Phoenix Transfer Speculation 2013/14

In all seriousness, what would Ernie Merrick have taken out of this game. Did anyone put their hand up?

If I were him I'd be excited to have Tyler Boyd in the squad, worried if we have indeed signed Luke Rowe, concerned that no one is really putting their hand up to replace Tony Lochhead, unsure as to who NZ's second best keeper is, disappointed Ivan Vicelich isn't ten years younger and curious as to why James Musa was ever allowed to leave.

Perhaps he fancies the night life in Ngaruawahia. Is he really giving up the Welsh league for Northern Div 1? Maybe it's a ploy to score a bucket load of goals under the nose of the new coach at the Phoenix.

Luis said after last night he's "unsure as to who NZ's second best keeper".  I'm biased, but I thought Scott B was very, very good last night.  Nicely positioned for the U 20 campaign it seems....

I think Scotty B has improved remarkabley over the past year with game time for TeeDubs and wouldnt be out of his depth at A-League level if given a good run. 

The hard part is whether the club signs him or if its better to have him continue to get game time

I made a comment about Hogg late last week when someone said 'Its not fair'. Well in 3 starts, he had 1 good game at the Phoenix and last night, he didn't do anything that said 'pick me'. I have converted and become a bit of a follower of him after not rating him for so long so I have to say that if you are Tony L, you would sitting home feeling pretty good right now (and rightfully so). I wonder if all the scape goaters are prepared to eat a little crow or if its going to be the fickle 'Oh but we have always loved Tony'. The reality is, Tony L is the best LB we have, just like people found out what life was like after one Tim Brown retired. The grass is not always greener on the other side.

Tyler Boyd did himself a lot of good but if you were Aaron Clapham, you would have to be kicking yourself for what at times, was a Jekyll and Hyde performance. He does 2 nice touches and then 3 stuff ups. Heard on the radio he has signed for 4 weeks to play NSW for Apia. Not sure what that is going to achieve but he might want to pray that the Phoenix have open trials because if he has his heart set on the Phoenix, then he will want to kill it as a walk on because I would not be signing him based on last night.

Musa was probably not ready for that level when he was there. He had one game and drowned. If he had that game again, I doubt he would play that way again. The puzzler is that you have an AW in Boxall sitting there getting splinters and trailing everywhere and yet we are talking about Musa. Playing devils advocate, perhaps Boxall is the unhappy one and is looking to move more so than the club are not happy with him. I think in terms of a value proposition, Musa would be a good pick up purely because being a left footer, you could stretch him to LB if you really needed to. You then ask as a CB push LB, does he add more value and also the chance for more game time covering 2 spots? He did perform better than Hogg and Rowe (although Rowe was with the subs so...)

Dewhurst made me laugh when he said that Spoonley couldn't get a start for ACFC. I think its quite well known that Williams is a favourite of Ramon. If Williams was a better keeper, why is he not playing for the A side and getting A League call ups etc? Williams has not even been mentioned at A League or national level....

I thing the best think for Scott Basalaj is probably to play. Would he being doing that at the Phoenix? He would be getting specialist coaching from Gould but he is probably getting that already in some manner. As has been stated about young keepers, they don't play often at the high level so game time is very much needed to help them grow and develop. Would another year at CL or ASBP do it? He is only a highschooler so if we assume he is 18, the best thing for him to do is play. He can save a ball but whats his decision making like and more so, whats it like at the next level under pressure?

I'm not a keeper specialist but I would be interested in 2nd Bests thoughts on this.

It's a bit of a conundrum for him. 

Basically he has two options.

Phoenix – full time training at the good level with a full time goalkeeping coach.  Unlikely to get much game time, although opportunities through Phoenix A assuming it continues.  Perhaps a chance to be loaned to Lower Hutt in off season to play Central League.

Team Wellington/Lower Hutt City - Training twice a week with a goalkeeper coach at TW, although maybe a chance to remain training full-time with Phoenix. Higher chance of game time, although will be competing with Imray. Play with Lower Hutt in winter, who I understand don’t have a GK coach.

So the question probably comes down to, is full time training with the Phoenix better than potentially playing 14 games.

If it was me, I’d take a Phoenix offer  if there was one on the table.

If Moss got injured, I'd have full confidence in Basalaj and Spoonley to thrive in the A-League. I think Basalaj is the front runner, just because of his age.

Yeah, life-wise - the Phoenix offer is obviously the best way to go. Fact is, every goalkeeper spends a spell on the bench at some point. He has to be good enough to break through.

Moss hasn't exactly been injury free the last two seasons so there's a good chance whoever we sign as backup keeper will get their chance at some point and possibly for an extended spell. I think its important we get someone who's decent and not there just to learn the trade and warm the bench.

Not sure how Moss has got an reputation for been made of glass.

He's had one injury, twice.

They don't pay enough.

If offered a contract Basalaj should take the deal.

I'm not convinced he will be the number 1 for the u20's so he may not get a chance to be noticed by scouts etc in the tournament with Maxcombe potentially starting ahead of him.

That been said with Max beginning to get game time in  League 2 in the UK does he now sit as our number 2 keeper for NZ ahead of Gleeson. 

I feel bad for Spoonly and agree with the commentators that he seems always to be one step away from a shot, but never seems to get it.

Haven't seen Max play so can't realy comment on his ability. But he's only played 4 games right at the end of last season. Making him the 3rd/4th choice there.

Pretty confident Gleeson would be above him still.

Ivan moved back from Holland to be with family from what I understand.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/8761055/Irving-happy-to-call-Ngaruawahia-his-home

This guy, 24 year old former Everton reserve player, and former U16 England international

I read the same article.

The one thing I would ask is if he has talent and backs himself, then what is he a: doing out here in NZ when there are many more opportunities to be full time and crack it in the UK and b: Why Ngaruawahia and not CL for Miramar or Wests or.... somewhere under the eye of the Phoenix. I can't imagine Ernie going 'Sorry lads, short day today, I'm off the outbacks of Hamilton to see some guy in a lower league game.

Colour me sceptical.

Sounds like it's more of a lifestyle decision when his mate has convinced him to come

The unfortunate thing is that this kinda of story is designed for a lowly rag but ends up on stuff. These articles always end with some lofty unattainable goal or statement

"So and so is hoping he can go all the way"

Bogus. He's playing in the Welsh Premier League. Ugh. Just ugh. Journalist should call bullshit on this or turn story into what it really is

Luckily Stuff will soon be charging people to see these ridiculous stories.

Pretty sure Luke Rowe has a contract for next season

Lochhead would not be the only one.

Hoggy would be disappearing off my radar if I was Ernie

To the earlier people querying him, let me answer your concerns:

This guy is very very very good.

Can play right back, very quick, superb technique, he stands out ridiculously in Division 1. A lock for WaiBOP and then hopefully you guys will get to see what I'm seeing on a regular basis. 

Ngaruawahia is just a stepping stone for greater things for him, he has the quality to be an A-League player from what I've seen so far. 

Oh, and tripvincent, please stop talking rot. Sincerely, everyone on the forums.

Says the person who has never watched him before. I'll actually back my viewing experiences rather than the egotistical ramblings of a know-it-all, cheers anyway.

Is he worth an import slot though?

I rate your opinion n-bomb as being relatively spot on.

How would you compare him to say... Jason Chewins?

For me, Jason Chewins was touted as the next big thing too (despite age) but was another perennial also ran.