WPM 2022/23 Squad Speculation, Confirmation and Mutual Termination

Wusty Wab

Smeltz4PM

Lewis Grabban?
34 y/o,  Leaving nottingham forrest after captaining them to promotion, could be an option if Lasogga falls through...

I would take Grabban. My only concern is would he be available when we need him? He is the same age as Hooper and did miss several games through injury for Forest in the 20/21 and 21/22 seasons. Though these are apparently the only times he's ever been injured in his career and he did still manage to score 12 goals in 32 games last season.

I think he'd be a great signing for us if we got him. Don't forget it's the norm here in Blighty to play twice a week so to play 32 games last season in a promotion playoff winning team at a level far higher then the A League shows he's more then fit enough for us.

So that’s Krishna off the list…next 

Aaron Lennon would surely be good for a couple of seasons of A-league footy at 35 if we could get some cash together

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/a-league/300640267/roy-krishna-turns-down-wellington-phoenix-to-sign-with-bengaluru-in-india

https://twitter.com/pineynz/status/1548905491723563009

A shame the emotional draw wasn’t enough and money talked. Guess you can’t blame him.

WanderingSheep

A shame the emotional draw wasn’t enough and money talked. Guess you can’t blame him.

It was announced as a 1 year deal but there are reports that it is actually a 1+1 deal. It could be that the option of a second year might have been the deciding factor rather than money as people are assuming. 

RR

WanderingSheep

A shame the emotional draw wasn’t enough and money talked. Guess you can’t blame him.

It was announced as a 1 year deal but there are reports that it is actually a 1+1 deal. It could be that the option of a second year might have been the deciding factor rather than money as people are assuming. 

I mean that's still money talking. More security, but as I said, who could really blame him. A shame, but I was on the fence about him returning anyway so it keeps it clear for uffie to provide a visa striker that will offer something different and help Waine develop.

I have said it earlier in this thread (more of a hint to be fair) that re-signing Roy would have been a mistake.  We have had zero success in bringing back 30 plus strikers who had been great before they left:

Smeltz (in the 99 shirt)
Burns
Hooper last season

Let us hope that Kosta changes the trend.

Roy has gone, time for all of us to move on and hope that whoever comes in is the answer

Walsall Boy

I have said it earlier in this thread (more of a hint to be fair) that re-signing Roy would have been a mistake.  We have had zero success in bringing back 30 plus strikers who had been great before they left:

Smeltz (in the 99 shirt)
Burns
Hooper last season

Let us hope that Kosta changes the trend.

Roy has gone, time for all of us to move on and hope that whoever comes in is the answer

Third time's a charm hopefully for Kosta, let's see if he can finally impress for us like he has for the likes of Roar, Victory, and Sydney.

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NZPhoenixFan

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Ugarkovic an improvement on Scrappy Doo? Or just a different player? 

martinb

Ugarkovic an improvement on Scrappy Doo? Or just a different player? 

Different style. Here is a write up about him from 3 years ago that talks about his play style. https://www.espn.com/soccer/newcastle-jets/story/3994216/steven-ugarkovic-has-quietly-become-the-a-leagues-best-central-midfielder

51D135A4-D158-40D7-A684-C9D43A229C7A.jpeg 81.82 KB

how good would this be! 

I have no idea why Winston moving to Kelburn is a good thing, the last thing we want is a New Zealand First revival

Doloras

I have no idea why Winston moving to Kelburn is a good thing, the last thing we want is a New Zealand First revival

Tres drôle; although I agree with your sentiment.

Doloras

I have no idea why Winston moving to Kelburn is a good thing, the last thing we want is a New Zealand First revival

I'd be happy at the revival of the dead if it meant Winnie was coming to Wellington. 👀

Walsall Boy

I have said it earlier in this thread (more of a hint to be fair) that re-signing Roy would have been a mistake.  We have had zero success in bringing back 30 plus strikers who had been great before they left:

Smeltz (in the 99 shirt)
Burns
Hooper last season

Let us hope that Kosta changes the trend.

Roy has gone, time for all of us to move on and hope that whoever comes in is the answer

If you look at Hoopers stats dont think you could say he was zero success. The problem with Hopper was injuries where as with others it was they were actually contributing little. 

I wonder what his long-term plans would be if he ended up playing for the Nix? Maybe 2 years at the Phoenix before retiring, and then setting up an academy or something? Maybe entering into coaching. Although the coaching opportunities in New Zealand are pretty abysmal for a top ex-premier league player (in terms of $).

