1 Barba, 2 Barba, 3 Barbarouses

theprof

MetalLegNZ

Was an interesting stat on the tv last night that his most prolific seasons have always been when he is on his last year on his contract.

Assuming he was offered a 2 Yr contract how much do you think his wage expectations might have grown from say the beginning of the year.

I reckon if he'd had been wanting around the 200k mark as an experienced professional - now, he'd could probably ask for double.... hell his next contract might be worth more than his current one, certainly based on the performances leading into negotiations.

Hard to say. Sure his performances will certainly increase his value, but his age will reduce that as well. Will be interesting to see what the clib do. Fingers crossed they nail Kosta and Zawada for at least the enxt 2 years.

I would rather sign Kosta on a 1 + 1 deal but given his form I wouldn't be upset with a 2 year deal and I'm sure thats what he's targeting. My only concern is his age catches up in the future seasons and we have another Ball situation but if hes not on super high wages like an import would be, it'll probs be worth the risk.

Think Ball’s situation also relates to him playing on one foot with injections when we needed it. No sauce, but just a hunch. That and he’s been decent for us, needing leadership etc etc.

martinb

Think Ball’s situation also relates to him playing on one foot with injections when we needed it. No sauce, but just a hunch. That and he’s been decent for us, needing leadership etc etc.

yeah, he may have come to the Nix as a striker but he's been played deeper and on the wing since he's beeen here. I dont think his record has ever been prolific but I think his impact for the team is way beyond scoring goals.

theprof

martinb

Think Ball’s situation also relates to him playing on one foot with injections when we needed it. No sauce, but just a hunch. That and he’s been decent for us, needing leadership etc etc.

yeah, he may have come to the Nix as a striker but he's been played deeper and on the wing since he's beeen here. I dont think his record has ever been prolific but I think his impact for the team is way beyond scoring goals.

Getting a bit off topic I know, but I've been on a stats binge all day. You're spot on about his impact. I feel like in other leagues assists stats are talked about way more than here, but they're just as important as scoring. Across his time with us, David Ball has 33 direct goal involvements in the league (18 assists, 15 goals). Only Ifill (20) and Bertos (19) have more assists ever for the club, and David is also in 3rd for most direct goal involvements behind Krishna (62) and Ifill (53). Regardless of what happens going forwards, David Ball is a certified Nix legend.

I just remember all the haters before the season had even started. I wonder what flavour of humble pie they're eating?

Gooner 4 Life

I just remember all the haters before the season had even started. I wonder what flavour of humble pie they're eating?

Yeah but remember there were also plenty who were slagging off about the squad and the lack of signings even some questioning Chiefs appointment. Seems as if all those have been on board all along and its just a figment of our imagination that there was any criticism at all

martinb

Think Ball’s situation also relates to him playing on one foot with injections when we needed it. No sauce, but just a hunch. That and he’s been decent for us, needing leadership etc etc.

Ball said at the time that he asked the Phoenix for a long contract because he sacrificed a lot to be with them over covid.

But, as has been shown in the Ball thread, Ball is contributing a lot of goal activities, just not scoring, so it's not like he's a passenger, and even if he was Kosta is a kiwi so won't be using an inport slot. The issue isn't whether or not Ball is A-League quality as he gets older, it's whether or not he warrants an import slot.

Ryan

martinb

Think Ball’s situation also relates to him playing on one foot with injections when we needed it. No sauce, but just a hunch. That and he’s been decent for us, needing leadership etc etc.

Ball said at the time that he asked the Phoenix for a long contract because he sacrificed a lot to be with them over covid.

But, as has been shown in the Ball thread, Ball is contributing a lot of goal activities, just not scoring, so it's not like he's a passenger, and even if he was Kosta is a kiwi so won't be using an inport slot. The issue isn't whether or not Ball is A-League quality as he gets older, it's whether or not he warrants an import slot.

Really hope he and INZ can get his citizenship sorted. I want to see the guy retire here on his own terms, but I’d also love to see us pick up a couple extra imports.

Friar Tuck

Ryan

martinb

Think Ball’s situation also relates to him playing on one foot with injections when we needed it. No sauce, but just a hunch. That and he’s been decent for us, needing leadership etc etc.

Ball said at the time that he asked the Phoenix for a long contract because he sacrificed a lot to be with them over covid.

But, as has been shown in the Ball thread, Ball is contributing a lot of goal activities, just not scoring, so it's not like he's a passenger, and even if he was Kosta is a kiwi so won't be using an inport slot. The issue isn't whether or not Ball is A-League quality as he gets older, it's whether or not he warrants an import slot.

Really hope he and INZ can get his citizenship sorted. I want to see the guy retire here on his own terms, but I’d also love to see us pick up a couple extra imports.

 You'd think that's the intention, at least from the club and David's side of things. I doubt he would have set up his football coaching/academy side hustle if he expected to be leaving in six months

Yep, the question is did the time spent in Australia because of Covid effect that as he might not have resided in NZ enough in those years.

Ryan

Yep, the question is did the time spent in Australia because of Covid effect that as he might not have resided in NZ enough in those years.

