King Kenny

Time will tell.

Kenny Powers Down the line - can see the headlines already

Is his middle initial F? ;>)

Exciting times again....roll on more training games.

Can he play right back? 

Why is that, exactly? Merrick has had just as many import failures as Ricki  - Ricardinho, Ney Fabiano, Lopez, Angulo, Suksomkit etc etc. It's hit or miss for every coach.

''Not only can Kenny score goals and set them up, but he's very good one-on-one,'' Merrick said.

''Those strikers are always the most difficult to find and the most expensive to pay for because they can just create something themselves. He has tremendous pace and dribbling ability.''

I get a bit worried when I see him saying this, then look at his goal scoring record..

Ah well, still bloody happy we signed someone. Hope he's more Hernandez, less Pupy Lopez.

There was nothing weong with any of those signings VAleo

"Only lord I thank you for this new opportunity"

Closer to: "I thank only You, O Lord, for this opportunity".

That's a slightly brown-nosing way to refer to Ernie Merrick, but perhaps that's the Costa Rican way.

The Wynton Rufer/Rory Fallon way?

huge help having Hernandez here as well, they can help each other settle, and Hernandez knows the a-league well.

His previous team "The Strongest" is Bolivia's oldest team, and it's strip and parts of the crest are almost identical the the Phoenix's 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Strongest

at least the nix strip will feel familiar!

I told my costa rican co-worker that another player from costa rica joining the Nix. He said he knew, he had dinner with Carlos last weekend at a friends place (not KFC). Those costa ricans like to bunch up. He told me more, but won't tell, it's not spectacular anyway.

But I give you some hard facts about Bolivia, no place I like to live, what ever class football they play:

Bolivia vs New Zealand

Looking at the international playing schedule for Costa Rica.....they have WC qualifiers 11 and 15 October........Nix first game at the ROF is 13th October.....so I guess we won't be seeing Kenny in action for a while.  Could be quite an interesting te4am Ernie fields in that first game considering the AW's are in action then too

Arrived this morning, starts training tomorrow.

http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/wellingtonphoenix/news-display/Costa%20Rican%20Star%20Arrives/73552

Bleh, no wonder I couldn't find the thread, Was bumped whilst I was looking for it. (mods take control)

Not gonna believe it til I see him in a stripey...

Also, seems Italiano and Brockie are in Welly this week too - yay for a full squad!

cant wait to see this guy in action

Like this on communication with Kenny:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/9092710/Cunningham-trains-with-Phoenix-teammates

Given Cunningham's limited grasp of English, how would Merrick get his messages across?

"Carlos interprets for him. He's got the handle on Scottish accents."

He may find this guide useful (or not): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OawGtcoaXkA

All the basics here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMVOITJxdeg

Kenny may think Ernie's talking about him all the time whenever he hears "ken" - as in "d'yae ken?"

"Gie 'm tha ba' ! " - crucial.

Even iphones can't understand Scottish: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EVnK-pNxaA

 "They should make an 'Aye Phone' for Scotland" 

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/9093267/Costa-Rican-duo-raring-to-go-for-the-Phoenix

"King Kenny" in terms of success related more to Scottish Kenny's last stint as Liverpool manager rather than 1980's period Dalglish?

Hope he does come right sooner rather than later.

But I think it's way too early to write a player like Cunningham off after three games - two starts and one as a sub.

Many a player has failed to initially make an impact on moving to a new team, in a new league, in a new country.

It's hard enough just switching clubs in your own country, let alone moving overseas.

May take until the second half of the season to really settle in.

He's played for the best team in Bolivia and was one of the star players in Costa Rica for several years.

As recently as April, he was playing for the Strongest of Bolivia against Sao Paulo in the Copa Libertadores (2-1 win full game here):

http://livefootballvideo.com/fullmatch/south-america/copa-libertadores/the-strongest-vs-sao-paulo#.Um8GpPlmiSo

I think we should nickname Kenny .... "George" after George Paladini. Everyone has been saying how quick he is and he sure is. The trouble is, the opposition have been able to keep up with him.

Um... no. Unfortunately George's most enduring memory is for some unsavoury antics off the field ... so calling this a bad nickname. And besides, I'm with BigPete, you really can't judge Kenny on the basis of three games.

Yes we can, it's an MB. OK we all talk (Myself included) bollox so we're allowed to! (Only having fun with you. I appreciate what you are saying but this is the consumer generation, we want excellence instantly.)

Wow! Both Kenny and Carlos called-up by Costa Rica for high profile friendlies this week vs. Chile and South Korea.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Costa_Rica_national_football_team#Current_squad

http://int.soccerway.com/teams/costa-rica/costa-rica/477/

http://fedefutbolcr.com/

http://fedefutbolcr.com/jugadores-se-juegan-su-ultimo-chance-para-quedarse-en-la-tricolor/

Will be live streams available on the net I'd imagine. Will be awesome to watch if they get game time.

No wonder both have been playing well recently for the Nix with game time for Costa Rica on the line !!!

Costa Rica v Chile  (Coquimbo, Chile) -  (Wednesday 9 pm local time) -  Thursday 1 pm NZT

Costa Rica v  South Korea (LA Coliseum, USA)  -  (Saturday 5 pm local time) -  Sunday 2 pm NZT

Anyway, those are the times as I make them - I checked local ticket sales websites for local kick-off times. 

Kenny's wonder goal featured on "ESPN FC" show on ESPN channel from the States on Sky TV on Monday night.

Number three on their " goals of the weekend." The Latin guy on the panel genuinely loved it and the Phoenix.

Unfortunately Steve Nicol was an arse and contemptuously said "Wellington Phoenix!," as if they are a bit of a joke.

Then he said "No one was there to see it!" - which is true. Was obvious from the clip they showed that the stadium was embarrassingly empty...

They said lots of people asked to see the goal...

Yeah Alejandro Moreno was the chap, ex Venezuela player and very good on that show. He was here for the Mexico qualifier and bought his son a Phoenix shirt so has given us a mention a couple of times.
Said in another thread, was unfortunate the goal was at that end as there were a whole bunch of yellow seats!

Full game Chile v Costa Rica on You Tube  - see Kenny & Carlos in action:

(Kenny played the full game, Carlos started & subbed after 67 mins.)

First half: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDA0MxAaZPU

Second half: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QemDGJws0T8

Yeah I know bro, just gave Stevie Nicol a chance to gob-off. Not good for anyone

I remember they did a live panel show in South Africa 4 years ago for the world cup, I think Shaka Hislop asked him about our chances and he just goes "Ha.. New Zealand.... New Zealand....". That was pretty much it lol

Steve Nicol is f*cking clueless

He talks sh*t all the time, has no idea what he's going on about. How was he a decent defender despite being so dumb? 

Anfield '89 couldn't have happened to a nicer bloke.

What happened with the tackle that broke his foot?

Someone kicked him through the back of the leg and got away without a card?

What did Ernie say?