Genuinely shocked by this, never thought we would've had a chance at getting him. Amazing bit of business from Gill and co. Very good non-import, league proven player
Ugarkovic said in a statement he was attracted to Wellington by the chance to play for Talay.
“The big pull is Uffy as a coach. He’s someone I feel like I can learn under a lot from, on and off the field,” he said.
“His brand of football played an important role in my decision. Playing against Wellington, it’s always hard to break them down. They’re very structured and everyone knows what their job is.
“That’s what I like and that’s what I think I need to go to the next level.”
Given his comments about Talay maybe if Talay signs an extension he will as well. If a player only wants to sign for a year not sure what the club can do.
Given his comments about Talay maybe if Talay signs an extension he will as well. If a player only wants to sign for a year not sure what the club can do.
Yipe he signed because of Uffie. Plus he talks about taking his game to the next level.
So he either follows Talay to his next gig, gets to the next level, ie Europe, or dream scenario they both re-sign as GF winners. All is open and fair whichever
Superb signing. WSW mate of mine says we’re welcome to him, but suspect that’s more that they weren’t able to get the best out of him. Well done Nix, well done indeed!
Great news to wake up to this. Early off season signing ✅ A position we needed some quality ✅ Doesn't take a valuable visa spot✅ Proven A-League performer ✅
As stated, It's a shame it's only one year, but a good start to the off season no less.
Probs too early of a prediction but I feel like with the team we have now and hopefully with a couple of good quality imports it might be our last chance for a shot at winning the title for a few years as could see next couple of years being a rebuild with likely Uffie leaving + Sutton, Waine maybe off to Europe and with guys only being signed on 1-year deals likely the imports too.
Im guessing any higher profile player is only gonna take a 1 year deal given Uffie only has 1 year to run. Just the way it is, a big signing isnt going to want to have to deal with the uncertainty of having to prove themselves to a ne manager. I also suspect the club may have said to Uffie, "1 yr deal only until we know what your up to after next season"
Im guessing any higher profile player is only gonna take a 1 year deal given Uffie only has 1 year to run. Just the way it is, a big signing isnt going to want to have to deal with the uncertainty of having to prove themselves to a ne manager. I also suspect the club may have said to Uffie, "1 yr deal only until we know what your up to after next season"
Problem is you have all of Lewis, Pennington, Rufer, Laws &Ugarkovic coming off contract end of upcoming 22/23 season. Becomes a massive rebuild project if none of them re-sign.
Hopefully Nix are looking to offer both Laws and Lewis extensions.
Superb signing. WSW mate of mine says we’re welcome to him, but suspect that’s more that they weren’t able to get the best out of him. Well done Nix, well done indeed!
Tell him he decided to leave their team as a starter to be an injury replacement for us.
Given his comments about Talay maybe if Talay signs an extension he will as well. If a player only wants to sign for a year not sure what the club can do.
Yeah, I'm not saying we force him to sign for longer at gun point, and Piney said on twitter that he thinks it's Ugarcovic's choice to do one year, not the club, I'm just saying it would be good to keep him around for a few years - just for that certainty for the club.
Im guessing any higher profile player is only gonna take a 1 year deal given Uffie only has 1 year to run. Just the way it is, a big signing isnt going to want to have to deal with the uncertainty of having to prove themselves to a ne manager. I also suspect the club may have said to Uffie, "1 yr deal only until we know what your up to after next season"
Problem is you have all of Lewis, Pennington, Rufer, Laws &Ugarkovic coming off contract end of upcoming 22/23 season. Becomes a massive rebuild project if none of them re-sign.
Hopefully Nix are looking to offer both Laws and Lewis extensions.
True, but i doubt we would lose all of them in one off-season. Ugarkovic is probably a one and done, pennington might leave especially if he's still 3rd or 4th choice next year as I suspect he will be, but I'm pretty confident the other two will re-sign.
Both are Kiwis and Wellington boys (I know Rufer isn't technically but he's been here since he was so young). Rufer is the captain and seems to have a genuine passion for the club, been here for donkeys and its unlikely he gets a good deal overseas after what will be a severely injury-hampered season.
Lewis is 25 so still young, but potentially with the prospect of playing in his home city and being a regular starter for a couple seasons instead of the injury/covid effected seasons he's been affected by he might want to stay on longer. His partner's career could well come into consideration with staying in NZ too.
