2017/18 Transfer Speculation

It will be sad to lose Rossi but if it happens i can understand what the coach is trying to do.

Based on the on field performance this season Rossi hasn't showed that his heart is here at the NIx.

Like Rolly before him.

Roly leaving hurt more than Rossi potentially moving on. He did things with a ball that no other nix players have ever done, especially in that first season

Roly was overrated IMO. He didn't possess the attacking mindset for his position and whenever he got the ball play slowed down.

I think Roly, individually, was one of the most skilled players we had - but Ernie made the mistake of pushing him too far forward. 

Yeah, Ernie signed Roly for DM when we already had Riera. But the rumor was that Roly refused to play deeper after Riera left.

Right the match is still an hour away and I'm bored, time to speculate again. DK said he was looking for further signings in each line - defensive, midfield and attacking signings with "quality" and "leadership". Given that Ljujic takes up the last import spot, these three signings have to be Kiwi or Australian. So, they'll be Australian. With that in mind here are my picks for a defensive signing (some are reasonable and some are unhealthy optimism):

1. Robbie Cornthwaite - Not a star, but is better than Mullen and probably Durante now. Whingey git, but he's an absolutely enormous bloke and is scary in the air. Rumour is WSW want to offload him, and given our current defence we could definitely do worse
2. Aleksandar Jovanovic - Another massive lump of a centre back, but one that plies his trade in the Korean League. So, probably a decent lump. Has never played in the A-League before, but he's Serbian and we all know DK loves a Balkan.
3. Tomislav Mrcela - Pretty much another Jovanovic, unsure which one is better, but I think Tomislav is held in higher regard. A giant Slavic Australian (this one Croatian) playing in the K-League Classic, however most of his career has been played in the Croatian league. He was at Split at the same time Paracki was too
4. Jason Davidson - Probably the most unlikely to come to Wellington (doubt any will though to be honest), but is a great technical defender. Played for Aus in the 2014 WC, but I don't think he's played for them in a while. Is only 26 but has floated across Europe for the last 4 seasons moving clubs every 12 months, including to West Brom and Groningen. He joined Reijka in the Croatian League in August but it looks like he hasn't featured at all yet. Plays as a left back/centre back. Highly unlikely but there is the Croatian League connection

Of these I think the most likely signing is Cornthwaite, but I'd love Mrcela or Jovanovic 

You're getting  "This!" for your investigative work and hard-core speculation.

we need a goalkeeper

Maybe we could look at that Newcastle no. 20?  He looks pretty good and is in a winning side.

We need a goalkeeper that knows where his near post is.

Near post... whats that!

oliver Bozanic is a free agent, what are peoples thoughts on signign him to play central midfield.  Althouhg Ridenton is doing okay i just dont see him as a starting player and think bozanic could do a good job there.

He played that role at the Victory and struggled, his best efforts were out wide in a more attacking role at CCM imo. So I would pass

Malik's contract is up in June. Wouldn't mind signing him - though I doubt he'd come to the Nix

He's been pretty trash for City.

Would be great if we could get Gleeson. Seemed to lose the starting spot at Portland towards the end of their season. Salary is only US$62k so affordable

He wants to stay in the US.

While his salary is only that much, I'm told you can make a crap tonne of money doing basic coaching on the side.

Do you know - is that genuine payments for coaching or just a way for clubs to top up salaries outside the cap?

Genuine coaching.

If we do offload Rossi, then we should get a player from the AFC with the 4+1 rule coming up next season.

Hasn't been confirmed yet, the clubs don't want it to happen. The whole FFA/FIFA thing means a lot of future planning is up in the air right now, its probably why most visa signings across the league are only on 1 year deals currently.

This! He has been linked to Sydney tho, guessing Arnie sees him as a DM option cuz he can be a utter liability as a CB sometimes.

Or community service? 

;)

So Rossi wasn't too happy about being subbed last night (Honestly who ever is), but I don't believe he came out after half time. Could that be a sign that he is on the way out or was it just a tactical change from Kalezic?

DK's explanation for subbing Rossi

No idea if he came back out after half time tho.

Said it in the other post, DK has balls.

Whilst his reasoning is sound and he won the game (therefore he is right!) - Rossi won't be happy hearing that a 20-something Kiwi with hardly any professional experience is deemed better at starting up play than himself.

My personal view is that DK was right and I actually hope to see more of Fox in the future. Solid player he is.

I saw on the TV coverage walk onto the field at the end of the game shaking hands. He was wearing a black training jacket, don't know if he'd showered and changed or not.

Fox is Australian.

Would love though for the club to keep him until he naturalized as a kiwi and beyond. Future skipper I reckon!

Fair call - my point still stands I believe, especially when you've played in the Serie A. 

Melbourne City have let go Marcelo Carrusca and he got his Australian citizenship in 2017 so not a visa spot 

Do we really need another #10?

No we don't and doesn't matter anyway, he has gone to WSW

Team below (I've left mids/forwards broad as depending on the formation they may change). 

GK

Italiano

Smith

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RB

Galloway

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CB

Mullen

Fox

Rossi

Durante

Lowry 

---------------------

LB

Doyle 

Abbas

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Mids

Ridenton

Paracki

Ljujić

McGlinchey

Rufer

Singh

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Forwards

Burns

Kaluđerović

Krishna

Watson

Parkhouse

Rogerson

McGarry

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So what does everyone think we need? I would say a RB, Mid (to provide competition for Ridenton/others) and possibly GK.

GK	RB	CB	LB	Mids	Forwards
Italiano	Galloway	Mullen	Doyle	Ridenton	Burns
Smith		Fox	Abbas	Paracki	Kaluđerović
		Rossi		Ljujić	Krishna
		Durante		McGlinchey	Parkhouse
		Lowry		Rufer	Rogerson
				Singh	McGarry
					Watson

So looking at rumour of who is leaving as well, I say defence is our biggest need. Even if Rossi rumour isn't true, we are still short in that position. I'd also have Rogerson and Parkhouse as more attacking midfields than forwards.

I’ve always seen Rogerson as more of a winger - future replacement for Krishna maybe. 

Yup if say if we are getting 4 id want a starting centre back a both side full back for the bench, and a mid i think ridenton has done well for the situation he is in but i want better. The last id love a keeper but i cant see them signing another with three on the books so not sure in the other, maybe cover for AK.

Way to show me up and make a tidy version of my list haha. Yeah, I thought about separating wingers, but for the sake of ease (to prevent the "he's more of a striker, he's more of a winger, he's more of a CAM etc") kept it broad. 

Agree on defense. RB, LB, CB, also think we need something more in midfield - mainly a holding player. At least someone who can at least take deadball situations as Ridenton fritters it too often for my liking. 

Yeah, haven't been a fan of our dead ball situations this year either but still would say in order defence is the biggest need first.