Transfer Talk - 2018/19 Season

If Tando wants to be here (and the rumours late last season were that he did), I think it's an absolute no-brainer. Better than any realistic NZ options, and you're not using up an import slot hoping to hit jackpot.

If you accept that imports in this league are 50/50 proposition at the best of times (and probably worse than that for the Phoenix), I just don't think it's worth rolling the dice on if you have a perfectly adequate non-import option. 

Who is better, the goalkeeper from ACFC or Tando? Happy to use an import on a quality keeper.

Outside of the u20 contingent - any other kiwis in the NZFC who might have been asked to train. I am assuming Rudan has probably spoken to those in the know as NZFC level for their thoughts.

More golden glove winners have a WC winners medal than golden boot winners.

Just saying

I think Mullen and Galloway will stay, personally. Mullen was playing well until he got injured and Galloway just needs the right coach to unlock the potential that he undoubtedly has. Maybe Rudan is that guy

I reckon Gulley comes in, Galloway back to Aus.

If someone told me a few years ago I would be liking this post I would have laughed and laughed and laughed.

ACFC's keeper (Zubikarai) is better than any A-League goalkeeper maybe bar Lawrence Thomas, far above the Handy level. Velaphi's not, but is still pretty decent for where we're aiming at. Zube wouldn't be a long term signing though, already 34

Gleeson would be a fair shout to be honest, not earning much at Portland and he's second choice. Interestingly though he has the second lowest save percentage in the entire MLS, second to Vancouver's backup to Marinovic

That's a pretty bold claim. He's got very good pedigree, but 90% of the time in the Handy Prem he's got next to nothing to do so it's pretty hard to assess how good he is right now. I've seen him be very flappy under the high ball, and also losing concentration at times (but the second one may be because he tends to be out of games for good chunks of time). But  not someone I'd be using an import slot on all things considered, when Velaphi would be perfectly adequate.

You seem to have mistaken bold for delusional there El Grap.

True. Made a horrible mistake vs. Southern (the last goal ACFC conceded before going on their 15 clean sheet run) that lowered my opinion of him somewhat, and you're right about high balls, but in terms of his overall talent I'm willing to back up my claim. Very good diver and would be perfect captain material if he was fluent in English, marshals the defense.

All of this is pretty irrelevant to me as i'm in the non-import GK camp, Velaphi's fine :)

If we're talking keepers what about Basalaj? Good form for TW and former pro experience plus still young enough.

I don't think he's up to it. History of howlers, and not great with ball at his feet which could be trouble at A-league level.

Zubikarai ? I'm not sure about that. I recall him having a flappy at Waitakere. Can't remember if it was last year or the year before.

He may well be a good keeper but based on what? It's not like he has to really do much when he sat behind the ACFC import XI. I've done nothing and I could well be a good keeper too. So in as much fairness as other one can say that he is a good keeper and I can say he is not, there is no volume of evidence to say either way - so we are probably better off not to guess and take that chance. Would he be better than Moss/Paston? I have zero idea so based on what el Grapadura said above, why roll the dice on a 50-50?

The point of Tando is he is serviceable. If I had to pick a import for CB and Tando in goal vs an import keeper and a local CB, I'd take Tando and the import CB every day.

And if we have 5 visa spots, what other positions due you look to use them (apart from one already used for CB)?

Couple of midfielders, and a centre forward. If it turns out we have 5 to play with, maybe look at another wide attacking player. Not convinced that Burns is the player he was 3-4 years ago.

I'm very interested to see where those 4 imports we have released end up and how they go.

95 per cent have gone backwards and with good reason like Stein. Did he end up in the Belgium second division?

