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Return of the (James) McGarry

482 replies · 101,195 views

about 1 year ago

martinb

Nelfoos

That's ridiculously harsh

What part?
It’s mostly factual. LKH wasn’t trusted at LB the majority of last season, after a promising debut in his first season. He certainly didn’t seem to grow in his game or challenge Sutton for the position he’d previously kept him out of.

Pretending that a player is ready to take sole responsibility at A league level when they clearly aren’t was a problem, as was underwhelming solutions to gaps in the squad.

he wasn't keeping Sutton out as Sutts was injured for the start of 2023/24 season.

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about 1 year ago · edited about 1 year ago · History

imanixsupporter

I'd just like to hear the reasoning from them about if they had any interest in signing him, why or why not, and if they did, why were they not successful in signing him.

Just because you may want him here dosnt mean the club owe any sort of explanation why they may or may not have wanted him.

GET YOUR SHIRTS OFF FOR THE BOYS

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about 1 year ago

Bullion

martinb

Nelfoos

That's ridiculously harsh

he wasn't keeping Sutton out as Sutts was injured for the start of 2023/24 season.

I had memories of him holding his place for a reasonable while even after Sutts was available?

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11 months ago · edited 11 months ago · History

Roux v McGarry preseason matchup. Roar hosting the Mariners on the Sunshine Coast.

Crowd apparently 7,000!

Proving an A League club maybe possible one day on the Sunny Coast

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11 months ago · edited 11 months ago · History

Baze got his selections spot on.

McGarry with some clever work in tight spaces and then scores Roar’s 2nd late on, cutting in off the left and pinging it under the reserve Mariners keeper with his right. He was dangerous all game cutting in like that. Admittedly little to do on defence

Roux busier overall but pretty slow and poor. One bad giveaway almost leading to a Brisbane goal

Roar up 2-0 when I left at 85 mins with two bored 6 yr olds. Bit of niggle with 2-3 melees sparked. Roar coach Valkanis more than once entering the field of play

Official crowd 6,800 in the sun. That’s double some of the Suncorp crowds last season. Had been raining most of the week so apparently heavy pre sales yesterday when the weather fined up. Might encourge the Roar to bring some actual ALM games, one hour north

Lots of families with an early 1.30pm KO. Is a great sized stadium that will get extra grandstands for the 2032 Olympics and also a new train station.

Hopefully Sunshine Coast gets a spot in the OFC Pro League as a possible taster to one day an A League bid. Big popn growth catchment

But it might be Sth Melbourne who gets to be Aussies’s entrant, if a Melb hub is planned. They were apparently the only 2 bids, to be the Australian team, and not sure a hub would work on the Coast. Maybe a wider SE QLD hub would work, with a few Fijian, PNG expat communities between Gold Coast-Brisbane-Sunny Coast

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11 months ago · edited 11 months ago · History

Jimmy Mac post goal congrats

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about 1 month ago

https://x.com/brisbaneroar/status/2064142935227294024

https://x.com/brisbaneroar/status/2064142935227294024

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about 1 month ago

https://x.com/WgtnPhoenixFC/status/2064210885346800074

https://x.com/WgtnPhoenixFC/status/2064210885346800074

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about 1 month ago

Fun Fact about McGarry and his Phoenix stints. He has played 40 times for the Nix but only played once in Wellington. His only other ALM appearance in Wellington was for the Roar last season.

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about 1 month ago

That is a bonkers stat.

I have an amazing ability to find my way out of mazes. I'm pathological.

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about 1 month ago

What's he like as a player? Predates when I started watching the nix and I shamefully haven't noticed him with the Roar until now

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about 1 month ago

Noah4thenix wrote:
What's he like as a player? Predates when I started watching the nix and I shamefully haven't noticed him with the Roar until now

Good going forward, not the best defender. The defence was part of the reason why the Jets were fine with letting him go to CCM.

CCM was able to hide his flaws on defence & that got him his Scottish move.

At the Roar, he wasn't as bad defending & in the signing announcement talks about how he has improved at it.

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about 1 month ago

His father (Michael McGarry) was one of the best players produced by New Zealand IMHO. Never reached the heights he could have, partially though his own choices about what he wanted from his life. Fair play.
James has, at times, demonstrates a similar level of sublime skill ... but it also occasionally gets him into trouble by trying the wrong things in the wrong places. He should have a positive effect on 'watchability', but risks contributing to classic Phoenix "D'Oh" moments. Overall, a real positive in my view.
Welcome back James.

I know, I know, its serious!

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about 1 month ago · edited about 1 month ago · History

When he played with the younger group he played as a winger. When he played at CCM Montgomery never had him play a full game iirc, but often played him further forward, as a WB with an attacking role
to get into the box late or shoot from distance.
He has quite a powerful distance shot. He got 3 goals in 14 games.

For us Uffie played him as a FB and consensus is he was a bit suspect defensively and behind Sutton. He never got established.

