Phoenix Transfer Speculation 2012/13

To be fair to Elrich, he has had to play in a defence that includes the hyphen. Maybe Durante and Siggy could sort him out?

He was pretty poor at RB during the season, he looked decent when they swapped him and Zadkovich around. But Elrich is not an improvement on Manny, we need to get players better than what we have right now.

We're not losing Manny, its about bringing in another player to facilitate a positional switch. I'm not convinced about Elrich but if you are only going to sign players better than Manny, who is one of our very best players, you are going to have a lot of trouble recruiting.

Moving Manny to the mids, and bring in an average RB weakens the team. To move him, we really need to sign a replacement that is as good, or better than him at RB. We have always struggled for a good RB, we have one in Manny.

Is Adnan a RB ????? No contract with Roar next year ??????

...unlike the flotsam and jetsam (you know who you are Nick Ward).

I would understand if we let Alex Smith go and get a better import. He is a good player, but has to be right on the borderline of using an import slot on him.

Apart from the fact that he can play almost anywhere on the park and not look like a goose doing so.

I think the clubs at the stage now where all import spots, especially now that theyre being capped further, should be filled with nothing less than Ifill-esque quality. If Smith was a kiwi/aussie, yeah perhaps look at him for a little while longer, otherwise i dont think he should stay. Lets get some big players in, get the crowds back, get into the top 2.

I think using two import slots in midfield on Smith and Sanchez isn't going to see us bridge the gap to the top 2.  We need real quality in that position - it's holding us back

Realistically though can we expect to get 3 other imports of Ifill quality and stay under the salary cap, bearing in mind Welnix have said no marquee signing? Add in the ongoing clusterf*ck in the league's administration and the fact that Wellington is a small isolated city in global terms, and that the Phoenix can never play in the ACL or CWC, and I think the appeal of the club as a whole is not that great. We got bloody lucky with Ifill in that he's one of the best players in the league and he's happy here!

Congrats Binkley! I think you're the first person to ever make an Arrested Development reference at me on these forums (that I can remember anyway)

Well, if I was to play Wayne Jarvis, to your Barry Zuckerkorn and Bob Loblaw, I would take that accusation very seriously. As a professional.

Realistically though can we expect to get 3 other imports of Ifill quality and stay under the salary cap, bearing in mind Welnix have said no marquee signing? Add in the ongoing clusterf*ck in the league's administration and the fact that Wellington is a small isolated city in global terms, and that the Phoenix can never play in the ACL or CWC, and I think the appeal of the club as a whole is not that great. We got bloody lucky with Ifill in that he's one of the best players in the league and he's happy here!
Smith is still a good use of an import spot IMO - he was probably our best midfielder for a while there, he's versatile, he seems to fit in with the team, and I'm not convinced we should throw him away to gamble on a new player who might turn out to be a flop

I need Ice

Doesnt necessarily need to be a big money player, though I admit quality can come with a price tag. Smith, plain and simple, isnt outstanding. There are equal aussie midfielders throughout the entire A-League who would fit within the salary cap. There would probably be dozens in competitions like the MLS or League 1 who are better, and who wouldnt exceed the salary cap.

Or Carl Weathers...

But can we find those players, would they want to come here, and once they are here how easily and quickly could they settle in to the country and the team? I would guess it would be harder to get younger players away from overseas so you're more likely to get players in the twilight of their career who may be more injury prone. In terms of Aussie players I would agree there quite a few in the A league better than Smith but IIRC none of them are available at the moment.I personally think Smith should stay and is better use of an import slot next year than either Sanchez or Greenacre would be (I like Sanchez but think that Smith offers more for our style of play, while Greeny's been a good player for us he's just too old now and surely can't have much more in his tank)

Well Rickis out and about shortly to scout around and bring back some talent, and i agree with youth, theyre always going to want to stay overseas - especially in europe. Greenie, Warner, Sanchez have all been productive, there would be plenty of accomplished players who have played in some tough leagues all around the world who would be up for a new challenge.