Hail ___ the Chief - Giancarlo Italiano

Not really sure why people are complaining about us not playing youth. The last two years we would've been top in playing youth especially last year. You can only keep playing youth if the output of quality youth is coming through and you're gonna have a year where maybe the players from the academy are a year behind in development after promoting so many players previously. Sutton, Elliot, Waine and Old became valuable squad members this season and then you have Surman, Paulsen and Van Hattum as the ones wanting to breakthrough in the team. 

OVH albeit short spells from the bench he has had enough time to show potential but he hasn't, I recall when Old made his debut he looked bright and showed potential and thats why he was rewarded with more game time the players know professional football is a fickle sport where if you don't take those opportunities you may just be left behind. 

Surman and Paulsen you can say they've been hard done by with their amount of opportunities but they're both still so young their opportunities will come next year. Karunaratne is probs the one I feel like we should've given a chance this season he looked bright in the FFA cup he played and maybe he would've done better than OVH off the bench.

But these players will have a chance next season to try break through with us.

“It screams rebuild, it screams a season spent in the sort of bottom rungs of the table.” 🗣️

With Ufuk Talay moving on, being replaced by Giancarlo Italiano, @MattOlsen294 believes Wellington will undergo a transitional period next season 🎙️#FPFootball #WeAreALeagues pic.twitter.com/FMM0WZ5Zna

— Front Page Football (@FrontPgFootball) April 18, 2023

Classic lazy Aussie reporting......

lthomas20

“It screams rebuild, it screams a season spent in the sort of bottom rungs of the table.” 🗣️

With Ufuk Talay moving on, being replaced by Giancarlo Italiano, @MattOlsen294 believes Wellington will undergo a transitional period next season 🎙️#FPFootball #WeAreALeagues pic.twitter.com/FMM0WZ5Zna

— Front Page Football (@FrontPgFootball) April 18, 2023

Classic lazy Aussie reporting......

Such a bizarre take, so far we've only lost 3 players. We lost 6 first team players last season with a couple outer squad players, the season before we lost 7-8 players and then the season before that again 7-8 players and after the Rudan stint we lost about 13 players. I'd say we lose a couple more this season but will still most likely be the least we've lost the past 4 seasons and with the most visa spots we've kept + with a coach familiar with the players and tactics. It may still be a transitional year with a new coach but if we recruit well locally we'd still be expecting a top 6 finish. 

How can the possible inclusion of a new Auckland franchise, giving NZ two ALM teams, in anyway contribute to a 'harrowingly bad outlook for NZ football'?

A 2nd professional football club in NZ, will only be harrowingly good for NZ Football, even with invariable rocky path it takes to get there. Just picture the crowd for the first Nix verus Auckland derby game, to see how good it will be for the sport in NZ.

Losing good players to other clubs is not something unusual - we had to deal with  this before. The only thing that matters is whether you can replace them with other / new / decent players and remain competitive. That is the nature of club football.

Dome would have said if he was our most expensive coach. He is obviously cheaper 

Walsall Boy

Lots of comments as to him being the cheap option.

How does anyone know that?  His salary has not been disclosed as far as i have seen.  He may well be the most expensive option.

That’s a bloody good chart if accurate. Seriously how long did that take to compile? 

Maaaaaaatt

Ryan

Lachyloolaa

Showtime Nixie

kiwis. coach and squad. Can you argue that? nup. Engagment was through the roof!!

Good luck to this fella...he's worked hard. I hope it works. 

Just doesn't have me tuning in anymore than the last flop.

You are the all-time bad take machine.

The idea that the Nix had good attendance in the early days because of a Kiwi coach and players is a load of rubbish. We had good attendance with Merrick at first and it fell off because of poor performance. Either way, I assume you just want to focus on the Ricki era, but even Ricki had shark attendance in the 12/13 season. What's the common denominator? Shark performance. Also who was the club's goalscoring superstar back then again? A Bajan. You seem to reckon the casual fans didn't care about Ifill because he wasn't a Kiwi.

And somehow you're calling Talay a flop, despite him stats-wise being the best coach we've had ever. If he's a flop, what does that make everyone else? The club's in the most stable place it's ever been, yet you still have to find something to whinge and whine about.

I remember being at a game with Ricki in charge and realising that there were no NZ born outfield players on the pitch. The only NZ players were Australian, like Durante and Lia, who had gotten citizenship by playing for the Nix.

