Official Signings(Re or otherwise).

Must admit I was a bit disappointed he has re-signed.  Love the guy but feel his time has come.  Would he be the oldest keeper in the league now?   Moss should be starting.

Last year both Bolton and Covic were older and they seemed to do okay. 

Moss should be the starting keeper. A 1 year deal gives us time to work with a youth keeper in the finishing school, with a view to being the back up in the future.

I can't believe anyone would be complaining about re-signing Paston for a year. Especially with Moss also on the books.

Greenacre seems destined to not play again after todays release - for me this means one of two things:

1- We have another Striker lined up, or are planning on definitely signing another one.

2- RH is happy with Brockie, Ifill & Pav as our 3 strikers for the coming season

I must have missed something, what release was that?

http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/wellingtonphoenix/news-display/Greenacre%20Looking%20To%20The%20Future/47373

Along with the possibility of a younger player (like De Vries) I would stick with that. I'm more keen on splashing out on a box-to-box midfielder than another imported striker.

And to think that some people were moaning about Greenacre not being well-qualified enough to take the Nix youth team!

Delighted to have Pasty for another year and will be delighted to have Greeny as assistant/youth coach.

As long as he is on youth rates and doesn't get on the pitch i won't be complaining. To be fair there is no one in NZFC worth signing to challenge Mossy

Dani Sanchez.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10809282

“Dani showed he had real quality last season and it was just unfortunate that, at times, circumstances forced us to play him in what was possibly not his best position,” Herbert said.

That's the understatement of the year. Good to hear Ricki say it though.

Will Ricki actually play Sanchez centrally in the 4-4-2 we played the last half of the season with? What formation do people think Ricki has in mind at the moment?

I'm thinking a 433, but it could end up more of a 4231. But yeah Im not sure about the 442. Fitting brockie, Ifill and another striker onto the field is going to be interesting.

Hope it doesn't happen of course but if Pantelis isn't up to it or gets injured again is Sanchez going to be out of position again, or does Brockie cover that position anyway?

Happy Dirty has re-signed, just 1 year seems a bit strange. Is it the club being unsure about his ability, or him worried he will end up playing the season on the wing?

I wouldn't expect much from Pantelis, he's basically had to re-learn how to walk over the last few months. At this stage, I'd say if he can contribute that's a bonus.

Maybe Hogg will be the cover on the left. There are still a minimum of 5 players to sign.

Assuming we sign a right back and a striker and assessing that we need Centre-Back cover as has been suggested then we need 2 U21 players and Hoggy is no longer U21.

You also need some cover at left back. Currently that would involve pulling Muscat out of midfield. CB cover could be youth. I think the striker should be youth as well assuming Brockie is there to play up front. It's also a minimum, could easily go over 20 players. I wouldn't rule out Hogg at all, should be a cheap player, he's young and athletic and although I haven't seen a lot of him, scoring on international debut can't have done any harm.

That's the thing, Hogg can be bought for next to nothing and he wouldn't demand a huge wage bill either. Good left sided player IMO

Youth CB has worked out well for us in the last couple of seasons... I don't think that's an option this season.

If we want left back cover I would think Rowe more likely as he's still youth.  Either way whoever covers left will get next to no game time.

I agree. At this point I would guess we look something like this:

                  Moss

New RB   Siggy    Dura   Lochy

         Lia               Muscat

                 Sanchez

Brockie                         Ifill

              New Striker

This is probably to attacking. I don't doubt that Brockie could track back a defend but don't see Ifill able to do it.

I can't reallt see Ricki playing a 4-4-2 with a diamond can to you? He likes his two central midfielders but Muscat might be good enough to sheild the defense alone...

I suppose when he played there before it was with Brown who was up forward half the time anyway.

Yeah I think ricki likes having two shielding mids, but he also likes to play bertos and I don't know how thats gonna work etiher?

I personally think Ifill isnt good enough to play as a winger anymore, this time last year I wouldnt have said that, but his defensive workrate and pace really won't be helpful. Although he may not need too many defensive in a front three, but thats not where his skills are best suited

hopefully we are in for a good year of the danni sanchez then .wouldn't mind seeing a bit of spark this coming season from him

I'm not convinced that Brockie will play as a striker or winger either - Herbert has played him all over the show for the AWs and he could lineup anywhere except CB or GK. Could be that he plays RB to allow Muscat into the DM role.

Think it is pretty early for people to jump on the Hogg bandwagon.  One decent game doesn't mean we should go off and sign him.

It's nice of you to join us again Mr Sanchez. Please take you usual position in the middle of the park. We're expecting a rather large turn out next season, so I do hope you brought your best.  

Daniiiii Sanchez, Dani Dani Sanchez, Daniii Sanchez you're the one for me.

agree with the shape, although you may find brockie heads to the right wing with Leo on the left, with Ifill up front, therefore we only need to find a new starting RB.

In the Honduras game when Leo came on for Hogg, he went on the right and Brockie to the left.

Agree that is most likely with the players currently signed and Ricki's indication of playing Manny in midfield for the forthcoming season.

Don't forget about Pantelis, he can take one of the wide roles if Leo or Brockie aren't performing (probably more likely to take Leo's place).

I can see that 433 being the case, but cant say it excites me. For some reason, I keep coming to the conclusion that if we do sign a new striker, then Brockie either needs to play wide, or Ifill just doesnt fit. 

Aidn Ormond from 442 Australia tweeting that Alex Smith has signed a 1 year extension with us

Happy to have him but if true suggests any chance of a major overhaul in midfield or up front is gone which isn't the image we were being given after the season finished.

Yeah, seems most likely Smith along side Lia and Manny back at RB (obvious with current players signed). The most obvious area that needs more depth is defence and could see 2 signings that can play in defence and then maybe another midfielder and striker to get us to the min of 20, when you consider that of those remaining 4, 2 need to be u21 and probably not expected to be first team - not a major overhaul at all.

I'd love to know how much under the cap we are. There are still between 4 and 7 players to come in with up to 2 imports (assuming Smith has re-signed), and there is still a lot of time. Highest priority must be right back now.

manny is heading back to the midfield, was part of his contract for next season.

If Smith is re-signed then that is welcome! However I'm getting a very bad feeling about our chances of getting a new striker.

All the signs are now pointing to the club being happy with Brockie & Ifill with Pav as back up.

I also wouldn't mind giving smith a go at RB in fact