Questions for next season

Playing Devils Advocate:

1: Does Paston stick around or is it a case of 'Clapham would have saved that'
2: Does Durante feel like getting off this ship?
3: Is Bertos released and Manny told 'Sorry son, Its RB or bust'?
4: Can Sigmund be taught new tricks like 'pass' and 'hold the line'?
5: Are any of our 5 imports really worth keeping for next year? In line with that, are we receiving fair value for 'import prices' with the limited effect they are providing?'
6: Can Fenton pass to another team mate?
7: As the assistant and responsible for the front 3rd of the pitch, is Greenies position shaky or do we persevere?
8: Can we find a realistic 2nd goalscoring option?
9: Is Boxall regretting trading one bench gig in a decent league for a bench gig in a less than league?

10: Can Tyler Boyd be introduced to the left side of his body and shown that you don't ALWAYS have to go right?

11: If Lochhead goes/leaves/is released, will there be a 'Man I miss Lochhy' thread next year?

12: Is Leo Bertos the answer at RB for both club and country?

13: Will any of the FSE players be signed on?

14: Cam Lindsay. Has he shown enough to go around again?

15: Can we persuade some decent players to cross the trans-tasman?

16: Will the A League stop using the Phoenix as training fodder for new referees.?

17: Is any club silly enough to sign on Downey?

18: Can Ricki recruit correctly for this new style of 'total football' that we now want to play?

19: Will the FFA consider giving us a hand considering we don't have a youth team, don't get access to 6 imports, don't get partially funded for marquee players and don't get a fair shake at the top referees?

20: Will the club keep asking for Sunday games 'for the families' but continue to market to anything but the families?

21: Mike Hesson or Ricki Herbert: Who is more the endangered specie?

22: Who is the one player that we should sign, is in our price range and is a fair chance to cross the ditch from another team?

23: Sony must be up for renewal soon. Would they consider sticking on?

24: Is David Dome going to step up and be the GM like Tony and Nathan were or is he going to stick behind the scenes and let the board keep talking for him?

25: Speaking of board, Noah Hickey is on it and was successful as a pro footballer. I wonder how much advice and say he has for the rest of them that have no football clues?

26: Ed Baranowski: Is he the answer?

27: How serious are the Welnix about 'taking it to the streets' with the home games? (taking home games on the road)

28: How much more patience is there with the 'die hard' fans and can the club find a new way to alienate them that they have not found yet?

Edit: Forgot to add "Like sands through the hour glass, so are......."

Hell, that rivals Allwhitebeliever for shameless verbosity. (Where is he now days?)

Perhaps, but there are smarter people here whom may have some valid answers.

2. Nah, will stay. loyal

3. Bertos stays as squaddie, Manny RB

4. Becomes squaddie

5. No, but 2 will stay

6. its his goal for next season.

7. Greenie to go

8.Nope

9. Will be starter next season

10. see 6

11. Yep, after approx 12 games

12. Done good but no

13. Yep

14. Yep, will be signed to a 3yr contract

15. Nope

16. No

17. Yep, the nix

18. Nope

19. Nope

20. Yep

21.Mike then Mr Herbert

22. Terry mcflynn...nah kidding, that kiwi bloke at ccm

23. yes and no

24. needs to step up to the plate

25. so far not much

26. will see next season

27. After today, they can have them. will lose up to 3 games to other areas next season.

28. bugger all, but still will keep going. watch this space

1: Does Paston stick around or is it a case of 'Clapham would have saved that'

I'd be fine if we let him go and had Moss as the number 1, but it won't change any of the real issues with the side.

2: Does Durante feel like getting off this ship?

Probably not, 

3: Is Bertos released and Manny told 'Sorry son, Its RB or bust'?

Hope not, has done OK this year, but unless Manny shows signs of previous form on return from suspension they could be competing for 1 spot.

4: Can Sigmund be taught new tricks like 'pass' and 'hold the line'?

Not so sure about 'pass' but yes, I think he can hold the line.

5: Are any of our 5 imports really worth keeping for next year? In line with that, are we receiving fair value for 'import prices' with the limited effect they are providing?'

Sanchez yes.  Huysegems maybe.  Smith no.  Totori no. Ifill yes (if he can get fit).

6: Can Fenton pass to another team mate?

Yes, as seen by cutback for Huysegems to rattle the bar.  Does need to learn to get his head up when he runs though, but is part of developing youth that they don't come completely ready.

7: As the assistant and responsible for the front 3rd of the pitch, is Greenies position shaky or do we persevere?

No idea how much responsibility he has so can't answer.

