Official Signings(Re or otherwise).

hmmm at kinda looks 50/50 good or bad decision to me . .we shall see in a few months time

Anyway, at least this signing has ignited some debate/angst on here. Great to see!

UK Kiwi got it - we really lack cover particularly at CB. There is options there, just none that could foot it I feel.

Could you post that again ChopperNZ? - having trouble reading your post.

In isolation i'm reasonably happy with signing Totori.  Also, in isolation i'm ok with signing Sanchez, and ok with signing Smith.  However put them all together, that is 3 import slots that aren't a SIGNIFICANT improvement on what is available in NZ/Aus talent.  It concerns me that with 1 remaining import slot we really need a new right back if Manny is to play in the middle, and a natural goal scoring forward, which I don't believe we have in the squad at this stage.

That's a very unsatisfactory explanation. I should think our owners have nothing to do with which players are quality enough to play. Either a player is good enough or not. While I'm not an expert on Totori's playing career I'm sceptical that he has improved significantly since his last trial.

If this signing was made on the basis of budgetary constraints I would be very disapointed.

I'm not particuarly upset at signing Totori, just upset at who we won't be signing now that we have.

He's a fine window to open but we just closed the curtain on what could have been beautiful view.

I'm quite impressed that I've found a way to write absolutely anything I want without anyone noticing!

People seem to be disappointed because they were expecting something more exciting. I know that is probably based on what they see as false promises by the new owners. Myself, I'm quite happy with where we are at and like the signing of Benji. Dome said today they were still chasing up a couple of other players, so it might be too early to ring the bells of doom and gloom. I like the signings so far TBH. Bold prediction - Totori will tear up the A League and there will be a run on signing Oceania strikers - mark my words......

What happened to Dodd? Theres a senior defender who could do a job at CB. Otherwise Boyens or Boxall are a chance. 

It pains me to say it, but what about Vargas? I hate him but theres another CB. 

Vargas?  Ew.  I'd take all my kiwi list first.

For me, while Totori may have had coaching to do it all himself but the Solomons national team is not Koloale and he had some very good players along side him (Anyone seen Henry play for TW recently?? Was. On. Fire.) He basically played 'me' ball a lot and I am not sure how he is going to work playing with Ifill who ripped a few players last year for not giving him the ball. That and he had better show up in shape because he is not right now. Needs to drop about 5. Will be dedicated enough to transfor from amateur to pro footballer? I'm not so sure...

If there were not so many quesitons marks against him name, I would be a bit more excited but there are too many to go 'Yay!'. By the same token, I had similar question marks against Greenie for another year so I guess I would have not been overly joyed if either had been signed.

Not really the inspired signing we were hoping for. Will reserve judgement until can see whether he does manage to make the step up or not. 

Delusional.

I don't question their committment to make the Phoenix profitable.  I have serious doubts about their committment to advancing the team from where we finished last season, I have done so for a long while

For all their philanthropy i don't believe they understand how a professional football club needs to run and how you need to invest in the on-field product to get people watching.  We have not to this point advanced in any way from last season's squad, in fact we've dropped behind where last season's squad was and that side was recruited under the Terry train-wreck.

There is no promising sign for the coming season.  tbf I am influenced by rumour floating around as well as what has been stated in the press and it sounds like the season will be another long struggle more about austerity and making ends meet rather than investing to reap rewards.  That model is all well and good in a corporate world, it's not realistic in the sports market and there is nothing that will entice new season ticket holders or bigger crowds.

So. Brockie, Totori, Moss < Daniel, Ward, Warner? Harsh call.

Daniel, Brown, Greenacre.  I'll give you Moss as a Trade up and Brockie vs Daniel probably even.

Totori -> Greenie, we'll see.  No sign of a replacement for Brownie or Ward.

Think about it you f**king muppets.

This signing is purely so that Ricki can bench him all season and Siggy can "accidentally" bobsled him in training a week before the WC qualifiers.

i am agreeing here, and myself am really starting to wonder, if the owners are in it for the nix? or to make money.

the signings have not brought any great excitment ( i am excited about brockie though)

but after all these promises on what we were going to get..... so far we have got none.

smith and sanchez were only going to be signed if couldnt find anything better.....  both signed

a goal scoring striker .....  where???

a quality RB .... where???

and after saying we wernt going to use all our imports....   i hope this is changed or i doubt we will make the 6.

we need a RB as a bare minimum and i dont see where they are going to come from...

In summary: bring back Terry. We never signed useless muppets under his tenure.

*cough*

I will again make it clear that I like the signing of Totori. It's a punt but the sort of punt we should take.

It's just when the outstanding spots are considered, the general public statements are considered and the expectations that were set are considered that it is demoralising.

Stealing my gags Coops... I already used that on the front page.

Pav ??? He's going to have to produce this year or it will be his last at the Nix. I like the signing of Totori, he will inject pace.

We got spammed good.

I kind of like the Totori signing if he is...say the replacement for Ward. But as the club has said "we won't use up our 5 import slots" So now Totori makes four so that is it!!!!!!

We now have to replace Brown and get a RB locally. I can't see where a RB will come from in Australasia so we are looking at Muscat at RB and Smith starting at CM. This is kind of OK but others have pointed out it hardly sets the pulse racing.

