Wellington Phoenix Men

Season 25/26 General Discussion

470 replies · 26,986 views
31 Jan 16:13
As you would think we are great going forward and scoring goals but we suck bigtime defending. The stats are a bit distorted by conceding 6 and 4 in two matches.
Great to see Eze on top of golden boot table. Great no9 living off scraps IMO
I have a cunning idea .....why dont we try to give him more balls in areas where he is in a scoring position?
05 Feb 03:59
Hearing we might add to our attacking arsenal.  Sarpreet Singh signed on loan.
05 Feb 04:06
Bradman99
Hearing we might add to our attacking arsenal.  Sarpreet Singh signed on loan.

Really??

Oi Oi Edgecumbe... lets have a clean sheet

05 Feb 04:10
Don't do that Bradman99, don't give me hope
05 Feb 04:11
Have heard the same, loan til the end of the season 

05 Feb 04:13
Singh when we're winning, we only Singh when we're winning

Oi Oi Edgecumbe... lets have a clean sheet

05 Feb 04:23
How do we have room in the squad?
05 Feb 04:43 · edited 05 Feb 04:48 · History
That’s interesting. 

I felt we’d just got a team going with McCarron and the lads. 

How long until the team is settled again? 
We’ve now got Mileusnic, Sandar, Piper, Eze, Armiento, Najirrine and LBS in the front 3 potential m.
Keen as mustard to add Sarpreet, any day of the week.

But can we get our cohesion back with all the changes? Just want us to keep our positive momentum going forward. Not get confused or cluttered in our play after subbing everyone on with 10 to go.


05 Feb 05:08
I want to get my hopes up, but I don't want to be disappointed... Please be true!
05 Feb 05:27 · edited 05 Feb 05:27 · History
If true, great news. Seen far too much of Najjarine
05 Feb 05:45 · edited 05 Feb 05:47 · History
Tuiloma, Kartum and maybe now Singh - have Infratil shares skyrocketed or something?!

2026 being a WC year obviously a big factor.
05 Feb 05:48
Half a Pint
I want to get my hopes up, but I don't want to be disappointed... Please be true!

I have a feeling you are going to be very happy. 😊
05 Feb 05:56
Oh my god Singh and Sander behind Eze is going to be glorious. If we can make the 6 we’re definitely going to be a dark horse 
05 Feb 06:03
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Wait cos why do we suddenly have one of our all time best XIs…

(Emphasis on the ‘one of’ don't take it too seriously guys)
05 Feb 06:16
Friar Tuck
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Wait cos why do we suddenly have one of our all time best XIs…

(Emphasis on the ‘one of’ don't take it too seriously guys)
 Best 11 on paper at least - I don't think you could argue. Can it deliver? That'll be the true test.
05 Feb 06:21
How soon do we reckon the club is going to announce the signing? A half time video on the big screen at tomorrow's double header?
05 Feb 06:29
How many times has a Kiwi left the Nix for Europe, and then at some point returned?

Callan Elliot did it after a waste of a season under Poppa in Greece. Can't think of any others.

Certainly seems a more common thing with Aussie A League clubs and ex players returning.

Sounds like Singh's is a loan deal. Presumably just to the end of the season, and he'll review his options post Nth America in June. 
05 Feb 06:30
Owners must have been really spooked by the low crowds, to make these 3 January signings. Shame they werent showing this ambition at the start of the season, they have paid for it with the amount they have lost in ticket sales.
05 Feb 06:50
imanixsupporter
Owners must have been really spooked by the low crowds, to make these 3 January signings. Shame they werent showing this ambition at the start of the season, they have paid for it with the amount they have lost in ticket sales.
Really they brought James who has done okay and the guy currently leading the golden boot. Not sure any of the January signings would have been available for the season start. In Sapreets case there was word out there he had been approached. Always easy to say things should have been done a certain way after the event. 
Would imagine the owners could also have done without all the injuries we had as well.

GET YOUR SHIRTS OFF FOR THE BOYS

05 Feb 06:57
imanixsupporter
Owners must have been really spooked by the low crowds, to make these 3 January signings. Shame they werent showing this ambition at the start of the season, they have paid for it with the amount they have lost in ticket sales.
 
