Phoenix Transfer Speculation 2013/14

scored in his last two games in Wellington and scored against Aussie too IIRC or was it just a great chest down for Tim Brown? anyway, yeh probably wouldn't fit with our system...

Again though I think he's probably got one more foot than Huysegems, though Stein's left is a beauty. 

Has Chris James' worked his socks off and become that all round midfield genius who can deputise for Lia? If so I vote for him as the midfielder. Especially if we can't get Rory. Be nice to have a few of the AW heroes of today to go with those of tomorrow...and tbh Brockie doesn't yet count as an AW hero...

Have you ever watched or followed the conference....? The Victory or Roar would probably put 10 goals past the average conference team.

Has anyone tried out these scenarios in FIFA14?

Ernie said he wants to sign another midfielder. Anyone know how Rufer is progressing? How did he go for the "A's" against Waitak?  Him and Shermy are the only squad players not to get a run and Shermy has at least made the bench twice? Ridenton has made the jump as a 17 yo.....hopefully Rufer can stepup soon too!

I think in another thread there were comments  about Rufer - flashes of true brilliance, followed by a miscued pass next minute.

Agree. Didn't Ifill say a while ago he couldn't believe how uneven standards were within A-League teams c.f. the professional game in the UK? And that this made the A-League probably unique among all the world's pro leagues. From watching games in the UK last year, Div 1 down to Essex Senior League (yep, yr precious Basildon FC, Junior) it was immediately apparent how even players' abilities were, like for like. All to do with numbers I suppose. And here, certainly in NZ if not so much in Oz, we just don't have 'em.

But that's the same with our own national league. We only have so many good players and then it drops off. The HAL is no different. In the UK, they have more players of that quality in the same grade, hence the quality is there. They can support 4 pro leagues and god knows how many semi pro leagues because of that good player base. NZ is good for about 4-5 good sides of equal strength across the park (when equalised for imports) and then it drops off.

^ Agree. One reason we need imports.

Oh I agree with you, but only to a limit :o)

For a guy who is essentially getting a 2 week trial, Lujic didn't look very enthusiastic at training.

That's the opposite of what everyone else has said (or have they trained again this morning?)

They trained at Westpac this morning.

Many people have slagged Rory off here.  As some one who played with him in NZ before he moved and watched him a lot in person while he played for PAFC, I can confirm that while he is not the greatest goal scorer he does bring many other players in to play, holds the ball up better then any one I've seen at the Nix (except Stein possibly) and contrary to what everyone says he is not all shoulders. 

For the AWs yes, where he is playing against the best players (divers?) in the world.  In club football that is not an issue.  He rarely got penalised at Plymouth for this supposed issue.

To me his biggest weakness has always been his lack of speed and he has gone on record as saying that he is keen to play in NZ/Aussie in the future (now?).

He is a heart on shirt player and would help to raise the Nix profile I think.  Might be more of a Herbert player but if Stein leaves would be a good replacement.

One last point:  he was playing his best football for Argyle when we were in the Championship playing the way the Nix are now.  he worked very well with Sylvan Ebanks-Blake creating many of his goals.

People who talk about Rory as some kind of PR ambassador forget that he would use such a position to promote his religious beliefs, which, while I will never criticise someone else's path to God, might not be the image we want.

Would he do that though? I'm not sure he would. After the Mexico series, I thought he was an extremely good listen and very positive. If god motivates him, I have no issue and if he occasionally makes a reference, won't hurt me (and I am certainly not religious)

Also, there should probably be another thread for this but all this comparing the A League to the various tiers of the English league system is comparing apples to oranges. It's good to have a rough idea of relative quality to judge how well a player would perform here if we signed him but beyond that it gets a bit silly to compare a salary capped league with no promotion/relegation and no real history, in a country where football is a minority sport to the oldest league pyramid system in the world where football is everywhere and money talks. If Victory or Roar played in England then would they still be salary capped? Would they be able to sign EU nationals as non-imports? Would they draw home cup ties against Man Utd and get a financial windfall? The whole arguments got to many holes in it. Maybe comparing how they'd go in a home and away tie against a midlevel Championship team or something is an interesting counterfactual but this whole "how would they do over a season?" thing is meaningless.

Fair comparisons would be with other leagues operating insimilar environments - MLS obviously, but also Japan, South Korea, maybe even China

So fucking what if Rory worships Robbie Fowler.

What about Wayne Srhoj? Last I've heard is he's been playing for Mareeba Bulls? 

Was one of the better players at Heart IMO. Think he would definitely do a job for us if he's still playing.

Just heard lochy got a contract in the usa. So he wont be available should any of our wingbacks get injured. But caira should be back soon

I want this god chap in our squad. I hear he moves in mysterious ways.

Also Jesus saves ...

#morecrapjokes

Hope he won't need to take her temperature.Could be rough.

but Huysegems nets the rebound- Goal to the Phoenix!