Phoenix Transfer Speculation 2012/13

Would love someone of Barnard's calibre but at 28 he'll pick up a decent Championship contract 

I don't know squat about him but what do people think of ex-GCU striker Andrew Barisic? rumours he may be leaving Indonesia http://www.goal.com/en-au/news/4024/aussies-abroad/2012/08/01/3279092/exclusive-australian-striker-andrew-barisic-considers-arema and at 6"2' he could play the targetman role for us. 

Nowhere near as exciting as Earnshaw and co but maybe more realistic?

I can remember him coming on and doing quite well - scored some important goals for GCU at the time - but not exactly the type of player we would be after. 

Not u21 and not a starter. We already have Totori and Pav for those roles

But Totori's not big enough for our wingers to cross for and Pav is... well... Pav. I would think he would be the right type of striker we were looking for, albeit without as much pedigree as we might have hoped for.

Failing that, we could always play him at right back 

Yip I agree with you there, but what I'm saying, is there is no space for three over 21 yo strikers who arent going to start.

The striker we sign MUST be an automatic starter - like Ifill or Muscat. Otherwise sign a RB

On the topic of strikers - looks like the turtle had another good season

http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/247321,destination-a-league-for-teenage-hitman.aspx

I saw him and thought he looked alright. Wonder if anyone will pick him up - or why no one has yet... weak QLD league maybe?

Agree... send him down to the VPL and see how he goes

Probably similar to Hamish Watson potting goals at will in Central League. 

Would Turtle be worse than Pav?

He had a couple years in the Roar's youth team, a 2 month trial with us but neither team has seen enough in him too sign him up.

I think the question is which of our school of excellence boys are better than Pav

So much this.

So with Ricki having had a few weeks pottering around Europe and about to embark on pre-season with the lads am I to assume our European striker won't eventuate?

I would like to hear his view now as to whether we will be getting a euro / african striker.

If its not looking likely then I wonder if he has noticed the gaping hole at RB or if hes just gonna keep ignoring it

Gulley or Rowe at RB?

Rowe is pretty clearly a left-sided player.  JG possibly.  Would like to see Thomas out of the Olympic squad grab a spot if one of the academy get a fulltime deal.

My guess for RB tonight would Boxall or Siggy....depending on who they want at centre back...outside option Lindsay

Gulley played RB in the Chatham Cup semi on the weekend and got torn apart to the point they dragged him at half time. Too easily turned by skillful players. 

My Line up for tonights game:

                         Whoever is Fit ?

           Siggy     Boxall     Dura       Locky

                              Lindsay

                 Leo                      Brockie

                             Smith

                     Tatori          Iffy

Mainly because thats all of the fit players we have

Bench

Watson and Basalaj could well be in the Lower Hutt side.

Where's Manny?

Not good enough  

Ok I missed one through Lindsay on the bench and bring Manny in

I'd go:

                Moss

Boxall   Siggy  Durante Lochhead

        Lindsay     Muscat
                 Smith

Bertos        Totori          Brockie

I imagine we'll be playing a 433 this season, so I'd hope we stick to it. Ifill on bench as don't need to risk an injury and would be good to see Totori trying to lead the line and play in the wet as he'll be expected to do when he plays.

Dave I thought live he looked worse than he did on telly.  Good going forward with the ball at his feet but positionally I thought he was very naive.  Against Egypt they clearly targetted him and he did look a bit shaky.  Would need time definitely

What happened to the Urugyan triallist?

And african striker?

Craig Bellamy's joined Cardiff, so Earnshaw looks like he'll definitely be a fringe player there now. Maybe he is the loan target (and African striker) and it will still happen? I'm feeling optimistic this morning...

Anyone know anything about the young guy at the nike chance thing stephen carmichael?

Bagged a hat-trick at the Under-17 World Cup...

What is everyone's thoughts on which youth players will secure full-time contracts? My money is on Louis Fenton + Tyler Boyd/Luke Rowe

Really meaning is it a surprise he's not in the Phoenix kids?  Guess he is still pretty young.  I know nothing about any of the guys so interested in views

I posted about him as I followed his progress in the chance but no one else really bothered. Thought he was a chance to make the youth team. 

Don't be suprised to see him come in once a couple of the current youths get promoted to full contracts

Hasn't really made any impression in the ASB Premiership yet (unlike the likes of Fenton, Rowe, who performed really well at that level), so perhaps not a great surprise he's missed out this time around.

Isn't he one of Danny Hay's proteges? Maybe he believes Ricki is the footballing devil incarnate then so he wants nothing to do with the Nix...

Would be interesting to know - someone obviously sees something in him

Thinking about it I don't think you can be affiliated with a pro club to be a part of that Nike chance gig actually

Is it a bit like some of our youth that want in on the US college system? They can't have been a part of a pro club if they want a scholarship so have to avoid something like the Nix until they realise they can't get in?

Tough decision to make but surely NZ youth in US college leagues is greater than NZ youth in Nix reserves?

I know you are joking but.... thats a bullsh*t line.

I notice in todays paper that the Hay coached Sacred Heart are top of the ladder at present

Although part of that is that he struggles to get much of a chance at Auckland City other than sub appearances. 

In all seriousness Hay seems to be good at nurturing talent. I wonder if he'll try and move into coaching seniors at some point. Maybe Waitakere next season? Anyway that's off topic though. Back on Carmichael... I think that training at Sacred Heart while he's still in high school makes more sense than shifting to Wellington for the Nix scholarship. Once he's done with school, who knows? I'm not convinced that US college scholarships are a better route for youngsters than getting into a pro team early, but I guess it depends on the player and the college. For now I'm sure ricki's aware of him and is tracking his development so we just have to wait and see.