I love how been a squad player in a decent European league is somehow not good enough.
Marco Rojas - The return of the Kiwi Messi
So his dad would rather he sat on the bench for a losing Euro side? I guess the money is better - truth be told we dont really need him. CCM might be interested
Don't need him? I think he'd improve the Nathan Burns shaped hole we've had out wide all season - yeah I know Burns is still here but he's not really is he.
His Dad wont let him come back to the Nix
Some articles online in Dutch about Rojas saying he might need to move if he can't get more game time. Second article mentions a loan move that was rejected (according to Google Translate).
I mean that makes a lot of sense. One thing is being a 'squad player' where you actually get SOME game time and make some sort of contribution to the team. Then there's Marco..
I wonder if he'd look at Belgium perhaps? Other than that I don't know where else he could shine? Portugal maybe if he plays for a lesser team?
His Dad wont let him come back to the Nix
His Dad is his agent
not sure he'd be that anti as it was Terry and the non payment of wages that caused the issues before for him to go to Victory
dufferent owners now
I thought it was the facilities, which are better at the Phoenix now as well.
I thought it was the facilities, which are better at the Phoenix now as well.
Ajax and Heerenveen play out a 4-4 draw in front of 52,000
Rojas not in Heerenveen’s match day squad.
Transfer imminent perhaps?
Ajax and Heerenveen play out a 4-4 draw in front of 52,000
Rojas not in Heerenveen’s match day squad.
Transfer imminent perhaps?
Colorado Rapids?
Ajax and Heerenveen play out a 4-4 draw in front of 52,000
Rojas not in Heerenveen’s match day squad.
Transfer imminent perhaps?
Colorado Rapids?
While the Colorado Rapids suggestion has an element of mirth to it, I would have thought Marco well suited to the MLS (although MLS pay structures may mean he would get better wedge in Europe).
Ajax and Heerenveen play out a 4-4 draw in front of 52,000
Rojas not in Heerenveen’s match day squad.
Transfer imminent perhaps?
Colorado Rapids?
While the Colorado Rapids suggestion has an element of mirth to it, I would have thought Marco well suited to the MLS (although MLS pay structures may mean he would get better wedge in Europe).
Ajax and Heerenveen play out a 4-4 draw in front of 52,000
Rojas not in Heerenveen’s match day squad.
Transfer imminent perhaps?
Colorado Rapids?
Given that Huddo often benched Rojas - like the 2nd leg in Peru - and that he wasn’t exactly overwhelmed with other options re the AWs, don’t think he’s a big fan of Marco.
Ajax and Heerenveen play out a 4-4 draw in front of 52,000
Rojas not in Heerenveen’s match day squad.
Transfer imminent perhaps?
Colorado Rapids?
Given that Huddo often benched Rojas - like 2nd leg in Peru - and that he wasn’t exactly overwhelmed with other options at AWs, don’t think he’s a big fan of Marco.
Still remember the time he played Rojas and McGlinchey as a centre midfield pairing. Ahh those were the days
Remember Rojas was courted by some teams in the Mexican league not too long ago. Central or South America might do him good, especially Chile where he wouldn't be a foreigner (very strict foreign player restrictions in those countries)
Denmark could be a really good option for him actually. Less tough than Holland but not a joke league..
Awer mabil is doing really well there, maybe it can rekindle his career
From this week's Flying Kiwis -
A few weeks ago it was leaked from the club that Marco Rojas was available for transfer if the right offer came along. Last week Marco Rojas himself said that he intended to leave if the right offer came along. Now it appears that the right offer might have come along.
Marco was out of the squad as Heerenveen played their first game back after the holiday break, an insane 4-4 draw away to Ajax. They were 3-1 down after half an hour, came back to tie it up at 3-3, went behind again in the 83rd minute after Klaas-Jan Huntelaar scored but a Kik Pierie goal in injury time earned the draw. And Rojas was nowhere to be seen, having been allowed to talk with an unnamed club in Denmark ahead of a possible transfer.
It’s not yet clear which club we’re talking about but, a bit of sleuthing here, Rojas does have some common history with the Brøndby manager Alexander Zorniger who spent half a season as the Stuttgart manager in 2015 while Rojas was on the books there (albeit he went out on loan to FC Thun). A club like that would be pretty useful, Brøndby have finished second on the ladder in two straight seasons and won the Danish Cup last time out – playing Europa League qualifiers in the previous six seasons.
New Zealand international Marco Rojas has joined Danish club SønderjyskE on a 12-month contract.
— Phillip Rollo (@ByPhillipRollo) January 22, 2019
Great news, good luck to him!
not quite brondby and hard to figure out much from their wiki page which is very basic
Good on him I guess for giving Europe one more crack as I would imagine there were easier options which may have paid more
Home of Johan Absalonsen who played for Adelaide last season. Came 2nd in the league in the 2015/16 season but have been middling since then. Got to be honest I thought they were a lot weaker than they are, don't look too bad tbh (apart from the fact they don't have a verified Twitter account)
Blimey, Danish average attendance less than the A League
Think I've seen a list of average attendances in leagues and quite a lot or European leagues have lower average attendances than A-League.
