Transfer Talk - 2018/19 Season

I'm sure we'd be able to somehow squeeze by with one of those three.

A good attempt, sir, to bask in the limelight of your superior flag knowledge

Kopa looks like a better Paracki - confident on the ball, good passing and interceptions, not afraid to tackle - but not exactly a big, tough tackling cod of a DM. Ultimately I think that was Goran's downfall, he was left with too much defensive work for one man to do,and I worry if we sign a deep lying playmaker to partner Kopa, he will end up having the same problems as Paracki did. I'd like us to sign either a similar Kopa/Paracki type player to to partner him (O'Neill/Brillante style), or have a hard man, Riera-esque player who can do the dirty work and recycle the ball to Kopa, letting him be that midfield engine linking the defence with the attack. 

You're just a shark Union Jack,

A shark Union Jaaaack,

You're just a shark Union Jack!

Will this flag require it's own "Seperat..ist" thread? I'll get me coat.

Any players left Bilbao?

Bilbao player policy. 

In his press conference, Kopa was asked about what part of the game he enjoys (or something along those lines) and he replied with defense; and he saw himself as a physical, defensive minded player. I'm not sure where the idea that he's not a strong, hard-tackling type came from? There's not a lot to go with on whoscored.com but he was their top defensive player in the most recent Europa League campaign. 

The stats from the Ekstraklasa are a bit of hard work, but for the16/17 season where he played almost every game Kopa was normally partnered in midfield with Frenchman Thibault Moulin as the deepest two players in either a 2 or 3 man midfield. With Kopa being deployed in the tough tackling role, and Moulin a bit more of a deep-lying play maker. This was the year Legia Warsaw made the Champions League so he must have played pretty well.

It look as though he only fell out of favour due to a managerial change, his position being taken by 31 time Polish international Krzysztof Mączyńsk.

Good write-up. I agree that the managerial change is quoted in Polish football media as the reason he finally fell out of favour completely, but it is also clear that he was not the first choice anymore as early as late 2017 under the previous gaffer.

Yeah good point, he started the first four or so games of 17/18 but was then replaced in the first 11 by Mączyński, was about mid-August by this point and the new coach took the reins a few weeks later.

Not many - though there is this right back from Bilbao Athletic without a club.

https://www.transfermarkt.com/markel-etxeberria/profil/spieler/212852

Was on loan and played 28 games for Real Valladolid in Segunda Division as they won promotion back to the La Liga.
Actually last season played for CD Numancia, they made the playoffs but did not get promoted. Had played for Real Valladolid a season before.

I checked Real Sociedad players without contracts as well, but there were none that made sense.

Wiki is saying he's staying at Numancia for another season, as a fully contracted player

There is another scenario that has yet to attract much comment so far w.r.t. to the additional striker we are all after.

If Rudan finds that he cant  pick up a proven performer outside of Australasia or if none of the Aussies in the lower divisions are up to scratch, in his opinion,isnt he better to keep his powder dry and see how the existing squad members settle in over the first 2 months of the season? If they arent performing then in early December or earlier do the research, then make a move in the January window.The scene will change in Europe by  then without a doubt and there will be availability at that time to select the right man for the job.

Totally agree, and posted this earlier. Stop at 20 (the minimum) if there are no non-donkeys available. But IMHO there are a  few NPL Aussie strikers who'd be OK in the A league. And since the Nix have zero out-and-out strikers, a spare (if a better one is signed later) would be OK.

Is Max Mata worth a look from a Kiwi perspective. Did alright in the juniors before homesickness lured him back to Auckland... clearly has the potential. 

Has size, speed and touch, so the making of a quality striker.

Adding a starting striker is a bit of a conundrum IMO and I can understand why it's taking some time, if it's going to happen at all.  

There don't seem to be any obvious non-visa targets and if it's going to be an import we want him to be good enough to start and to fit the system.  As has been discussed, we really need someone who is likely to get a decent goal return as it is hard to see our existing attackers getting enough between them.

The problem I see there is, in addition to goalscorers costing a premium, is that I think it will take a very specific sort of forward to get the best out of Burns and Krishna.  Neither of them put in many good crosses from wide positions, which is why we struggled to get the most out of Kaluđerović.  They also both like to use their pace to get in behind the defence, which means that if we added a striker who likes to play on the shoulder and run in behind we would have too many players running away from the ball and no pivot coming short. 

I think we want either someone good at coming deep, holding the ball up and bringing the likes of Singh, Nichols, Burns, Krishna and Williams into play closer to goal (I'm thinking Huysegems when he was at his best for us), or a really good poacher, like Greenacre.  Ideally we would get someone with both but, realistically speaking, I think the best we can hope for is someone who's best asset will be hold-up play or finishing chances on the deck, rather than adding pace which we don't particularly need or aerial ability which we probably wouldn't make the most of.

