From 2nd leg NZ lost to Mexico, time to mix young and old in the squad!

Midfield need to add some steel in it, think Alex Rufer need to start now with the energy and freshness, also Ridenton too.

TO be fair unlike Ricki, Ernie has thrown on the youngsters this season:

Boyd 18

Fenton 20

Caira 20

Adams 19

Ridenton 17

Out of those Fenton has been the most solid, but has had awful matches also. Some of these guys may have futures but I don't think they are the solution to the problem this season.

I've posted these thoughts before, but just a reminder that some things don't change.

Here goes.

Wellington have issues that other clubs don't have or have to a lesser degree.

This includes a lack of a reserve team that plays other A league reserves. A geographical element that is only shared by Perth which means extended travel for the team. A Simply bizarre strategy in moving the home match location to other cities around the country for a Wellington-based team.

Also unless you are a Hobbit/Lord of the Rings fan, Australia is probably seen as a more attractive destination as well by players/players families looking for a lifestyle change. Mrs Smeltz anyone? New Zealand's total population is small so less population so less support. The Phoenix has a challenging relationship at times with the FFA which once or twice looked likely to threaten our future as an A league club. This is always hanging over our heads.

New Zealand is a country that is pretty much governed by one sport or two if you include cricket which leads to a cynical and unsupportive media, not the Herald though :).

On top of this you have AW-Nix players that rarely get a chance to play decent teams, when they do they lose and governing football is the shambolic NZF.

I've probably missed loads that other more knowledgeable types could fill in.

Most Nix fans feel that we need to bring anywhere from 3 to 6 players to improve the squad. RB, DM and a goal-scorer in the starting XI just for starters.

Also we need to try and attract a class of player that is better than those 3-6 players that are possibly not up to or no longer up to the ever changing skill level of the A league. To do this you would need to make all the above issues look less of a problem and to do that you need to offer very decent contracts. Welnix have stated that they are not prepared to throw money at the club for buying players but look at investing in youth. This is fantastic but it means that we are going to have to wait a while before we regularly get players that can cut it in the A league and beyond.

Either training/organizing our players to play good enough football or getting the right personal in to allow us to play to the level of regularly beating the other teams is probably impossible this season. We may find a magic signing during January that will lift the whole squad but I think this is unlikely. I think Welnix underestimated the gulf between the top and bottom half of the A league. The gamble in not investing now is if we are continually getting beaten then what little support we have will dribble away and with that the possibility that the FFA lose patience and decide having a NZ club in the A league is not worth the Hassle.

The only option is to try and keep injuries and yellows down to a minimum, add to the squad in January and then start again next season. I hope to god that we have a good run of form but it's not looking likely at the moment.

TO be fair unlike Ricki, Ernie has thrown on the youngsters this season:

Boyd 18

Fenton 20

Caira 20

Adams 19

Ridenton 17

Out of those Fenton has been the most solid, but has had awful matches also. Some of these guys may have futures but I don't think they are the solution to the problem this season.

I've posted these thoughts before, but just a reminder that some things don't change.

Here goes.

Wellington have issues that other clubs don't have or have to a lesser degree.

This includes a lack of a reserve team that plays other A league reserves. A geographical element that is only shared by Perth which means extended travel for the team. A Simply bizarre strategy in moving the home match location to other cities around the country for a Wellington-based team.

Also unless you are a Hobbit/Lord of the Rings fan, Australia is probably seen as a more attractive destination as well by players/players families looking for a lifestyle change. Mrs Smeltz anyone? New Zealand's total population is small so less population so less support. The Phoenix has a challenging relationship at times with the FFA which once or twice looked likely to threaten our future as an A league club. This is always hanging over our heads.

New Zealand is a country that is pretty much governed by one sport or two if you include cricket which leads to a cynical and unsupportive media, not the Herald though :).

On top of this you have AW-Nix players that rarely get a chance to play decent teams, when they do they lose and governing football is the shambolic NZF.

I've probably missed loads that other more knowledgeable types could fill in.

Most Nix fans feel that we need to bring anywhere from 3 to 6 players to improve the squad. RB, DM and a goal-scorer in the starting XI just for starters.

Also we need to try and attract a class of player that is better than those 3-6 players that are possibly not up to or no longer up to the ever changing skill level of the A league. To do this you would need to make all the above issues look less of a problem and to do that you need to offer very decent contracts. Welnix have stated that they are not prepared to throw money at the club for buying players but look at investing in youth. This is fantastic but it means that we are going to have to wait a while before we regularly get players that can cut it in the A league and beyond.

Either training/organizing our players to play good enough football or getting the right personal in to allow us to play to the level of regularly beating the other teams is probably impossible this season. We may find a magic signing during January that will lift the whole squad but I think this is unlikely. I think Welnix underestimated the gulf between the top and bottom half of the A league. The gamble in not investing now is if we are continually getting beaten then what little support we have will dribble away and with that the possibility that the FFA lose patience and decide having a NZ club in the A league is not worth the Hassle.

The only option is to try and keep injuries and yellows down to a minimum, add to the squad in January and then start again next season. I hope to god that we have a good run of form but it's not looking likely at the moment.

But can I ask... why do we have these problems this season and last season, when, for example, we didn't the year we beat GCU 6-0?

In addition to that, three years ago Ifill was at the height of his powers and one of the best players in the league, we had very good backline with McKain and Durante, and Reddy was in the form of his life.

To cut to the point, we had a better team three years ago.