Phoenix Transfer Speculation 2012/13

In 98 A-League games Caravella has two goals. In 108 games Vinnie has two goals.

I would suggest that neither of the can claim they score goals.

Never understood the love for Jeggo.

 No to Clapham. Today against auck city he didn't shine, every game I've seen in NZFC in recent times he hasn't shone. Let him keep his tv career going as it'll probably get him further than a football one at present.

If he was hungry for a pro contract he'd go out and get one elsewhere in the world, not chill at home in his comfort zone praying RH changes his mind.

we need goal scorers..still got too many non goal scoring "midfielders" or non experienced strikers some who have masqueraded as strikers..  Pre season it was obvious we still needed to look and see where goals would come from..Heysegems has not scored enough and Brockie has over scored...but very little from midfield.

A badger would be a good replacement for Paston....

 Been busy trying to find the forums rules thread to back up the argument.

 mmmm.... pasta

OK, let's do this. Which off contract players are we going to re-sign at the end of the season? Even if re-signing the question is for how long and for how much? It's up to the players if they accept what's on offer.

Mark Paston - Keep on a 1 year deal on low money. The problem this season has been a lack of competition from Moss.

Leo Bertos - Keep, unless a superior right back can be lined up. Even then provides useful RB/midfield cover for 1 season on low money.

Tony Lochhead - Keep one of Lochhead and Hogg. If Lochhead then 1 year deal on low money.

Ian Hogg - As above. Hogg will be cheap which may be in his favour and could justify 2 year deal if considered up to it.

Dani Sanchez - Keep on 2 year deal, reasonable money. One of our few players who should thrive in the new system. Worth a visa spot.

Alex Smith - Gone. Not good enough. Definitely not worth a visa spot

Jimmy Downey - Gone. Oh dear.

Lucas Pantelis - Gone already apparently.

Benjamin Totori - Gone. Worth a try but not good enough and not worth a visa spot.

Worryingly I've only freed up two visa spots there but I just don't see the justification to cut Sanchez and Ifill and Huysegems have longer contracts.

Contracted for 2013-14: Paul Ifill, Stein Huysegems, Manny Muscat, Vince Lia, Michael Boxall, Cameron Lindsay.

Contracted for 2014-15: Andrew Durante, Ben Sigmund, Jeremy Brockie, Glen Moss, Louis Fenton, Tyler Boyd.

Agree

also interested in hearing what positions people think we should use those import slots? Do people want a midfield 3 made up of all imports?

So, Broich and Smeltzy with a side of McGlinchey.  Done.

Sort it out please Gareth.

"The crocked Lucas Pantelis will definitely be released, Jimmy Downey will almost certainly be released while Benjamin Totori will almost certainly have a one-year extension activated"

In the paper today about Benji possibly here for another year, didn't think he had done enough yet to 'almost certainly' get the extension.

So maybe only one free spot for an import next season if we keep Sanchez and loose Smith.

Honestly, seems like we're going about this whole 'formation'/play style change a bit half assed. We need a proper clear-out. Tough calls need to be made. 

To me Totori has not done enough.  He is at very best a bench player good for maybe 20-30 mins and then (as seen on Saturday) it is very hit and miss. He is 27 next month so to be honest, a whole lot of improvement is not likely.

A 30 minute bench player taking up an import slot? No Thanks

I like totori from the bench, I'd keep him. He is hit and miss but when he hits he's hard to stop i.e. Newcastle away

Should increase hits over misses as A-League experience gathers...

Pasty is gone after this season isn't he? I thought he was gone last year but then he signed on for one more. Surely now his last.

Mossy starts next year, sign Basalaj as back-up and on a long term contract - I think he has a future overseas, would be great if we managed to cash in on that with a transfer fee.

Agree with the rest of TX's post.

I know we don't do marquees but paying the big bucks to bring Weemac here would be ideal.

He's also a NZ'er which a whole bunch of you seemed to forget a page or two back in your "cant think of any other NZers in midfield" discussion.

If Totori wasn't a visa player I'd have him as an impact player but agree completely with the above. Was a nothing signing in the first place.

well it depends - postecoglu has had sucess releasing players who still had years on their contracts. 

Most players want to play 0 so if the coach tells them they are not going to be getting any time for the next 2 years of their contract, then maybe they may want to move on in search for playing time

Explain how a 'keeper fits into "possession-based attacking football".

tbf Postecoglu thinks it's key. 

Flagged three keepers before getting Coe inluding Covic who has probably been the league's best keeper this year.  A glaring fail in his recruitment (passing on Covic).

I have to laugh because everyone has called for a clear out yet we are advocating re-signing the same players that are off contract.This forum is a funny place sometimes.

In my opinion through performance, Bertos has earned himself another go round. Paston has earned himself another go around but it would be thrown at him that 'Mark you will be number 2 to Glen unless you can significantly out perform him in training'. The alternative is find a keeper prepared to sit on the bench and be a back up. Would Spoonley do that again? The TV games of Basalaj show he is not ready.

Lochhead has not earned a re-sign however the unknown is Hogg and also if Lochhead would get another gig in the A League. Do you then offer Lochhead a contract at a reduced rate if you sign Hogg as well? With no other team to go to, his market wage would drop off. Also he is an import elsewhere so his market rate will be low.

Keep Totori as a bench player? Can we not get some value from out imports? Imports should be signed with an eye for starting 1st, bench 2nd. Dumb signing in the first place

Sanchez - Thank you so long.

Smith - Tough but has to go. He does not cut it based on the output but has versatility  Based on the same thing I said about Totori I'd let Smith too (although this Aussie thing would perhaps make a difference)

Downey and Patellis too

The year after so long to Ifill, Lia and Lindsay unless Lindsay and Lia really improve. Ifill will be done. It was touch and go if he should have gone around again and while he was a game changer 3 years ago, that was 3 years ago and he is older. We did it with Greenie, he will be next.

Someone like Franjic will have been paid out.  If Pavs wasn't then he'd breached some condition to enable WelNix to get out of paying him.

Remember we're not talking about cutting a minimum wage player like Franjic or Pavs here.