At Brisbane he seems to have established himself as a FB, in a team with a strong defensive record.

He’s been good for the AWs recently and also had two spells overseas, in Holland and Scotland, where he also didn’t play a lot of minutes.

Greenie must know him.

Also in the early days of my relationship we had a great road trip to Hamilton, where we got to sit next to one of his aunts and have a chat during a curtain raiser on a rainy day. Was playing winger then.
Also met Logan Rogerson’s dad and one of Logan’s ex- AW coaches that day. Can’t remember if it was Peverley or Aaron Scott or someone else (my brain’s gone to mush)-but I knew who they were at the time!

A lot of football knowledge and experience, hopefully for a player who is hitting his straps as a professional and is ready to play a leadership role in a strong all Kiwis backline.

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about 1 month ago

https://x.com/thenichecache/status/2064579526081098062

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about 1 month ago

RR wrote:
https://x.com/thenichecache/status/2064579526081098062

Could be the making of a good combo. McGarry for 60 mins hopefully to gain a lead and then LKH on for 30 to shore up the defence.

Or vice versa going into a game where you think you'll be defending more start with LKH and bring on McGarry if your chasing a goal.

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about 1 month ago

If I thought Greenacre would move away from his 4-2-2-2, I would suggest us playing McGarry as LWB and LKH as a LCB in a 3-5-2.

But I think Greenacre is committed to the 4-2-2-2, so will need to work on providing defensive cover as McGarry bombs forward.

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about 1 month ago · edited about 1 month ago · History

RR wrote:
If I thought Greenacre would move away from his 4-2-2-2, I would suggest us playing McGarry as LWB and LKH as a LCB in a 3-5-2.

But I think Greenacre is committed to the 4-2-2-2, so will need to work on providing defensive cover as McGarry bombs forward.

double post

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about 1 month ago

RR wrote:
If I thought Greenacre would move away from his 4-2-2-2, I would suggest us playing McGarry as LWB and LKH as a LCB in a 3-5-2.

But I think Greenacre is committed to the 4-2-2-2, so will need to work on providing defensive cover as McGarry bombs forward.

Agreed; it makes me think Armiento was not retained by Greenie not because of the preferred formation but because he thinks McGarry is a better Armiento,

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about 1 month ago

Mainland FC wrote:
RR wrote:
If I thought Greenacre would move away from his 4-2-2-2, I would suggest us playing McGarry as LWB and LKH as a LCB in a 3-5-2.

But I think Greenacre is committed to the 4-2-2-2, so will need to work on providing defensive cover as McGarry bombs forward.
Agreed; it makes me think Armiento was not retained by Greenie not because of the preferred formation but because he thinks McGarry is a better Armiento,

James Mcgarry is a left back. Carlo Armiento while in Australia, winger.

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about 1 month ago · edited about 1 month ago · History

Hope McGarry has fixed his defensive woes as I've never seen a player be as terrible at back post defending than him in all my time watching the Nix.

He's never been a natural defender for me - LWB at best.

a.haak

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about 1 month ago · edited about 1 month ago · History

McGarry left the Nix (for the 2nd time) 4 years ago.
He's played for 5 clubs since then, sometimes as LB and sometimes as a LWB.

He's had time in two physical leagues overseas, the SPL and Greek Super League. The latter league has a big emphasis on defence. But injuries seemed to at least partly hinder his time up north.

Then he had Michael Valkanis as his coach at the Roar, Valkanis definitely a coach who prides himself on having a team that is defensively sound.
The Roar with a very low goals against for the first half of the ALM season, then they fell away.

At age 28 McGarry should be a better player 3rd time around in Welly. He was one of the more unlucky guys to miss out on going to the WC.
Very good experienced pick up for the Nix I reckon.

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about 1 month ago

It is absolutely insane that the lad is only 28. He’s packed so much into a career that still has potential ahead.

He certainly performed well on defense for the Roar and wouldn’t have started as much as he did without Valkanis’ confidence.

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about 1 month ago

Vibes I get from Roar fans is that they felt him & Salas were the most consistent players over their season. If he wasn't a visa that they need to use in other spots, they would be disappointed he was let go.

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about 1 month ago

My only gripe... how 1 footed he is. Almost unbelievably so for a professional footballer. Watching him cross the ball with the outside of his left because he has no right still haunts my memories of him.

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about 1 month ago · edited about 1 month ago · History

Watched him live and score off his right foot, from the edge of the pen area in pre season against Mariners here on the Sunny Coast, last year.

Cut in off his left past a struggling Storm Roux. Redmayne failing to stop McGarry's 20 metre shot.

Goal (2nd goal in a 2-0 Roar win) about half way through this Insta video. Yeah Redmayne should have done better, but still a strong shot off his right foot by Jimmy Mac

At the end of the day McGarry is higher up the AWs LB rankings than Sam Sutton, and yet most Nix fans were sad to see Sutton leave. So that must say something, if we trust in Baze's judgement he knows best.

https://www.instagram.com/reels/DQx4nGBk1wt/

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about 1 month ago

Does anyone actually trust Bazeley's judgement?

