Marco Rojas - The return of the Kiwi Messi

Even Wynton only moved from Switzerland to the Bundesliga at age 27. He had played nearly 200 games and scored nearly 100 goals by that stage though.

Marco has played a grand total of 21 minutes over 5 or so games in May. Certainly no risk of being overdone for the OFC Cup. If you look at our midfield with WeeMac and Ridenton carrying niggles, Billy T having little match time and Rojas not getting much either I think our midfield will be seriously underdone and will force some serious route one football. 

I wonder if Marco just isn't playing well, injured or isn't quite fitting the system the manager wants to play. 

the biggest problem with marco is he is a pure confidence player, he'll never put his head down if something isnt going his way. Marco could be great if he had someone like boyd's confidence. Unfortunately, without the crowd signing his name, he just doesnt kick on. 

Do they sign because if they sang he couldn't understand them anyway?

What is you assessment based on Joey?

mainly victory and his time in europe. 

You can gleam that from watching him play... sorry I thought based on your comments you actually knew him.

yeah no its just how i see him when he plays, you look at someone like boyd who is not as technically gifted but will always put in a shift, marco has a habit of going missing, its especially happening to him at thun currently, but that may be because he's not playing his natural position half the time. 

he really needs to come back to the a league and pick up where he left off

Don't understand that every time a Kiwi player has a few struggles in Europe (aka Rojas, Tuiloma) there is always these calls for them to come and play in the A League esp Phoenix.

Most players will only get one crack at making it in the European leagues, and success won't always happen straight away. They have a far better chance of making it into a bigger league/club by actually being in Europe - than by playing at the other end of world ie A League.

Of course there are a few exceptions like Adrian Mooy - who after an unsuccessful stint with St Mirren a few years back, is likely to be back in Europe soon after a great season with Melbourne City. However most players that come back to these parts after unsuccessful stints in Europe will finish their careers here (some no doubt wondering what could have been!) - or if they chase some extra cash end up playing in an Asian comp (again wondering what could have been).

Marco and Bill are the two players I am looking forward to seeing the most. Closely followed by how Boxall goes in CD.

Let's be honest we never get to see these guys play and we are a few days from watching 5 games in 2 weeks! (Hopefully) 

The reason people are calling for Marco to come back (it's a pipe dream anyway) is not because we think it would help him, but instead because we think it would help us. He would be a huge coup for the Nix and we would all love to have him. Right now he seems to be struggling to find a foothold in Europe and therefore we are speculating that is f he was ever to return before the age of 35, now would be the time, so we talk about not because he would be better off (all he would gain is a guaranteed start), but instead saying, imagine how great it would be if we got Marco Rojas back!

marco playing straight shark in one of the lowest european leagues fam. He can't cut it in europe. How long does he need to bum around before it starts effecting his national team play, should take a leaf outta kosta/burns/mooy book.

I wonder if he's considering playing in a South American league/Mexico?

The Swiss league is 11th in the UEFA coefficients out of 54 member nations. How is that "one of the lowest"? It's not like he's playing in Latvia or something. And Thun are a mid table side too, not relegation strugglers. 

Sure he hasn't been playing regularly for a while (but a goal and an assist in the last two games he has played) but he's still pretty well placed to carve out a decent career in Europe if he wants to stay there.

JJ - you been watching Rojas play lately to say he's been performing sh*t?  Could be a myriad of reasons as to why he not currently getting more minutes at Thun.

I don't think he'd be the least bit concerned about being stuck on the bench, in the Swiss league affecting his spot in the All Whites. The AWs barely play a game (next few weeks excepted), and his main competition are kids playing Northern League!

If he ever comes back to the A League it will be one of the glamour clubs (Victory, Sydney, WSW etc) not the Phoenix! Dreaming.

Anyway he should keep plugging away in Europe, it's just too early to write him and likes of Tuiloma from making it over there.

Marco back to Stuttgart; for now.

i really hope he proves me wrong 

I don't get why he didn't come to PNG earlier if he was leaving anyway. NZF should have known this and enforced the window so he could prepare properly with the team

I'm not completely sure, but I don't think the pre-tournament training camp was included in the window so NZF couldn't enforce it.

You seriously calling the Swiss league one of the lowest European league? Wow.

The Stuttgart newspapers confirming that Marco's time at Thun has ended - but given his struggles in the 2.bundesliga before they are already talking mutual contract termination. 

It has been said a thousand times but if he wants to stay in Europe GO DUTCH SON GO DUTCH

Split the bill?

Portugal then to spain would suit his game the best but Holland would be great

Or maybe stay in German 2nd tier with contracted club? It will hardly be a shark level of football. Not sure Dutch or Spanish clubs will be kicking his agents door down looking for his signature

2. bundesliga will never suit his style of football....his time at Furth was HORRIBLE, his contract has a termination clause in case of relegation so maybe a word in PEC Zwolle's ear wouldn't go amiss?

Love to see him play here in the Netherlands! Bring more NZ talent here! 

David Browne (i know he isn't NZ) but he played a lot of games at Jong PEC Zwolle... don't know if he stays, hope so!

Marco confirms he is staying at Stuttgart and beginning pre-season training:

Guessing he'll be playing reserves

Always the optimist!

Coming from you. Classic!

Not the worst option the club is very big and a decent chance of bouncing straight back. They will get rid of a lot top quality players and the swiss league is pretty similar to the B2 if he can stand out and stay fit it could leave him in a good position.

Should we change the thread name to FC Stuttgard?

Don't know what you're talking about....

Apparently his dad is over there with him now... not sure why... please speculate

They share some sort of bond. He's like a father to him

Marco is like a father to his own dad? 

Weird

It looks like Marco is not in the official squad for the A or the B team for Stuttgart.

I guess we have to accept he is currently, never will be, good enough to be play in the 2. Bundesliga.

Nice try but maybe it's time to come back to the A-League. Can he play CB ? ;)

He could be Right Back where he started!

He's been playing the full 90 for the second team in some pre-season friendlies such as here:

http://www.vfb.de/de/aktuell/meldungen/news/2016/t...

He hasn't been in the first team squad at all for their friendlies however.

Stuttgart have not listed any squads on their website yet - that section is blank at the moment.

His MVP season with Victory was just to long ago that I don't think Stuttgart or a team of that quality will take notice. Should come back to the A league for a season with and then have another crack a dominant season in the A league could really spike interest again. If he came to the Nix we would have one of the best XI's in the comp if not the best.