What's really wrong with the Wellington Phoenix?

So I'm not seeing anything that tempts to me to read it.

I've edited my last post from "a dig" to "another dig" at the Nix.

That opinion piece is literally just adjectives and verbal foreplay.

I looked it up thinking it is related to the International Women's Day (as it falls today) but it was nothing of the sort.

I don't care what you think As long as it's about me 

The best of us can find happiness in misery 

I don't care what you think As long as it's about me 

The best of us can find happiness in misery

its a pity the DK thread was locked, there is no other clear place to ask this question: NZME(Burgess) said in a story this morning that DK had "made some important changes off the field" What were they?

He sold his TV.

Reporting on the Phoenix is really badly sourced, it's very rare to get the actual story of what has happened.  I don't know why the club doesn't brief more - the fans are hungry for this information and it creates interest in the club!

I hate how much this made me laugh after reading a couple of pages of the thread.

Seriously I wonder how many coaches we sack before we realize the coach may not be our issue.  Or the coach was also an issue and hopefully in the off season we figure the other one out.

#Nixforpresident2019

I guess if we bring in a "good" coach now and we have a shark season next year then we have to realise it could be the players or maybe the support in the background.

[quote=theprof]

I guess if we bring in a "good" coach now and we have a shark season next year then we have to realise it could be the players or maybe the support in the background.

For me, it is the players.

I tend to agree, a lot of them have been the only consistent thing in the club

While on a road trip today, listened to Telfer on Radio Live and he interviewed Ricki Herbert and he made a comment that the Nix had kept some players for too long and said something [cant recall the exact words] that gave me the impression that he thought 1 of those players had too much influence. My immediate thought was Durante - any other theory?

yeip, pretty much

probably true 

Who, Telfer or Ricki? Hilarious if the latter

Cant draw a crowd like the Hurricanes...;>)

Absolutely.

The only other two players (tenure-wise) he could have referred to would be McGlinchey and Doyle, but I could hardly imagine Doyle destined for the scrapheap in comparison to Mikey and Dura, who actually both seem past it.

Roy's the other, but I highly doubt he's like that

So if Dura retires at the end of the season, who should be the new captain?  

In general terms, it is best to have someone further back who can see the action from behind for positioning and for barking commands.  However, I wouldn't mind giving the band to Roy next year.  And In a few more seasons, Ridenton.

I would retire several other defenders before Durante

From the Top

Then it's hilarious. We all know Ricki was far too loyal to certain players he kept on long after their use-by date.

Robbie Slater has come out saying the Nix should be axed.

http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/sport/2018/03/ex-socceroo-robbie-slater-calls-for-wellington-phoenix-to-be-axed-from-a-league.html

God, shark like this hurts me, knowing we can't possibly get any better this season and prove them wrong.. 

On the Fox Football podcast, even forever optimist Ned Zelic is slowly understanding all the Nix Out cries of the Aussies.

Slater’s been out to chop kiwi teams since day dot, we could win the league year in year out and he’d still come up with dribble like that. Proper broken record.

He's actually advocating for 2 f the 10 teams to be axed - right-oh pal

The fact that FFA does not see it is a problem that FOX commentators openly suggest that one of the franchises should be cut "because they add nothing to the A-League" simply shows who wields the real power there.  Any other league in the world would tell them to just zip it and do their job. But here it seems the league runs on FOX money so FOX employees see it fit to open their mouths regardless of the inconvenient factor that the member clubs must be financially stable and not be a burden on FFA.  And I do not think we are.

 As Philip Marlowe used to say, "if you want to find the culprit just follow the money trail".

Going back to the original thread title, I think there's an issue when we now have 6 or 7 young kiwis who are now in the MLS and none of them have been through the Phoenix

Why? There are other viable and arguably better options for young kiwi players. The weenix have only ever had a couple of the best players for their age group in nz anyway, despite NZF age group selections. The fact they have a team in the premiership is an affirmative action programme and acts more as a shop window for academy recruitment than player development; plus it keeps squaddies match fit in season. A few U19s weenix players would make top 4 senior Handa Premiership squads, but not the majority (unless there’s similar affirmative action selection policies in place). 

Roy would be class, but he is only 5 years younger than Durante and an attacker so he’ll likely only get two or three years in before retiring himself. 

Fox is my pick if he continues playing

How?