Valley FC til I die?

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about 1 month ago · edited about 1 month ago · History

Selection wise I mostly do. Not that it is that difficult, still being a shallow player pool to select from.

But yes I think McGarry is a better LB than Sutton.

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about 1 month ago

coochiee wrote:
Selection wise I mostly do. Not that it is that difficult, still being a shallow player pool to select from.

But yes I think McGarry is a better LB than Sutton.

Nah the Smith selection proves his judgement is poor, the rationale simply doesn't stack up. The one big selection call he had to make, he blew.

McGarry may be better than Sutton but I certainly wont be considering Bazeley's opinion on anything when assessing it.

Valley FC til I die?

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about 1 month ago · edited about 1 month ago · History

People are too hung up on the Smith selection.

Tuiloma is unlucky, and I would be worried now if Payne got injured. But Billy T was also less than convincing for the Nix with his WC audition, and it looks like Bindon is going to be cover for Payne. Far from Tyler's natural position, but he's all class, and will likely do a better job shoehorned in there than natural RB Elliot.

Could Smith have been added as a '27th player' like it seems the Japanese have done with their WC squad? Yipe, but that's without knowing how the inner AWs sanctum works. Unless Payne does get injured it ain't that big a deal.

Certainly not such a big deal, as to just say outright Bazeley has no idea what he is doing as a selector.
Caveat. If Payne does get injured/suspended then hypocrite me will join the chorus criticising Baze!! I don't want Elliot playing at the WC.

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about 1 month ago · edited about 1 month ago · History

The fact that we're a single injury on an injury prone player from that scenario... I stand by my position. Its an easily forseeable circumstance and one that he's gone out of his way to avoid preparing for.

I dont think people are too hung up, I think people aren't reacting enough for what this decision says concerning the judgement of our selectors. NZF has yet to earn any trust when it comes to competence.

I had little respect for Bazeley beforehand and I have none now. We've underperformed under him so far and i believe hes the second weakest part of the group we've sent. Unfortunately I think our choice of coach will hold us back this time around.

Anyway, welcome back Jimmy.

Valley FC til I die?

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about 1 month ago

Elliott is a solid RB. The hate isnt justified, it's a byproduct of how he left... and for all we know, thats not completely on him.

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about 1 month ago

MetalLegNZ wrote:
Elliott is a solid RB. The hate isnt justified, it's a byproduct of how he left... and for all we know, thats not completely on him.

I thought he was trying to hold the club to ransom and stalling, the club then pulled their offer after he took too long?

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about 1 month ago

WanderingSheep wrote:
MetalLegNZ wrote:
Elliott is a solid RB. The hate isnt justified, it's a byproduct of how he left... and for all we know, thats not completely on him.
I thought he was trying to hold the club to ransom and stalling, the club then pulled their offer after he took too long?

That's the club version. He got offered a deal, he said he would like a better release clause. They haggled, and eventually they withdrew the offer. And it cost him dearly.

As a player, he played regularly for the best team in the league, he must be decent to keep getting picked. That hate directed at him is not justified based on his performances for Auckland.

Without a doubt, he had a better season than Payne this year.

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about 1 month ago

Debatable. Payne had an injury hampered season a slight form dip, but especially if you look back over the past 3 years he’s been solid defensively and very productive going forward.

That said Elliot is a good player too, but Payne is better in the air and has a significantly better range of passing.

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about 1 month ago

And you can’t really argue with 5,000,000 supporters.

Auckland will rise once more

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about 1 month ago

WanderingSheep wrote:
MetalLegNZ wrote:
Elliott is a solid RB. The hate isnt justified, it's a byproduct of how he left... and for all we know, thats not completely on him.
I thought he was trying to hold the club to ransom and stalling, the club then pulled their offer after he took too long?

Elliot and the club didn't see eye to eye on a buyout clause.

He thought it was set too high, but the club weren't willing to budge on it and pulled the offer at that stage iirc.

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about 1 month ago · edited about 1 month ago · History

Which likely partly explains some of Ifill not always being a outwardly big Nix fan boy for the Nix, in media stuff the last few years. At least the derby games against Auckland.

Iffy maybe a Nix legend, but he was also a very close mentor to Elliot, so that messy Elliot departure would have caused some angst.

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about 1 month ago

martinb wrote:
Debatable. Payne had an injury hampered season a slight form dip, but especially if you look back over the past 3 years he’s been solid defensively and very productive going forward.

That said Elliot is a good player too, but Payne is better in the air and has a significantly better range of passing.

I agree Payne is the better player, but Elliott had the better season. Payne looked disinterested at times.

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about 1 month ago

I thought this was the James McGarry thread?

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