Transfer Talk - 2018/19 Season

Might be Fred!

Hi Nelfoos.

See above

Remember this?

He said in an interview here: 

that he was very surprised at the excellent infrastructure, organisation and support at Melbourne City.  Said that A-League was good and that he learned a lot more professionally, but decided to go back because he was simply homesick (girlfriend issue???).  He is 27 but has only ever played for two clubs, both in Poland (Arka  and Cracovia) in the last ten years, before MCY in 2017/18. Popular player at home and Cracovia fans are rejoicing.

De Jong was playing on the weekend, maybe Hakoah have given him leave to come back to NZ for a trial. I hope I was wrong & he is in Welly, I would hate him to become the new Clapham.

City have signed Riley McGree on a one year loan deal (obviously didn’t fancy playing ACL). Jets will be pissed

Well NZ domestic players are being given the opportunity. They will either be good enough for Rudan or not. Up to them to grab the chance.

Wonder if there are any overseas considered good enough, that are a chance to be lured back to NZ? 

Musa or Gleeson for example.

Well done Nelfoos. 1-1 it is :-)

Both would be good.

I like Marinovic, but I have a suspicion that Gleeson is actually our best keeper right now, but he needs games and for this reason he might just consider the Phoenix

*Disclaimer: I do believe that by the end of the season Marinovic will be by far our best keeper. I think he has so many excellent attributes and  a good full season for the Whitecaps will lift him to a much higher level than Moss ever was

Shame about Hudson Wihongi... would have liked to see him given a run. He still might later on, if they are bringing in different people at different times.

Out of the 4 Gulley seems like a potential starter for me... and the others squaddies unless they develop significanty within (re-entering) the pro environment.

Didn't see much of Howieson in the NZFC, but was Aukland's best according to the forum so I am interested to see what he does, especially as I thought he was our poorest midfielder at the recent India tournament.

Flintstone?

And according to ACFC. Was voted their player of the year.

I thought that Howieson was ACFC's best player against UAE champions Al-Jazira in last December's Club World Cup too.

Had a great game in a match ACFC were unlucky to lose.

Better than anyone on the Al-Jazira team in that game - and they were a fully professional side with loads of money who went on to beat the AFC & J-League champion Urawa Reds in the next round and only lose 1-2 to Real Madrid in the semi.

Glad to see him finally getting a trial at the Nix.

Howieson has family here in Christchurch - I met his mum and aunty and cousins at English Park when ACFC played here last summer.

His young cousins go to a school in Aranui where my friend works and they often talk football.

Hearing rumours of Handy Prem players turning down a chance to come in to the Phoenix and trial unless they are offered a deal first.

Raises some interesting questions.

1. How much are they being paid in Handy Prem that a 60k plus minimum deal isn't worth spending two weeks working for? or...

2. Do they have no aspirations to be a professional footballer?

3. Is someone advising them that they are above A-League quality and should be offered a deal before they are even looked at? Maybe they need to consider whether those advisers have their best interests at heart.

4. Does anyone think they have thought this through? If you are Rudan and a player has done this are you going to believe they are going to fit at the club, fight for the club, buy into the club?

Bridge burning by amateur footballers seems an interesting life choice.

Further to that. Can you imagine an Aus state league player turning down the same chance?

I can imagine there will be plenty of 'oh my god, why don't the Phoenix look at <player xxxx>' on social media and finger pointing at them when clearly it's not their fault in some cases.

The following players are now trialling with the Wellington Phoenix

.

Justin Gulley (Team Wellington)

Tim Payne (Eastern Suburbs)

Cameron Howieson (Free Agents)

Andre De Jong (Free Agents)

Just gotta shake your head and wonder if that sort of shark has been happening.Certainly wouldnt be asking that player again maybe some of them prefer to think they are a big fish in a small pond.Rather than challenging themselves to something harder.Even sadder if there are people in football here advising players against it.

Are we sure like have we seen them or are we just repeating rumours? Just wondering if any of these four could be from Baiter's comment as I haven't seen anyone who has said "these people because I saw them" or "these people because I chatted to Mark and he said they are here"?

Might not be "Good Form" but sometimes I wish Nix would public some of these things

Bahaha. I've seen less fiction in a Tolkien novel than much of what is written there.

Or 5. Do they just have so much contempt for the Phoenix? "We can do better than that shark Wellington club which is mocked on FOX Sports and probably won't exist in 2 years"

Oh FFS, they are even less reliable than here!!! (and here's not exactly reliable!)

In the early days Gulley was an over used squadie. Invested a lot of time  and injury to the Nix. 

Lets hope this time he gets a fair chance. 

Albert Riera ring a bell? Not everyone wants to play professionally. Some people have other priorities.

they may also be earning more with their Handy Club and winter team and be quite happy

Would be happy with all of those to be honest.

What are 'squaddies'? Players who aren't good enough to start but can do a job if needed?

So... select a starting 11, then, job done, just pick some 'squaddies' to make up the numbers? Gee, why not pick locals as 'squaddies'? After all, they're only 'squaddies'.

Forget that.

Every player in the squad should be good enough to start, and giving the coach selection headaches. No 'squaddies' thanks.

I'm glad Rudan is taking his time over selections.

So let's ask the big question.  How much can a good player make in the Wellington region if you combine their income from winter and national league clubs?

More than a $60k+ A-League minimum?

I think you have missed the point.  Allegedly these players want to be professional footballers, they just want to be handed a signed contract having either failed to make it at professional level previously or having never been tried at that level.

Or - as I suggested - they just don't want to have the Nix on their resumé and would rather stay amateur while they wait for a "real" club to come knocking. There are some snobs out there.

And Riera played 2 seasons for us!

If the only professional club in your country come knocking and you aren't willing to make an effort to try it there I'd be surprised if anyone else was willing to take a punt on you making the grade.