Wellington Phoenix Men

ex-Nix: Where/what are they now?

2455 replies · 702,784 views
almost 2 years ago
Doloras
Interested to note that the bookies think Salas is our most send-offable player

He doesn’t go into any challenge half hearted and usually slide tackles. Fair enough!


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almost 2 years ago
Something a bit lighter

https://www.thewrexhaminsider.com/news/gary-hooper-profiled-as-striker-agrees-to-play-for-wrexham-at-the-soccer-tournament/

Gary Hoopers been picked up to play a preseason tournament with Wrexham.
 
Looks like it's a sharks and giggles thing coz I doubt that Hooper would be up to a full season in league one given his last 3 seasons have been A league - > India - > Dubai - > English national league. 
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almost 2 years ago
They've done it! 2-0 over Bolton in the playoff final at Wembley.

Great stuff. Congratulations to Des and his side.



Wonder if he'll tap in to his connections down this side of the world as they look to build their squad for next season and beyond.
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almost 2 years ago · edited almost 2 years ago · History
Awesome news. This is the type of small club our young gun nix players should ideally be signed. Awesome level at the Championship but a chance of minutes with a great coach.

Would be awesome if a Surman, Old or Alex ends up there. 

Auckland will rise once more

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almost 2 years ago
Has Des worked with any of these 3 kids out of curiosity - was he still at the club when they joined the academy... and if so, probably a bit young to interact with him you'd think.

I'd be more looking at Just and others who were part of his side that he feels might add value from the U20 WC team he lead.
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almost 2 years ago · edited almost 2 years ago · History
Singh?

And well done Des Buckingham, one of football's nice guys. Looks like they  struggled a bit when he first arrived, but as he says built into the season.

Jack Iredale came on at 65 mins for losers Bolton (2-0).
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almost 2 years ago
coochiee
Singh?

Was the focal point in his age group World Cup run iirc. 


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almost 2 years ago
But if Sarpreet's struggled for 3-4 seasons now in the physical Bundesliga 2 - apart from one impressive half season at Jahn Resenberg (getting noticed by Werder Bremen) - then The Championship may not be the best league for him.
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almost 2 years ago
coochiee
But if Sarpreet's struggled for 3-4 seasons now in the physical Bundesliga 2 - apart from one impressive half season at Jahn Resenberg (getting noticed by Werder Bremen) - then The Championship may not be the best league for him.

Yep also that. But if anyone is able to get a tune from old mate it’s got to be Des Buckingham, and I don’t think it was the entirely the physicality of the league tbh.

Who knows? Think Waine was also in that team.
Here’s the team that kept Haaland scoreless. Odd now to think that defense did that!
IMG_0014.jpeg 298.15 KB

With Mata and Wilkins on the bench. 


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almost 2 years ago
Joe Bell another that Des might consider from a Kiwi viewpoint. Seems to be back playing well in Norway, and has always been rumoured as a Championship level prospect.

I'm guessing even if Empoli go down to Serie B, Libby still sees his future in Italia.
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almost 2 years ago
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almost 2 years ago
Des's stock just rose.
Proud to have attended the first 175 Consecutive "Home" Wellington Phoenix "A League" Games !!

The Ruf, The Ruf, The Ruf is on Fire!!

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almost 2 years ago · edited almost 2 years ago · History
It won't be easy to stay up though, as one of the smaller clubs in The Championship. Just look at Waine's Plymouth who only just avoided the drop. 

For all the admiration for Des, and the fairytale story of him being born & Oxford - they struggle early on, he'll do well to avoid the coach sacking merry go round, of club English football.
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almost 2 years ago
Agree it will be a tough gig to survive in the championship.

You now have clubs like Lazio shopping there as they can’t compete with the wages of premiership players. 

Would really be awesome if he brought a couple of kiwis in and they were influential in keeping them up. 

Auckland will rise once more

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almost 2 years ago · edited almost 2 years ago · History
I wonder if we need a separate chat for Des Buckingham and his exploits.

Actually, getting outplayed quite a bit these days

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almost 2 years ago · edited almost 2 years ago · History
Well spotted. I presume South Sudan play their games at a neutral venue given the country is in a nasty civil war. And surprised they are playing Sudan, given there was a long running war before they were granted full independence.

