Phoenix Transfer Speculation 2012/13

I do wonder why, some of these players who don't seem to be good enough, have not been told to try and find a new club and terminate there contracts when they do. Not sure of the in's and out's but MV and Glory and Roar seemed to do this when they want to bring new players in.

Why on Earth are we getting rid of Boxall? Cheap, NZ, young - perfect for a bench player. 

Plus it seems like 'a CB who has played in the A-League' is all you need on your CV to get a big money deal in China/Korea.

I'm undecided, but leaning away from wanting to see Hogg stay on.

Boxall, I think, is a long way below A-League standard.

Im just looking forward to next seasons unbiased approach to player selection that our new coach will bring. I have no problem with the new coach coming in and cutting half the squad if he doesnt think theyre good enough - whoever they may. If he thinks he can get better players in to replace them - so be it.

Boxall did ok when given a chance, and with a different coach probably would have had more chances. Siggy has been awful all year and is extremely limited as a player.

Not surprised box looked elsewhere, having to watch Siggy plays pants week in and week out but hold his spot.

However, when he left was Herbert still in charge? If he's gone since to China then I'm a little surprised.

Still think it's a shame Boxall and Hogg weren't developed more and both will probably move on. Not sure they got a fair shake of the stick. Two difficult games in an imploding team was not a realistic assessment for young players. They needed half a dozen games to solidify. Instead Siggy and Lochhead keep coming back when I'm not sure they deserve it. How Smith was favoured over giving Clapham a shot is beyond me but there you go. At least Fenton and Boyd have been given a chance to shine and Brockie has scored some good goals.

I hope the new coach is open to giving the best in the ASBP a shot but if he's an Australian A League veteran or an overseas coach isn't that just going to mean a perference for A League experience over local talent? Isn't the new coach if he's from outside NZ going to be result-driven rather than interested in developing local talent? If Ricki wasn't much given to developing NZ players outside a small circle what chance will there be under a new foreign coach? Unless Welnix enforce a local quota I fear this recent burst in developing NZ players will lose steam. 

I really think the Phoenix needs to be at least half NZ players, particularly if it can entice an AW like Killen, moving forward.

I think right now results driven is exactly what we need.  I don't see any reason why an overseas or A-League coach would prefer A-League players to local talent - but the emphasis has to be on talent, players have to be good enough.  People aren't actually that interested in watching kiwis, they want to watch good players

fair point

If we're not results driven then this will be all over in 2 years. We will have an Academy, and any young Kiwi players who are good enough will get their chance. We are in dire need of technically good midfield players who can live with the best Oz teams, and if that means they're all from overseas or Oz next year, then so be it.   

We have to be results driven. How can we not be? We're playing in a professional competition, results matter. Results = higher league placing = more supporters = more cash = more resources (theoretically) to throw at developing local talent.

When we get to a position when we're strong enough on and off the park to bring Kiwi talent through in larger numbers, then I'm sure we will.

i still wanna hold onto boxy for the next season at least, if hes a bench rider than so be it, but im starting to think that siggy has past it, or will do so over the next season. and having boxy in the team and in the environment would be good for him and hey who knows, come next season hes pushing for that starting spot. his appearances this year have been mixed, i thought he marshalled the boys well against the heart when we played with our yoof team. 

however, if we sign a gun CB over the off season( a younger dura would be great) this post is void. 

Theres plenty of him to go round!

im glad your sticking around boxy, mainly for the international feel you give the podcast.

That's my point. If there are some exciting NZ players in the team it generates more interest than having a team of mostly imports. We like local success stories in this country and it attracts the mainstream media, which is what NZ football desperately needs. Results are important, but local appeal is equally important. It needs to be a balance. I know a losing team stacked full of NZers is not the answer either, but if it's young with potential to improve that's different. My concern is that a foreign coach may be only interested in his CV.

Imagine if Rojas was currently the centrepiece of the Phoenix, there would be a lot more interest. It's the same the world over. Everyone loves the local hero.  

