Was - Phoenix Transfer Speculation

Speaking of Nicky Ward...

please continue ...

Wikipedia says he's gone to Greece.

the real question is, who will take the legendary number ten jersey?

Can Rigters break the curse?

A bit more detail on the Sportal website, and it looks like Bran, Chettleburg and Thurtell are still possible signings:

http://www.sportal.com.au/football-news-display/euro-duo-join-phoenix-135127/page/1

"...Sanchez, an attacking midfielder, has been with the club for several weeks now after choosing to stay on when his initial trial period was disrupted by a torn quad muscle.

That decision to stay and fight for a contract has clearly impressed Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert.

"He had a bad injury and he could have left but he elected to stay on of his own accord and his dedication and passion of wanting to be part of the Wellington Phoenix has been huge," Herbert said.

"I think slowly his performances are aligning themselves with a contract opportunity. We'd be pleased to have him. He could have left but he wanted to be part of this club. He's done everything possible to make that happen."

Herbert also made no secret of the fact they are keen to add Rigters, a former Blackburn Rovers team-mate of New Zealand captain Ryan Nelsen, to their striker stocks and hope to have a deal wrapped up by the end of the week.

"We'd be delighted to have his services at the club. We've made that very clear to his manager. I think we will speak a little more as the week progresses," said the Wellington coach.

"He's probably a four-to-six week proposition in getting him to a level where we need to get him at physiologically."

"But the potential and talent that we've seen and the character of the boy as well � he's fitted in nicely and he's been great around the group � I think he would be a fantastic acquisition."

Both players have certainly made positive noises about the club, although both admitted to knowing little about the A-League before heading to Wellington to trial.

"Honestly I didn't know too much before coming but I read about the league and where I am coming. I"m really happy. I think the standard is really good," said Sanchez.

"From the first day all the boys have helped me. I'm happy to stay here and think I will probably sign soon."

Rigters added: "It's a nice team. I haven�t trained with the boys much but it's a nice group."

"We lost against Brisbane but you can see that's not how it is going to be all season."

Herbert confirmed another triallist Billy Mehmet had left the club after failing to gain a contract.

But he will get another look at young defender Bryan Bran in Friday's pre-season game against Melbourne Heart in Shepparton.

Bran, playing for Oakleigh Cannons in the Victoria Premier League, had a trial in Wellington last month and is in line for one of three under-21 spots still up for grabs.

Brisbane Strikers' forward Matt Thurtell and New Zealand midfielder Cory Chettleburgh are also still at the club and remain a possibility for under-21 contracts, but only Thurtell will travel to Australia.

"They are certainly in the frame and they've been here and part of the group for a while now," said Herbert of their prospects.

"But there's still a decision to make on that. I wouldn't say they are certainties by any stretch. But they are here and they are better off being in the environment that not being here."
            

That's actually quite good Smiffy!

Well played!

Saw the article that said the Nix were looking to sign Sanchez...has he done enought to get a contract I wonder...I know that Ricki believes that he has what it takes but from the bits Ive seen Im not so sure

So 16 players in the bag. 4 more to be signed to make the minimum squad size of 20 players.

2 Imports (Rigters & Sanchez probable)
2 U21's (Out of Bran, Thurtell & Chettleburg)

With Rigters and Sanchez almost over the line (if you are to believe what Ricki has said in the media) do we then take a punt on all 3 U21 players to make a squad size of 21 or do we cut one of them?

Without actually having seen either of them play, I'm pretty happy with both of these signings. The comments from Ricki in particular sound pretty good, and he's in the best position to judge. Just a little bit worried about a lack of cover at the back though. Is Bran the only one lined up there? He's a little bit unproven to be our only CB cover imo. Siggy or Dura are bound to be out at some point with injury / suspension. Who else could cover?

Yeah, Sanchez certainly doesn't seem to have done any more or less than Mehmet, who's on his way home.

Maybe Mehmet suffered from not really offering anything different from strikers we already have, and then Rigters turns up as well.

