Phoenix Transfer Speculation 2013/14

Yawn.

I try and follow whats up in NZ football but know nothing about this Hicks guy. Anyone got a summary.....age, position, attributes and back ground. Thanks!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iwmkeWB8Ps

Hicks, tough and calm under pressure, prepared to dish it out

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwVsOR0hvlU

Early/mid twenties, born in UK & played as teenager for Gravesend (I think). Played here for East Coast Bays, ACFC, Waikato (I think). Then a year and half ago disappeared to Wellington for business reasons and seemed to spend a season/ year out of the game. "Educated left foot" (JV), an attacking mid who keeps the ball moving. Slight build, was highly rated at Auck City (possibly hastening Coombes/Mulligan's departure to Waitak) ... got some gametime for NZ A ... that's about it from me.

Forgot to add, he just missed the cut for the Oly-Whites after playing most/all of the squad lead-up games - after which he then did his Wellington ' career move disappearing act.' Disillusionment? Or getting practical?

None. That's what I'd say.

Phoenix Sign Spanish Midfielder

Hmm unconvinced but good luck

Must trust Ernie, mustn't think Sanchez and Totori, must trust Ernie.

Let's hope he can make the step up to playing on a full size pitch in front of a crowd.

12 months even... interesting.

Your dani sanchez in disguise

Will Ernie be tempted to play Manny at RB while Fenton is injured?

Dani Sanchez  >    Albert Riera...............But Albert could be a lot cheaper !!

Thought he would get signed on a temporary deal. Bit of a risk taking him on a full contract. Haven't really seen enough of him myself to pass judgement though. Exciting nonetheless, hope he does well for us.

Needed to make numbers up to 20..that said I thought he did well on the "big size pitch" as someone else drolly noted above.  Wont be worse than Lia and contained the Nix attack well I thought...second week running.  Fairy tale stuff..beats Siggys rise.  Will be good to have backup medic as well.

As a paramedic he will know the power of the lucky head bandage.

#shinyshinybadtimesbehindme

Yay for some spanish flavour ... Off topic I think if sanchez was resigned a la bertos Merrick would got more out of him than ricki, but we had Hernandez lined up anyway so got cut

Riera has very bandy legs. Any easy nutmeg.

Pity he isn't the other Albert Riera....

did anyone see this coming? or is it a case of panic buy?

I'm surprised, but have never seem him play, so can't comment. No use waiting months for the import when seasons two-thirds over I guess.

F*****k! So long Albert. Swapping Mission Bay kickarounds for O Bay same. You'll be back in Jaffaland one day buddy. Meanwhile all the best.

Good luck to Albert, fun to watch and he's a great guy. I'll miss him.

Kia ora, korero Espanol?

For those who haven't seen him in action, Albert Riera is a top quality midfielder. Works his socks off, controls the tempo of a game, rarely misplaces a pass, does the simple things well. Far and away Auckland City's best player last season, for mine. They'll miss him.

does the simple things well

That sounds hopeful

Well he better be decent. It seems a huge gamble throwing our last import spot on a Spanish parademic/journeyman who only played semi professional football in his home country.

The way I see it, going into the season with a plainly inadequate midfield of Lia and Muscat was a recipe for disaster.  So I'm glad we've at least tried to sign some competition for them.

But if we were looking for a Spaniard then I'm surprised no-one seems to have gone to Spain to look for a player considering that half the clubs there are bankrupt and there are many unemployed professionals there who will have played at a higher level than Riera.

Seems a slightly panicked move but then we are in a fairly desperate situation.  I know we tend to value the unknown player over the known but I'm pretty certain that this guy will show up just how bad Vince Lia is very quickly