More interest.  Not a lot more interest.

Remember that Joe Lunchpail wouldn't have any idea who Marco is because he doesn't play Rugby.

It all Comes down to a winning team, people like to jump on the band wagon..

The Part Time supporter that is Martin Devlin, at the Kingz was a prime example.

People want to watch "their" team win.

I have never, ever heard a fan (plastic, bandwagon or otherwise) of any sport say that they will/won't go to a game based on the nationality of those playing. And before you all get stuck in - you know what I mean.

We need the best players we can get within our circumstances - the more of those that are Kiwis then the better that is for the game in NZ... but to think that most "fans" (ie: the balance of the 30 thousand that turned up a few years back) make a conscious decision based on the number of Kiwis in the team (or not) then you are wrong.

Look at any sport you like... winning = better crowds.

The media do love a local darling and media interest puts bums on seats. But agree, sad but true, winning is the best cure for indifference. Look at the Breakers now compared with a few seasons ago.

At Arsenal they love Wilshire, at Liverpool Gerrard, at Man U it's Rooney and at ACFC it's Ivan Vicelich. It's only natural to identify more with your own countryman, particularly if they're special players. I agree about winning but you can't discount the local X-factor as well. Get both and you have the sweet spot!

The fans of those organisations love those players but those fans aren't the difference between 5000 and 15000 for the Phoenix (or in City's case 1000 and 5000).  That difference is the 10,000 casual sports fans who will jump on the bandwagon (or the 8000 in the Breakers case) and they couldn't care less if the jinky little winger has a kiwi passport or if he has a Venezualan one.

Gerrard doesn't bring more casual punters in he's just loved by those who support the club already and even then the UK football model is hardly comparable to NZ.  If they had Lionel Messi AND Steven Gerrard I know which one the crowds would love more... the one who wins them a title and scores 50 goals a season, no matter where he's from.

That's the key for us. We can't get the Kiwis that will get us the success so we need to get the balance right... if we win a game or three next season, people will come - they will want to see Georgie Pie, JBDS (Jeremy Brockie's Dad's Son), and LOTLML (Lyn Of Tawa's Little Mate Louis) but they need to be exposed, positively - and whether "we" like them or not, mainstream media is the key to doing so. Until we start winning there's no hook to engage them, or the media in a positive context.

first way to get any exposaure is to win first - then you get interest from those who aren't already foillowing the team, then you keep the casual "I follow when we win" punter by saying marketing the hell out of the local lads in the team - ie give the casual guy another reason to turn up.

All I can say is that I can't wait to see Tubby Hernandez ripping it up for us next season. Have a good feeling about that one.

I just watched the TV 1 lunchtime news. There's a new player that I hope the Nix sign. According to the news reader his name is "Ondre Durontei" (Pronounced Duron Tei). Anyone else catch this wonderful piece of journalism?

whitby boy  - you're right about everything most times but your'e uncharacteristicly miles wrong about boxall.  He's about 4X the footballer our current Mr Sigmound is.  I pick a mind reading/shape maintaining/ball playing/distributor CB hard man signed next season - not Ben Sigmonster. 

 It is a cultural bias. Our societies are different in ethnic mix. NZ readers are expected to pronounce Polynesian names correctly, which Australian newsreaders often mangle. And vice versa: our local newsreaders only know French or Italian variants (because they went to high school in those days) but struggle with other European languages.

Once I texted the Radio NZ National night presenter, Vicky McKay, when twice in one piece of news she pronounced Marco Rojas as "Rozhas", as you would in a fake French way. This was in the midnight bulletin when MBV had a good win over someone. It only ever makes the midnight bulletin, I know... Anyway, I texted her to say nicely that Marco was our local Waikato lad, etc etc, with a Chilean Dad and Kiwi Mum,  and that we pronounce it "Rohas". She was thrilled someone took care to tell her that, and read out the whole lengthy text on air.

I was thrilled too, as she bothered to mention my name - not that being in the midnight news is any big deal :-)