Phoenix Transfer Speculation 2012/13

Yes. I realise that. You're acting like hes rubbish already. And this is based on no information whatsoever. I'm just saying, give the kid a chance before going all doom and gloom on us as usual.

Just messin'

Yeah it is weird.

I am wondering if this guy is the Panamanian Pavlovic i.e. rather than us actively looking for someone maybe his club was trying to get him out on a loan somewhere and prepared to do good deal on wages etc. From our point of view nothing much to lose.

What's really weird though is that it's been reported in Panama that he is here until January but as recently as today the Herald was saying Sanchez is expected to be fit in November.

TX - that could well be true (in fact it must be the case) but wouldn't you rather have the visa spot available?

I thought after Huysegems that we were starting to get it right in our recruitment, I was almost about to do a bit of a reversal.  That's not likely to happen now!

Anyway tomorrow will be interesting.  I'm off to watch the bunnies

They have a nice website though.

And check this out...

http://sportingsm.com.pa/2012/05/video-institucional-del-sporting-sm/  

Now that's a promo video! I had tears in my eyes and I don't even speak Spanish!

Perhaps a youth marque position (for someone) in the near future, if everyone performs to expectations? I'm quietly excited by this "overnight yoof makeover thingy"" going on with the Nix. 

I'm also quite optimistic about our season.

 In precisely 1 year Wellnix have quietly gone about transforming things at WP HQ and throughout the organisation.Lots of positive changes, commitments to a steady, structured professional business have been made (and delivered) in this time. 

Hopefully the same approach has been applied to the selection of the new on-field personnel too and if that's the case ...how can it get any better than this !!??

Fridge magnet on Monday!

We have probably taken the kid on loan based on dvds and an agent's opinion, it is a gamble but it is a minor one. We only have the import slot available until Sanchez is fit again and only can pay a maximum of what he gets. We can't go out and get a top class import under those conditions.

With a last name like Clarke, any chance he speaks english?

cool, I cant wait to see the kid play. but I feel we are a bit light in the middle of the park now if smith or manny get injured. how long until lia is back and hacking? is lindsay ready to step up?

It's based on the agent's recommendation only.

 Check out this clowns facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/EmileHeskeyTransfertoPhoenix

Once Heskey signed to the Jest he then changed the page name to Michael Ballack, although couldnt change the url. If u lyk dis page if u wnt Michael Ballack in NZ !!!!11

Clarke came off the bench today - anyone there got a report on him?

Looked okay. Has pace and dribbling ability but that was all we could really see him express. Looks like he could do some damage though.

Talked to Leo this morning he didn't seem to know much about him either be surprised if he'd even had a session with the team. Apparently he doesn't speak English though so the boys are brushing up on their Spanish

It does suck that we probably only have half a squad who have had a preseason together.

In previous years we have had weaker squads, but there was always that team ethic and heart on sleeve attitude. I hope that all the new and unfit lads can bed in and fit into the club quickly. Because to me it sounds like there are still a few guys not completely gelling with the team yet

I think Clarke had only arrived in ChCh on the morning of the game, so doubt he would have had any training with the team. Hopefully Sanchez can justify his fat pay cheque by doing a bit of translation for Ricky until he recovers...

https://twitter.com/RikyClarke

Reading through his twitter, he comes across as a good kid - really wanting to do his best to make it as a professional. I like his attitude. Some Quotes from him and others about him:

"Leaves everything on the field"
"Hungry to win"
"First to arrive at training and last to leave"

Ricardo Clarke?   have they got the right Ricardo Clarke. There is a young fella playing in the MLS by the name Ricardo Clark, quite handy too.

I would have been pretty worried if he had been our big off season striker signing.

While he says it's not a "random punt" I still think signing anyone who you've never seen play live, who has no real pedigree in professional football, doesn't speak English and who has never played outside Panama is very risky

This.

"While he says it's not a "random punt" I still think signing anyone who you've never seen play live, who has no real pedigree in professional football, doesn't speak English and who has never played outside <insert country here> is very risky"

I would suspect a few of our players would not have been signed if this were the gospel.

Maybe at the start.... but not now.

Most recommended players to the NIX have atleast had to trial before getting a go (unless they came from respectable leagues). How many players from Aussie have come over and trialled and from the NZFC without success??

Hope he works out otherwise we will look a little silly... but atleast it indicates a more fluid and quick passing game than signing some big 6 ft 4 battering ram.

(In saying that knowing a player doesn't always matter, we all knew Elliott and his pedigree and he hardly shined nor Mulligan who on paper looked far better than almost anyone else at the club)

It's not risky so long as he is an appropriate replacement for Sanchez.

I think this probably says that we're going to revert to some type of 4-4-2.  Our strength is in our forwards so that's probably understandable.  I do worry that there isn't quite enough passing in our midfield.

So if you have Brockie upfront with Stein, you fit Ifill in there somewhere too, you need Muscat for spoiler role, and everyone loves Smith and Sanchez... Who are our wide men again? We've gone too far the other way I think.

Id personally play 433 with 2 holders in muscat and smith, then a more creative midfielder in front with 3 forwards.

All 3 of Ifill, Stein and Brockie can play wide or central. Same with Clarke and totori.

However we are weak in the AM role - fenton could play there. Maybe even Stein too? Smith could maybe do that if you brought in Lia or Lindsay.

But alas, we are gonna play 4132 - which for me, is very lobsided

Reverting to our old style of play then?

 I thought the Panaminian guy did come for a brief trial?

Maybe getting confused with Joaquin Noy from Uruguay who was also 19. He was here for a while. Interesting they didn't bring him back instead now you mention it. Maybe he has been snapped up since.?

We don't really have static wide men anymore. We have Ifill, Brockie, Stein, Totori and Clarke all of whom can play wide and central interchangeably, Fenton and Boyd can too I think. I would call that an advantage if we play with a 4-3-3 because our front line can swap around through the match to generate confusion and open up spaces. If we play a 4-2-2-2 or 4-1-3-2 there is less flexibility, our wings have to be wings and can't roam.

I would like to see our forwards play with the freedom and autonomy to roam the area and allow all of Brockie, Stein, and Ifill in central positions through out a single match. I don't want the goal scoring form of Brockie spent on the wing nor Ifills talents locked on the wing.

Moving on to the mid-field a Lia, Muscat, Smith trio wouldn't be so bad till Sanchez recovers would it? I know Smith isn't exactly the AM of our dreams but he's got a good pass and likes to get forward by his nature. And I know Lia is out atm but surely he'll be back soon.

Anyway I reckon 4-3-3 is the way to go but I don't expect to see it. And I worry that our wingers lack the necessary defensive capacities to function well in a 4-1-3-2, filling the void between the wingers and the wingbacks and I feel like that's leaving a lot up to Muscat.

A question for those who have seen him play, what is Totori's best position?  Is he an out and out winger, a central striker or more of a forward who can play wide (4-3-3 style)?

Id say the latter. wide in the 433.

 Defense isnt his strongest attribute. And he is good 1on1. Also not clinical enough to be a starting centre forward at this level

 I think he should be playing out wide where he has room to use his speed. Havn't seen anything from him that would make me think he can take it up the middle