neither were/are good enough
WPM 2023/24 Squad Speculation, Confirmation and Mutual Termination
neither were/are good enough
For comparison, Kraev has had 7 goals and 2 assists (which is 196 minutes for each goal and assist) so on pure metrics (which isn't everything) Sandoval had a better season than Kraev has and would have been our top attacking midfielder if he played for us this season and kept that form.
To be honest we shafted that guy - didn’t he end up playing the majority of his minutes as a defensive midfielder?
I agree he wouldn’t be bad
I agree he wouldn’t be bad
Lacroix is not renewing with Western didn’t have a great season this year but was the best CB in the league the previous season and I think he wanted to leave Western the start of this season so may explain his dip in form. Would take him over Wootton or if we wanted another visa defender.
Jamie Young's also free! Sign him up!
To be honest we shafted that guy - didn’t he end up playing the majority of his minutes as a defensive midfielder?
I agree he wouldn’t be bad
I agree he wouldn’t be bad
I mean Oskar Zawada had a sharkrecord and was basically unknown up until we signed him - I remember most people here (myself included) thought he wasn't much when we signed him. Even still I believe Oskar was quite expensive for us so I can't see us getting either of these lads for as much (or less) as Oskar.
Zawada’s stats were not appalling. He had 274 minutes/goal across 5 seasons before joining us. Many of this from intermittent game time coming off the bench.
Compare that to Ifil who finished with 245 for us was at 320/goal in the 5 years before, although that was all in England championship.
Greenacre was around the same as Zawada in the 3 years before WPX. Skipping his championship year when he scored 1 in 1650 minutes, he averaged 247 in 5 div 1 years, never breaking 200.
Krishna, who ended up with 180+ for us, helped by the 122 in his final season, and most of his time was as a consistent starter, which people say is what a striker needs for form (unless you are a young academy graduate where you are expected to score getting a few minutes every second game).
And before you ask for Krishna back, note he’s gone 115, 128, 202, 313 in the ISL.
Lacroix is not renewing with Western didn’t have a great season this year but was the best CB in the league the previous season and I think he wanted to leave Western the start of this season so may explain his dip in form. Would take him over Wootton or if we wanted another visa defender.
He's also an absolute thug.
Lacroix is not renewing with Western didn’t have a great season this year but was the best CB in the league the previous season and I think he wanted to leave Western the start of this season so may explain his dip in form. Would take him over Wootton or if we wanted another visa defender.
God no. I'd think that we want defenders that are not capable of lapses at all. And if Leo performs like that out of spite, that's toxic.
neither were/are good enough
For comparison, Kraev has had 7 goals and 2 assists (which is 196 minutes for each goal and assist) so on pure metrics (which isn't everything) Sandoval had a better season than Kraev has and would have been our top attacking midfielder if he played for us this season and kept that form.
I remember Sandoval controlled transitions and counters really well.
I guess Sasse had his chances to totally redeem himself, missed that header and got the consolation goal of the season, with two great touches from Kosta and Zawada.
It was kinda odd the way our attackers never settled. If Waine had stayed, scored at least 8-9 goals and we got a home final before he went overseas, you wonder if that would have been better for him…a kind of slingshot. Definitely better for us!
Starting the speculation incredibly early, would like to see us switch to a 41212 with a speedier striker to partner Zawada.
Free agent: Mohamed Buya Turay
Off contract: Nikola Dovedan
Free agent: Mohamed Buya Turay
Off contract: Nikola Dovedan
I mean Oskar Zawada had a shark record and was basically unknown up until we signed him - I remember most people here (myself included) thought he wasn't much when we signed him. Even still I believe Oskar was quite expensive for us so I can't see us getting either of these lads for as much (or less) as Oskar.
Clearly Chief and Uffie look for players with untapped potential. If there was a striker out there with heaps of pace but had similar records to Oskar while still having good fundamentals - that probably our man.
You are quite correct. Zawada was a known quantity in Poland but not consider a star by a long shot; some unkind comments in Polish sports forums (by the punters not by the journos) suggested he might have been an early flash in the pan and never lived up to his potential. I have not seen any comments about the alleged German club he was going to sign for - if that was the case, they would not have offered him the kind of deal that Welnix did to lure him here. For a while some thought he was going to play in Australia as many there do not quite understand that the Nix are NZ based and most articles have to spell it out despite Kopczynski having already played here.
Presumably Sasse is gone & his visa spot Situations Vacant as we commence the world's longest off season. It wouldn't surprise if Giancarlo then waits a few months before commiting someone new to that visa spot. ie first what local players can he pickup to replace Lewis & Ugarkovic.
Lacroix is not renewing with Western didn’t have a great season this year but was the best CB in the league the previous season and I think he wanted to leave Western the start of this season so may explain his dip in form. Would take him over Wootton or if we wanted another visa defender.
God no. I'd think that we want defenders that are not capable of lapses at all. And if Leo performs like that out of spite, that's toxic.
totally agree, in a nix shirt he'd be a guaranteed red card most games.
Keep Elliot, maybe keep Laws but we'd probs want to be signing a starting CB so might not really need him as I'd like Surman to get more minutes, release Boxall, Pennington is a toss-up because we need depth there so unless there's a local young CM we think is better maybe keep and Sasse I have a feeling he could come good with a year under his belt and being more settled in NZ but I think if none of the other imports are leaving he's a luxury to have so probs have to release to use the visa spot in a position where we need more quality.
"Hearing that the club has a different view" does that relate to all of those 5 players or just one or some of them?
More than anything we need to strengthen our defence. Has been poor the last two seasons now. Releases need to be with this in mind.
I think Mohamed Al-Taay to the Nix could be quite likely. He follows us and chiefy but his family is also starting to. Same happened when Sasse was close to signing.
