WPM 2022/23 Squad Speculation, Confirmation and Mutual Termination
We've done what is stipulated in the thread title. We've speculated the absolute tits off of Lasogga coming to Wellington. 🤣🤣🤣
If by some incredible miracle it is Lasogga, I will be in absolute disbelief as to how a simple player suggestion made by me ended up being a signing.
We've done what is stipulated in the thread title. We've speculated the absolute tits off of Lasogga coming to Wellington. 🤣🤣🤣
If by some incredible miracle it is Lasogga, I will be in absolute disbelief as to how a simple player suggestion made by me ended up being a signing.
And I will eat my hat.
Balls, word, etc etc.
We've done what is stipulated in the thread title. We've speculated the absolute tits off of Lasogga coming to Wellington. 🤣🤣🤣
If by some incredible miracle it is Lasogga, I will be in absolute disbelief as to how a simple player suggestion made by me ended up being a signing.
If indeed by some incredible miracle it is Lasogga I want to see a sea of Lasogga shirts in the Fever zone first home game. Hell, I might get one even if he doesn't. Certified Nix legend, he's never even lost a game with us.
I do hope it is an import striker.
The Wellington Phoenix have signed 25 y/o Bulgarian international attacking midfielder Bozhidar Kraev on a 2-year deal. @newstalkzbsport pic.twitter.com/mLxN6q7ofn
— Jason Pine (@pineynz) July 21, 2022
Hugely, hugely touted in Bulgaria from what I can remember (just checked and he has 24 caps - that's really impressive). Big things were expected from him, but he's kinda middled out as the years have gone by. Still only 25.
Majestic head of hair too
Never heard of him but a great age, tons of international experience. Much better than I was expecting.
Welcome aboard, looking forward to seeing what he's able to do!
Before last season, seems to have played a fair bit for Midtjylland in the Danish Super Liga, plus 2 clubs in Portugal (20/21 on loan?). Should have some good English you'd think as probably the language of choice for foreign players in Denmark.
24 caps for Bulgaria that can't be sneezed out. And who honestly had heard of Davila before the Nix had signed him.
Exciting signing. Just need that visa striker now, to have a potentially top drawer ALM squad.
https://us.soccerway.com/players/bozhidar-kraev/319431/
I think this is the sort of signing which works well in the A-League, someone who's got big wraps on him but has struggled to push into the top echelons of Europe. They have the ability to be a top player, but never quite managed to get there and will thrive in a league which focuses more on man management and will give players the time and support they need to be successful.
Because this was announced early, is there going to be another announcement at 10am? 👀
On a more serious note, Kraev to the Wellington seems like an interesting move.
— Petar Petrov (@PPetrov_FR) July 21, 2022
A few years ago he was arguably the most promising youngster in Bulgaria. Things didn’t really go as expected, but if he brings his top game to the A-League he could be a massive player for the Nix.
Looks like an exciting player. What happened last season?
Looks like an exciting player. What happened last season?
Whatever happened last season, injuried or simply fell out of favour at Midtjylland - it's likely a major factor in how the Nix were able to pick up someone up of this pedigree. Career stalled for the moment.
In Uffie/Gill we trust.
Maybe explains why Mrs Reid is house hunting in Welly?? Reid family helping out another ex Midtjylland player!
Looks like an exciting player. What happened last season?
Gaffer and the new playmaker. Bozhidar Kraev was put forward to the Phoenix by Sarpreet Singh’s agent and he sought a recommendation from his Aussie team-mate Awer Mabil before he signed. pic.twitter.com/AB3PfsmecF
— Phillip Rollo (@ByPhillipRollo) July 21, 2022
Partial credit there mate. 👏
We have our own Bozza! Good luck for his first training in Welly today
Great stuff!
- He can play winger, AM or striker. He isn't a natural target man or poacher striker but is more a guy who plays there if you don't want to play with a natural striker... if that makes sense. He mainly played wing for FCM (mind you we often didn't play with an AM at the time). I'm not sure what his best position is.
- He was fairly okay for us (which is a good level), didn't score a sharkload of goals but was a good impact player off bench and scored important goals
- The reason he has low appearances is that we kept sending him on loan or freezing him out of the first team... he wasn't in the plans of successive coaches (meanwhile worse players were... FCM plans would have plenty to say about that)
- Also want to comment on his minutes - he played a lot off the bench or was subbed off. Better to look at minutes to goals rather than games to goals in that way.
- He was one of our top five paid players at a time (and we pay significantly more than A-League)... hence the continuous loans. So I wonder how much the Nix are paying him. On the other hand he has been off-contract for a few weeks so demands may have fallen in that time. I would also say that it's unlikely he has signed for the Nix either for money or footballing reasons - more the "A-League factor" of lifestyle and getting to experience a new place (this is just speculation)
definitely sounds like a Davilla type of player, just with more size and physical presence which should serve him well in the a-league.
Will be interesting to see if he plays central in our 4-2-2(wings)-2 setup, or if he becomes one of the wider players with Ball/Kosta?