New International Break - Bertos and Mulligan in?

Sloth, I agree with you!  I don't think the All Whites side would cut it in the A-League, even with Ryan Nelsen as their marquee player.  Ricki is trying to play 'real' football, just like the other A-League sides are, and there aren't currently enough Kiwi lads (either overseas or domestically)with the skills and pace to be competitive at the A-League level (which is going to getter stronger and better each season).  In the medium term, the Phoenix will need to rely on Australians and imports for the bulk or core of the team to have any chance of being competitive. Also, I think for next season the club will need to recruit 5 or 6 players that are a good notch above some of the current players if we are going to be competitive.  I know the defence was suspect earlier on in the season, but I think our biggest problem now is up front when we're trying to do things in the final third of the pitch.  We seem to lack the pace and clinical finishing required at this level with the current squad (even against Perth last week, the score should have been double, particularly against nine men, although the win was very welcomed).  Also the decision making often seems to be too slow and it's amazing how many times we lose the ball in the midfield and up front because players are waiting for the ball to arrive at their feet rather than going to meet it.  The club will need to think really hard about the squad for next season and I don't think there will be a higher proportion of Kiwis in it, if we are going to be competitive. The best news for Kiwi football is that the club is looking to get a team into the youth/reserve A-League.  Whatever the costs we need to do this starting in 2008 and NZ Football needs to come to the party if it is going to develop the game to a level where we are producing good pro players.  This is a better current long-term investment for the game and needs to be prioritised ahead of even the All Whites.