the most useless sporting coaches in NZ trying to coach one of the most over rated teams who during each game of 90 mins , spend more energy bitching to referees instead of actually playing the game ..
Idiot.
Agree that's idiotic
Whatever you think of Ernie, he had the decency to not outstay his welcome. He's identified he is the problem and moved on rather than be forced out. You thank him for his time and wish him well and unless he is firing shots at the club/players/fans, you leave it at that.
I don't want to see Greenacre in charge for the rest of the season, he's only ever been in charge of the club when Ricki was away on international duty. It's not quite ambitious enough for my liking. I would feel it would be another write-off season. I want someone with more experience and a proven track record. Though, it's easier to express what I want than actually to get it. Here's hoping for onwards and upwards.
Wasn't Greenacre the caretaker coach after Ricki got the flick?
2 win 3 loss record.
40% win record so we'd be trending in the right direction!
I like Greenacre but the front 3rd is also a reflection of him and also a link to the past. If we are getting a new coach, we get an entirely new bunch of assistants.
Ernie resigns and keeps respect and dignity. Get Trani !
Man I'm genuinely surprised to read that. Liked Ernie a lot, and thought he'd stick out the year.
Though after the sack cappy ordeal last year I was not looking forward to it everywhere for the Nix too.