Phoenix Transfer Speculation 2013/14

Yes.  It comes up every couple of months. He's been looked at any number of times and hasn't made the grade.

Most people think Stuffs 9.5/10 is just Stuff having a giggle.  Check the match thread here.

http://www.yellowfever.co.nz/categories/wellington-phoenix-discussion/topics/pre-season-v-all-white-xi-rotorua-22-sept-2013/page/16

Nah.  You're right Dougie.  You can see how some might think it was a wind-up though.

He was close to the best player on the day at Rotorua I thought.

So I'll just run a few names: Smith, Lia, Manny, Bertsch, Rufer

Clapham is definitely worse? 

The guy who gave it 9.5 on stuff is a guy on this forum. Wouldn't mind Clapham in the 'Nix squad. Actually would quite like to see it. Better option than Thompson from a Kiwi point of view, and he has impressed this year and last year in the state league he played in. More experience than signing a kid who hasn't quite figured out his game, or hasn't been smashed by a Burns/Muscat type.

He's also probably fitter than Hernandez...

*tentatively comes back out from the corner*

^^ This ^^

I assume he's only been trialed in traning etc,  has he played any games for the Nix, or was RH basing on training, AW's etc...

Claphams never gonna happen. Rather we A. Signed a foreign midfielder with pedigree or B. Brought on a younger player/s (which he is currently doing)

Has had plenty of chances, but for whatever reason has not made the grade. Time to move on. Yes he had a good game by all accounts, but he's also played alot and not shone.

Ridenton had a great game and is only 17 so sign him....

Or maybe it was just that, a great game.

Clapham needs to be more consistant on the bigger stage to be looked at seriously.

Just saw Aaron Clapman on Cuba street. 

Sure it wasn't Matt McKay.

Or Simon Morris?

There was a long an consistent call for Clapham to be in the 'Nix since the last WC. Trialled with Ricki and didn't produce the goods allegedly. 

Never really thought he should be there before. But A) we haven't signed an international quality midfielder other than Hernandez B) we are light on ball playing centre mids C) he has about as much experience as it is possible to get in NZ without getting a contract with the 'Nix or an overseas pro club. Didn't realise he was only 26 which means he may even get better in the next 2-3 years.

Do like the youth options etc etc. However lets be honest- we were forced to use Louis and Boyd too much last year because we simply had a poor squad. Bringing through good players ok, but relying on untested youth players to do crucial jobs is a bit of a worry. But I wouldn't mind a bit of experience in there and we seem light on the flanks at the back and in the midfield.

It's a bit early to say in Merrick we trust, but here's hoping.

Got the feeling Ricki never really liked Clapham.

Can't a player be worth a shot at 26 if he maybe wasn't at 23?

Surprised that he hasn't seen Bobo Balde in Manners Mall...

^ I have though!! I was at Celtic Park the day before yesterday! Sooo overrated! Shame Rogic didn't get on the field too. 

I can't understand if RH didn't rate Clapham while he was coach of the Nix, why is he picking him now in the NZ team? Has Ernie trialled him at all? RH has failed in the talent identification department before, don't we remember Kosta leaving?

I think its thin to say 'Ricki does not like Clapham' because if he did not, he would not pick him for country.

The reality is, we are not looking for attack minded players at the moment as we have a few. We are looking for mid-fielders that are defensive minded.

Now when Ernie was doing trials there are two things that could have happened. 1: Ernie could have called Clapham and had him in for a trial. I assume he has not so we can then effectively say that 2 A League coaches do not rate him or 2: Rather than go to Sydney for 6 weeks, he could have asked to do a 3 week trial and got his ass in front of Ernie. It seems he did not.

