Phoenix Transfer Speculation 2012/13

Two things.

1.  Have we learnt from Pantelis?

2. No chance.  Grossly over-rated.

No thanks to Cullina. Would rather Clapham at this time. Younger, Kiwi, cheaper, not crocked.

Class player.

Didn't Jason Culina say at one point that he thought Wellington shouldn't be in the league? Would massively violate the no cocks policy.

Bring back Luciano 

"More turmoil at Adelaide United. After missing out on Flores, highly respected Ast Coach Luciano Trani demoted to youth coach. Players not happy"

http://www.facebook.com/tbgaustralia

Great news regarding the Boxall offer if true. Really the type of player we all want. Young but experienced kiwi who will push the current two and be solid when given gametime. Plus doesnt expect much game time i guess

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10817929

Also, does anyone else get the impression that this is Ricki saying, there may not be an international striker after all

Another PI player from the Honiara WC tournament has picked up a pro contract. 19 year old winger Gop-Fenepej has just been signed by French League 1 club Troyes.

Anyone notice this kid at the Tournament?. League 1 > A-League

The Nix could do well out of scouting in the PI....there obviously is some talent up there.

I asked Ricki his thoughts on Totori - was very clear to me that he expects Totori (if he makes the team) to be playing out wide where he can use his pace and take players on (his words, not mine).

Good to know.

His old man said that, yeah

Boxall would be a great signing. 

Last year the OFC gave that scholarship to Brian Kaltack, now we have the finishing school maybe they will do it again with other players. That would work out best for us both, help develop OFC players and give us the first chance at them.

Gope-Fenepej looked useful, but with the language barrier and lack of reserve football he is better off going the French route. The team has just been promoted, so it isn't a big French club so I don't think we are kicking ourselves over not picking him up first.

If we sign boxall would ricki opt for a back 3 like for the all whites?

--------------Boxall-Durante-Siggy--------------------
Brockie/Leo----Muscat----Smith/Lia------Lochhead-
----------------------Sanchez----------------------------
--------------Ifill-----------------Totori-------------------
Would we want to see this?

No we would not want to see this

getting back to international striker speculation:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iain_Hume

evidencey stuff: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2169972/Graham-Westley-texts-players-turn-Preston-training.html

You're right. No way should Totori start ahead of Pavlovic.

Good find.

Totori>Gope-Fepenej

totori seems way better than pav, hes go pace, and a sense of goal.... and most of all he isnt batsh*t crazy.( but i do love pav and forever will because he is batsh*t crazy)
 

Why not? Probably because of import spots again.

I think people are making too much of a deal of Gope-Fenepej's signing, I mean it's great news for him personally, but the tenor of the story about his signing seems to suggest that the club he's signed for are pretty much just taking the punt to see if he can show something at that level, not necessarily because they think he's a great addition to their squad.

He's signed only a one-year deal afterall, it's almost like an extended trial situation.

I think the point is that as the only professional club in the region we have a huge advantage in looking at these players. There are probably only 2-3 players of sufficient quality coming out of the islands each year or 2 to play professional football but we should be using our proximity, and the fact ASB prem teams are playing the island sides regularly.  Will be interesting to see how he goes in any event

http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/245012,phoenix-close-in-on-kiwi-boxall.aspx?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=442+Twitter+Feed

According to this article the Nix have confirmed we are offerring Boxall a deal so its just a matter of time I would suspect. Great signing when it happens. 

New Caledonia actually seems like a pretty good market for talent.

Now we have Siggy & Dura contracted for 3 more seasons each, could that affect the chances of us getting Boxall? He is at an age he really needs to be playing often, and we have 2 established CB's tied into long term contracts that could block his development.

On top of that, entirely possible he could develop and turn into a starter, pushing one of the other two out.

I'd play Siggy at RB if Boxall can cope at CB, otherwise see if he can do a job at RB. 

From what I've seen of him I think Boxall would make a better RB than Siggy...

I don't know if you think Boxall is a great RB, but for me, Siggy has been one of the best RBs the club has ever had. Manny number 1, and then Siggy in front of Disco I would say.

When he makes his run forward, he always makes the most of it.

being 2nd best rb at the phoenix, now theres damning with faint praise

I was really just basing it on the fact that Boxall appears more comfortable on the ball and perhaps quicker than Siggy. I will admit I've only seen him play a few times though so I could be wrong, although apparently he played RB and DM in his teenage years and occasioinally at Vancouver too. Also, I think Siggy and Dura have a great understanding as a central defensive pair and complement each other well so I think they should stay playing side by side.

I know some people think we should get a specialist RB to play there rather than playing converted mids and central defenders in the role but I think that it wouldn't take much to convert a young player who's played there before into doing it permanently. Plus from the position of AWs as well as Nix fan if Boxall can get used to playing RB and perform well in that role it'll kill two birds with one stone cos god knows the AWs need a RB if we ever want to stop playing 3 at the back.

Siggy as a right back....no thanks. Player of the year as a centre Back last two years and while he has passion by the bucket load he lacks the pace to be a good right back

Siggys ball playing ability and confidence seemed to improve a lot when he was actually played at right back. I firmly believe Boxall is a center back but he could undergo a similar improvement at the right. I would still prefer we get a specialist right back (more important than another striker) but if we don't get one and Boxall does come here, I think he would be worth trying there.