8: Can we find a realistic 2nd goalscoring option?

Needs to be an import.  Huysegems is pretty clearly yet another winger-cum-forward of which we have plenty.  We definitely need a Smeltz/Berisha type striker.

9: Is Boxall regretting trading one bench gig in a decent league for a bench gig in a less than league?

Probably not, given he was (from memory) out of a job over there.  Will get his chance through suspension or form at some point I am sure.

10: Can Tyler Boyd be introduced to the left side of his body and shown that you don't ALWAYS have to go right?

see Q6

11: If Lochhead goes/leaves/is released, will there be a 'Man I miss Lochhy' thread next year?

Probably, unless Hogg goes well, which is a possibility.  Has potential.

12: Is Leo Bertos the answer at RB for both club and country?

Probably.  Hopefully he keeps improving as he learns.  Only option for country that I can see if we move from 3 at the back.

13: Will any of the FSE players be signed on?

Don't know, haven't seen them.

14: Cam Lindsay. Has he shown enough to go around again?

See Q13

15: Can we persuade some decent players to cross the trans-tasman?

I think anyone we would want from the A-League is likely to be happy where they are.  Would need to offer them significantly more than they are on and not sure if that would be in owners plans.

16: Will the A League stop using the Phoenix as training fodder for new referees.?

No

17: Is any club silly enough to sign on Downey?.

See Q16

18: Can Ricki recruit correctly for this new style of 'total football' that we now want to play?

If he has money to play with: Maybe

If indications from owners continue that chequebook remains fairly closed: Not a chance.

19: Will the FFA consider giving us a hand considering we don't have a youth team, don't get access to 6 imports, don't get partially funded for marquee players and don't get a fair shake at the top referees?

See Q16

20: Will the club keep asking for Sunday games 'for the families' but continue to market to anything but the families?

All evidence points to yes.

21: Mike Hesson or Ricki Herbert: Who is more the endangered specie?

As much as it pains me to say it,  Herbert.  Can't see the NZC board backing down from their original moronic decision any time soon as it would be a sign of weakness and we can't have that (see Buchanan over Wright).

22: Who is the one player that we should sign, is in our price range and is a fair chance to cross the ditch from another team?

McGlinchey, but won't happen - why would he come.

23: Sony must be up for renewal soon. Would they consider sticking on?

Hope so.

24: Is David Dome going to step up and be the GM like Tony and Nathan were or is he going to stick behind the scenes and let the board keep talking for him?

I imagine the owners and Herbert/Manager X will continue to be the face of the organisation.

25: Speaking of board, Noah Hickey is on it and was successful as a pro footballer. I wonder how much advice and say he has for the rest of them that have no football clues?

No idea.

26: Ed Baranowski: Is he the answer?

To being fitter, yes probably.  Don't recall any issues last time he was around.  To anything else - No.

27: How serious are the Welnix about 'taking it to the streets' with the home games?.

Don't understand.

28: How much more patience is there with the 'die hard' fans and can the club find a new way to alienate them that they have not found yet?

I still follow NZ cricket.  Not sure what they could do to drive me away.

The question for next season is 'sign some footballers'

That is a statement, not a question. 

I approve of question 28.

22: Who is the one player that we should sign, is in our price range and is a fair chance to cross the ditch from another team?

McGlinchey, but won't happen - why would he come.

Giggles.  #injoke

29: A fridge magnet is a good start but what will the cub do to top that and build on it for next season?

What is realistic to expect from a team which only spends the salary cap each year?  I think this is quite an important question actually

Well when you rule out the 3 exemptions (youth marquee, AU marquee and marquee) then thats potentially game changing players of quality that other teams have that we do not. Sydney without Emerton and ADP would be in the toilet for example (more so than they are)

 Antonis on yoof marquee as well.

With so many marquees etc available, is there actually any point in a salary cap? 

You assume they enforce it anyway.

Let's be honest the FFA's version of a level playing field is to let some clubs do whatever they want.

Summed up, beautifully, in a nutshell, News. Love your work.

So really, its a way of giving their favourite clubs an unfair advantage more than anything else. Thought so.

Well they are Australian.....

 <cough> Victory <cough>

we do need to realise that the rules are available to utilise for all clubs - the nix have chosen not to spend money on marquees, youth, aussie or otherwise. Sure the FFA has changed the rules for some teams, however, the welnix team have decided that they willl operate under the salary cap for all 20 players. This puts huge pressure on the coaching staff to sign quality players for less than say another club might offer. It also means that we don't bother looking at Broich/Flores type players because it would restrict the otehr players we could sign alongside them.