The other thing about Totori was Ricki was quoted as saying in 442 that he seems him as a target man type of player who can hold the ball up and bring others into play. REALLY!! From my impressions he is an out and out goal facing fast striker who looks first of all to attack the goal. He is NOT a Greenie type IMO.

I'm sure I read a while ago on here somewhere people moaning that no players from nzfc never get a chance, well now we have done that it's not good enough?  Can't please some people I guess.  I don't think we have the cash to splash on a decent striker that we have been crying out for.  Can't see it happening.  The club was almost on the edge of extinction, we should just be happy to still have a club!

IMO he's a gamble, he does bring some pace and ability to beat a man to the team, considering our budget he's worth a go

Why wouldn''t we have the cash?

We've lost the following (likely to be big money players):  Daniel, Brown, Ward, Greenacre.  To a lesser extent Warner.

We've added Brockie, Moss and Totori, probably for around the combined money that Ward, Greenacre and Warner were on.  Unless we're trimming the wage budget (and there are league rules to stop that happening to avoid another New Zealand Knights) then there should be plenty in the kitty.

I don't think most people are saying Totori isn't good enough.  Most say he'd be an interesting punt IF we didn't still have two gaping holes in our starting XI, no obvious options that are not imports, and no import spots we're willing to use left.

Brockie>>>>>Daniel

Moss >>>>>>> Warner

Pantelis >= Ward

Sanchez / Muscat = Brown

Totori >= Greenacre (in terms of team going forward)

Overall the squad level is increasing.

Not by as much as we would like, but I honestly dont think the squad has got worse - I call total bullshit in that respect

Completely agree that there must be money in the kitty. Losing Daniel and Greenacre would have freed up loads of $$$. If you were an optimist you would say there is a probablity that the club will have another couple of "big" signings up their sleeves and they are keeping quiet until deals are done to avoid the shambles of previous years like Porter, Mehmet, Rigters.

But many of you who are closer to the action are more pessimistic...which is a worry!

But remember the club is now run by businessmen who are putting up their own money and are committed to making the club financially viable.  The current recruiting is just a continuation of that philosophy. Dome was moved sideways to CEO which would have been cheaper than getting a high profile overseas boss. The wage budget is being trimmed and I'll bet Greenie gets the main assistants job as that will be the cheaper option than hireing someone more highprofile from the UK(which was plan A)

This is all fine from a financial point of view as it increases the likely hood that the club will survive in the long term. However football is different beast to many other business's. There are intangebles that you don't read about in Business school. There is more to it than balance sheets. 

I am still optimistic. I like what is happening on the youth front. I like the idea of Totori coming of the bench as an impact player. Moss and Brockie are good signings. Who knows what might eventuate happen from Ricki spending 3 weeks in the UK for the Olympics.

Points.

1 - You can't claim players already in the squad improve the squad on last season.  They are already part of the squad.

2 - Daniel when he got starts last year was our best player.  Brockie was not the best player as often in a Newcastle side that finished below us.  At best >=.

3 - Moss, yes.

4 - I'll wait until I see how Totori fits in before I call him > Greenacre but = to Greenacre in his first season would be a great result for him.

So.

Brockie >= Daniel

Moss >>>>>>> Warner

Pantelis >= Ward

Sanchez / Muscat = Brown

Totori = Greenacre

Brown > Nobody

Ward > Nobody

                     Moss/Paston

    ????? - Sigmund - Durante - Lochhead

              Muscat - Smith/Lia/Lindsay

Brockie/Pantelis - Sanchez - Ifill/Bertos/Totori

                   ????????/Pavlovic

We have a team full of attacking midfielders, no right back and no striker.

How is that not worse?  

You have missed Downey off that. But it really does show the complete lack of defensive cover we have without Griffiths & Tsattalios.

I wasn't trying to do the whole squad. Mind you I have no idea what position I'd put him in.

As far away from the playing squad as possible. The only time he seems to have been subbed on last season, was to chase down long balls with his pace. I do hope Ricki doesn't see him as a possible RB.

Ricki is probably looking at his preferred formation and filling in the spaces. It can give the impression that we have adequate cover in most positions.

                     Moss/Paston

    Muscat/Downey/Lia - Sigmund - Durante - Lochhead

              Muscat/Smith-Lia/Lindsay

Brockie/Pantelis/Downey - Sanchez/Smith - Ifill/Bertos/Totori

                   Ifill/Totori/Pavlovic

I think at this stage Ifill is the incumbent striker, as he was when he got back from injury last season. With the 3 slots left and the players signed we need a CB and I would like a LB and that leaves 1 other spot which could be a RB or striker.

And I don't think we need to worry about replacing Brown - a hypothetical midfield of Smith,Lia and Sanchez is better, IMHO, than the end of last season of Lia, Brown and (sort of) Greenacre. And I do think you could argue Pantelis as a replacement of a player even if he was in the squad last season because he was ruled out before a game was played for the entire season, he might as well not even been in the squad - we were not worse or better off as he had no impact on our seasons performance. You can argue however if he will be any good after his run of injuries.

Does anyone else think that we may have made more progress with signings if we had a coach who was dedicated to doing this instead of spending all his time doing 1 of his 3 jobs?