To be fair the 3 signings we made we wouldn’t have been able to at the start of the season. Sander for Ishige’s injury, Tuiloma contract ended in December, Singh just signed with a new club. 
05 Feb 07:11
wilbaker
imanixsupporter
Owners must have been really spooked by the low crowds, to make these 3 January signings. Shame they werent showing this ambition at the start of the season, they have paid for it with the amount they have lost in ticket sales.
 
To be fair the 3 signings we made we wouldn’t have been able to at the start of the season. Sander for Ishige’s injury, Tuiloma contract ended in December, Singh just signed with a new club. 
Careful you cant go speaking sense this is the YF forum.

GET YOUR SHIRTS OFF FOR THE BOYS

05 Feb 07:16 · edited 05 Feb 07:16 · History
I obviously didnt mean specific signings but rather the calibre/pedigree of them. Night and day between January and preseason
05 Feb 07:36
There were only two visa spots to fill.
Chiefy filled them. James to me has been so so/okay. But Eze yes leads the GB race.

The other vacuum to fill was an identified lack of experienced guys in that 25-30 age bracket.  Chiefy & Gill bought in Mileusnic, Armiento and Najjarine. Three guys with useful ALM experience. Armiento a success, Naijarine has been okay and Mileusnic too early to judge. Same really with Dan Edwards, him and Mileusnic have barely played.

But there are no excuses now if yes Singh is taking Welly Harbour snaps from a kitchen window as we speak. Welnix will expect finals as a minimum.
05 Feb 07:39
Okay I wasn't buying into the Singh coming home rumour but Phoenix posted on socials to be in seats by 6:45pm for a major annoucement. Caption of post is Trust admin on this one
05 Feb 08:04
Hopefully it’s not a case where has a “niggle” that takes 3/4 games to get over and that’s basically our season gone 
05 Feb 08:19
Even if Singh doesnt have a niggle Chiefy will still take about 6 weeks to start him and say something like he needs to build up loading in his legs before he can play more than 30 minutes. Will be surprised if he starts a game before March 
05 Feb 08:43 · edited 05 Feb 08:46 · History
Well the story goes (thanks Ballane) that a Nix fan recognized him on the street in Upper Hutt today, and had a chat. Then of course the Singh sighting news quickly spreads.

Encouraging that Sarpreet is at least capable of a walk around Upper Hutt.
You ain't in Bačka Topola now Dr Singh.
05 Feb 08:55
Love this. Hopefully works out for all parties, he was one of my faves when I first moved to NZ. Quite a statement from the club this window. Let’s hope it pays dividends! 
05 Feb 20:01
imanixsupporter
Even if Singh doesnt have a niggle Chiefy will still take about 6 weeks to start him and say something like he needs to build up loading in his legs before he can play more than 30 minutes. Will be surprised if he starts a game before March 
So you would prefer he starts new signings straight away into a full game dosnt matter if they are coming back from injury or havnt played for sometime.
Sounds like a recipe for disaster to me.
For me responsibl  way to bring someone in just dont get why you would have him risk a player.

GET YOUR SHIRTS OFF FOR THE BOYS

05 Feb 20:03 · edited 05 Feb 20:05 · History
Even 30 minutes of Singh in the second half will be amazing.
Still 11 games to be played, him playing 30 mins as a sub for a few games and then starting for the rest should get us into the 6, maybe even 4!

Queenslander 3x a year.

05 Feb 20:17
i think Chiefy and the Nix are overly cautious with players and it doesn't even help because we have been decimated by injuries in the last two seasons. I just think the vast majority of professional footballers should pretty much always be in good enough shape to play a game of football, it shouldn't be considered a crazy expectation
ballane
imanixsupporter
Even if Singh doesnt have a niggle Chiefy will still take about 6 weeks to start him and say something like he needs to build up loading in his legs before he can play more than 30 minutes. Will be surprised if he starts a game before March 
So you would prefer he starts new signings straight away into a full game dosnt matter if they are coming back from injury or havnt played for sometime.
Sounds like a recipe for disaster to me.
For me responsibl  way to bring someone in just dont get why you would have him risk a player.
05 Feb 20:41
coochiee
Well the story goes (thanks Ballane) that a Nix fan recognized him on the street in Upper Hutt today, and had a chat. Then of course the Singh sighting news quickly spreads.

Encouraging that Sarpreet is at least capable of a walk around Upper Hutt.
You ain't in Bačka Topola now Dr Singh.
Not me i cant take any credit im just lucky enough to be on the end of the chain.

