" RNZ has been told the match against the Wellington Phoenix will be officially announced next week, with the game to be played at Sky Stadium in July. "
Yawn! Wrexham? Never heard of them. I hope we are not paying anything for this game.
Really not heard of them? I think there's movie about them, and they are co-owned by the guy who played Captain America and Sydney Sweeney. And apparently a few years ago they were in the Scottish 6th Highlands east Division and now play in Serie A or something. That's pretty awesome, I'm sure they will have a huge following.
Wrexham a club with a plan that astonishingly worked. The spent some money but not insane amounts of money. And they walked right through all divisions. It’s more likely that Wrexham win the Champions League than ManU 😂
Yawn! Wrexham? Never heard of them. I hope we are not paying anything for this game.
Your a happy soul a little bit of good news in a shark season and you still put a downer on it. You must one of a very few people who watch football who dont know of them. Even in jest.
Been looking at playing time for the Phoenix this season. Stay with me here.
Lots of donuts for some key players. Rufer and Payne down on last year (89% and 86% respectively). Rojas and Colakovski barely played. Even Retre is just over 50% (though some of that by choice).
Somewhat surprising our internationals played more than they did last year. NZ U21 (as at 1 Jan 2024 or 2025) players played significantly more than last season This is is pretty telling. Has much less game time for those in peak age bracket of 25-30. And a lot more in the over 30 and U20 to a lesser extent. More minutes for younger players should be benefical in the long term. Interesting to note so see how far ahead Cacace is and behind Rufer is compared to the pack. Simialrly in terms of the seasons they have played.
Put another way. Hughes, Sheridan, AKH, Walker and LBS are quite far ahead minutes wise since they debuted compared to the previous academy generation.
So we had a slightly unblanced squad age wise to start with, had longer term injuries/sickness to key players, played a lot of inexperienced players.
Be interesting to see how the Nix compare this season to all the other ALM clubs, re mins to U20 players. And then how that compares overall to ladder position.
Is the league as a whole getting significantly younger?
Gut feel is Auckland and VUC would have very low numbers mins for U20 players. Same likely WSW. Of the top 6 sides Melb City, Western U and Adelaide giving the young brigade mins??
Putting all the coaching, squad budget, club mentalty debate stuff to the side. As others have stated, Nix fans need to accept there will be years when it all comes together beautifully with some Weenix grads having breakup seasons like last season. And then when those guys move on, high chance of a struggle the following season(s) as wait for the next crop to come through.
This was released this week. My numbers are slightly different. Presumably because I just picked 1 jan 2025 (middle of the season) as a reference point for ease. They have probably done u21 for each game.
Couple of things I'd say about comparing. 1 - One age cut off can hide things. One team could have a bunch just under 21. and another team could have a bunch of 19yos. 2- Think experience matters as much (maybe more?) one 20 in their first season is quite different to one 20 in their 2nd or third season. 3- Think the step from different academies could be quite different between clubs. For us, they mostly play CL whereas for other teams, they could in NPL or NPL2 which i reckon is probably a lot more competitive. image.png60.75 KB
So Nix sit 5th highest for mins to U21 players this season. But yes they could sit higher up the list if it was mins U19. LBS, LKH, AKH, Walker & Supyk all 19 or younger 1st Jan this year.
Bit bleak for cellar dwellers Roar and Glory well down the U21 mins list. Jets low in that U21 age bracket, but easily leaders in the 22-25 age bracket (68% of their playing mins). So some hope for them IF they can retain those players with Stanton gone.
No surprises Auckland are way last for U21 mins. APL's phased in plans for min six U20 players per squad on senior deals, will for sure affect them.
And yeah both CCM and the Nix very low for mins in that often talked about important late 20s (26-29 bracket). Watch both clubs look to new signings around that age. Though Western U also very low mins age 26-29, and they have done well. Maybe their two 34 yr old Japanese players are really ageless. Auckland the clear leaders in that late 20s bracket, and it hasn't gone un noticed.
But they have way less mins (14% less) than the Nix for players over age 30. Interestingly the Nix clear winners of the over 30s aged cohort. So yeah as well as the often criticised too many mins for the kids, too many geriatics!!
Chiefy will be mulling that over. Replace Wootton (33) with a younger late 20s visa CB? Try and release either Nagasawa (33) or Retre (32) on a mutual?
Interesting point re Nix Reserves mostly being in Central League football, for sure levels below VIC or NSW NPL.
I'd say the Phoenix will be very keen to get their reserves in this new OFC Pro League, if it works commercially.
So Nix sit 5th highest for mins to U21 players this season. But yes they could sit higher up the list if it was mins U19. LBS, LKH, AKH, Walker & Supyk all 19 or younger 1st Jan this year.
