WPM 2023/24 Squad Speculation, Confirmation and Mutual Termination

imanixsupporter

Yes but this is a transfer speculation thread. It is quite common for there to be speculation about player signings even months in advance of transfer windows opening. We have 8 signings to make which is a lot of business to do so it'd be heartening to hear of things cooking. 

Mate the season isn’t even over. But here’s some names that have been mentioned if you want to speculate:

GK: Jordan Holmes
RB: Matt Millar
LB: Francis De Vries
CB: Marko Bürki
CM: Daniel De Silva
CM: Taras Gomulka
FW: Al Hassan Toure
ST: Ajak Riak

CloneMM

Ryan

One poster claimed a lower budget, that doesn't necessarily make it true. until we see the makeup of the squad it's just a rumour 

Didn't Cheify imply it in that interview with Pine?

I missed that. What did he say?

Pennington has re-signed for another year. With absolutely no fanfare from the clubs twit account. unbelievable. 

kwlap

Pennington has re-signed for another year. With absolutely no fanfare from the clubs twit account. unbelievable. 

wtf? that's shark

posted 9 minutes ago

Nicholas Pennington re-signs with the Nix on a one year deal!

#COYN! 

https://wellingtonphoenix.com | 

12:59 PM · May 18, 2023

·

351 Views

imanixsupporter

It's all gone quiet in terms of rumors/speculation about imminent signings. Surely if Pennington was to stay they'd have got that over the line by now. It isn't a good look to close the door to Elliott but then make it look like we are letting Pennington string us along. Also I think at this point we can assume we aren't picking up Stefan, he made it clear as day he was dead keen and so if we wanted him we should have got that done by now. So any ideas of what we might get next? Or is it all on hold til we see how the u20's boys do over the next 2 weeks or so? 

Yep, certainly seems like the club screwed up and we're losing Pennington.

... WAIT, WHAT?!?

kwlap

Pennington has re-signed for another year. With absolutely no fanfare from the clubs twit account. unbelievable. 

You posted this 4 minutes *after* the tweet came out.

It's not enough to be upset about the club's real missteps and problems, we have to make up additional ones to get more upset about

Nicholas Pennington re-signs with the Nix on a one year deal! 🤩#COYN! 🔥https://t.co/SAVRs4aeWc | 💛🖤 pic.twitter.com/szT6U20dMk

— Wellington Phoenix 🔥 (@WgtnPhoenixFC) May 18, 2023

I think Pennington has been under rated. Could do well in a new Chiefy system. Looks like we are covered now in that #6 role. Rufer, Pennington, Al Taay and likely an academy player promoted.

reg22

kwlap

Pennington has re-signed for another year. With absolutely no fanfare from the clubs twit account. unbelievable. 

wtf? that's shark

You can't schedule tweets on Twitter, calm your farms. The media guy probably sent the email and then ran to Twitter to post it.

Doloras

kwlap

Pennington has re-signed for another year. With absolutely no fanfare from the clubs twit account. unbelievable. 

You posted this 4 minutes *after* the tweet came out.

It's not enough to be upset about the club's real missteps and problems, we have to make up additional ones to get more upset about

Nicholas Pennington re-signs with the Nix on a one year deal! 🤩#COYN! 🔥https://t.co/SAVRs4aeWc | 💛🖤 pic.twitter.com/szT6U20dMk

— Wellington Phoenix 🔥 (@WgtnPhoenixFC) May 18, 2023

If this isn't the pot calling the kettle black then I'll be the next signing for the Nix.

But on topic, very interested to see what Nico can contribute in a more established role, I've not been a fan to date.

Think the Pennington signing locks in the idea of the 5th visa signing being a 2nd import CB.

Hopefully (and it seems likely will happen) one of Fin Conchie, Jackson Manuel or Dan McKay (all away with U20s) get a senior Nix deal in the midfield. Interesting that Conchie was one of only 2 players who played the full 90 mins against Ecuador, in yesterday's U20s warmup game.

WhoStoleMySock

reg22

kwlap

Pennington has re-signed for another year. With absolutely no fanfare from the clubs twit account. unbelievable. 

wtf? that's shark

You can't schedule tweets on Twitter, calm your farms. The media guy probably sent the email and then ran to Twitter to post it.

yeah yeah yeah, i saw the tweet was already up afterwards, as i posted above

Jazzy Jeff

RR

It isn't really a surprise that Zawada would attract interest after a good season, there are plenty agents/clubs watching the league. It isn't a bad thing to have players that overseas clubs want to buy.

As much as it would suck to lose him, he is a visa & that opens up a lot more options for replacements.

Yeah, but we would probably use that spot for a 9. Someone to score 10+ goals. Someone like... Zawada. 