GET YOUR SHIRTS OFF FOR THE BOYS

05 Feb 20:42
imanixsupporter
i think Chiefy and the Nix are overly cautious with players and it doesn't even help because we have been decimated by injuries in the last two seasons. I just think the vast majority of professional footballers should pretty much always be in good enough shape to play a game of football, it shouldn't be considered a crazy expectation
ballane
imanixsupporter
Even if Singh doesnt have a niggle Chiefy will still take about 6 weeks to start him and say something like he needs to build up loading in his legs before he can play more than 30 minutes. Will be surprised if he starts a game before March 
So you would prefer he starts new signings straight away into a full game dosnt matter if they are coming back from injury or havnt played for sometime.
Sounds like a recipe for disaster to me.
For me responsibl  way to bring someone in just dont get why you would have him risk a player.
Players need game minutes to be fully effective...just training doesn't get you there.  Playing full games without game minutes on board would mean he's not really effective and would risk injury.

I suspect this loan deal, in part, has been engineered by NZ Football in an effort to give Singh more game time minutes ahead of the world cup.   He wasn't getting much game time lately at his current club.
05 Feb 20:43
imanixsupporter
i think Chiefy and the Nix are overly cautious with players and it doesn't even help because we have been decimated by injuries in the last two seasons. I just think the vast majority of professional footballers should pretty much always be in good enough shape to play a game of football, it shouldn't be considered a crazy expectation
ballane
imanixsupporter
Even if Singh doesnt have a niggle Chiefy will still take about 6 weeks to start him and say something like he needs to build up loading in his legs before he can play more than 30 minutes. Will be surprised if he starts a game before March 
So you would prefer he starts new signings straight away into a full game dosnt matter if they are coming back from injury or havnt played for sometime.
Sounds like a recipe for disaster to me.
For me responsibl  way to bring someone in just dont get why you would have him risk a player.
Yeah its not as if the Phoenix have had any injury problems in recent years. Much prefer they take the cautious approach than take any risks. 

GET YOUR SHIRTS OFF FOR THE BOYS

05 Feb 20:49
imanixsupporter
i think Chiefy and the Nix are overly cautious with players and it doesn't even help because we have been decimated by injuries in the last two seasons. I just think the vast majority of professional footballers should pretty much always be in good enough shape to play a game of football, it shouldn't be considered a crazy expectation
ballane
imanixsupporter
Even if Singh doesnt have a niggle Chiefy will still take about 6 weeks to start him and say something like he needs to build up loading in his legs before he can play more than 30 minutes. Will be surprised if he starts a game before March 
So you would prefer he starts new signings straight away into a full game dosnt matter if they are coming back from injury or havnt played for sometime.
Sounds like a recipe for disaster to me.
For me responsibl  way to bring someone in just dont get why you would have him risk a player.
So your answer to having players injured would be to play them even harder and hope for the best? Sorry mate that's not how it works.

If you don't treat your professional footballers with care then they are liable to be injured. You can't treat them like Sunday league players, send them out there and hope they don't get injured. You'd be raising the chance of it happening exponentially.

I don't think people give footballers enough credit sometimes. You're running 10+ km across 90 minutes. Often that is split into short bursts of high intensity speed, change of direction, acceleration and occasionally heavy contact. If you send a player out there who cannot manage that and stay mostly fresh for the whole game you're asking for problems. 
05 Feb 21:23 · edited 05 Feb 21:27 · History
Players in Europe play two games a week all the time but players here need a 6 week ramp up to play one game a week? Give me a break. Too much reverance is given to sports/fitness scientist types who will always err on the side of caution, and again, I will repeat myself here, this approach doesnt even seem to be effective because we have been decimated by injuries over the past two seasons anyway. 

Edit: of course the above doesn't apply to players returning from injury, or players at the very start of preseason. I am talking about players who are not injured, who havent been overloaded by too many recent games, who have been training regularly. It shouldn't be crazy to expect such a player to manage 60+ minutes of football
05 Feb 21:50
So lets see Bill hadnt played for some time when signed,hasnt Kartum come back from injury and Singh is just back from a mid season break and hasnt been playing regular football. Yet somehow you seem to think they should be ready to go and be playing extended minutes. 
Do have to laugh at you disregarding " sports/fitness scientist types" when i would imagine most professional clubs put a lot of faith in what they say.

GET YOUR SHIRTS OFF FOR THE BOYS

05 Feb 22:40
If only there were some kind of conditioning experts the club could use to work this all out.