Phoenix Transfer Speculation 2013/14

Legend.

Are you guys in London? Perhaps a London based Phoenix fan club? haha

I dont think any player should be downtrodden in terms of quality based on Ricki not wanting them.

The man has no clue when it comes to talent... I honestly believe the only reason youngsters like Rojas / Barbs and co got a chance was because he was pushed into it through public opinion and a need to actually sign players.

I truely doubt he really ever saw either players real talent or potential.

Krishna, to be fair improves every year and has attracted interest outside of the A League.

I'm not sure I agree Ricki has no clue about talent because he came in and swept out MIck Waitts crew and the people he bought in had talent and produced some of the best results the AWs have enjoyed. I do think though that the last calendar 18 months has shown that he has lost his coaching mojo. I don't think that's the same as talent ID. As for Rojas, we pushed him cause no one else was, so that's not just the fault if Ricki, but other coaches that missed him as well.

I think talent ID is very much hit and miss. Look at the players on the books last year that were supposed to have done well but did not. I don't rate Michael Fitzgerald but he is starting in the J League. Jason Hicks, a player with talent is in TW.  It's subjective to what you see.

As for Reira, I did not say he was rubbish and in fact if you look back, I did say that if we were signing him as a LB, I would have no issue with that at all. I just don't think he is a DM in the A League and to say he is deserving of an import slot, well if that was the case, why is he the last cab off the rank to be trialled and not the first one? Again it's subjective and all I did was disagree with his opinion and stated the reason why. 

Tell me this, what Aussie A League clubs come to NZ recruiting talent from the NZPL? I think it is a ludicrous assumption that just because no other A League club has signed someone, that they don't warrant being signed by us. Manny is a striking example. Instead of making assumptions about why a person chooses to stay at ACFC rather than seek to play for an Australian A League side, compare it to normal employment. I could make much more money and do a brilliant job elsewhere in NZ or even more if I moved back to Australia. Why haven't I done that? I like where I am, I enjoy the people I work with, my friends and family are here, I like the weather, my girlfriend lives here and can't move because of her job, etc etc I've even been asked to go elsewhere, but stayed..... so its not a case of not being good enough, or not wanted - I simply choose not to go. Maybe the same applies to football players too?

Tell me this, what Aussie A League clubs come to NZ recruiting talent from the NZPL? I think it is a ludicrous assumption that just because no other A League club has signed someone, that they don't warrant being signed by us. Manny is a striking example. Instead of making assumptions about why a person chooses to stay at ACFC rather than seek to play for an Australian A League side, compare it to normal employment. I could make much more money and do a brilliant job elsewhere in NZ or even more if I moved back to Australia. Why haven't I done that? I like where I am, I enjoy the people I work with, my friends and family are here, I like the weather, my girlfriend lives here and can't move because of her job, etc etc I've even been asked to go elsewhere, but stayed..... so its not a case of not being good enough, or not wanted - I simply choose not to go. Maybe the same applies to football players too?

So why has Jason Hicks all of a sudden jumped to the front of the queue?

Vicelich

Well I'll add more to this. Two years ago, CCM played ACFC at the Croatian club. I think it's a fair statement to make without too much kerfuffle that Graham Arnold is a good coach with a good eye on talent. Why did he not sign him if he was so good (or others?) or deserving of an import slot?

Ernie says he's going to sign a couple of players as injury/international replacements for the first game and see how they go.
Sounds like Riera and Hicks.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/sport/phoenix/9250782/Clock-ticking-for-Phoenix-duo-to-prove-fitness

ACFC: Nix feeder club! :D

ACFC: Nix feeder club! :D

What happened to the old mantra - "ASBP players aren't good enough"?

The vast majority of them aren't!

Not sure ACFC would be all that happy if we only picked up Riera on a short term deal, with the stand down period if he gets on the park.

The vast majority of them aren't!

We gotta sign at least 4 people this week to short term deals, 5 if Kenny isn't fit.

Spoonley, McPeake & Gulley will be dead certs. Would think Watson will get a one as he is the only striker we have in the FSE. So leaves Bertsch/Riera/Hicks fighting with Sherminator for that last spot on the bench.

Not sure ACFC would be all that happy if we only picked up Riera on a short term deal, with the stand down period if he gets on the park.

[Edit: whoops forgot McPeake for the bench]

There are 5 bench spots this year aren't there?

Is he better than Smith?

There are 5 bench spots this year aren't there?

I think that if Ernie gets a draw out of round 1, he would have done bloody well considering.

To be fair, name another league in the world that does not stop for FIFA windows..... It affects us adversely because Kiwis are not imports for the Phoenix so most of them play here where as for Melbourne, Perth and CCM to lose 1, it ain't no thing (although significant players)

To be fair, name another league in the world that does not stop for FIFA windows..... It affects us adversely because Kiwis are not imports for the Phoenix so most of them play here where as for Melbourne, Perth and CCM to lose 1, it ain't no thing (although significant players)

Whoever said that, anyway? Siggy was plucked out of the ASBP, as was Ian Hogg, although perhaps the latter isn't a good example.

It's a bit rich to piss and moan we are disadvantaged because we lose our All Whites for a weekend when, for the other 26 games of the season, we're the only team that has the advantage of Kiwis not being imports.

Have to agree with that.