Phoenix Transfer Speculation 2013/14

was not the kind of signing we want, I guess rather like a Ricki signing eg Ward, not the new era of trusting the kids...

Sign Hicks until the end of the season. Not fully up to speed yet but well worth a spot in this squad.

I think if he keeps up in the professional environment Hicks will be quite decent by next season. Think he's got a lot of potential.

He's making some typical newbie mistakes that you'd expect but I really like the confident way he looks for possession and his generally patient midfield play. He has shown in two matches a nice ability to play the killer pass and he's given some good defensive support to Caira. Think how much he's learning week by week just playing along side Carlos.

All the weekly specials at KFC kent terrace?

Ahh fallback joke yes... but anyway I would like to see hicks kept on too

Hicks has great potential, what I've seen so far is just getting used tot he increased pace of the A League from what he's used to, same with Riera. Once they adjust they should ahve no problems. Its funny what difference a split second makes.

Hicks is definitely looking worth a 2 year deal atm. Would be very surprised if Ernie doesn't pick him up now.

If we sign Hicks (which I think we should) that will takes us to 22 players.

What should be done with Spoonley? I want him sticking around, it's entirely possible he could be our number 1 keeper, but I can't see room in the squad.

Cut Italiano loose. Sign Spoonley

Sign Hicks for a year. Once him and Riera get up to the speed and they will they will both be fine squad signings. 

No need to sign either for more than a year at this stage. We should never have committed to Cunningham for 2 years. I worry he's going to be a complete disaster but lets see

dont think we should look at riera taking up an import spot as a squad player. when does he pass the 5 year tick?

I like Hicks, and I think Riera will be fine, but I don't see how they are/will be much better than Cunningham.

It seems to be more about expectation: Hicks and Riera will be fine once they adjust, but Cunningham needs to be awesome NOW

Remember Keeny has had zero pre season because of injury.  I saw enough in the game to suggest he could be quite handy for us.

I though Moss's attempt to save the goal yesterday was pretty poor. I think Spoons should be pushing him for his starting spot.

Kenny will be sweet, it's very early days - and he wants to go to Brazil - he knows he won't do that if he's on the bench or in the Chairman's Lounge.

Cunningham will come good, like everyone is saying very limited pre season for him, I too would like to see Hicks signed.

pretty hard to stop a ball that comes from behind two defenders, and then through the legs of the last player, he wouldn't have seen the ball till iot was about 3 feet from him - to get down to it would have been impossible. Put it down to poor defending - the shot should never have been allowed.

I am staggered that the SACK PASTON HIRE MOSS brigade have so swiftly turned into the SACK MOSS HIRE SPOONLEY brigade.

I'm glad to see everyone seems to share the new found love I have for Hicks too!

Will Hicks keep his spot in the team/bench when Rufer comes back? I'm not too sure what Ernie's plans for Rufer were, or how his game compares

I thought Hicks did well last week too. It might just be because he is 'Not-Lia', though - he does give the ball away just as much as him, in reality.

At the moment, Hicks > Rufer.

I like hicks, he did give the ball away a bit but at least it was in attacking positions and not 25 yards from our goal. Sign him now - Rufer looked sharp against italy though, in fact a few of the u17's looked really good.

Don't Hicks and Rufer normally both play more centrally?

Might see them share minutes, same with Ridenton.

Any news on how the Stein is after been dragged in the first half. He went down the tunnel pretty quickly.

Ridenton is having a poor Under-17's IMO. And I see Bazely has dragged him as primo dead ball striker in favour of Ipswich-bound Monty Patterson.

I think Ridenton was signed as more of a project than Rufer. I can't recall having seen him but from what I read, he was at ACFC and was not near the starting unit (which is not exactly easy in a team of imports). I think he is the guy they bring in now and watch how he develops and changes over the 3 year cycle. Granted its a long game, but you have to have a couple of those and at 17, there is nothing lost. He would be best served training fulltime with the Phoenix and playing match days with TW to get some game time (not that NZF can allow that)

This may be where I have a gap in my knowledge but the FSE kids are not on any contract at all so other clubs could come and sign them? That could be why he was signed?