Wellington Phoenix Football Academy

So Phoenix Academy kids are going to NTC  trial with FTC kids (sunday 23rd). Ole kids banned or decided to  pass I think. Anyone confirm?

Yet in Sth Island private academy kids were banned, as they don't meet a 75% FTC attendance requirement. Double standard for Phoenix kids; or just different rules in Capital compared to Mainland?

Does it really matter?

Word on the street is that Nix Academy players wont be playing for either college or club, or in any formal league; just  friendlies when they can get them. Can see the reasons why - different age groups etc. So what is their registered status as players then? Still with their previous clubs I imagine. If that case how can they trial for Lower North Island NTC, if they are not registered Cap Fed players? They don't attend FTC either, which is a stipulation to attend NTC. Shambles from NZF/Cap. I hope the players just get on with learning and enjoying the experience.

Just to understand, they are not playing any competitive games? Just training and friendlies? That does not sounds like fun.

They've just put up on Facebook that they have a game open to the public today at 4.30pm at Scot's College if anyone is interested.

Playing a friendly against Brendan McIntyre-coached HIBS.

When every league / competition in NZ says NO to Nix's wanting a youth, Reverser and Academy team playing for competition points i guess there is not much else that can be done. To compensate it these kids have to play friendlies?.

Why they can't be integrated into local clubs? Say not more than 2-3 per club to get some adrenalin pumping on the weekend.

This has to change.

Update:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/9882867/Merrick-rues-little-left-in-the-Phoenix-reserves

Ernie "...we must have a competitive reserve team, playing competitively every week, if we are going to progress"

According to CF transfers page, it looks like WPFA boys are registering with Miramar Rangers - as predicted.

http://www.football365.com/f365-features/9310988/Coaches-Abroad

Some good stuff in here on the academy

We're not going to be subjected to the principles of Scots too much I hope.

Ernie's a Scot

Louis Evans (defender from Canterbury United youth team, 17 year-old son of former All White Ceri) has signed for Wellington Phoenix Academy:

Three of the Academy have had U17 call-ups, really pleased that one of them is Fijian, good for Fiji, Oceania and the Nix I think.

should the Academy have players in it ineligible for NZ? Discuss...

Yes.

It's the Phoenix academy, not the New Zealand football academy. You don't have to be eligible to play for New Zealand to play for the Phoenix, so it shouldn't be a requirement for the Phoenix Academy.

It is about developing talent for the club. Given that the club is in NZ, and that one of it's stated aims is to develop NZ players, then it's very likely that a large number of the WPFA players will be kiwis, but they don't all have to be.

pretty much this^

Also, given the age of players going into the academy, I would expect most of them to be eligible or close to it by the time they come into the first team.

How about from the perspective of there only being so many 'foreign' spaces in the A League side? Is it good business then? More discussion please - I am off to the beach for a week, I expect to come back to find a whole swathe of intelligent and informed discussion and repartee.

Again, if they're coming in at 16ish, they'll probably be able to qualify as local by the time they make the first team

They will be making money off some of the overseas kids too.

So is Browne worth a crack... will gain a NZ passport shortly and has been talked up heaps for a long time... is he worth a shot. Looked meh playing a fairly defensive role in the recent games in the world club comp.

Has ben talked up for a long time because of his pace.

I've rated him when seeing him play v TW.

.

note: He would be first team material now.

I'm sure the OFC enjoy us having fijians etc in the academy, I dont see the harm in it

Browne is worth it but I think just at the moment, he would probably be better served at ACFC. Don't ask me to explain that or why I think that, just a feeling I have.

I'm happy for Oceanians to be in there.  As others have said, they should hold a kiwi passport by the time they are good enough to play for the Nix and if they don't make the grade they should strengthen ASBP or PI club and national teams.  Potential in there for training / transfer fees too if any of the Academy are good enough.

http://www.wellingtonphoenix.com/article/wellington-phoenix-announce-strategic-partnership-with-wellington-united/j6q24hbljl2qzcw72p4alcjb

Going to be interesting, expect them to be playing for Uniteds first team and if that is so, will that see some exodus from the club of current players who lose their place instead of drop down a team.

Surely this is the end of Wellington United in terms of competitive football. I can't imagine anyone being able to just join the club and have a run at preseason training? I guess only time will tell, but I expect it to be like the Ole/Island Bay tie up...almost all the senior players at the Bay did a runner and Ole basically had to recruit two teams (who almost all left when the relationship disintegrated).

Does seem like a great strategic fit from the Phoenix perspective, just can't see what Wellington United gain as a club except not having to worry about their first and second teams for the upcoming season. Maybe that in itself was enough of a carrot.

Great for Phoenix though, happy days.

Word on the street is that the Phoenix are funding Wellington United beyond just the first and second teams, so the extra financial bonus to United must have definitely been part of the carrot.

Part of the deal is that the Elite have to rename themselves the Wellington United Wellington Phoenix Shark Cods.

You would hope they get something out of it financial. It is great for the Phoenix to have a winter team now

pretty much this. Tough decision for the club in regard to having to wave goodbye to their loyal top players and basically create two different clubs  - Nix and WU social.

Will they wear orange?

Big gap between Cap Prem and Central League. But they didn't have a lot of options. It didn't work out with Miramar...