Hopefully Rojas can kick on well at the new club.
Blimey, Danish average attendance less than the A League
Denmark is only marginally bigger than NZ population wise. I mean, half the league (well, slight exaggeration but not too far off) is based in towns the size of Levin or smaller.
Think I've seen a list of average attendances in leagues and quite a lot or European leagues have lower average attendances than A-League.
Hopefully Rojas can kick on well at the new club.
Yeah, I think a lot of people forget about how small a lot of the European countries are.
Blimey, Danish average attendance less than the A League
Denmark is only marginally bigger than NZ population wise. I mean, half the league (well, slight exaggeration but not too far off) is based in towns the size of Levin or smaller.
Getting a lot of mention today Levin.
SønderjyskE currently 11th out of 14 teams in the Danish Superliga.
https://us.soccerway.com/teams/denmark/sonderjyske...
Bottom 8 teams will go into an extended relegation round.
Not sure if at the end of that a Superliga team has to play a 1st Division side (division down) trying for promotion. That of course could involve Nikko Boxall's, Viborg who are currently top of the 1st Division.
Mabil is at Midtjylland (2nd in Superliga), and fellow Socceroo Mustafa Amini is at AGF (one place above Sonderjyske in 10th).
Superliga season restarts from winter break 10th Feb.
Good luck to him, hopefully he can find some form and be better for it for the AW's. Always thought he could have been a star but he has never really appeared to reach the heights he could have. He was good for a couple of years at Melb Victory but his European move has failed to impress.
According to Phillip Rollo on twitter, the Nix were also interested.
I think it's fair to say his European career has been a complete failure. He's not been able to command a starting place at any of his European clubs. This is probably last roll of the dice given how far down he has dropped down - bottom half of the Danish league must be on a par with the A-League really
Have to say, when you compare him with another very talented player such as Amini, it is interesting to note neither of them did really well in Europe and they are now both playing in Denmark.
I for one think this will resurrect Marco's career but I would also think he'll never make the big step we were all hoping for and he'll see out his playing days in smaller European leagues or perhaps in Asia if not just in the A-League. Best he could do I reckon is MLS.
Maybe this is a defeatist attitude but if this contract doesn't work out I'd come back home to the A League. He'll be 28 when it expires, in his footballing prime. I'd rather see him be one of the best players in the a league than see him struggle from club to club in Europe. Obviously I'd love him to come back to us one day, but even to see him on top of his game at victory again would make me happy for him. Just want to see him do well at the end of the day
Think I've seen a list of average attendances in leagues and quite a lot or European leagues have lower average attendances than A-League.
Hopefully Rojas can kick on well at the new club.
Yeah, I think a lot of people forget about how small a lot of the European countries are.
Maybe this is a defeatist attitude but if this contract doesn't work out I'd come back home to the A League. He'll be 28 when it expires, in his footballing prime. I'd rather see him be one of the best players in the a league than see him struggle from club to club in Europe. Obviously I'd love him to come back to us one day, but even to see him on top of his game at victory again would make me happy for him. Just want to see him do well at the end of the day
I agree, he's got talent so he should be starting somewhere. Fairly sure this period sitting on the bench can't have been a lot of fun.
When he came back to the A-League for his second stint he was probably too good for the league and given his age it made sense to head back overseas. He needs to find somewhere he can regularly play football at a good level
I don't think he's adaptable enough as a player tactically which might explain some of his struggles
I'd also question whether he has the strong burning desire and commitment to succeed, that seems to drive say Ryan Thomas - who he is sometimes compared to.
But we are all different, and good luck to him in Denmark.
Personally I think his size works against him. Sure, you can point to Messi, or a guy like Giovinco - but they are the exception, not the norm. Ryan Thomas is a behemoth compared to Marco.
I think this level and particular region will suit him, but its going to be down to him to make the most of any opportunity he gets. If this doesn't work out after 12 months I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up back in the A-League. As mentioned before, if he still wants to stay overseas then I think South America would be his next bet, and probably his last option for competing in a respected overseas league without dropping to lower tiers.
Hopefully this works out well for him and he sees more regular game time. I've seen a few highlights of both the Danish and Swedish leagues over the last few years and the level is quite good.
Thomas (176 cm) is certainly taller than Rojas (168 cm).
But I've stood beside him and he ain't no behemoth - his more combative onfield attitude may give that impression.
Take it with a grain of salt maybe, but Soccerway actually lists Rojas as heavier (64kgs) verus Thomas (61 kgs).
I think it's more about temperament and desire than weight - though Thomas is the taller of the two.
To anyone might say they play different roles, I'd respond to look at Barbarouses on the weekend. he's definitely not a tall or big player but he used his body really well and harried our defenders when out of possession every time.
Personally I think his size works against him. Sure, you can point to Messi, or a guy like Giovinco - but they are the exception, not the norm. Ryan Thomas is a behemoth compared to Marco.
He seemed to get quite a bit of game time in Switzerland.