There's a bit of history re-writing going on here. Under Herbert we were much more interested in signing Australian journeymen rather than playing young Kiwi's. 

I should be working, but was interested to see what the stats showed.

Out of all of our coaches, Talay has given the highest proportion of total minutes to Kiwis (47%), next closest is Herbet on 41%.

image.png 11.05 KB

Herbert fielded the most Aussie based teams (39%), this looks like it is due to several of his foreign players getting pretty limited minutes, the 2008/09 imports played a combined 1,500 minutes (by contrast, Zawada has played 1,800 this season by himself). 

The data I used is on a season by season basis, so I haven't split out the caretaker periods. I've treated Dura as an Aussie, I do think that he became a kiwi at some stage, but I don't think he was one in 07/08 or 08/09 so for the stats I chose to treat him as an Aussie throughout. Given he has been on the field for 62%(!) of all the minutes that the phoenix have played this does swing things a bit,  Herbert increases to 48% Kiwi if Dura's a Kiwi from day 1. 

Was gonna say what 2nd best said.

Speculation is half the point of these forums but the reality is we have no idea how Chiefy is gonna go.

It has the potential for the best of both worlds or the worst of both worlds.

He already has the relationships with the players so he could have an advantage of consistency and the advantage of bringing new ideas.

Or it could go the other way.  I'm very curious to see how he does with off season signings.

I was happy with Talay when we were boring to the watch but winning.  If we were boring as sin but we're second at the end of the season it helps us with crowds next year.  But boring to watch and wheels shaking a bit isn't ideal.

Having said that, the certainty around a coach, and him being a current member of the coaching staff might give us a lift.

Who the hell knows

The reference and chat was originally about this season. Talay gone away from it. And i agree with earlier posts that if we fail to make the (i hope we dont) we should blood new players from young nz player pool at the club. It will be criminal if it doesnt happen. 

The Nix's finals hopes will likely come down to the last regular season game against Macarthur. There will be no dead rubber games this season to give minutes to Academy players.

I am looking at this appointment with positivity and hope, mainly because of the relationship that I see between him and the players. If the players really want to play for you, that is an important factor.
He also seems to be quite a big character, which is quite different to Uffie. I mean, I love Uffie's style, especially in press conferences. But he does only seem to give out just enough info / thoughts.

I agree with OOE on this.  However, I am sure the club asked Talay if Italiano had the goods. We are apprehensive because we cannot see where Talay ends and Italiano starts when it comes to the results on the pitch. If he did not have any serious potential, it would not matter to Morrison how cheap or how likeable Italiano is.

AucklandPhoenix

That’s a bloody good chart if accurate. Seriously how long did that take to compile? 

Maaaaaaatt

Ryan

Lachyloolaa

Showtime Nixie

kiwis. coach and squad. Can you argue that? nup. Engagment was through the roof!!

Good luck to this fella...he's worked hard. I hope it works. 

Just doesn't have me tuning in anymore than the last flop.

You are the all-time bad take machine.

The idea that the Nix had good attendance in the early days because of a Kiwi coach and players is a load of rubbish. We had good attendance with Merrick at first and it fell off because of poor performance. Either way, I assume you just want to focus on the Ricki era, but even Ricki had shark attendance in the 12/13 season. What's the common denominator? Shark performance. Also who was the club's goalscoring superstar back then again? A Bajan. You seem to reckon the casual fans didn't care about Ifill because he wasn't a Kiwi.

And somehow you're calling Talay a flop, despite him stats-wise being the best coach we've had ever. If he's a flop, what does that make everyone else? The club's in the most stable place it's ever been, yet you still have to find something to whinge and whine about.

I remember being at a game with Ricki in charge and realising that there were no NZ born outfield players on the pitch. The only NZ players were Australian, like Durante and Lia, who had gotten citizenship by playing for the Nix.

There's a bit of history re-writing going on here. Under Herbert we were much more interested in signing Australian journeymen rather than playing young Kiwi's. 

I should be working, but was interested to see what the stats showed.

Out of all of our coaches, Talay has given the highest proportion of total minutes to Kiwis (47%), next closest is Herbet on 41%.

image.png 11.05 KB

Herbert fielded the most Aussie based teams (39%), this looks like it is due to several of his foreign players getting pretty limited minutes, the 2008/09 imports played a combined 1,500 minutes (by contrast, Zawada has played 1,800 this season by himself). 

