WPM 2023/24 Squad Speculation, Confirmation and Mutual Termination

People have said on here that the club have gone backwards.  Personally I think that is unfair.  We have one of the best training facilities in the A league from what players are saying now.  As opposed to one of the worst when we first started.  We have an excellent academy as well.  The infrastructure is all there.

We were dealt a dreadful hand during the Covid period and the circumstances of being based as we were.  A fair few clubs in this league would have disappeared under those conditions. We are now recovering from that.

I believe we are not moving backwards.  it is an optical illusion.  We are moving forwards, but other clubs are moving forwards faster.  I am convinced though we are gathering momentum.  I reckon to  Chiefy and his staff being a great management unit.  Our Central Coast style time will come, maybe even this year.

I thought that overall ALM is a much better league than people paint it. We have to keep improving as a club (as we have, overall, over time) to stay in touch with the playing standard and squad depths. I am more concerned about playing squad depth than about our first XI.

There was an interview with Dome on the BFG podcast the other day where he said we've done the global search and brought in a big budget coach before and it was an unmitigated disaster and that the Nix is a relatively unique beast and therefore it makes sense to develop internally. 

If we look within the A-League at the big name coaches, who would we go for? Popovic was terrible with a lot more money than us, Corrica probably did just enough to keep his job while spending more money than us, the Rado ship has sailed, Veert just signed a multi year extension, Montgomery will only leave the Mariners to move overseas, and Rudan speaks for himself.

I wasn't ecstatic about Chief but I've grown to like the idea. I have high hopes for the season he's already making pragmatic changes and we shouldn't forget that at one point we were a win away from second and still made it into the finals despite a massive implosion. All we need is tweaks to improve and Chief is saying all the right things. Really it was between him, Greenacre, and a bit of a curve ball with the likes of Jose, Ramon, or Hay.

The other thing that Dome has said was Talay has always finished above our budget on the ladder except this year where he finished bang on it. So we can safely assume we're very much a mid table spending team and therefore get mid table results on average with blips on either side. Bearing in mind that this was also our most expensive squad ever and therefore we might sit somewhere lower than mid table on average.

From what I understand, Greenie is on standby to step in if Chiefy fails.

Mainland FC

I thought that overall ALM is a much better league than people paint it. We have to keep improving as a club (as we have, overall, over time) to stay in touch with the playing standard and squad depths. I am more concerned about playing squad depth than about our first XI.

I mean that was our downfall this season. Our bench was weak as piss. Probably compounded by no real plan B tactics wise.

i

WanderingSheep

Mainland FC

I thought that overall ALM is a much better league than people paint it. We have to keep improving as a club (as we have, overall, over time) to stay in touch with the playing standard and squad depths. I am more concerned about playing squad depth than about our first XI.

I mean that was our downfall this season. Our bench was weak as piss. Probably compounded by no real plan B tactics wise.

 cant see it being any better next year. Guys will be older and wiser so that may help. Anyways as every year ill wait and see...

Elemenop

i

WanderingSheep

Mainland FC

I thought that overall ALM is a much better league than people paint it. We have to keep improving as a club (as we have, overall, over time) to stay in touch with the playing standard and squad depths. I am more concerned about playing squad depth than about our first XI.

I mean that was our downfall this season. Our bench was weak as piss. Probably compounded by no real plan B tactics wise.

 cant see it being any better next year. Guys will be older and wiser so that may help. Anyways as every year ill wait and see...

It concerns me we don't have a backup for Zawada. Waine gave us okay depth there but was never replaced. I've said that a few times and will probably keep saying it until we get at least one other ALM quality striker.

siac

Elemenop

i

WanderingSheep

Mainland FC

I thought that overall ALM is a much better league than people paint it. We have to keep improving as a club (as we have, overall, over time) to stay in touch with the playing standard and squad depths. I am more concerned about playing squad depth than about our first XI.

I mean that was our downfall this season. Our bench was weak as piss. Probably compounded by no real plan B tactics wise.

 cant see it being any better next year. Guys will be older and wiser so that may help. Anyways as every year ill wait and see...

It concerns me we don't have a backup for Zawada. Waine gave us okay depth there but was never replaced. I've said that a few times and will probably keep saying it until we get at least one other ALM quality striker.

We don't have a backup - yet. Plenty of time in the off-season to get one

I think signing Kosta was meant to bolster our attack depth but we effectively only gained Zawada for the loss of Piscopo, Sotirio and Wayne (in terms of effective goal-scorers). 

from google translate.

Nothing is known about the future of Marco Rojas after leaving @ColoColo. In a recent interview, the coach of the Chilean team says that it was the kiwi who decided to end his contract to return to New Zealand. I hope @WgtnPhoenixFC stay tuned as that would be a great signing.

Home has always been Melbourne since he left NZ the first time. I'd expect him to return to Victory if anywhere in the a-league.

theprof

from google translate.

Nothing is known about the future of Marco Rojas after leaving @ColoColo. In a recent interview, the coach of the Chilean team says that it was the kiwi who decided to end his contract to return to New Zealand. I hope @WgtnPhoenixFC stay tuned as that would be a great signing.