It's a fair point you've got though that we need import spots badly to reinforce certain areas, but if Zawada goes we're definitely losing out. I wish Ball wasn't a visa player

Regarding Ball, Old is a like-for-like replacement. I was puzzled why he used sparingly towards the end of season.

yellowsite

Jazzy Jeff

RR

It isn't really a surprise that Zawada would attract interest after a good season, there are plenty agents/clubs watching the league. It isn't a bad thing to have players that overseas clubs want to buy.

As much as it would suck to lose him, he is a visa & that opens up a lot more options for replacements.

Yeah, but we would probably use that spot for a 9. Someone to score 10+ goals. Someone like... Zawada. 

It's a fair point you've got though that we need import spots badly to reinforce certain areas, but if Zawada goes we're definitely losing out. I wish Ball wasn't a visa player

Regarding Ball, Old is a like-for-like replacement. I was puzzled why he used sparingly towards the end of season.

Old is injured with same type of osteitis pubis ailment Sarpreeet Singh had. 
Rest the only real cure.

old's a good footballer with a nice technique, but i think he produces very little on the pitch at a-league level. 

i know it's been said before, but he has this annoying habit of waiting for contact and hitting the turf. you need to bring more game than this. add more output and up the workrate and you have a very good ball replacement!

kwlap

Pennington has re-signed for another year. With absolutely no fanfare from the clubs twit account. unbelievable. 

They sent an email out to all members and posted it on twitter.

WhoStoleMySock

reg22

kwlap

Pennington has re-signed for another year. With absolutely no fanfare from the clubs twit account. unbelievable. 

wtf? that's shark

You can't schedule tweets on Twitter, calm your farms. The media guy probably sent the email and then ran to Twitter to post it.

You can if you're using social media management tools like buffer.

Ranix

I think Pennington has been under rated. Could do well in a new Chiefy system. Looks like we are covered now in that #6 role. Rufer, Pennington, Al Taay and likely an academy player promoted.

Would still hope we'll sign another CM with a bit of experience at this level though as I don't think a midfield with those players and an academy midfielder will be enough.

wilbaker

Ranix

I think Pennington has been under rated. Could do well in a new Chiefy system. Looks like we are covered now in that #6 role. Rufer, Pennington, Al Taay and likely an academy player promoted.

Would still hope we'll sign another CM with a bit of experience at this level though as I don't think a midfield with those players and an academy midfielder will be enough.

Lets see how Conchie, McKay & Manuel go in Argentina.

Interesting little writeup from Niche Cache in February on 5 Weenix prospects. Includes McKay plus Charlie Beale, who I understand was considered unlucky to miss out on the U20s team.

https://theniche-cache.com/football/2023/2/17/five-standout-prospects-from-the-wellington-phoenix-academys-class-of-2022

reg22

old's a good footballer with a nice technique, but i think he produces very little on the pitch at a-league level. 

i know it's been said before, but he has this annoying habit of waiting for contact and hitting the turf. you need to bring more game than this. add more output and up the workrate and you have a very good ball replacement!

I can’t agree. I think he’s been injury affected, but was registering some very nice pieces of play outside this. 

But I wouldn’t say he’s similar to Bally so much…

Ryan

WhoStoleMySock

reg22

kwlap

Pennington has re-signed for another year. With absolutely no fanfare from the clubs twit account. unbelievable. 

wtf? that's shark

You can't schedule tweets on Twitter, calm your farms. The media guy probably sent the email and then ran to Twitter to post it.

You can if you're using social media management tools like buffer.

I schedule tweets all the time on the web Twitter.

I'm on the fence about Pennington re-signing. Wonder which side wanted the 1 year deal, I expected us to move away from those.

RR

Ryan

WhoStoleMySock

reg22

kwlap

Pennington has re-signed for another year. With absolutely no fanfare from the clubs twit account. unbelievable. 

wtf? that's shark

You can't schedule tweets on Twitter, calm your farms. The media guy probably sent the email and then ran to Twitter to post it.

You can if you're using social media management tools like buffer.

I schedule tweets all the time on the web Twitter.

I'm on the fence about Pennington re-signing. Wonder which side wanted the 1 year deal, I expected us to move away from those.

I would imagine it works well for both. He's been here two seasons, and he's 24. If he isn't getting meaningful game time by the end of next season then I would imagine for the sake of his career he'd be wanting to move. As for the club, if he's not playing by this time next year then you let him go, after given him three years to prove himself

Jazzy Jeff

RR

Ryan

WhoStoleMySock

reg22

kwlap

Pennington has re-signed for another year. With absolutely no fanfare from the clubs twit account. unbelievable. 

wtf? that's shark

You can't schedule tweets on Twitter, calm your farms. The media guy probably sent the email and then ran to Twitter to post it.

You can if you're using social media management tools like buffer.

I schedule tweets all the time on the web Twitter.

I'm on the fence about Pennington re-signing. Wonder which side wanted the 1 year deal, I expected us to move away from those.