The data I used is on a season by season basis, so I haven't split out the caretaker periods. I've treated Dura as an Aussie, I do think that he became a kiwi at some stage, but I don't think he was one in 07/08 or 08/09 so for the stats I chose to treat him as an Aussie throughout. Given he has been on the field for 62%(!) of all the minutes that the phoenix have played this does swing things a bit,  Herbert increases to 48% Kiwi if Dura's a Kiwi from day 1. 

About an hour, longest part was copying and tidying up the tables from ultimate a-league. 

Upshot is I now have an excel workbook with the number of minutes each nix player has played since inception. 

If he was any good why wouldn't Talay take the guy to his next job with him? one way of looking at it. But yeah hope he goes well and time will telll.

Showtime Nixie

If he was any good why wouldn't Talay take the guy to his next job with him? one way of looking at it. But yeah hope he goes well and time will telll.

Maybe Italiano doesnt want to be an assistant anymore, he wants to be the gaffer. Perhaps Italiano doesnt want to go to whatever club Talay is going to.

Showtime Nixie

If he was any good why wouldn't Talay take the guy to his next job with him? one way of looking at it. But yeah hope he goes well and time will telll.

 
I feel like it’s because Uffie is a decent guy and would want him to have a head coach role instead of an assistant 

Ufuk doesn't even know where he's going yet, how can he take Cheify with him? He doesn't own Italiano, Italiano can stay at the Phoenix as a head coach if he wants.

Showtime Nixie

If he was any good why wouldn't Talay take the guy to his next job with him? one way of looking at it. But yeah hope he goes well and time will telll.

What job would Talay be taking him too? 

Personally I'm not super jazzed on the appointment only because I've got a sneaky suspicion that he'll play a style too similar to Talays which I'm just not a fan of. More than happy to give him a chance and plenty of time.

So long as Chiefy sorts out the D, signs a gun midfielder, replaces Ball with someone under 80 so the poor bugger can have a rest and help coach the academy, and we make top 2 next season, I'll be happy. 

Also if we can smash sides so the kids can play the last 20 with a three goal buffer that'd be great. 

Ryan

Ufuk doesn't even know where he's going yet, how can he take Cheify with him? He doesn't own Italiano, Italiano can stay at the Phoenix as a head coach if he wants.

You telling me UFUK doesnt know where hes going? you don't turn down a contract extension if you don't know where you are going! what planet you on! hes off somewhere for sure....clubs will announce something when their seasons end. 

Showtime Nixie

Ryan

Ufuk doesn't even know where he's going yet, how can he take Cheify with him? He doesn't own Italiano, Italiano can stay at the Phoenix as a head coach if he wants.

You telling me UFUK doesnt know where hes going? you don't turn down a contract extension if you don't know where you are going! what planet you on! hes off somewhere for sure....clubs will announce something when their seasons end. 

You do if you have a modicum of integrity and are a decent person, eg not Rudan.
Let's face it, Uffie was a professional footballer and has been the Head coach of an A-League team for 4 years, he can afford to take 6 months off work if he wants to.
He has probably decided his time with us was over and did the right thing, he said he wasn't going to sign on with the Phoenix.

My guess is that he has a couple of options open to him - he may just be waiting on confirmation of the non-aussie gig but also have another a-league team as a back up plan.

theprof

My guess is that he has a couple of options open to him - he may just be waiting on confirmation of the non-aussie gig but also have another a-league team as a back up plan.

That makes sense to me.
Talay was courted (a bit) by the other clubs and he'll know pretty quickly what non-Australian gigs he can hope for now that he made his availability official to the overseas scouts.    And if none eventuate, an A-League will take him, even if as a foundation coach for Canberra in future.  He would be great.

Talay did say that it was not his plan to announce his departure at this point in time. But circumstances meant that it was necessary.

Showtime Nixie

Ryan

Ufuk doesn't even know where he's going yet, how can he take Cheify with him? He doesn't own Italiano, Italiano can stay at the Phoenix as a head coach if he wants.

You telling me UFUK doesnt know where hes going? you don't turn down a contract extension if you don't know where you are going! what planet you on! hes off somewhere for sure....clubs will announce something when their seasons end. 

