Neil Emblem

Neil Emblem

Knights fan base player of the season, golden boot for the Knights, utility player, hugely experienced�.but old and slowing down�should he be signed for the Phoenix?

 

He�s played a few games for Puerto Rico (since the Knights) with Alen Marcina but desperately wants to stay in NZ for his family. Apparently hasn�t talked with Herbert yet(according to interview with Dewhurst on Radiosport) so my guess is that it is unlikely to happen, but they could do a lot worse.

 

To take the team forward I think they probably need new/fresher/faster players, but if they sign some of the low impact/average players from the knights ahead of Emblem � I�ll be pissed off.

Let's hope we don't look at him. Four places for overseas players had better go to some quality players. 

Preferred him upfront with Marcena at end of year, rather than in defence.

Firstly his name is Emblen and we dont need him.

Hes awesome, and in the end of the day if we cant attract any better foreigners, embo will do the job time and time again

It's no coincidence that the Knights best results happened when he moved up front.  Sure I'd like to see someone younger/faster/cooler but a physical presence up front is crucial in this league.  Keep him as a backup if he's desperate to come back.

Plus he was never played beside someone half decent until he was put beside Marcina

I'm desperate to play for them as well - but I wouldn't suggest picking me. However - perhaps if he is that keen he could be on the coaching staff.

Emblen was the second best player in a Knights shirt last year, when moved up front. Salley was the best.

He should be kept him heart is in the right place & he put the ball in the right place when required.

Dont sign him, we have limited import slots so we need to fill them with players of immenseley superior quality

He's sh*t. You can do a lot better. Much better getting someone younger who can develop into a good player. Emblen will only be around for one or two years and you'd realistically be wanting to work towards A-league season 4 or 5 before you're really competitive. There will be better players overseas than Neil Emblen who would love to play in NZ.

I think Neil did well in the circumstances of last season and we should be grateful.  Without him things would have been worse. He was one player who clearly cared whether we won or lost.  I hope he finds a useful final club to play for this season (for example he would be a saviour for Torquay or Rotherham who need an experienced core player).

However, he is not the right kind of signing for the new club; we need mainly Kiwis with s few up and coming Oz or Asian players around the 21-22 year old range  We do not want "sunset" players this year.

He scored for Waitakere City (not United) in Northern football last week.

They can keep him. He's gave his best (thanks) but he's history now.

Saw him tonight. Go the Embo!

My 5c worth: Neil Emblen is definitely past his best and no use at all in defence. I would consider taking him on for the Phoenix depending completely on the overall balance of the squad and the availability of better (but not "maybe" better) foreign players. He would bring experience and a goodish finishing touch to the team. This team must look to be more attacking than the Knights were. I mean I saw them go behind and still fail to get even a shot on target at times.