I would imagine it works well for both. He's been here two seasons, and he's 24. If he isn't getting meaningful game time by the end of next season then I would imagine for the sake of his career he'd be wanting to move. As for the club, if he's not playing by this time next year then you let him go, after given him three years to prove himself

it also says there's no potential transfer $$$ here

With Ugarkovic & Lewis gone, the opportunity is there for Pennington. So yes if he ain't getting good minutes next season, then he plainly isn't good enough. 

But personally I hope one of Conchie, Manuel or McKay has a great U20 WC and then moves into the Nix senior squad next season, and gets plenty of ALM mins. Seems overdue to excited about some young Kiwis at the Nix again.

Edit - I'd say the risk that the Nix miss out on a potential hefty transfer fee for Pennington is low. He ain't going to Bayern, Belgian top tier or wherever. If it's Europe it's likely back to Serie C. Even Piscopo for all his talent (also ex Serie C), and talk at one stage of strong European interest, is still kicking around the ALM.

wilbaker

Ranix

I think Pennington has been under rated. Could do well in a new Chiefy system. Looks like we are covered now in that #6 role. Rufer, Pennington, Al Taay and likely an academy player promoted.

Would still hope we'll sign another CM with a bit of experience at this level though as I don't think a midfield with those players and an academy midfielder will be enough.

An attacking CM

Chief said he saw Rufer, Mo, and Pennington as a good balanced set of midfielders, he also said he wants to use the import slot on a centre back. The insinuation is we're stopping the double pivot next year.

For all the angst about losing Lewis and Ugarkovic I agree that it is our defence that was underperforming - at least in the second half of the season - and needs work.

Ryan

Chief said he saw Rufer, Mo, and Pennington as a good balanced set of midfielders, he also said he wants to use the import slot on a centre back. The insinuation is we're stopping the double pivot next year.

This is a pretty interesting re-signing, and one of the early signs of a player that Giancarlo Italiano rated more than Ufuk Talay did. Started just 5 games this season, 3 of them in the Australia Cup, but sounds like Chief sees potential for him to become more of a scorer. https://t.co/SI2s5GJa6Q

— Phillip Rollo (@ByPhillipRollo) May 18, 2023

MacArthur announced their departures and it didn't include De Silva, Toure and Millar so they're probs working on resigning them.

4-1-4-1 Formation, Four at the back Al T. to play in front of them as a sweeper come DM. Rufer & Pennington in the middle, Kraeve & Old or Ball on each side & Zawada up Front. Worth a thought.

Ryan

Chief said he saw Rufer, Mo, and Pennington as a good balanced set of midfielders, he also said he wants to use the import slot on a centre back. The insinuation is we're stopping the double pivot next year.

 Yeah I think with Ellior leaving and us having three ball winnings DM, it looks like we are going to be playing some kind of 4-3-3 variation with an AM in their somewhere, and not needing our fullback to provide as much width attacking wise. 

If we're playing a true defensive midfielder in that sort of setup I'd like to see Kraev tried through the middle in a role where he's free to get forward and help Zawada out. Feel like he's wasted a little out wide

Man City style lineup without adding hypothetical acquisitions (other than an import CB):

IMG_5080.jpeg 410.15 KB

Rufer can drop into CB on defence in the John Stones role. Sutton at LW is certainly a choice, but it’s a fluid formation that can utilise a back 2, 3, 4 or 5. Not sure if Pennington is the guy for the 8 role but the vibe I’m getting from Chiefy is that that’s where he sees him.

To tell the truth it’s probably not the best formation for our players but it’s a big change and in like with the Bielsa style philosophy that Chief likes.

Chief has already said it won't be a back 3

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/a-league/132077482/wellington-phoenix-great-roy-krishna-eyes-shock-aleague-return-after-india-exit
Krishna wants to give the a-league another go, I'm not sure if we want to need him though - I'm sure he's lost some of his pace which made him so dangerous.

Hmmm. Krishna is 35 now. Not sure if we want an ageing Kosta and Krishna in the squad. I guess if the price is right. Would mean less minutes for OVH. Not sure how I feel about this one.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/a-league/132077482/wellington-phoenix-great-roy-krishna-eyes-shock-aleague-return-after-india-exit

Edit. Last season he played us off so he could get a better deal in India. From memory

My understanding too was he played us to get more money but saying that they have to look after number one in that respect.
If he is wanted by the new coach, maybe a one-year contract.
Could be in impact off the bench player??

If Krishna still knows where the back of the net is, surely that puts him above both Ball and Kosta

Nommag

If Krishna still knows where the back of the net is, surely that puts him above both Ball and Kosta

certainly above Kosta - as they play the same position/role.

Krishna's an import. We have one import slot open which we need for a CB.
Bringing Krishna back means getting rid of one of Zawada, Kraev or Ball - or getting a gun local/Aussie CB. Which do you think is more likely to happen?
Answer: neither, Roy will finish his days at the Snakes or Macarthur.