Home has always been Melbourne since he left NZ the first time. I'd expect him to return to Victory if anywhere in the a-league.

Yeah I think most expect him to return to Victory but I also wonder if Victory will be that interested iirc he's still a visa slot for them? also turning 32 after the season starts maybe wanting a longer deal than a year? There could be a few factors that could sway in our favor. 

wilbaker

theprof

from google translate.

Nothing is known about the future of Marco Rojas after leaving @ColoColo. In a recent interview, the coach of the Chilean team says that it was the kiwi who decided to end his contract to return to New Zealand. I hope @WgtnPhoenixFC stay tuned as that would be a great signing.

Home has always been Melbourne since he left NZ the first time. I'd expect him to return to Victory if anywhere in the a-league.

Yeah I think most expect him to return to Victory but I also wonder if Victory will be that interested iirc he's still a visa slot for them? also turning 32 after the season starts maybe wanting a longer deal than a year? There could be a few factors that could sway in our favor. 

Also this is what, the second or third source referring to home as New Zealand? I know he is a New Zealander and those sources may just be inferring that home for him is New Zealand but maybe we are losing something in translation or they know something we don't know?? 

I become more positive that he might choose the Nix each time these sources keep saying these things. At the same time though we shouldn't pay mega bucks for him, Rojas is slightly past his best (definitely not as overdone as Kosta which is good).

theprof

from google translate.

Nothing is known about the future of Marco Rojas after leaving @ColoColo. In a recent interview, the coach of the Chilean team says that it was the kiwi who decided to end his contract to return to New Zealand. I hope @WgtnPhoenixFC stay tuned as that would be a great signing.

Home has always been Melbourne since he left NZ the first time. I'd expect him to return to Victory if anywhere in the a-league.

Yeah I think most expect him to return to Victory but I also wonder if Victory will be that interested iirc he's still a visa slot for them? also turning 32 after the season starts maybe wanting a longer deal than a year? There could be a few factors that could sway in our favor. 

wilbaker

theprof

from google translate.

Nothing is known about the future of Marco Rojas after leaving @ColoColo. In a recent interview, the coach of the Chilean team says that it was the kiwi who decided to end his contract to return to New Zealand. I hope @WgtnPhoenixFC stay tuned as that would be a great signing.

Home has always been Melbourne since he left NZ the first time. I'd expect him to return to Victory if anywhere in the a-league.

Yeah I think most expect him to return to Victory but I also wonder if Victory will be that interested iirc he's still a visa slot for them? also turning 32 after the season starts maybe wanting a longer deal than a year? There could be a few factors that could sway in our favor. 

Also this is what, the second or third source referring to home as New Zealand? I know he is a New Zealander and those sources may just be inferring that home for him is New Zealand but maybe we are losing something in translation or they know something we don't know?? 

I become more positive that he might choose the Nix each time these sources keep saying these things. At the same time though we shouldn't pay mega bucks for him, Rojas is slightly past his best (definitely not as overdone as Kosta which is good).

He is a current Kiwi international though so should still warrant some decent dosh in terms of salary

anaveragestem

wilbaker

theprof

from google translate.

Nothing is known about the future of Marco Rojas after leaving @ColoColo. In a recent interview, the coach of the Chilean team says that it was the kiwi who decided to end his contract to return to New Zealand. I hope @WgtnPhoenixFC stay tuned as that would be a great signing.

Home has always been Melbourne since he left NZ the first time. I'd expect him to return to Victory if anywhere in the a-league.

Yeah I think most expect him to return to Victory but I also wonder if Victory will be that interested iirc he's still a visa slot for them? also turning 32 after the season starts maybe wanting a longer deal than a year? There could be a few factors that could sway in our favor. 

Also this is what, the second or third source referring to home as New Zealand? I know he is a New Zealander and those sources may just be inferring that home for him is New Zealand but maybe we are losing something in translation or they know something we don't know?? 

I become more positive that he might choose the Nix each time these sources keep saying these things. At the same time though we shouldn't pay mega bucks for him, Rojas is slightly past his best (definitely not as overdone as Kosta which is good).

I know an import CB is still our primary target but it is possible we can fill that out with decent locals Adams and De Vries. But Penha (ex Newcastle Jets) has just become available and he’d be a huge upgrade on Sasse. He’s most likely looking at a return to the A-League id say so will be a bit of competition between other clubs.

Any idea who Brisbane's new signing could be? Hint is 'GKNIX' which makes me think it's someone who plays/played for us. Marinovic, maybe?

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Alex Pearson, played for Sydney fc last season

dunnix

Any idea who Brisbane's new signing could be? Hint is 'GKNIX' which makes me think it's someone who plays/played for us. Marinovic, maybe?

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From what I understand, Greenie is on standby to step in if Chiefy fails.

Hope it’s Marinovic. You always want to see good players playing football and it’d add to the intrigue for the season. 
Can’t be any of our academy? It’s Tony Warner?

Any idea who Brisbane's new signing could be? Hint is 'GKNIX' which makes me think it's someone who plays/played for us. Marinovic, maybe?

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I think pre season training starts today?  The long slog huh LOl.  Mind you, with the FAA cup in August, not all that much time to get ready.

Could we sign that guy Ziyech?