Clapham is quick to be in the media saying he wants this or wants that but I don't see him going 'I'm going to do what I can to make it happen'. Had he gone and spent time in Wellington (and from accounts of seasons past, he has not but I am open to being shot down on that) then pro contracts don't just fall into your lap and he might well have one by now. I understand that Sigmund pestered and got his ass down to Wellington with no assurance of a deal and trialed and did the hard yards. Perhaps Clapham should consider doing the same as well if he really wants it. After all, if he is good enough, it'll shine through, right?

agree jeff

i actually think that clapham is good enough to be an a-league player. but because he'd only be a squad player, starting in 30-50% of the games, the transition from amateur to pro may not be worth the investment at his age.

also, selection always has an element of personal preference involved.  if he was overlooked by a club in a better league, there would be other options.  because of his nationality, clapham has to put all of his eggs in one basket and could only ever possibly get a deal at the one club

I don't know how people can say Clapham has had plenty of chances at a higher level. When? Herbert certainly hasn't given him 'plenty of chances' for the All Whites. He's made 10 appearances since 2010. Initially, he'd be picked in the squad and occasionally play a few minutes as a sub. I think he got a couple of games in Honiara, but did any of the All Whites perform well in that tournament? He showed glimpses of what he offers in the NZ A game against Jordan. Granted his overall performance was just okay, but that team only met up a few days before the game and he was on holiday when he was called up. He was pretty decent in the half an hour he got in the Saudi Arabia game and let's not even mention the UAE game.

So in summary ... that's a bunch of okay performances in series of inconsistent appearances for the All Whites since 2010, mostly as a sub, in a poorly performing team that doesn't suit his style of play. Should we really have expected anything different? Let's not forget the likes of Rojas and Barbarouses haven't been able to do for the All Whites what they've done for their respective a-league clubs. 

In the ASBP Clapham's shown what he can do over a number of seasons given the chance to play regularly. Last season he was 2nd in the golden boot race ... and he's a midfielder. When there was discussion over whether the Phoenix should sign him, Herbert said he would not be offering him a contract as he wasn't an improvement over the midfielders we had. Now we're down to Muscat and Lia in terms of midfielders who can genuinely fill the holding role. Clapham now suits the style of play of the Phoenix and he's only 26. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying he's the answer to all our problems, but he adds depth, competition for Muscat/Lia and would improve the transition of the ball from defence to attack.

Having said all that, I don't think the Phoenix will sign him. They should. But I don't see it happening. You can guys can mock me all you like, but I think he is of sufficient quality to be a Phoenix player. Finally, if anyone can offer a genuine alternative for the Phoenix midfield who challenge for a starting role I'm all ears.

So tell me how he is competition for Lia and Manny who are defensive midfielders when he plays an attacking midfield role, the very same one occupied by Carlos and also Rufer (and we could probably throw in Ifill as well if we needed to)?

The point seems to be lost on you that we need DEFENSIVE midfielders, not ATTACKING midfilders (of which, we have plenty of players in the front 3rd already). Clapham is not a DEFENSIVE midfielder.

How did Clapham go in the state leagues?

Ernie don't like him

Aaron Clapham! Aaron Clapham!

I officially request that we have a stickied "SIGN CLAPHAM THE GINGA NINJA" thread where this recurring garbage discussion can go every time it raises its head, similarly to the old "SACK RICKI" thread.

If Clapham was that good he'd have been picked up by another A-League club, who certainly don't shy away from Kiwis when they make the grade. And I must second all those people pointing out reasonably that Clapham would be competing with Carlos Hernandez for a spot. GOOD LUCK.

And which Kiwis are these exactly? Smeltz, Rojas, Barbarousos, Wee Mac, Brockie, Bertos - not exactly huge numbers. It is a fact that Clapham is a foreigner to Aussie clubs and therefore not that easy for him to be signed. Unless someone knows the real reason why the Nix aren't interested [either under RH or EM] we can only go on what we see of him on the pitch and I say he looks good enough to play for us. He's not an import so it wouldn't be a question of not signing him because he is up against Carlos - what happens if Carlos gets injured? Is there anyone else [not an import] that might be able to play a similar role? 

It was much easier to make a conspiracy theory when it was only Ricki, wasn't it? But since Ricki and Ernie agree, either the professionals are right or louts on a forum know more than they do...