Given his comments about Talay maybe if Talay signs an extension he will as well. If a player only wants to sign for a year not sure what the club can do.
Yeah, I'm not saying we force him to sign for longer at gun point, and Piney said on twitter that he thinks it's Ugarcovic's choice to do one year, not the club, I'm just saying it would be good to keep him around for a few years - just for that certainty for the club.
Yeah realize that was just saying.have seem an interview him and he said it was his choice. He also said he was looking forward to working with Lewis and Rufer.
@Kungfu Panda, get the stats out so we can see why Ugarkovic is actually a waste of a signing because Pennington can do everything better
Well Ugarcovic is clearly an experienced DM and good luck to him. As for the stats. Well head to head obviously Pennington is on top with 2 wins against his side in his 10 match run. Pennington was averaging 1.8 points per game which is very good, We'll see if a team with Ugarcovic in it can match that. Pennington/Lewis combined conceded only 2 goals last season.
It's a tough ask for Ugarcovic to match Pennington's stats.
The other side of the coin is that if Pennington wants to keep a first team place, he needs to do the job Talay asks him to do, DM not AM (or a combination). He also needs to cut the silly mistakes. In my opinion, in the end Pennington will be starting most of next season.
The best Ugarcovic has done with plenty of attempts in the last 2 seasons is to average 1.4 ppg over a 10 game spell. Pennington did it in his first attempt (and really without a stable attack).
@Kungfu Panda, get the stats out so we can see why Ugarkovic is actually a waste of a signing because Pennington can do everything better
Well Ugarcovic is clearly an experienced DM and good luck to him. As for the stats. Well head to head obviously Pennington is on top with 2 wins against his side in his 10 match run. Pennington was averaging 1.8 points per game which is very good, We'll see if a team with Ugarcovic in it can match that. Pennington/Lewis combined conceded only 2 goals last season.
It's a tough ask for Ugarcovic to match Pennington's stats.
The other side of the coin is that if Pennington wants to keep a first team place, he needs to do the job Talay asks him to do, DM not AM (or a combination). He also needs to cut the silly mistakes. In my opinion, in the end Pennington will be starting most of next season.
The best Ugarcovic has done with plenty of attempts in the last 2 seasons is to average 1.4 ppg over a 10 game spell. Pennington did it in his first attempt (and really without a stable attack).
I think you're cherry-picking stats here.
Rather than comparing both players in terms of team stats, it's more appropriate to compare their individual stats, i.e. tackles won, pass completion rate, key passes made, aerial duels won, pitch covered, distance run, etc. These would be more accurate metrics.
Probs too early of a prediction but I feel like with the team we have now and hopefully with a couple of good quality imports it might be our last chance for a shot at winning the title for a few years as could see next couple of years being a rebuild with likely Uffie leaving + Sutton, Waine maybe off to Europe and with guys only being signed on 1-year deals likely the imports too.
This is wildly ambitious given our current squad. Would need 3-4 top class players (at A-league level), to compete with the big teams.
Sail/Paulsen Payne/Elliot - Wootton/Surman - Laws - Sutton Lewis/Pennington - Ugarkovic/Rufer Van Hattum - Old Ball - Waine
Would expect our remaining 3 visas to be two wide #10's and a striker. So that leaves us chasing a non-visa LB option + a couple non-visa bench options for striker/wide #10.
@Kungfu Panda, get the stats out so we can see why Ugarkovic is actually a waste of a signing because Pennington can do everything better
Well Ugarcovic is clearly an experienced DM and good luck to him. As for the stats. Well head to head obviously Pennington is on top with 2 wins against his side in his 10 match run. Pennington was averaging 1.8 points per game which is very good, We'll see if a team with Ugarcovic in it can match that. Pennington/Lewis combined conceded only 2 goals last season.
It's a tough ask for Ugarcovic to match Pennington's stats.
The other side of the coin is that if Pennington wants to keep a first team place, he needs to do the job Talay asks him to do, DM not AM (or a combination). He also needs to cut the silly mistakes. In my opinion, in the end Pennington will be starting most of next season.
The best Ugarcovic has done with plenty of attempts in the last 2 seasons is to average 1.4 ppg over a 10 game spell. Pennington did it in his first attempt (and really without a stable attack).
