Was - Phoenix Transfer Speculation (Part 1)

Well putt loyalgunner

Anyone who's ever seen Boyens play in the MLS wouldn't even dream of suggesting we sign him. I remember watching a Red Bulls game he started and was dragged 15-20 minutes in, that's how bad he was. He simply ball-watches too much and get easily caught off guard and out of position, and doesn't have great speed or imposing physical presence to recover in those situations. He was on the outer there well before Marquez even arrived.

The reality is that RH rates him below Siggy, as their position in the AWs pecking order would suggest. We should be getting better players than that if we have genuine title aspirations.

That was a game. As in one game. Everyone has bad games. Ifills had bad games...

Like I said before though, Siggy has the benefit of playing under Ricki 'domestically' so when an AWs selection roles around he has a huge advantage over Boyens.

Ricki also rates Clapham to be in the top 23 current kiwi footballers, yet for some reason we have players like Diego, who doesnt even play, getting into the Nix before him. So is Clapham not expected to do as good a job as Diego?
AJ132011-02-04 14:13:18

That was an example. But guess they can be hard to find considering the guy's spent last two years on the bench (well, much of the time not even there) while no-one else showed any interest in acquiring him. But if you think that the guy would be awesome for the Nix, fair enough, not my concern.

Also don't understand the Diego/Clapham comparison - one plays for the Nix, the other for Canterbury, one is eligible for the AWs the other isn't, the one playing for the Nix signed a contract that counts towards the salary cap before the other emerged as one of the better local players, so what exactly are we comparing here?el grapadura2011-02-04 14:12:45

the main common theme im picking up here seems to be along the lines of 'if ricki thinks he's good enough then we'll trust ricki'

Unless we're talking about Kosta - anyone keen for another round of that?

Comparing one of 'the best' kiwi footballers with one of 'the worst' Nix footballers. If both were signed to the Nix, Id put $100 on Clapham getting closer to warming the bench (at very least) than Diego.

Diego shouldnt have been offered a contract as long as the one he signed when any player in the ASB Prem could be doing exactly what hes being doing for the last two seasons (ie. training, hardly even making the bench, playing against other ASB Prem sides..). Basically taking a free ride through professional football, when other kiwis could be using the experience to better themselves ie. Clapham.

Hard to resist the siren's call...

But the point is Diego was signed in expectation he'd be a starter and an important player for the Nix - it didn't work out like that. No NZ player at the time offered a viable alternative to Diego, and Clapham wasn't even on the radar.

Releasing Diego before the contract is up isn't a financially sound move - it still counts against the salary cap, and if you bring someone else in, you end up paying for two players while only actually having one. So it's just a cut your losses and wait type of situation.

The Andy Boyens argument is pointless. The guy barely gets to play so of course he will be well of the pace mentally in any professional match because match fitness is mental as well as physical. The way the MLS works if he was truly woeful he wouldn't have lasted this long in New York, and he has probably been released now because New York have had a ton of international players come in and he is seen as no better than a younger American option. If Ricki has any interest in him, and he is still available when our pre-season rolls around then he can bring him on trial. He was All-American in his senior year at New Mexico State University, which means he was considered one of the best four defenders in the entirety of NCAA Division I, and that isn't something to be dismissed.

It also sounds as though he has a rather rocky relationship with Ricki anyway (well, going from what he said to someone who was facebook stalking him or something?)

e: oops Critical Lemon got a post in before I could, but this of course regarding Diego not Boyens.
GenericFan2011-02-04 14:49:12

College sport and professional sort are two entirely different kettle of fish. I can think of quite a few guys who were awesome in college and busted really badly in the NFL.

Andy Boyens doesn't play American Football.

Didn't know that, thanks for clearing it up.

Actually he did.  He played football in America, therefore American Football.

He played soccer in America.

But he went to the Football World Cup, so how does that work?

He played football in South Africa ;)

Soof Efricen foootball?

Pedantics  and Semantics... ftw!!

No, but he did a lot of bench-sitting there.

There are very few if any clubs in the A-League who purchase players as it counts against the salary cap. I think MV might have paid something for Hernandez last year (but not 100% sure on that) but can't think of a single other instance.

Sorry, as in the transfer fee is part of the salary cap?

Not much of a salary cap then is it?

SIGN CLAPHAM

Okay Aaron.

Looking at our bench for tonight, man it aint gonna be pretty.

Makes me wonder why we havnt looked seriously at injury covers for the season.
Not only would it bulk up the squad, but it would give us a good look at players we could sign for next season. Pretty much a trial period.

Even if some of the better performing Phoenix "A" players were given a shot. I wouldnt have minded Lovemore coming in for Ifill. Would prefer him on the bench than Toto to be honest

THATS what the nix need. A GINGER.

Why we haven't is probably a lack of $pondooleys. What we have is it.
Now Ricki, weave it into gold! COYN!

There's enough of them in the YF  zone anyway!!

Rojas please resigned on youth marquee if necessary

that'd definitely be the case I reckon (if he re-signs)

Notice during the game the commentators said other a-league clubs and overseas clubs were after him.

That is pretty obvious

What is important is what his Dad is saying to him - if he thinks another year in the a-league would be beneficial (which it would be) or not

ward, d-mac and daniel will have 2 be priority on 2nites performances

It may depend on how many fat wads of Aussie dollars are being shoved in his face as well!

i think Rojas and Rojas senior are nt looking to rush things

and Marco seems happy with YF, the fans, the club

he will move on but if he stays with us for another season he'll have club set-up he knows, family closer and players who don't see him as an outsider

that way he'll have a more stable platform to build for his nexy career move