Sanchez does appear to be getting a contract almost by default but as long as we can also sign Rigters I think I'd be happy enough that between them they significantly increase our attacking threat.

Let's just hope that this isn't all, well, you know...

 

Indeed. Could be a...

Think from what ive heard, Bran could be solid enough to step into A-League footy.
I would definitely sign him, as what other u21 CB option do we have?

Chettleburgh is my other choice for a signing, as even though we may have added sanchez, we dont have as much depth in this area, as it is three positions on the field, and have 4 guys who play there.

Im not sure on thurtell, but with pav, greenacre and rigters, plus Ifill and pantelis if needed, I think we have enough players and think he wouldnt get many oppourtunities at all.



What I want to see is a fron thtree of Ifill, Pantellis & Rigters. All three can play out wide or centrally, and can score goals,. Moving round fluidly would be a mega handful for defenders.

 

Call me ridiculous but having not seen Sanchez at all I'm not by him.

Edit: LOL I MAKE NO SENSE LOL.
loyalgunner2011-08-23 18:58:20

Amen to that. mjp22011-08-23 17:11:12

 

Well that's good to hear. Is he playing against Heart? Would be good to give him some game time there to see how he goes.

A nice little squad coming along. With quality subs unlike last season

Just wondering out loud, but weren't there a whole lot of other A-League teams chasing Bran? And if I was him, I'd prefer to stay roughly in my homeland. So how exactly did we manage to get him out of Aus? Is he as good as other youth CBs in Aus or is it gonna be a bit like Tsattlios, where it seems like we pick up some Aussie scraps??

BTW, never seen him play so don't rage at me too much :P

 

Chuck Sanchez further up if he in fact starts at all. Potential that Greenie could be there, or just play same old with a Lia and Brown combo.

Pretty sure Ricki is trying to emulate Arsenal who play 4-5-daylight-RvP.

You don't think any of the Junior All Whites have done enough to get a slot...? Me neither.

 

For me, Brown needs to be benched if sanchez or greeny are playing as a creative mid. Not Lia.

In essense, last year Tim Brown was our creative midfielder. He was the goalscoring midfielder who would arrive late in the box.
Lia's distribution has got better and better, and can play some lovely balls at times.

So Brown would drop out if RH wants sanchez or Greeny starting in behind the striker.


Actually, with Rigters being our lead man, I think Greenacre could be very good in behind him, as he offers a sh*te load in defense and pressure on ball carrier, plus will offer goals. Only question would be his vision. I hope sanchez is up to it!

Chettleburgh to replace Nick Ward? played ok against Waitak...

Be interesting to see if he can pick up a contract.

Bran also looked good against Waitak. Is he greater than Musa? seems possible...though thought Mus had a good WC and wasn't too bad with us last season.

Any other NZ centrebacks that could be in the frame? We aren't keen on Steven Old again I see, though Perth may be.

Who is our cover in the centre mids and at right back? martinb2011-08-23 17:45:31

I like the way everyone automatically assumes we'll be running the bare minimum youth spots (3)...

i havnt seen anyone assume this anywhere?

the facts are we will be signing 2 more youth players, but every signing is going to have to be up to A-League standard, or quite close to it, in order to have a strong enough squad.

I personally would love it if we had 4 or 5 young guys, at different levels where they can slowly be integrated into the squad. However Ricki wants to be able to drop any of them into the A-League at any point, and I'm not sure if there are many young guys unsigned who could do that.
Plus the cash worries lead us to believe we are only going to sign the 20 minimum needed.

I too think Musa should be given another go, but at the end of the day, if Bran is better, then we are silly to not take that option.

Cover at RB is manny, and perhaps Tsatalios. Even Durante or siggy if we were desperate and had another CB option.

CM we would have Brown Lia Muscat from last year, so then add Sanchez and you would think young Chettleburgh. Then also greeny has been playing alot of Attacking mid this preseason. Not sure if it will be an A-League option though. But yes, we need more CM cover- hence Chettleburgh signing makes sense.

ahhh thats right, I forget these things