That falls into players we love and the opposition thinks were dickheads- which I think we had 3-4 of! Fortress Wellington was a genuine thing…
Siggie scored late winners and honestly don’t think anyone at the time had anything but local boy done good to say about him?
Plus I think the league has evolved from the point where there was a lot of thuggery. Brisbane stand out in the memory, but Kevin Muscat had a long career and many others besides.
Wellington Phoenix men's coach Giancarlo Italiano on the one vacant import spot on his roster for the 2023/24 A-League season ...@newstalkzbsportpic.twitter.com/SDhOFO0FFg
Wellington Phoenix men's coach Giancarlo Italiano on the one vacant import spot on his roster for the 2023/24 A-League season ...@newstalkzbsportpic.twitter.com/SDhOFO0FFg
Surely we still use that spot in another position? Because atm the squad is looking heavily reliant on some young players coming in and automatically becoming starter-level players if we're wanting to be competitive this season.
Wellington Phoenix men's coach Giancarlo Italiano on the one vacant import spot on his roster for the 2023/24 A-League season ...@newstalkzbsportpic.twitter.com/SDhOFO0FFg
So can one assume that Isaac Hughes will soon be receiving an upgraded contracted? That and this James Bayliss lad who seems to have been trialling as well? Sounds like he can cover a couple of positions in the midfield and the backline too...
Sounds like the rumors of the owners wanting to cut some costs are being confirmed basically. Hopefully it works out for the new gaf, I certainly won't judge him too harshly results wise if there aren't reinforcements coming.
On a similar note - does anyone know why everyone seems to be saving money in the A-League this year? No clubs are really going for big name signings. Is the league really in that bad of a position? Especially coming out of a super successful Womens WC which is going to pump millions into the game on both sides of the Tasman.
I mean I get that NZ is in a bit of an economic slump but the same can't quite be said for Aus who appear to be doing better than most countries in the world.
Sadly, this sounds all too much like we've entered a cost-saving era after the league was forced to reckon with some hard economic truths on the back of last season's attendances and the debts of pandemics past. It may turn out that the wealthier clubs reassert themselves over the next little while as we wait to see where the great recalibration leaves us.
On a similar note - does anyone know why everyone seems to be saving money in the A-League this year? No clubs are really going for big name signings. Is the league really in that bad of a position? Especially coming out of a super successful Womens WC which is going to pump millions into the game on both sides of the Tasman.
I mean I get that NZ is in a bit of an economic slump but the same can't quite be said for Aus who appear to be doing better than most countries in the world.
Think people are kidding themselves if they think because the World Cup was successful that means people are going to turn up at A League fixtures. Its not just NZ that in a bit of a slump have read plenty saying that things in Aussie arnt as rosy as you seem to think they are. Hope like hell im wrong but sadly i think there are just to many in both countries who claim to be football fans but wont support the local game.
On a similar note - does anyone know why everyone seems to be saving money in the A-League this year? No clubs are really going for big name signings. Is the league really in that bad of a position? Especially coming out of a super successful Womens WC which is going to pump millions into the game on both sides of the Tasman.
I mean I get that NZ is in a bit of an economic slump but the same can't quite be said for Aus who appear to be doing better than most countries in the world.
Not just NZ in an economic hole, these business owners would have been leaking money from everywhere, with Perth owners selling and Newcastle in the whole it makes sense to use the youth academy that you've invested heavily in.
Maybe if his trial is successful we'll use the last import on him? Would be on very cheap wages and would be fitting in with having youth we can sell on. But I guess he'd have to be a real talent to use an import slot on.
Maybe if his trial is successful we'll use the last import on him? Would be on very cheap wages and would be fitting in with having youth we can sell on. But I guess he'd have to be a real talent to use an import slot on.
The fact that he hasn't featured in any of the practice games so far is not a great sign. But then still 8 weeks out from ALM start, so maybe he is still getting upto speed with training.
Edit. But if they do go outside the acadamy, You'd think Francis de Vries and JHS would be worthy trialists also.
Wootton is our only proven decent centre back, Payne isn't good enough to be A-League starting quality, either at RB or CB, I'd like an upgrade on Payne in both positions. I hope Surman steps up this year and is better than Payne has been over the past two seasons, I think he is capable of it. Getting rid of Callan at RB looking stupid now (though I didn't think so at the time). Our midfield is lower middle of the table quality. As for our attack, we only have two decent forwards in Kraev and Zawada, I think Ball and Kosta are a little too old and past it and the rest are unproven youngsters.
Start of the season less than a month away, starting to feel quite nervous. Need good reinforcements and fast.
