Phoenix Transfer - speculation

He will score a goal in the confeds cup. he will singley handedly take on the 5th best asian team in about 5 years.

Scottishbhoy2009-07-08 19:49:32

What in 2013?

yes, though i dont know how long he needs to stay here for to play for nzScottishbhoy2009-07-08 19:50:04

Does anyone remember Ben Collett?  james dean2009-07-08 21:01:03

Because Man U is one the biggest clubs in the world. It sounds like the player will be world class if they from Man U. But signing for Miramar proves he isn't.

But the point is that there are far FAR better academy programmes around in the UK that produce far better players and have much better track records of producing professional footballers.

Yea but if you didn't know a thing about academys in the uk and someone said i've got a player from Man United, you would automatically think he's the best thing since sliced bread.

But realistically, he was a NZFC player at best, despite having a similar pedigree as this guy (which was my point)

Which is why those people who think that and don't know a thing about academies in the UK have no involvement in professional football.

If you are not aware Ben Collett did ok out of the game

But he had an huge injury before he started just like Joe.

Look I still rather be positive about a injury-free 19 year old player who has been through the strong academy system and could possibility deliver something, than all the negative stuff that people are saying here.

Yes we are weary and very cynic about players who turns up at central league level where he may have gone somewhere else. But like I have said, many academy players are not in the spotlight for many clubs and it is his off-season and most likely in transition period of his life as well as needing some extra games to keep his match fitness up.

He knows that he has to live up with the pedigree but it seems at his age, he is just starting out, so let wait and see what he has got to offer.

I am just as cautious as any other fan since the transitional period is the most telling signs of where a potential player will end up playing in their professional career.

At the moment, I rather support a young player in gaining his professional spurs and wish him the best of luck, because what he needs is the right mentality more than anything at this crucial stage of his life. It's not ego building in anyway, but rather lets give him a chance to prove himself and not shoot him down with that tall poppy syndrome that fans always have.

I never said that he is best thing since slice bread, but I also never said that he has got the good either. Just that he had opportunities to get the top training which we could never offer here, therefore he should be in better stead than most, if not all other 19 year old currently in NZ. Is that a fair assessment?AllWhitebelievr2009-07-08 22:31:07

No-one is shooting him down, but why don't we watch him play before making any pronouncements about his ability?

What part of if do people understand here??? Sheesh.

You have said 'if' regarding how well he'll do in the A-League.  He's a central league player, there are no guarantees he'll ever play A-League but you're talking about him like he should walk in to an A-League squad.

If that was their aim they did fantastically well at it.  Matt Carbon and Dani Rodrigues come on down (as well).

What a crack-up, C Diddy!
This is the sort of thing that comes about when there's too much time and not enough football...

Being in an A-league is also a "if". If he is not playing in an A-league squad, he has failed to play well at A-League. If he is playing in an A-league squad, does not guarantee that he does well either.

Still "If" he does well at A-league . . . applies here in either case.

Oh FFS, semantics now.  I give up, you're right.

Here Tony, here is our new striker Sign him now

Yes he's retired, but he's only 33 AND he spent 4 years at United !!!

Gangsta!2009-07-09 00:47:41

I wonder how this kid can contorl a midfield? We don't need mids but a CAM could be handy?? Because Diego will get injured and oh no! 

For god's sake,a generation of kids raised on football manager. Lets take a look at REALITY

Boy has this story got everyone in a tizz.....

What should happen in a rational and professional world is.... Ricki should have a word to Miramar and ask if they could have a look at this kid. Then invite him to train with the Phoenix; if that goes OK and they decide his heqd is in the right place and he is motivated to play at A_League level then invite him on the tour of China; Give him some game time. If he comes up trumps then offer him a contract if they feel he will add to the squad;

This news has got a lot of coverage....I am sure there would be other A-League clubs who would trial him. Despite some people putting down his bqckground you do not spend 10 years in the Man U youth academy and play Reserve grade without some level of ability.  still think this would rate as the weirdest story of 2009

Interesting too see that he has traveled all the way over to NEW ZEALAND from the Man Utd, because surely he would have stayed and got a contract aswell, not being a prick but isn't coming to New Zealand a backwards step in his career?

Yeah your setting dangerous precedents if you sign ppl on reputations let alone reputations of clubs they have played at. Alot can change in 6 months in football so its wise not rushing to any conclusions with this new mirimar player. But saying that Ricki Herbet couldnt spot a good player if he fell through the roof of his home in wellington! Im afraid to say it but unless we make a couple of quality signings shortly the Nix are going to struggle big time as the quality of the A-league is only getting better and we are significantly weaker from last year purely because our only standout player is now playing for the gold coast. We have Tim Brown as our vice captain who is probably the most overrated professional footballer in the world. God knows how he starts for NZ and the nix!

To put things into perspective I know Pre season doesnt mean much but to sum up how this season could end up: Gold Coast beat Fulham 2-1 (smeltz scored the winner) who finished in the top half of premier league and the nix drew 0-0 with what is basically the worst side in the NZFC (canterbury utd) who leaked goals for fun last year! could be along season ahead im afraid but footballs a funny old game so you never quite know!

Great result for GC;

It will be really interesting to see how Smeltz and Porter go this season. they should have been our strike combo last season. I don,t see any point angsting about strikers for this season. recruitment is still going on. The club is just making sure they do all the necessary homework rather than adopt a sign and hope philosophy. Still I would imagine we should see major activity in the next few weeks

Oi! Don't knock Crewe's youth academy, Danny Murphy springs to mind and after googling it David Platt as well.

 Mind you it is a complete sh*tHole of a place. I remember leaving the train station once and near the tracks there was a group of people standing in a circle doing what looked like a ritual - think The Wicker Man. Never found out what that was about.
ForteanTimes2009-07-09 09:39:48

Nah honest it was more like this:

except they had clothes on and there was no stone henge.

Hard News2009-07-09 14:30:31

Okay, I'm just getting early here:

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/spl/celtic/2009/07/08/celtic-reject-michael-mcglinchey-heads-down-under-in-search-of-a-deal-86908-21503438/

zOMG, from Celtic.  Great New Zealand hope.  Why haven't we signed him.  He's great in Football Manager.  He met Wynton Rufer once.  Can't believe he slipped through our fingers.

That cover it all ?

HARD NEWS,

I hope we do seriously look at this player McGlinchey for a couple of reasons, one his a young talented winger, and outside of Bertos our flank players have hardly set the world on fire and two he is a kiwi, and our NZ national team needs another winger even more desperately.

I'm with him.
You said it, Zinidane. Glass half full-ites in this corner!

I don't think I would spot a good player if they fell through the roof of my house.

I'd be too busy saying 'What the hell? Where did you come from?'
Asking whether they played any football would not be very high on my mind.
Bevan2009-07-09 17:52:01