Bit bleak for cellar dwellers Roar and Glory well down the U21 mins list. Jets low in that U21 age bracket, but easily leaders in the 22-25 age bracket (68% of their playing mins). So some hope for them IF they can retain those players with Stanton gone.
No surprises Auckland are way last for U21 mins. APL's phased in plans for min six U20 players per squad on senior deals, will for sure affect them.
And yeah both CCM and the Nix very low for mins in that often talked about important late 20s (26-29 bracket). Watch both clubs look to new signings around that age. Though Western U also very low mins age 26-29, and they have done well. Maybe their two 34 yr old Japanese players are really ageless. Auckland the clear leaders in that late 20s bracket, and it hasn't gone un noticed.
But they have way less mins (14% less) than the Nix for players over age 30. Interestingly the Nix clear winners of the over 30s aged cohort. So yeah as well as the often criticised too many mins for the kids, too many geriatics!!
Chiefy will be mulling that over. Replace Wootton (33) with a younger late 20s visa CB? Try and release either Nagasawa (33) or Retre (32) on a mutual?
Interesting point re Nix Reserves mostly being in Central League football, for sure levels below VIC or NSW NPL.
I'd say the Phoenix will be very keen to get their reserves in this new OFC Pro League, if it works commercially.
yeah, something I have thought of is that the dropping of the nzfc is not great for Nix development - less games overall, less games at a higher level (imo v the nat league), and less games that overlap with the AL to get players back to fitness and have youngsters match ready.
Definitely the 8-10 team summer Handy Prem, coming after the Central League was better for the Nix as a club. For the reasons you state above. But it just wasn't financially sustainable for NZF.
I think Christchurch United and an Auckland team (maybe AFC Reserves) will be NZ's entrants in the new OFC Pro League.
If so maybe the Nix will try form a MOU type relationship with ChCh United and send some of their non ALM players down to Canterbury for the summer. Remembering the OFC League will be pretty short (Jan-May) and will be played at hub destinations.
Definitely the 8-10 team summer Handy Prem, coming after the Central League was better for the Nix as a club. For the reasons you state above. But it just wasn't financially sustainable for NZF.
I think Christchurch United and an Auckland team (maybe AFC Reserves) will be NZ's entrants in the new OFC Pro League.
If so maybe the Nix will try form a MOU type relationship with ChCh United and send some of their non ALM players down to Canterbury for the summer. Remembering the OFC League will be pretty short (Jan-May) and will be played at hub destinations.
Back in the day we sent Kosta on loan to the Macarthur Rams over the winter in the npl - I wonder if that is something worth doing for youngsters on the brink of the first team.
Oh- the NZFC is goneburgers? Geez I don’t get the post these days.
In explaining the Imai and Ibusuki effect- both are very fit, physical players who are very familiar with the league, compared to our two players who are more technical than physical in playing style and have just had their first learning curbed A league season with everything else going on to boot.
So Nix sit 5th highest for mins to U21 players this season. But yes they could sit higher up the list if it was mins U19. LBS, LKH, AKH, Walker & Supyk all 19 or younger 1st Jan this year.
Bit bleak for cellar dwellers Roar and Glory well down the U21 mins list. Jets low in that U21 age bracket, but easily leaders in the 22-25 age bracket (68% of their playing mins). So some hope for them IF they can retain those players with Stanton gone.
No surprises Auckland are way last for U21 mins. APL's phased in plans for min six U20 players per squad on senior deals, will for sure affect them.
And yeah both CCM and the Nix very low for mins in that often talked about important late 20s (26-29 bracket). Watch both clubs look to new signings around that age. Though Western U also very low mins age 26-29, and they have done well. Maybe their two 34 yr old Japanese players are really ageless. Auckland the clear leaders in that late 20s bracket, and it hasn't gone un noticed.
But they have way less mins (14% less) than the Nix for players over age 30. Interestingly the Nix clear winners of the over 30s aged cohort. So yeah as well as the often criticised too many mins for the kids, too many geriatics!!
Chiefy will be mulling that over. Replace Wootton (33) with a younger late 20s visa CB? Try and release either Nagasawa (33) or Retre (32) on a mutual?
Interesting point re Nix Reserves mostly being in Central League football, for sure levels below VIC or NSW NPL.
I'd say the Phoenix will be very keen to get their reserves in this new OFC Pro League, if it works commercially.
yeah, something I have thought of is that the dropping of the nzfc is not great for Nix development - less games overall, less games at a higher level (imo v the nat league), and less games that overlap with the AL to get players back to fitness and have youngsters match ready.
Have to assume this is one of the main drivers of interest in getting a reserve side into the Oceania Pro League (alongside the possibility of continental qualification).