Ninja

I wonder what his long-term plans would be if he ended up playing for the Nix? Maybe 2 years at the Phoenix before retiring, and then setting up an academy or something? Maybe entering into coaching. Although the coaching opportunities in New Zealand are pretty abysmal for a top ex-premier league player (in terms of $).

Pretty sure he's not going to have to worry about money given he was getting paid weekly what most people earn over 1-2 years.

Wouldn't it be fantastic if he came in for a couple of years, retired, and then decided he wanted to put into the club? Imagine the amount of contacts he's got back over in the UK/Europe!

Oh what it is to dream.

I’m going to call bullshark on the Winston rumour

YoungHe.\rt

Ninja

I wonder what his long-term plans would be if he ended up playing for the Nix? Maybe 2 years at the Phoenix before retiring, and then setting up an academy or something? Maybe entering into coaching. Although the coaching opportunities in New Zealand are pretty abysmal for a top ex-premier league player (in terms of $).

Pretty sure he's not going to have to worry about money given he was getting paid weekly what most people earn over 1-2 years.

Wouldn't it be fantastic if he came in for a couple of years, retired, and then decided he wanted to put into the club? Imagine the amount of contacts he's got back over in the UK/Europe!

Oh what it is to dream.

You'd be surprised at how many ex high level athletes end up broke not too long after retiring. The problem is when you have significant lifestyle inflation - say spending several million per year - to having no income after retiring, it is very easy to end up broke. It's a cash flow game.

And then there's the other thing most people don't realise. Once you have money, it's never enough.

Napier Phoenix

I’m going to call bullshark on the Winston rumour

I have no idea whether that shout was legit or not, but it very much gives off 1+1=3 vibes. Oh, we have a high-profile unattached New Zealander, oh we have a New Zealand team, they must go together. He hasn't started a club game since March 20th last year (556 days by the time the league starts). He probably wouldn't be that cheap, and given his injury record, it's a big risk. He's played 10 international matches in the last year, only managing to get through 90 minutes three times (against South Korea U23, Tahiti and PNG), and gone off injured four times (against Honduras U23, Japan U23, Peru and Costa Rica). 

Even though he's never played for the Phoenix, I'd still categorise it alongside Burns, Smeltz and Hooper as signings you wouldn't make had they not had the sentimental value of past performances.

Ninja

YoungHe.\rt

Ninja

I wonder what his long-term plans would be if he ended up playing for the Nix? Maybe 2 years at the Phoenix before retiring, and then setting up an academy or something? Maybe entering into coaching. Although the coaching opportunities in New Zealand are pretty abysmal for a top ex-premier league player (in terms of $).

Pretty sure he's not going to have to worry about money given he was getting paid weekly what most people earn over 1-2 years.

Wouldn't it be fantastic if he came in for a couple of years, retired, and then decided he wanted to put into the club? Imagine the amount of contacts he's got back over in the UK/Europe!

Oh what it is to dream.

You'd be surprised at how many ex high level athletes end up broke not too long after retiring. The problem is when you have significant lifestyle inflation - say spending several million per year - to having no income after retiring, it is very easy to end up broke. It's a cash flow game.

And then there's the other thing most people don't realise. Once you have money, it's never enough.

If he's *supposedly* buying in Wellington, I'd hazard a guess he's doing just fine. 😉

And yes I'm not oblivious to well paid sports players pissing their money against a wall. It'd be a blight on most top level sports, on at least a weekly basis.

Let's just wait and see on this Winnie signing though. Absolutely massive if he comes on board for the Nix.

Probably just coming here for a holiday around the Aussie game and looking for a serviced apartment or some such. 
If there’s any truth in it at all…

Could be on an injury term contract. I.e paid only if he plays?

Imagine how much someone like Finn Surman would learn off someone like Winnie. Would make an excellent mentor . 

When Reid left West Ham, didn't Talay say he wasn't interested in signing him because he was apparently too prolific for the Phoenix? Stuff article explaining what I'm talking about below. Anyway, what a signing Reid would be, easily the most experienced player in the team and could become captain. Just not sure how likely it is or how much he has left in him.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/126482394/wellington-phoenix-rule-out-move-for-all-whites-captain-after-west-ham-exit

Wusty Wab

When Reid left West Ham, didn't Talay say he wasn't interested in signing him because he was apparently too prolific for the Phoenix? Stuff article explaining what I'm talking about below. Anyway, what a signing Reid would be, easily the most experienced player in the team and could become captain. Just not sure how likely it is or how much he has left in him.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/126482394/wellington-phoenix-rule-out-move-for-all-whites-captain-after-west-ham-exit

That article was a year ago so I feel times have changed it wouldn't make much sense for Winston to join during our season away from home as I'm sure he'll wanna settle down somewhere. If he wants to settle down in NZ and start some sort of coaching down here post-playing moving to the nix would be a real possibility and even if his body is not fully up to it we do have a lot of cover in the CB area so it wouldn't be a huge issue as long as hes on reasonable wages maybe pay as you play? 