Yes, as has been said below he might have some options but he's said that he hasn't signed anywhere and he has also said a couple of times that he hasn't had any discussions with clubs he's been asked about, specifically Victory.

Remember the Phoenix said they would sign a coach before the end of the season and if Ufuk wasn't in a position to accept it they would sign someone else. They forced him to put his ambition above something comfortable.

I have no doubt that if he doesn't get a coaching role overseas that he'll find a job in Australia so his employment status is only a temporary one. If the other teams have coaches then he might pop up in someones academy system or the woman's teams or as a football director, or something, while he bides his time or as has been said, he might take some time off and wait for teams to have mid-season reshuffles of coaching staff. 

Is anyone else concerned that the guy who is in charge of our set piece defending (which has been woeful of late) is now in charge of everything?

Also, he has never held a head coach role in his life.

Mid to bottom table here we come.

I think you have to be careful in making assumptions like that. If you are an assistant, you coach the way your head coach tells you to. When you make the step up, you generally make adjustments or changes as you see fit. This is the same in any job. 

Monto

Personally I'm not super jazzed on the appointment only because I've got a sneaky suspicion that he'll play a style too similar to Talays which I'm just not a fan of. More than happy to give him a chance and plenty of time.

Reportsare

Is anyone else concerned that the guy who is in charge of our set piece defending (which has been woeful of late) is now in charge of everything?

Also, he has never held a head coach role in his life.

Mid to bottom table here we come.

I think there's a lot of concern and skepticism, but also we just don't know him, the team work with him every day so there's a bit of optimism that they have all the information to make the call and we have none.

Reportsare

Is anyone else concerned that the guy who is in charge of our set piece defending (which has been woeful of late) is now in charge of everything?

Also, he has never held a head coach role in his life.

Mid to bottom table here we come.

Yeh, well if you are the set piece coach and the head coach has two midget FBs and another shrimp in Payne at CB (and frequently pulls that big guy Zawada for those telling end of game corners, so you've got another impossible match up to deal with) what you gonna do, rant at the head coach and put the players on the rack for a few more inches?

I'm betting that he's going to make it a priority to have some tall timber at CB and turn Payne back to a utility back up. Plus make sure he has a taller midfielder at the front post at all times to serve as the cut out.  Cause he's going to empathise big time with the next set piece coach. 

But we'll see.  Point is, he's not been fully in control managing the set piece defence, if that is indeed what he's been doing.  So negatively sheeting the team's performance at set piece entirely to him isn't a fair judge, don't you think. 

Talay & Italiano have basically done nothing to improve our defence, so it's ridiculous that Italiano is going to be head coach... can only come to the conclusion that the Phoenix Board have appointed him through convenience & also wouldn't have to pay him as much as an experienced head coach.

As mentioned before our defence even back pedal well inside our own box, that's batshark crazy ! really silly to give the opposition strikers short range shots at our goal with so much time & space on the bloody ball.

mjp2

Reportsare

Is anyone else concerned that the guy who is in charge of our set piece defending (which has been woeful of late) is now in charge of everything?

Also, he has never held a head coach role in his life.

Mid to bottom table here we come.

Yeh, well if you are the set piece coach and the head coach has two midget FBs and another shrimp in Payne at CB (and frequently pulls that big guy Zawada for those telling end of game corners, so you've got another impossible match up to deal with) what you gonna do, rant at the head coach and put the players on the rack for a few more inches?

I'm betting that he's going to make it a priority to have some tall timber at CB and turn Payne back to a utility back up. Plus make sure he has a taller midfielder at the front post at all times to serve as the cut out.  Cause he's going to empathise big time with the next set piece coach. 

But we'll see.  Point is, he's not been fully in control managing the set piece defence, if that is indeed what he's been doing.  So negatively sheeting the team's performance at set piece entirely to him isn't a fair judge, don't you think. 

He absolutely is the puppeteer for set pieces. Every game I’ve been at, UT stepped aside and Chief jumped from his seat to gesticulate at the team for every set piece.
I’m happy to give him the benefit of the doubt as head coach, since it is feasible UT may have been the master tactician behind it, but no matter how short your CB is, your 197cm goalkeeper with his metre long arms should be able to get to any ball coming in high before any striker can….
….if he can get near where it comes down, which may be difficult if your entire team is inside the 6 yard box.

