Transfer Talk - 2018/19 Season

As i see it:

We're here to provide a good, enjoyable, watchable, competitive professional A League football side in Wellington.  i.e. a sports event that fans want to watch. And which ideally brings in TV audiences and TV funding.

And along with that we're here to provide a pathway and training for NZ players to reach that standard of play. If they are up to that.

The younger kids are now getting the opportunity via the academy, the reserves and the squad.  Rufer, Singh, Cacace, Ridenton, Smith, Rogerson, Boyd, Adams have "graduated" through that, I believe.  Correct me if I'm wrong.  

Older NZ guys got a pro career start/opportunity at the Nix, bypassing the academy etc because of their age, relative to when the Welnix academy set up:  Kosta, Rojas, Boxall, Fenton, Musa, Doyle, Watson, Gulley, Hicks.

That's 16 younger kiwis who were given a professional opportunity in ten years.  Then add Sigmund, Bertos, McGlinchey, Brockie, Brown, Paston, Smeltz, Lochhead, Moss, Coveny, Christie who all got significant pro starting time at the Nix.  And a bunch of others who were in the squad who never really made it. 27+ kiwis supported in their football careers by the Nix.  I may have missed some.

That's enough for me, for now.  We shouldn't be giving a pro careers away to kids.  If they are good enough and have the right attitude, and fit the squad needs, all good.  Otherwise, this is the reality. You make it or you don't.  And you need to be good, work hard and have a good attitude. And a bit of luck.

I'm here to watch the football.  Not watch some entitled kid playing in a league he hasn't earnt the right to be in.  All those kiwi guys above deserved a shot.  Maybe a few more on the fringe I am not aware of were unlucky.  

Hopefully as the academy continues we will increase the quality and number coming through to play for the Nix, or bypassing the Nix for overseas.  I think Welnix are doing fine with the NZ player opportunities. 

What they aren't doing is providing watchable, entertaining quality sport.  Not recently, and not consistently.  That's the priority for me right now. If that takes Aussies and imports that's fine until more kiwis can earn their place.

Just the way I see it.  And I am totally unreasonably enthusiastic about the season ahead, despite the latest pod picking us second to last.  I think with fair wind and few injuries, good squad crack, plus a couple more significant recruitments, we are a shot at 5th/6th.  Happy enough if we manage that this year. Would love to do better.  COYN.  Looking forward to the next few signings.

Rudan / Burgess press conference

"There are certain people here who are on notice...it's all about performance, it's not about names, whether you're a visa player or not"

That's not it at all. 

Happy to see that Fenton has been performing well and won a contract. Seemed to do a good job against the Victory. Great he's still fighting. Surely will add more to the squad than Parkhouse and at the least won't be worse.

Great interview by Rudan. He did not sound like a tourist. He wants the club to succeed and he wants to put the disrespect shown t Phoenix by various punters put to bed this season. Intelligent and sensible interviewee.

One thing many have overlooked here is that the club will have received development fees for the young guys who have signed pro contracts elsewhere.  I'm sure Welnix are happy that they are seeing a small return on their investment, a stated goal of theirs.

Wellington Phoenix to unveil Spanish midfielder Mandi https://t.co/T1Xs6JBdF8

— Liam Hyslop (@liam_hyslop) October 11, 2018

[quote=RR]

Wellington Phoenix to unveil Spanish midfielder Mandi https://t.co/T1Xs6JBdF8

— Liam Hyslop (@liam_hyslop) October 11, 2018

Good Stuff

Bit underwhelming, seems like we tried lots of different options and he was the last resort.

Will reserve judgment. 

Guess this means that we'll be hoping Krishna stays fit and firing for the whole season.

And/or has no contract disputes. 

What we get from it is flexibility and depth. We can play a 5-3-2, and now also a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-3-3. Much more sound as a squad now

Hard to disagree with that; especially if Kopa is less than impressive.

If Kopa isn't great I still think we are in trouble.  There is no depth behind him at all - we just need him to fire

Agree, but from what I've seen - he isn't. I don't expect him to suddenly be an amazing player. If he's solid, and Mandi is better than solid, we should be OK.

Good to hear the strong team unity being mentioned again.  And the funds kept for the possibility of a loan or marquee at some stage, not excluding the January window. 

Also good to hear all of: Rudan looking to line up a back to goal striker capable of holding the ball up as an option; wanting competition for the wide roles; and wanting to be able to change the way we play to suit the situation.  

Can't fault what he's talking about.  Now down to landing the last few, the players being good enough and doing the job. And him making the right calls at the right time. I get the feeling we are going to beat some good sides this year.  It'll be about how consistently we can play at that level and how we are able to deal with those defenses that don't leave any room behind and play Aussie tough and tight on Burns and Krishna.

It's going to be interesting, that's for sure.  A lot of new players and tactical approaches.  Will be good to see how it goes.

Got 'em. One year deal too

https://www.wellingtonphoenix.com/news/wellington-...

So our last two are?

We only have Elliot as an U20 and maybe Wilkins as a back up RB to Fenton

Lowry will be back up RB.

Lowry is not a back up RWB

Lowry did play there in the FFA Cup as well so Rudan sees him as an option there at the very least.

Certainly got some toe on him, what a motor. I can already tell I want this guy over Lowry.

Personally I think if Wilkins signs he will start, like the look of him. More defensive minded that Fenton, and seems pretty rapid getting forward. Not too sold on his delivery into the box though

e.g Appiah 

Interesting, listening to the press conference re Rudans reasons for De Jong and Tratt not getting a chance. Rudan saying they just didn't do enough to warrent being signed 

Main takeaways from the press conference with Burgess/Rudan:

1. Burgess will provide depth at attacking midfielder. Rudan mentioned that he plays with a 10 and "sometimes two". Seems like Burgess won't be a starter (at least initially) but Rudan expects him to provide competition for Singh/Nicholls. Rudan commented that "he's the best 10 in the country [at] the next level".

2. Rudan said that "I know we're short on numbers, but ... I'm quite content with what I [have] in terms of going into the season, knowing that also we had enough room to build". However, he also said that "we may even have 21 the way we're going right now ... we've got a couple of people we're still speaking too".

3. Rudan mentioned that he was still looking for players to fill "a midfield position and two wide positions ... and even a striker perhaps if I can". Presumably Mandi fills the midfield position and it wasn't clear what he meant by "wide positions" i.e. wingers or full backs or both. He did say that he wanted a striker who can "hold the ball up" though, but it didn't really sound like he had someone lined up.

4. Phoenix are no longer chasing a marquee signing as it's too close to the start of the season. However, Rudan said that it's "not to say that we will not be revisiting that in January" before going on to comment that "the fans and the country deserve a marquee type ... but it's got to be the right person".

No Elliot isn’t. He’s an attacking midfielder. He was played out of position at LB for the NZ under-20s. I’m not saying Lowry is a good RB But realistically he is the back up to Fenton (also not a RB and said as much on Stuff earlier in the preseason) as Rudan has used him there on numerous occasions.

Worst. Panto. EVER!

Lowry defensive cover surely. Right sided CB in a 3

Is nobody worried about the fact we don't have a third GK? Keegan is gone.

Last year we had Keegan-Smith and Italiano at the start, and breathed a sigh of relief when Velaphi arrived.

Of all things I could worry about the Nix this season, this isn't one. If Kurto or Sail get injured, we can always get an emergency cover locally or, failing that, from Western Australia where all backup keepers seem to come from.