Was - Phoenix Transfer Speculation

                                                      Warner

gotta love invisible timmy... even tho i think hes fair decent at a-league level

So you advocate a 3-4-2 Clone? We'd get thrashed every game...

4-4-2 diamond for me


Maybe that is what CloneMM was trying with his 10 man team?

Yup, winner winner chicken dinner.

Kosta can be used out wide or centrally. He offers a versatile option which we desperately need. I mean seriously, if Greenacre gets crooked we're r**ted.

Lets just sign a whole heap of young New Zealanders..


Luke Rowe... Greg Draper.. Dakota Lucas.. bring back James Musa

KingRollo2011-11-19 23:51:27

Played last weeked at LB.  Looked decent.

Rowe has been outstanding for TW imo.

Rowe has played one game for TW against Waikato... that doesn't seem a comprehesive sample.

In a front three with Ifill and Greenacre.

Didnt Rowe play vs Otago as well?

He didn't sign until later that week. Was Schaeffers, Whalen, Branch and I think Jamie Duncan for the opener.

A bit premature, but as I understand it, we are in for a proper offseason with a bit more stability and cash.

The number of imports is dropping from 5 to 4, and possiby to 3 the following season, so signing up local talent is already important.

Would this be a realistic lineup to aim for:

                     Paston
IMPORT SigmUnd Durante Lochhead/Rowe
              Muscat      Lia
Ifill               Sanchez            IMPORT
                     Killen       


Rowe may be a bit of an ambitious call, but who knows.

If we cant get Killen, then the priority would definitely be to sign an import to play there. Otherwise I would look to sign a guy who could play wide or central.

The RB position has been traditonally weak, and I think it would be worth using an import spot to give us some real strength there.

Also, I think playing a 4231 gives us a lot of versatility in the front third.
Sorry for daydreaming

Nothing wrong with that. I would think Ricki would be more inclined to use Brown, keep Muscat at RB and get an import striker (which again is probably a bit pie in the sky) Unlikely to get Killen as hasn't he resigned for another year?

Thought he hadnt re-signed? However, yes I would most definitely get an import striker if Killen isnt available.

There have been Chinese sources which seemed to indicate that Killen is staying over there for at least another season.

guts bro.

Would love to get him here asap to get a few seasons out of him.

We have been looking for a RB since the start, since Manny is solid there I think it might just be easier to find someone to fill the hole Manny leaves in the mids instead.

Just a bit of a thought to put in the mix.  If the league is going to go from 5 import slots to 4 next season (likely), which Kiwis might be out on their asses from the Aussie franchises?

Will Daniel be an official Kiwi by next year?

Daniel doesn't count as an import for A-league purposes at any rate.

For us, think only Sanchez is relatively safe (provided he doesn't turn into Toto over the rest of the season). Warner (in particular) and Greenacre are getting on in years, Smith got here as an injury replacement and will have to prove himself for the rest of the season, and I feel Ifill will also have to prove his usefulness over the rest of the season considering his injury worries over the last couple of seasons and the fact he probably wouldn't be cheap.

Brockie, McGlinchey and Rojas are currently imports. Brockie is off contracts but he might be close to getting aussie citizenship by now. McGlinchey and Rojas have contracts for next season.

Would take Brockie in a second, however I think his stocks are high in Newcastle.

Greenacre and Warner cant really command an import spot, and I would see them both retiring at season's end. Ifill one more season in my mind, then onto youth coach...

I can see greeny helping with striking recruitment over offseason, and when a replacement is found, him handing off his number 9 jersey to the new guy and calling it a day

Great question.

I'd be expecting to hang on to Smith, Sanchez, Ifill and hopefully recruiting another one with Greenacre & Warner out the door.

Picking up Brockie would be great. Could Moss potentially be out too? If so could come back at take over the perma crocked Pasty. Mini mac could also come in as a Sanchez back up, or for Smith if he doesn't look the goods.

Citizenship is 5 years now (not 3 anymore)? Which is unfortunate because then we could have Ifill and Greenacre counted as kiwis. I would think Warner would be the player most likely to struggle to keep a foreign spot. Of the kiwis in Oz, Brockie could come under pressure but must be close to Oz citizenship and if he is cheap enough then will still be of value to Newcastle. McGlinchey I think is one player we should be trying to sign for us once his contract is coming to an end.

I hope Marco is overseas in a decent league in Europe before his contract expires though will have him back. Moss and Smeltz have Oz citizenship.

Would take Jeremy Brockie in a heart beat. But, Ricki Herbet told him in season one that he was signing. He then went to Hawke's Bay to keep fit and Ricki decided he didn't want him. Wouldn't even return Jeremy's calls apparently.


                    Loving this team posted earlier


                     Paston
IMPORT SigmUnd Durante Lochhead/Rowe
              Muscat      Lia
Ifill               Sanchez            IMPORT
                     Killen       

But how about Brockie on one wing. Pantelis will be back then though. Moss in the box and maybe just maybe Downey could prove okay at rightback.

Don't Brockie and Moss both have Aussie passports?

Edit: Bullion answered it Everton FC2011-11-22 17:42:48

Moss certainly does - unsure on Brockie.

Sanchez is a very good player. He needs other players up front with the similar technical characteristics and speed that he can play with.  Ifill is one of those players, but unfortunately he is getting injured to often. He still looks a bit overweight (I understand he lost a couple of  kilos) and his current fitness is nowhere near to  the level which he had when he arrived in Wellington. Obviously at that time he was out of the contract he trained hard in UK and his fitness was up to  level required in League 1. A couple of injuries that he had the last season and in preseason this year  didn't help either. For him, it may be a challenge to repeat the first season with the Nix, but he is still the best Nix's striker by miles.

Daniel thinks that he is  a football superstar. In reality he is overrated player who had a few sparks when he arrived (loooong time ago). The way how he currently plays, he would struggle in Aussie state league or ASB.
I haven't seen enough of Smith and it looks like he is not playing in his best position, so, currently hard to say...
Muscat should be used in midfield position for simple reason that he can also dribble, create extra space or pass a nice thru ball. I know, we don't have RB position, but using Manny as a RB is just a waste of talent.
That's why, i would give a chance to Leo as right back, if he can't meet expectations, it is hard to see which other position he could play.
Brown, I am not going even to comment on this guy... and, yes,I know he can score from time to time. Is that enough?
Greenacre seems to be very, very nice guy, who always gives 120% on the field. On the other hand, he never was, and never will be high level striker. He is getting old and doesn't seems to be able to keep up with the pace of defenders and,  most of the time he is a couple of yards late  to find those crosses (not the tallest guy either). May be used behind central striker similar to what McBreen is playing for CCM. Assistant couch? Only time can tell is he the answer for such a position.

Injured

...while also somewhat short on talent.

I'm crossing my fingers that his one redeeming ability is not hampered by recent injuries.

I see Jonas Salley has signed for Gold Coast. There was a man to hold midfield to leave Manny at Right Back.

McGlinchey? How are CCM for imports?