IMG_5380.jpeg 6.3 MB

Having been to more practices this season than in the past when I used to go up to Newtown Park with Ricki & Luci running the show, I have been very lucky to see these guys up close, their training style, attitudes, performances etc.

Whilst no qualified expert, The training these days is so much difference to when I was a 19 year old all those years ago.

Anyway, Ufuk has his own methods. You know who's the Boss. He is very explanitory as to what he wants and is straight up with the players. He gives you the feeling that you want to walk barefoot over broken glass for him.
Stuff we don't see on TV or read about. He really has made changes behind the scenes and the current set up is much more professional. I really wish him well.

Chiefy, he's of similar vain when running the drills. He expects professional players to behave professionally at practice. Again, everything I have seen is so much more organised. I wish him all the very best for the next 2 years.........

Having said all this, I also have to say that as soon as practices have finished, both men are so easily approachable, more than happy to chat, laugh and leave you uplifted.

I will follow Ufuk's future with interest from afar to where-ever he ends up. And Chiefy too, as he establishes his own style with and within the club. It's nice to know we have a club sorted for next season and that the club will be able to make any acquisitions etc with Robb, Domey (Happy Birthday for yesterday too) & Chiefy all having their input etc.

We have the owners, the staff, the facilities, to make a difference and a big step. It is going to be a fun ride.

It's nearly 16 years (Where the fudge has that time gone?) since the Phoenix were born. I'm still buzzing that Wellington has a professional football team. We have had ups, downs and some weird shark happen, bit we are still here! YAY!!

ClubOranje

mjp2

Reportsare

Is anyone else concerned that the guy who is in charge of our set piece defending (which has been woeful of late) is now in charge of everything?

Also, he has never held a head coach role in his life.

Mid to bottom table here we come.

Yeh, well if you are the set piece coach and the head coach has two midget FBs and another shrimp in Payne at CB (and frequently pulls that big guy Zawada for those telling end of game corners, so you've got another impossible match up to deal with) what you gonna do, rant at the head coach and put the players on the rack for a few more inches?

I'm betting that he's going to make it a priority to have some tall timber at CB and turn Payne back to a utility back up. Plus make sure he has a taller midfielder at the front post at all times to serve as the cut out.  Cause he's going to empathise big time with the next set piece coach. 

But we'll see.  Point is, he's not been fully in control managing the set piece defence, if that is indeed what he's been doing.  So negatively sheeting the team's performance at set piece entirely to him isn't a fair judge, don't you think. 

He absolutely is the puppeteer for set pieces. Every game I’ve been at, UT stepped aside and Chief jumped from his seat to gesticulate at the team for every set piece.
I’m happy to give him the benefit of the doubt as head coach, since it is feasible UT may have been the master tactician behind it, but no matter how short your CB is, your 197cm goalkeeper with his metre long arms should be able to get to any ball coming in high before any striker can….
….if he can get near where it comes down, which may be difficult if your entire team is inside the 6 yard box.

IMG_5380.jpeg 6.3 MB

wow, is that the corner we conceded from? it's little wonder if so

It is.

Reportsare

Is anyone else concerned that the guy who is in charge of our set piece defending (which has been woeful of late) is now in charge of everything?

Also, he has never held a head coach role in his life.

Mid to bottom table here we come.

That's where we live already.

Doloras

Reportsare

Is anyone else concerned that the guy who is in charge of our set piece defending (which has been woeful of late) is now in charge of everything?

Also, he has never held a head coach role in his life.

Mid to bottom table here we come.

That's where we live already.

Weird, I didn’t know that 5th in a league of 12 was mid to bottom.

Friar Tuck

Doloras

Reportsare

Is anyone else concerned that the guy who is in charge of our set piece defending (which has been woeful of late) is now in charge of everything?

Also, he has never held a head coach role in his life.

Mid to bottom table here we come.

That's where we live already.

Weird, I didn’t know that 5th in a league of 12 was mid to bottom.

Finishing 5th or 6th is pretty much mid table though, hardly great in a 12 team comp -  what really concerns me is the quality of our performances, a team needs to always look to improve, that's definitely not happening... Italiano has been involved with the team for over 3 years, yet we're still playing poorly, reckon that speaks volumes about him not been a good HC.