My guess is that it depends on where he was paying his tax.

kungfu panda

Ryan

Yep, the question is did the time spent in Australia because of Covid effect that as he might not have resided in NZ enough in those years.

My guess is that it depends on where he was paying his tax.

employed in NZ by the Nix so I imagine he is paying tax in NZ

ballane

Gooner 4 Life

I just remember all the haters before the season had even started. I wonder what flavour of humble pie they're eating?

Yeah but remember there were also plenty who were slagging off about the squad and the lack of signings even some questioning Chiefs appointment. Seems as if all those have been on board all along and its just a figment of our imagination that there was any criticism at all

The funny thing was that those people were all saying how much better the women's side was going to be

I was definitely cynical but quietly a little optimistic because we didn't lose anyone.  I was one of the people much more optimistic about the women's team.

For me, the humble pie is a nice slice of apple with a dollop of vanilla ice cream and it is deeelicious.

We are top of the league, we are top of the league!

All 10 goals and 3 of his 4 assists have come in the 1,119 minutes that Zawada hasn't played.

2ndBest

All 10 goals and 3 of his 4 assists have come in the 1,119 minutes that Zawada hasn't played.

What conclusions do you draw from this?

Doloras

2ndBest

All 10 goals and 3 of his 4 assists have come in the 1,119 minutes that Zawada hasn't played.

What conclusions do you draw from this?

Kosta has stepped up as a leader due to the abscence of an actual leader of the line and its contract time again.

We have more than 1 style of play we can utilise.

There's more than one Barbarouses

Sunday: Scores a match-winning brace ➡️ Monday: Celebrates his 34th birthday ➡️ Wednesday: Takes out his second consecutive Isuzu UTE A-League Fan Player of the Month award 🏆

It’s been some week for @WgtnPhoenixFC star @KostaBarb7! Aging like a fine wine 🍷

📰 Details:… pic.twitter.com/EPSSv2sZnN

— Isuzu UTE A-League (@aleaguemen) February 21, 2024

It's a fan vote but it's still something

When we had too many players, no one was taking ultimate responsibility. 

I suspect Chief has turned up the brinksmanship a few times to see what unknown or lower rated players could do and so far he’s had a good response. 

Kosta seems to be relishing leading the line instead of playing second fiddle to higher profile imports as he usually was with MV, Sydney and Roar. Even though he had impressive stats with all those clubs he often seemed to go through periods when he lost his confidence and form. This season he's obviously enjoying having the responsibility on his shoulders of scoring and making goals, yet he is first and foremost a team man. No ego there at all.

Can't be many current ALM players who have had longer careers than him either. Vukovic, Broxham, maybe Rhyan Grant, they are the only ones that spring to mind.  

https://aleagues.com.au/news/wellington-phoenix-2-1-sydney-fc-match-report-goals-highlights-video-kosta-barbarouses/.
 Kosta moves past Archie Thompson on the All Time A-League goal scorers list. 

barbarouses.PNG 654.19 KB

I'd love it if he caught & passed Fornaroli too.

Has anyone ever won the league with four different clubs? Has anyone else even done it with three?

Edit: He was the first to win the title with three clubs when he won with Sydney FC in 2020, and I’m pretty sure nobody has joined the club since then, so he’d beat his own record if he managed to claim a fourth. 

Fitzy

Has anyone ever won the league with four different clubs? Has anyone else even done it with three?

Afaik, Kosta is the only person to win it at 3 different clubs. 

Nabbout and Redmayne probably have come closest to matching him, having won it with 2 clubs but they finished second in a third club.

RR

Fitzy

Has anyone ever won the league with four different clubs? Has anyone else even done it with three?

Afaik, Kosta is the only person to win it at 3 different clubs. 

Nabbout and Redmayne probably have come closest to matching him, having won it with 2 clubs but they finished second in a third club.

Berisha is close too, won it four times with Brisbane and Victory (twice each) and then retired at Western United the season before they won.

The commentators were making a lot about the fact that Barbarouses has scored doubles after every game we've lost this season. Well, the streak's kinda alive after scoring one and forcing the oggie.

Here's hoping he'll only need to score one per game from here on out! (or maybe a hatty vs CCM!)

IMO Kosta is a better player now than he was at the start of the season. I think he's probably better now than he's ever been (but I don't know that). The reason I say it is because at the start of the season, balls coming over his shoulder seemed awkward for him. Now he takes them in his stride. Absolutely amazing player. We will win the league. A brace a game now to the end 🤞 

Would like to hear we have resigned him for next season, or the next two soon. Negotiations have been going on for a while now - so a little disappointing that they have not been finalised as of yet.

Sure some announcement that we have Kosta for next season and maybe one more would be great. But I imagine those conversations are linked to the ones that are going on with Zawada. Ideally the club would want both, Kosta's price will be on the rise where I'd suspect Zawada's might be dropping a bit.

Or seriously, do they let Zawada go and get someone in that is less injury prone?. Will depend a lot on if Zawada can actually get fit this season and make an impact. At 34 Kosta will need motivation to keep going at the level he is at. Maybe a 1+1 with performance / appearance conditions