Thinking about how we might line up given Chief’s comments about potentially not signing another VISA.
I reckon he’s gonna stick with the 4-2-4 formation, which with everyone fit and available could look something like this: IMG_5459.jpeg431.12 KBPersonally I’m pretty uncomfortable with Al-Taay at RB, but having seen Thomas Partey play there for Arsenal, Chiefy could be looking to do something similar. That being having Mo invert and push into the midfield.
Signing Francis De Vries would allow us to do something like that, because when Mo goes to CDM, FDV can stay back to form a back 3 with Surman and Wootton.
Realistically Payne will probably start, but as a former CDM, he could potentially be utilised in the same way.
Breaking down the squad, it shows that our depth is still a real weakness, and if Zawada goes I think we’ll be kinda fu cked.
Idk, I’m apprehensive about this season and definitely think we need a few more signings. But I’m still excited to see what Chief will bring to the club, and if it works, I’m excited to see us try to control the game more than we have in the past.
Thinking about how we might line up given Chief’s comments about potentially not signing another VISA.
I reckon he’s gonna stick with the 4-2-4 formation, which with everyone fit and available could look something like this: IMG_5459.jpeg431.12 KBPersonally I’m pretty uncomfortable with Al-Taay at RB, but having seen Thomas Partey play there for Arsenal, Chiefy could be looking to do something similar. That being having Mo invert and push into the midfield.
Signing Francis De Vries would allow us to do something like that, because when Mo goes to CDM, FDV can stay back to form a back 3 with Surman and Wootton.
Realistically Payne will probably start, but as a former CDM, he could potentially be utilised in the same way.
Breaking down the squad, it shows that our depth is still a real weakness, and if Zawada goes I think we’ll be kinda fu cked.
Idk, I’m apprehensive about this season and definitely think we need a few more signings. But I’m still excited to see what Chief will bring to the club, and if it works, I’m excited to see us try to control the game more than we have in the past.
There's about 2 top-four quality players in our whole squad. Scary.
Yes, exactly 2, Kraev and Zawada. Unbelievable we haven't even made a single signing of note, one that will undoubtedly be first choice. Closest would be al-Taay but even he might find himself on the bench behind Rufer and Pennington depending on how Chiefy sets the team up. There is still time but until we start getting any it's an anxious time for the Nix fan.
Yes, exactly 2, Kraev and Zawada. Unbelievable we haven't even made a single signing of note, one that will undoubtedly be first choice. Closest would be al-Taay but even he might find himself on the bench behind Rufer and Pennington depending on how Chiefy sets the team up. There is still time but until we start getting any it's an anxious time for the Nix fan.
We saw very little of Kraev's skills today. Hope there is much more to come from him.
I'm hoping we make at least one signing who is as good as one of Waine, Sasse, Lewis, Ugarkovic, Elliot or Sail. None of our signings to date would make it into a starting eleven over any of them. At this rate we will be going into the new season with six downgrades to our starting xi (though I guess one could argue that Paulsen might be better than Sail and somebody from our current squad might be more effective than Sasse, but by the same token one might argue that Laws is better than Surman).
On a similar note - does anyone know why everyone seems to be saving money in the A-League this year? No clubs are really going for big name signings. Is the league really in that bad of a position? Especially coming out of a super successful Womens WC which is going to pump millions into the game on both sides of the Tasman.
I mean I get that NZ is in a bit of an economic slump but the same can't quite be said for Aus who appear to be doing better than most countries in the world.
What evidence has there been that the WWC has resulted in significant revenue for AL(M&W) teams?
On a similar note - does anyone know why everyone seems to be saving money in the A-League this year? No clubs are really going for big name signings. Is the league really in that bad of a position? Especially coming out of a super successful Womens WC which is going to pump millions into the game on both sides of the Tasman.
I mean I get that NZ is in a bit of an economic slump but the same can't quite be said for Aus who appear to be doing better than most countries in the world.
What evidence has there been that the WWC has resulted in significant revenue for AL(M&W) teams?
Fifa are putting millions into both NZ and Aus football. Even if that goes to grassroots this still helps AL teams. Even if minimal the extra interest from kids will result in at least some ticket sales no matter how small.
Further to that, what I took from Pragnell's comments in the media is that the new Auckland A League team is somewhat funded by the recent interest from the WWC. Whether it was indirect or direct funding I wouldn't know but reading between the lines I thought it was obvious Pragnell was implying the money was from the WWC & Fifa.
Either way we will hear more info in the next couple of weeks when the team gets announced and we learn more about it.