I think you're cherry-picking stats here.
Rather than comparing both players in terms of team stats, it's more appropriate to compare their individual stats, i.e. tackles won, pass completion rate, key passes made, aerial duels won, pitch covered, distance run, etc. These would be more accurate metrics.
Yes I understand that but the team stats, in this case, are not irrelevant. The reason for that is the only consistent change to the team when Rufer was injured, was Pennington. Therefore the team stat indicates the effect of his presence.
I did post individual stats previously such as the FFA cup match v Melbourne City where Pennington won the ball 23 times compared to Lewis's 7.
I'm a bit handicapped about looking at Ugarkovic's stats right now because I subscribe to Wyscout for Wellington's stats only. As soon as I have access I'll make more comparison.
And again comparing the Rufer/Lewis partnership with the Pennington/Lewis partnership, the only significant team change is Pennington. Therefore it gives a good indication that that Partnership is working well. Obviously it needs further testing but conceding only 2 goals in 415 minutes, nearly all against the top 3 sides, seems good.
Probs too early of a prediction but I feel like with the team we have now and hopefully with a couple of good quality imports it might be our last chance for a shot at winning the title for a few years as could see next couple of years being a rebuild with likely Uffie leaving + Sutton, Waine maybe off to Europe and with guys only being signed on 1-year deals likely the imports too.
This is wildly ambitious given our current squad. Would need 3-4 top class players (at A-league level), to compete with the big teams.
I don't see how that's out of the question at all. Three imports slots to fill and plenty of depth to add. A whoooole lot of preseason to go.
Sail/Paulsen Payne/Elliot - Wootton/Surman - Laws - Sutton Lewis/Pennington - Ugarkovic/Rufer Van Hattum - Old Ball - Waine
Would expect our remaining 3 visas to be two wide #10's and a striker. So that leaves us chasing a non-visa LB option + a couple non-visa bench options for striker/wide #10.
I hope that we're chasing Gabriel Cleur. He's a good player with Serie B experience. He's been out of favour with Entella this season. He's a RB though.
Sail/Paulsen Payne/Elliot - Wootton/Surman - Laws - Sutton Lewis/Pennington - Ugarkovic/Rufer Van Hattum - Old Ball - Waine
Would expect our remaining 3 visas to be two wide #10's and a striker. So that leaves us chasing a non-visa LB option + a couple non-visa bench options for striker/wide #10.
I hope that we're chasing Gabriel Cleur. He's a good player with Serie B experience. He's been out of favour with Entella this season. He's a RB though.
Pennington interception and tackle rate should be higher. He was playing in a team that barely managed 30% possession some games, thus more defensive out put. Too many variables.
Pennington interception and tackle rate should be higher. He was playing in a team that barely managed 30% possession some games, thus more defensive out put. Too many variables.
I was asked for Stats. I'm delivering on that request.
But I haven't seen a DM with better Interception/tackle rate or recovery rate better than Pennington. Or most importantly ppg among our DM's
Do me a favour, produce something of your own that shows the opposite of what I'm saying, other than you saw him making a couple of foolish mistakes.
All I got out of the Ugarkovic interview: A) He wants to play for the Nix and Uffie style because he can’t learn anything new from Rudan. B) He was impressed by they Phoenix fans and love to play in front of us.
So his worse stats vs Pennigton last season was only because he hates WSW fans and think Rudan is a shark coach.
All I got out of the Ugarkovic interview: A) He wants to play for the Nix and Uffie style because he can’t learn anything new from Rudan. B) He was impressed by they Phoenix fans and love to play in front of us.
So his worse stats vs Pennigton last season was only because he hates WSW fans and think Rudan is a shark coach.
He seems really high on playing with Lewis, which is a good sign
All I got out of the Ugarkovic interview: A) He wants to play for the Nix and Uffie style because he can’t learn anything new from Rudan. B) He was impressed by they Phoenix fans and love to play in front of us.
So his worse stats vs Pennigton last season was only because he hates WSW fans and think Rudan is a shark coach.
You must of missed some of the interview as he made it clear he liked what he saw of Lewis and Rufer and was looking forward to working with them and Pennington. Couldnt work out why i hated stats at school know no why they are bullshark mostly and get twisted every which way.