He can play midfield and right back. I know some on here don't rate him but a lot of Jets fans were upset he left
He can play midfield and right back. I know some on here don't rate him but a lot of Jets fans were upset he left
I wouldn’t be unhappy with Piney’s outcome. There’d be another two outcomes I’d be just okay with.
What do we think the club disagrees with? Are we being setup for a rebuilding year where we have huge turnover, don’t really fill it and try and bring younger players through?
What do we think the club disagrees with? Are we being setup for a rebuilding year where we have huge turnover, don’t really fill it and try and bring younger players through?
Lewis going to bottom placed MacArthur, who draw crowds of around 3k - Wow... some people have have no pride
Money talks I guess
Money talks I guess
It could also be the 'players have a different view' ie choosing not to re-sign. I'm sure a few of those 5 will have other offers floating around.
"Hearing that the club has a different view" does that relate to all of those 5 players or just one or some of them?
Yeah from that comment I'm sorta leaning towards all of them being released or all of them but Sasse.
If Elliot decides to move on, Chiefy may shift Payne to RB.
BUT, we really need to sign a Taylor-type defender. I've never felt confident with our defence ever since he left.
BUT, we really need to sign a Taylor-type defender. I've never felt confident with our defence ever since he left.
If Elliot decides to move on, Chiefy may shift Payne to RB.
BUT, we really need to sign a Taylor-type defender. I've never felt confident with our defence ever since he left.
BUT, we really need to sign a Taylor-type defender. I've never felt confident with our defence ever since he left.
Standout off contract local options are:
- Trent Sainsbury
- Nando Pijnaker
- Kyle Adams
- Kai Trewin
- Tommy Smith
If Elliot decides to move on, Chiefy may shift Payne to RB.
BUT, we really need to sign a Taylor-type defender. I've never felt confident with our defence ever since he left.
BUT, we really need to sign a Taylor-type defender. I've never felt confident with our defence ever since he left.
God I hope not. He is an awful right back these days. Personally, I don’t see him as starting quality. I’d want the right hand side of defence completely replaced if that comes to pass.
The other night I saw Ben Old and Pennington moving furniture and a bunch of training gear into my apartment building, they might be taking Sutton and Laws' apartment (who lived there too). If so you'd think Pennington will be staying, which honestly would be a huge relief regardless of what you think of him, given the lack of 6s in the squad
I'd like to see our two WeeNix u20 mids given a chance ahead of Pennington.
He was given good minutes over the last 2 years at different times... he had a chance to prove himself. Time to give that same chance to some other kids.
He was given good minutes over the last 2 years at different times... he had a chance to prove himself. Time to give that same chance to some other kids.
I'd like to see our two WeeNix u20 mids given a chance ahead of Pennington.
He was given good minutes over the last 2 years at different times... he had a chance to prove himself. Time to give that same chance to some other kids.
He was given good minutes over the last 2 years at different times... he had a chance to prove himself. Time to give that same chance to some other kids.
I have heard that the owners have instructed the club to dramatically reduce costs in the first team. Think you will see quite a few of the Reserve Team getting academy contracts.
Wellington Phoenix can confirm that eight A-League Men players will leave the club
— Wellington Phoenix 🔥 (@WgtnPhoenixFC) May 9, 2023
Oli Sail, Clayton Lewis, Steven Ugarkovic, Callan Elliot, Josh Laws, Nikko Boxall, Yan Sasse & Lucas Mauragis will all depart the club
Read more 👇
Wellington Phoenix can confirm that eight A-League Men players will leave the club
— Wellington Phoenix 🔥 (@WgtnPhoenixFC) May 9, 2023
Oli Sail, Clayton Lewis, Steven Ugarkovic, Callan Elliot, Josh Laws, Nikko Boxall, Yan Sasse & Lucas Mauragis will all depart the club
Read more 👇
wow, that's a lot more than expected. Shame to lose Elliot,.
I'd like to see our two WeeNix u20 mids given a chance ahead of Pennington.
He was given good minutes over the last 2 years at different times... he had a chance to prove himself. Time to give that same chance to some other kids.
He was given good minutes over the last 2 years at different times... he had a chance to prove himself. Time to give that same chance to some other kids.
I have heard that the owners have instructed the club to dramatically reduce costs in the first team. Think you will see quite a few of the Reserve Team getting academy contracts.
That’s great news! If we spend no money we can still have an incredibly successful season even if we finish near the bottom of the table. #sarc
Sorry-related to a discussion in another thread…
Surprised to see if Laws going, but maybe they’ve already got a plan there. Or he’s already got a plan…
And with Elliot (and Mauragis) going there’s a big chunk of the service Zawada enjoyed going. Again with zero transfer compensation. Seems like that strategy is having a few glitches.
And with Elliot (and Mauragis) going there’s a big chunk of the service Zawada enjoyed going. Again with zero transfer compensation. Seems like that strategy is having a few glitches.
I dont think Sasse was a failure at all, but im very happy we arent keeping him around. We desperately need an import midfielder to pair with Rufer. Or even another CB.
I dont think Sasse was a failure at all, but im very happy we arent keeping him around. We desperately need an import midfielder to pair with Rufer. Or even another CB.
What site do people use to make the playing XI's? I found a few but they didnt have the option for the backups/reserves
What site do people use to make the playing XI's? I found a few but they didnt have the option for the backups/reserves
Man that's a lot of signings that the clubs gonna have to make over the next wee while. Won't be surprised if it's a much weaked squad we end up with, I think the owners spent up large (relative to Nix standards) for a shot at top two this year which didn't work. We will be in for a little bit of austerity I think.
Francis De Vries is a no brainer. Really hope we target him
plenty of space to build something meaningful