I just have a horrible suspicion that those 4 may actually go onto bigger and brighter things

Think he's in the Belgian 8th division now lol, played a season and a half in the 2nd tier but flopped

Ljujic is at Belenenses who were 12 out of 18 in this years Portuguese Premier League

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C.F._Os_Belenenses

Get Jamie Young. Outstanding keeper with a load of experience at a higher level. While I like Velaphi he's nowhere near the same class as Young

Signed an extension with Brisbane the other day IIRC

Unless you look in the State Leagues for one, these are the off contract Aussie keepers floating around atm: Michael Theo, Nick Feely, Lewis Italiano, Tando Velaphi & Danijel Nizic

He's a few years older now, but I wouldn't be opposed to snapping up Theo, he was apart of the undefeated Brisbane side, right? How's he been in recent years? 

Feel like adding some fuel to this discussion. Realistically, name 2 players that you would feel would suit the to fill a current vacant import slots and why they deserve a spot in the team and how you see them fitting in. And also name 2 off contract A-League players that you hope Rudan signs.

I have limited football knowledge but I feel like these 3 would come in and do a decent job but the 2 import players are a decent stretch.

Two import slot players: 

Gabriel Agbonlahor - Like Ross McCormack, limited game time at Aston Villa but has proven in the past that he can score goals and if he came to Wellington and did anything similar to what Ross did for Melbourne City in his short time, then I feel we would make top 4 this year.

Sulley Muntari - Currently at Deportivo in the La Liga, Sulley has also struggled with game time after leaving AC Milan in 2015. Sulley is a physical presence in the midfield with the ability to physically battle with the opposition and pass the ball is something the Phoenix lacked, even with Paracki. If Sulley were to come to the A-League he would no doubt make a significant impact and give the phoenix defense a well needed boost.

Two off contract players:

Mitchell Austin - Having been ruled out last season with an ACL injury and being released by Melbourne Victory, Mitch is not one of the first names on anyone's minds when it comes to selecting a winger matchday squad. But he has something that defenders struggle with late on into games. Pace. I can see Mitch coming to Wellington and coming off the bench late on in games and with his pace, the Phoenix would be able to use his pure speed to help change the course of late games and is something they have lacked since Kwabena Appiah left the club in 2016

Daniel Adlung - Also filling a current import slot, Adlung had a solid first season in the A-League with Adelaide in a campaign that saw him bag 5 goals and 3 assists. Despite their inability to finish chances, Adelaide's midfield was the best part of their season with Adlung and Isaias helping a youthful team finish 5th in the regular season and runners up in the FFA Cup to Sydney FC. No doubt if Adlung came to Wellington, he would help bolster what is now depleted midfield with the depatures of Ridenton, Ljujic and Paracki.

So let me know who you guys think would suit Wellington and why and feel free to crap all over my suggestions :)

Adlung left Adelaide to head back to Germany.

I get the feeling Agbonlahor will retire at Villa; would love him here though.

Would like to see McDonald Mariga in the A-League, think he'd go ok here. Is going off contract soon too, from 2nd Div Spain.

It will be interesting to see where Rudan sources his imports from. Where are his connections strongest? Eastern Europe??

Muntari only 33. Watched him when he was at Pompy and he was great that season they won the FA Cup. Didn’t get to see him much at Inter tbh.

https://mobile.twitter.com/oztransfers/status/1006985406372458496

Good player, experienced and has a decent enough scoring record in the A-League - Especially against us (10 goals in 16 matches)

But based on the season just gone, he started only five games, and over the past three seasons has started only 22 from 66. He'll be turning 36 early on in the 18/19 season and feel he would perform much the same role over here - Bench warmer/impact sub. 

Nothing against the guy, and if he was a couple of years younger I feel he would very much be a decent signing, but surely so early on under Mark Rudan we should be looking to strengthen the starting XI & maybe pick him up as a squaddie later on in the piece if needed.

Watching the Uruguay vs Egypt World Cup game. Might I say this Tarek Hamed bloke is very impressive in midfield. Doing more work than Mohamed Elneny. He's on the books of his current team until 2021 but I certainly wouldn't mind him coming to Wellington

We ain't getting anyone who is starting for Egypt at the WC.