Big Sudanese/Sth Sudanese community now in Melbs. With quite a few AFL and NBL basketballers (they tend to be tallest) now from that background, starting to pop up.

Oli Whyte has a Sth Sudanese team mate at Haka in Finland, but he's not in the above squad.

Mo Awad who bounced around various NZ & Aus clubs (may have trialled at the Nix??) is now playing in Malta, and has 8 caps for Somalia
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almost 2 years ago
Ben waine in onepoto this morning doing some training 👍
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over 1 year ago
Manyumow Achol has continued his interesting footballing journey.

Looks like he's ended up at Bulgarian side FC Septemvri Sofia.

Had 6 goals in 17 appearances in the the VPL1 (level below NPL) for Kingston City prior to his departure.
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over 1 year ago
YoungHeartHM
Manyumow Achol has continued his interesting footballing journey.

Looks like he's ended up at Bulgarian side FC Septemvri Sofia.

Had 6 goals in 17 appearances in the the VPL1 (level below NPL) for Kingston City prior to his departure.
6 in 17 is a really solid haul even at that level. Do you know if he’s still playing at DM or further up the pitch?
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over 1 year ago
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over 1 year ago
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over 1 year ago
Can’t paste the article but there was an article on the bbc yesterday about Bellamy being the prime guy for the wales job.

Our Des however was apparently talked to as well.

Auckland will rise once more

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over 1 year ago
A-Rod played in three pre-season matches on trial with Dundee but they decided not to sign him.
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over 1 year ago · edited over 1 year ago · History
Ben Old listed on the Saint Etienne site with squad number 11.  That sounds promising for him.
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over 1 year ago
Colvinator
A-Rod played in three pre-season matches on trial with Dundee but they decided not to sign him.

We could use him back here
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over 1 year ago · edited over 1 year ago · History
I know I should know this and there are possibly a few, but has an import ever left and came back?

Auckland will rise once more

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over 1 year ago
AucklandPhoenix
I know I should know this and there are possibly a few, but has an import ever left and came back?

Yep. Hooper and Taylor.
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over 1 year ago · edited over 1 year ago · History
Wusty Wab
AucklandPhoenix
I know I should know this and there are possibly a few, but has an import ever left and came back?

Yep. Hooper and Taylor.

Warner is still waiting for his chance.

Actually, getting outplayed quite a bit these days

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over 1 year ago · edited over 1 year ago · History
Genuinely no meaningful news or update here so ultimately a pointless post, but - 

Dylan Fox is 30 now. Playing in the Finnish league. Sent me into an existential spiral this morning. Anyways, as you were folks. 
Annual finals disappointment enthusiast.

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over 1 year ago
Jazzy Jeff
Genuinely no meaningful news or update here so ultimately a pointless post, but - 

Dylan Fox is 30 now. Playing in the Finnish league. Sent me into an existential spiral this morning. Anyways, as you were folks. 
He could still replace Durante!!
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over 1 year ago
Guess we can like Roly again now.
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over 1 year ago · edited over 1 year ago · History
Some how I thought he was still contracted to the Victory.
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over 1 year ago
Ryan
Some how I thought he was still contracted to the Victory.
They have never announced that he his contract wouldn't be renewed. 
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over 1 year ago
A "Boxall" was named as a trialist in Auckland's friendly today. Could potentially be Nikko Boxall who played with us a couple of seasons ago. 
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over 1 year ago
NZPhoenixFan
A "Boxall" was named as a trialist in Auckland's friendly today. Could potentially be Nikko Boxall who played with us a couple of seasons ago. 

It was. Pretty average from the memories I have. He didn't cut it at the a league level. 
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over 1 year ago
Reddy, one of our heroes in the classic penalty shootout against Glory, is the starting keeper for Perth RedStar who are currently playing Queensland Lions in the Aus Cup. Brindell-South is also on the bench for Queensland.
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over 1 year ago
Wusty Wab
Reddy, one of our heroes in the classic penalty shootout against Glory, is the starting keeper for Perth RedStar who are currently playing Queensland Lions in the Aus Cup. Brindell-South is also on the bench for Queensland.

Matt Ridenton (still only 28) was at the QLD Lions for 2 seasons 2022 & 2023.
But seems to be with Unattached FC these days, not having played football in 2024.

Lion winning easily 4-1 in Perth at 80 mins.

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