On a similar note - does anyone know why everyone seems to be saving money in the A-League this year? No clubs are really going for big name signings. Is the league really in that bad of a position? Especially coming out of a super successful Womens WC which is going to pump millions into the game on both sides of the Tasman.
I mean I get that NZ is in a bit of an economic slump but the same can't quite be said for Aus who appear to be doing better than most countries in the world.
What evidence has there been that the WWC has resulted in significant revenue for AL(M&W) teams?
Fifa are putting millions into both NZ and Aus football. Even if that goes to grassroots this still helps AL teams. Even if minimal the extra interest from kids will result in at least some ticket sales no matter how small.
Further to that, what I took from Pragnell's comments in the media is that the new Auckland A League team is somewhat funded by the recent interest from the WWC. Whether it was indirect or direct funding I wouldn't know but reading between the lines I thought it was obvious Pragnell was implying the money was from the WWC & Fifa.
Either way we will hear more info in the next couple of weeks when the team gets announced and we learn more about it.
Indirect funding or impact from funding of grassroots footy isnt what you're original statement wsa suggesting though was it? You were, incorrectly, suggesting that A-league teams were getting cold hard cash from the WWC. The funding doesnt goes to the national federations, who then fund the amatuer game. None of the a-league franchises will be getting a penny from the investment from FIFA. Only real benefit would be the improvements to the stadia. If NZF are partially funding the Auckland bid, then sure the funds may have come from WWC $$$, but it wont have been given to NZF with the specific purpose in mind.
The VUC have already sold more season memberships for their ALW team than ever before. So that's an obvious benefit flowing over from the WWC.
It's a possibility that a major sponsor either NZ based, or from Asia for example has come on board with the new Auckland club - after seeing the success of the WWC downunder, with large viewership numbers and attendances. That could have happened. Certainly the timing of the WWC has been useful for Pragnell in his quest to launch a 2nd NZ A League club.
On a similar note - does anyone know why everyone seems to be saving money in the A-League this year? No clubs are really going for big name signings. Is the league really in that bad of a position? Especially coming out of a super successful Womens WC which is going to pump millions into the game on both sides of the Tasman.
I mean I get that NZ is in a bit of an economic slump but the same can't quite be said for Aus who appear to be doing better than most countries in the world.
What evidence has there been that the WWC has resulted in significant revenue for AL(M&W) teams?
Fifa are putting millions into both NZ and Aus football. Even if that goes to grassroots this still helps AL teams. Even if minimal the extra interest from kids will result in at least some ticket sales no matter how small.
Further to that, what I took from Pragnell's comments in the media is that the new Auckland A League team is somewhat funded by the recent interest from the WWC. Whether it was indirect or direct funding I wouldn't know but reading between the lines I thought it was obvious Pragnell was implying the money was from the WWC & Fifa.
Either way we will hear more info in the next couple of weeks when the team gets announced and we learn more about it.
Indirect funding or impact from funding of grassroots footy isnt what you're original statement wsa suggesting though was it? You were, incorrectly, suggesting that A-league teams were getting cold hard cash from the WWC. The funding doesnt goes to the national federations, who then fund the amatuer game. None of the a-league franchises will be getting a penny from the investment from FIFA. Only real benefit would be the improvements to the stadia. If NZF are partially funding the Auckland bid, then sure the funds may have come from WWC $$$, but it wont have been given to NZF with the specific purpose in mind.
My original statement said "pump millions into the game" i.e. into football. I think it is reasonably obvious that while the money won't in almost all cases be going directly to the A-Leagues it is still a significant net positive. To be fair I think the A-Leagues won't feel this net positive for a number of years as money filters through the game
The VUC have already sold more season memberships for their ALW team than ever before. So that's an obvious benefit flowing over from the WWC.
It's a possibility that a major sponsor either NZ based, or from Asia for example has come on board with the new Auckland club - after seeing the success of the WWC downunder, with large viewership numbers and attendances. That could have happened. Certainly the timing of the WWC has been useful for Pragnell in his quest to launch a 2nd NZ A League club.
Maybe they can pay back some of their debts then. Remember, their accountants told them they were insolvent and they were forced to borrow millions from the A-League.
The answer to the question about clubs reducing budgets is that the clubs have massively overspent and the league is underdelivering. I read that Paramount/Ten's TV deal was built around ratings that never materialised and therefore the A-League received substantially less money than anticipated. Good economy or bad, owners are only willing to throw so much money into a football club and if the clubs revenues are declining then so will their budget.
Surely if there are two professional teams based in New Zealand then that is the bulk of the confederation’s professional players playing here. Surely the national body has to take more interest at that point in whatever way?
