Wellington Phoenix Football Academy

Unusually, I agree with TV. I know Smithy and JD have been on about this but we need these kids when they are younger.

The 18/19/20 group - its a bit late. We want them at 16/17 and at a push 18. Help their body develop physically in the gym and their skill on the pitch so when they hit that 18/19 age, they are prepared for pro football and can perhaps contribute to the team coming from the development project. Some might say that 16/17 is too late but this is NZ and the talent pool is not that deep at younger ages as say perhaps in the UK.

Musa is 21 and its only now, he is really prepared for pro-football.

Did Declan tell him that is was not him coaching so he could not do it and that it would conflict with his home schooling?

Thomas will be 19 in December so might not fit into above plan but definitely worth a look. I think he along with Tuiloma and possibly Gulley could play A League

I think Joel Stevens from Chch might be one of the new recruits.

Geez 2nd Best, you really need to edit that message, since you are in Auckland!!!!

Geography 101

Anything south of the Bombays is just "not Auckland". Dino has Joel gone to Ole or FSE or Miramar?

I have no idea who he is, or where he's from. Got that information from someone else.

Not so sure about Rowe,(in the A League), anymore.He seems to be lacking in the pace dept.Could be wrong tho

Some of prospects will be in town. IMO 

Ask luke adams that question on podcast.

obscure photo clue related to new incoming FSE players??

flysolo - must be true then

That's from the Solomons right? We've re-signed Totori

Bit of a clean out. Solomons and Biss gone.

Not surprised about Solomons and Biss then. Academy clean out. Suspect their will be others

Not too surprised about Biss - but thought Solomons still had room to grow?? 

Interesting as I thought we were going to double group to 16 - but maybe now Calcott is having more of a say?

All the gossip is rushing out now.

Not having a team in NYL won't help. Would've done more for development of these guys than playing in ASBP

I'm not unhappy to see the back of Solomons and Biss for only that they may well have been in the wrong age bracket to begin with. That's not their fault and more a poor start in target age recruiting from the nix

The Alex Rufer boy is exactly the kind of boy we should be after (if he Dad does not send him overseas) He is 16, has class and can still grow. In two years at aged 18, he should be able to be in that nix squad.

Completely agree about the age bracket. 19 isn't the right age. Get them at 16 if possible, even 15 if the conditions can be sorted out. They would dramatically benefit from full time training in a professional setup

JV, what age bracket do you suggest?

BTW, Alex Rufer is 17.

I see what you are saying Stretford but I think that 16-17 age is right. I assumed that cause he was playing for the NZ U17s, he would have been 16 so I was slightly out but the point remains, that's the better age group than 19-20.

I think they need to grow in the environment, not come in and have the previous coaching unlearned from them first (which sounds silly but follow me if you will)

If you look at the u17s and u20s. We seem to be able to compete at the u17s but by the time its u20's, we are totally outclassed. That is because our kids are still playing amateur football over those 3 years, whilst overseas they are in professional clubs. That is why we really should be looking at the 15-16 yr ages to start them in the FSE. Put some of our better talents into a full time environment and hope they develop at a similar rate.

There are a number of colleges with boarding options in town we could do this with. Yes it will cost but long term it will hopefully give more rewards and possibly pay for itself.

But RR theyll end up getting a kicking in asbp. Simple answer - NYL side. Fuckin sort it WP FFA etc