Wusty Wab

When Reid left West Ham, didn't Talay say he wasn't interested in signing him because he was apparently too prolific for the Phoenix? Stuff article explaining what I'm talking about below. Anyway, what a signing Reid would be, easily the most experienced player in the team and could become captain. Just not sure how likely it is or how much he has left in him.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/126482394/wellington-phoenix-rule-out-move-for-all-whites-captain-after-west-ham-exit

I don't think prolific is the word you want to use there. 

coochiee

Wusty Wab

When Reid left West Ham, didn't Talay say he wasn't interested in signing him because he was apparently too prolific for the Phoenix? Stuff article explaining what I'm talking about below. Anyway, what a signing Reid would be, easily the most experienced player in the team and could become captain. Just not sure how likely it is or how much he has left in him.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/126482394/wellington-phoenix-rule-out-move-for-all-whites-captain-after-west-ham-exit

I don't think prolific is the word you want to use there. 

Yeah I don't know why I wrote prolific, guess what I was trying to say was too good for the Phoenix.

Although I guess you could say he has prolific experience, if that even makes sense.

coochiee

Wusty Wab

When Reid left West Ham, didn't Talay say he wasn't interested in signing him because he was apparently too prolific for the Phoenix? Stuff article explaining what I'm talking about below. Anyway, what a signing Reid would be, easily the most experienced player in the team and could become captain. Just not sure how likely it is or how much he has left in him.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/126482394/wellington-phoenix-rule-out-move-for-all-whites-captain-after-west-ham-exit

I don't think prolific is the word you want to use there. 

What is wrong with the word 'prolific'? He was too prolific.

Ninja

coochiee

Wusty Wab

When Reid left West Ham, didn't Talay say he wasn't interested in signing him because he was apparently too prolific for the Phoenix? Stuff article explaining what I'm talking about below. Anyway, what a signing Reid would be, easily the most experienced player in the team and could become captain. Just not sure how likely it is or how much he has left in him.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/126482394/wellington-phoenix-rule-out-move-for-all-whites-captain-after-west-ham-exit

I don't think prolific is the word you want to use there. 

What is wrong with the word 'prolific'? He was too prolific.

Grab a dictionary/thesaurus. Prolific doesn't equate to expensive.

KiwiMancunian

The Wellington Phoenix men will unveil a new import player at 10am tomorrow.@newstalkzbsport

— Jason Pine (@pineynz) July 21, 2022

 

KiwiMancunian

The Wellington Phoenix men will unveil a new import player at 10am tomorrow.@newstalkzbsport

— Jason Pine (@pineynz) July 21, 2022

 lasogga!

taylorcg69

KiwiMancunian

The Wellington Phoenix men will unveil a new import player at 10am tomorrow.@newstalkzbsport

— Jason Pine (@pineynz) July 21, 2022

 lasogga!

ITS HAPPENING!!!!

coochiee

Ninja

coochiee

Wusty Wab

When Reid left West Ham, didn't Talay say he wasn't interested in signing him because he was apparently too prolific for the Phoenix? Stuff article explaining what I'm talking about below. Anyway, what a signing Reid would be, easily the most experienced player in the team and could become captain. Just not sure how likely it is or how much he has left in him.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/126482394/wellington-phoenix-rule-out-move-for-all-whites-captain-after-west-ham-exit

I don't think prolific is the word you want to use there. 

What is wrong with the word 'prolific'? He was too prolific.

Grab a dictionary/thesaurus. Prolific doesn't equate to expensive.

Semantics. He was too prolific - as a premier league defender, to be a realistic target for an A-league side. Yes, too expensive is one of those reasons. 

No need to pick on Wusty mate, he made a fair point.

KiwiMancunian

The Wellington Phoenix men will unveil a new import player at 10am tomorrow.@newstalkzbsport

— Jason Pine (@pineynz) July 21, 2022

Any recent players following the gram?

You’d have thought they could have brought the signing forward to today, would have flown into welly in no time 😂