At the very least we'd need at least one back-up squaddie striker, a classic 9 - just to slam them home when there's a loose ball in the box. 

I'm completely on board with Rudan signing a Jordan Murray (Who I thought looked a similar player to Corey Gameiro) or similar goal return state league player as a punt. Maybe that's a squaddie option until a gun striker becomes available in January. 

We can't start the season without a *Striker* surely? No matter how many numbers are crunched with goal returns from our plethora of attacking mids.

While I agree with you on the need for a backup striker, our definiton of squaddie would have to change before we see a squaddie in Nix colours just "slammin' them home".  Our "squaddies" were never at that level, and are best remembered by the chances they've missed.

My own hope for Rudan's Reign is to see the end of the culture of mediocrity we've accepted over the last few seasons.  If we really need a central striker, let's get a good one even if it costs money. I am not convinced we need one until we see how this team performs, till say January window. Let's buy one then if there is a real need and one is available. However if you are talking about a "squaddie", then all we need is an injury cover from the lower AUS/NZ leagues  - or even simply a young guy that has not done his ACL yet and knows how not to stray into the offside trap. That is enough to get us started.

We can not start the season without a striker - although, in saying that I would be ok with Krishna playing centrally for us as I think he has the physicality to do so.

Would love to have another decent option.

We're getting Zubikarai?

He likes it here. Maybe he's put the word out back home?

After the Under-20s... he's able to make the qualifiers and represent NZ and make the effort to trial.

What a novel idea for a player looking to become a professional footballer.

The idea is more interesting given he was with club and left for personal reasons.

What about Stuart Holthusen as a striker signing? 

Probably couldn't get him, but Elliot Collier is also doing very well for the Chicago Fire.

Honestly I think we’llbe fine with just de Jong, and an import if necessary. Don’t think Collier or Holthusen will be good enough for A-League right now, with Collier all the Chicago fans seem to be berating him on Twitter

So far we have 15 contracted: Kurto, Sail, Lowry, Dura, Fox, Taylor, Doyle, Cacace, Kopczynski, Nichols, Singh, Krishna, Burns, Williams, Fenton. The import DM that Rudan wants to sign brings us up to 16. Not if Rudan wants to sign a full 23, but I'd like to see TAHW, Tratt, Elliot, De Jong, Rufer back, and maybe a starting import striker. 

Eto'o officially a free agent now ...

Yet he’s scored two goals.

MLS is significantly stronger the the A-League, he’s better off staying otherwise I’m sure the Phoenix would sign him. Rudan has contacted most overseas Kiwis but the problem is all the good ones or realistic A-League targets are locked into contracts like Nikko Boxall, Kip Colvey, Jake Gleeson, Myer Bevan etc.

Therefore the trick becomes identifying the next players that have it in them to go pro but have not yet made the jump. 

So many Handy and US college payers have gone pro over the last few years. Tap these streams. 

Logic also dictates that there are players that do not have the necessary passports to make going pro in Europe and option. Tap into this group.

You'd be hard pressed to convince me that these players do not exist. The proof is in the number of players have recently picked up contracts. This isn't going to stop (which is great).

Squad wish-list:

15 signed

16. Tratt

17. Skapetis

18. An under 20 player

19. An Aussie NPL striker, averaging approx 1 goal / game.

20. Second CDM (import)

That's the minimum squad size needed before the season starts. Sign three more if the right players become available. No rush, no compromises. Leave slots open for good quality players.

21. Import striker, if / when Krishna becomes a non-visa player

22 - 23 Third CAM, third goalie or third CDM or players in other positions who are too good to pass up.

J E T is a free agent striker. A Leahue level. Jay Emanuel-Thomas.

Makes sense but a lot that stream esp US College players originated from Ole, which seems a virtual roadblock for the Nix.

From one QPR fan to another, I am disappointed you even suggested this.

Might be time for Declan and Rudan to sit down and talk things through. If the Nix could get Ole onside, it could be good for both parties, and NZ football generally.  

A friend took me to a NPL Victoria game last night and saw Troy Ruthven play for Altona Magic. His highlights video doesn’t do him justice, the guy is a class player. Physically strong, quick for a tall athletic guy and didn’t spray a pass all night. Had a hand in all 4 goals in a 4-0 win and screened their backline very well as a DM. Would happily have him in a Phoenix shirt, if the rumours are true that Rudan is looking at him he would be great as a back up in the midfield. The connection would surely be through the Altona coach Goran Lozanovski, pretty sure him and Rudan played together in Europe so one would assume they’ve remained in contact.

Altona also had ex Phoenix player Ben Liftin and ex Sydney player Rob Stambolziev. Both pretty much spent the game linking up through Ruthven, healthy Macedonian crowd there too with a great kebapi ?

Might be one for next season if he's not re-signed.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/nz-teams/105966240/werder-bremen-prospect-following-in-wynton-rufers-footsteps-commits-to-nz

To me, it would be more bizarre for it to not happen