Phoenix Transfer - speculation

 

I am sure there is still lots of work happening behind the scene with agents. But the bottom line is trying to get profootballers to play in NZ is a big ask. We are the odd one out in the A-league.

 

If the Phoenix where offering Kruse $150,000 then they must have rated him.

 

All we can do is hope that there is some goodnews still to come.

 

one goal doens't make a player.

 

its not like Newcastle were that great last year. Come on.

 

I think we will have other recruitment plans. Wait for the end of the English season. Tony's the CEO equivalent of Costa of scoring goals from nowhere when it matters...

 

You make some valid points el grapadura.  I'm not at all optimistic about the upcoming season.  I've always thought, and said so on this forum some months ago, that we needed to recruit 6 or 7 quality players (current A-League players or better) to make an impact in the A-League, and to then be in a position to reclaim the level of support for football in Wellington that we witnessed in the first season.  The current squad (even assuming we sign a decent striker) just ain't going to be any where near good enough in my view, and the club appears not to have enough ambition to sort this out.  To add to the points you raise, I'm wondering more and more whether there is a competence issue on the part of the coaching/management team or whether Terry S is not willing/able to make the necessary investment, or a combination of those two things.  I think the club is at a real crossroads this coming season, and it would need to pull of something real spectular to ensure it's long-term future in the A-League and the support of the fans.  But, unfortunately, at this stage, I just can't see this happening - we're going to fall further and further behind the other clubs.  Regardless of the opinions people have about him, if Robbie Kruse has real ambition in football, then I can't blame him for turning down the club's offer.  The fact that he has turned down a $150,000 salary in my view says volumes and, despite his young 20-years,  indicates mature decision making.

Mark Paston

Defenders

Midfielders

Forwards

 

Not sure how they'd react to Wellington weather though...

 

On a more serious note, if Kruse wants to play one more season in the A-Leaue before trying his luck overseas why would playing that year in Wellington be any worse than playing it at another A-League club???

 

An example of a successful team based in a challenging location is the Southern Sting (Invercargill for f**ks sake!!). Townsville also managed to sign Robbie Fowler !!

 

If we can't get the deals done you have to;

 

1) question our strategy;

         Looking for UK based players who can extend their career a couple of years playing in the         A-League and get decent dollars whilst living away from home in a nice city sounds logical but maybe the talent pool of 30 years+ strikers willing to move is too small or maybe we need to broaden the net to European players or ......

 

2) question our ability to execute the strategy;

        

 

We crapped out last season because we couldn't sign a decent second striker and it's starting to look a hell of a lot like history will repeat itself if someone isn't capable of making the deal.

 

Hopefully a lot of needless worry and Targetman's signing is imminent.

 

There are other options we are exploring in regards to strikers and hopefully we can get them over the line. These things take time and we are still 10 weeks away from the start of the season so no panic yet.

 

Diego?? Not a bad recruit as well. Vince Lia back - like a new recruit.

 

Im hoping we play 433. Would have been good if Kruse had been in that mix though.  We are looking for another striker (always were) so let Tony and Ricki do their job an stop sulking News - I thought you'd be doing cartwheels that Kruse isnt coming. ps I'd like to see you turn down 150k for playing footy.

 

Looking at purely UK players?  Where did you get that from?

 

TP and RH stated they were looking to sign from League 1 and went to the UK to sign the two new strikers - sure we are not saying no to looking at players based elsewhere but I'm not aware they actually went anywhere else to check out potential signings first hand - could be wrong.

 

All great cities if you have a truck load of money (most cities are) but I think if you check the per capita GDP, crime stats, population density etc etc you'll get the point.

 

 

                    Paston

 

Muscat     Dura    Siggy      Lochhead

 

       Lia         McKain         Brown

 

    Bertos     Greenacre      Costa

 

...but I think we'd still need someone more allround in that front 3, scores goals, strong in the air and able to hold the ball up. Targetman-esque player still required IMO

 

I sure theyd be willing to travel anywhere in the world if a quality player showed interest. Just so happens a couple of them were UK. And one signed. They might be travelling to France or Croatia or Gren Gully next..

 

I think you are selling Wellington way short - the A-League is attracting some very good players and, while we are struggling to cross the line with the 2nd striker, we have signed some very good professional footballers e.g. Greenacre and McKain.

 

I also think you are too dismissive of the value of living in a city ranked among the top tier for quality of life - top footballers will always look to Europe but players who aren't going to make it in Europe but are looking for good $s and a future for themselves and their family, will look at Wellington (e.g. Daniel).

 

I think the underlying problem is the profile of the club - not the League or city. We need to get our eligibility for the ACL sorted out, we need to get the youth team up and running and we need to start delivering on the park i.e make the playoffs.

 

 

We need to stimulate that interest - get on the road and talk to targets.

 

Bottom line - we don't yet have a 2nd striker - whatever we did last year and have done so far this year hasn't delivered - time to rethink the game plan.

 

If they are available for that month

 

Do you not think they are on the phone to agents 24/7?

Get on the road? what and talk to random in Portugal about how nice Welli is? that would be a good use of resources.

 

Obviously its frustrating - but we dont even know what Nix are/have been doing - so hard to be critical. All I know is Im sure they are doing there best to get another stiker

You want to sell a product with a weak brand you don't do it over the phone you front up - after doing your homework on prospective targets. We tried this with the trip to the UK and scored Greenacre - great. I think we need to repeat the exercise - new prospective targets and go and convince them why they should come to Wellington or get them over so they can see for themselves.

 

If we're doing all of that already - fantastic

 

Last word is yours - I'm done.

"Diego?? Not a bad recruit as well. Vince Lia back - like a new recruit"

 

I was going to make the same comment, but Tony bet me too it.

Diego..

Greenace..

and Lia back.

And still lots of time for new recruits to come in, relax people!