WPM 2023/24 Squad Speculation, Confirmation and Mutual Termination

Well done to the pair of them. 👏

Great to see this depth coming through. We're obviously not going to be shy about creating a pathway through to the first team while Chiefy's at the helm, but I like this move. 

16 under contract for next season already, so that's some great continuity there, and of that 13 of them are Kiwis. 
You love to see it!

🗣️ “I don’t want to lose (Alex Paulsen)”@WgtnPhoenixFC’s goalkeeping revelation Alex Paulsen made his third penalty save of the season🧤

Head coach Giancarlo Italiano is determined to keep him with the January transfer window looming.#ALM #WellingtonPhoenix pic.twitter.com/pEwUyWjnIk

— Isuzu UTE A-League (@aleaguemen) December 19, 2023

I know these sort of snapshot/edited videos are made for clicks, and I realise the buzz around the lad in this part of the world at the moment. But I do wonder if the Phoenix have received some sort of interest in Paulsen's services? 

Would have to be one hell of an offer on the table to even get around and discuss a move, but his progress & performance levels are seemingly making louder and louder noise in more cashed up regions abroad that's for sure.

Maybe off to Auckland..

YoungHeartHM

🗣️ “I don’t want to lose (Alex Paulsen)”@WgtnPhoenixFC’s goalkeeping revelation Alex Paulsen made his third penalty save of the season🧤

Head coach Giancarlo Italiano is determined to keep him with the January transfer window looming.#ALM #WellingtonPhoenix pic.twitter.com/pEwUyWjnIk

— Isuzu UTE A-League (@aleaguemen) December 19, 2023

I know these sort of snapshot/edited videos are made for clicks, and I realise the buzz around the lad in this part of the world at the moment. But I do wonder if the Phoenix have received some sort of interest in Paulsen's services? 

Would have to be one hell of an offer on the table to even get around and discuss a move, but his progress & performance levels are seemingly making louder and louder noise in more cashed up regions abroad that's for sure.

Dome has said that the Nix in the past have sold players too cheaply. Hence dragged out negotiations with Plymouth for Waine.

If Paulsen’s stocks consider to rise so will his transfer fee. The Olympics will be a big window for him.  I think the Nix will take their time, he’s on like a 3 year deal? Plus AP himself should wait. He’s still a youngster for a keeper and he’s the starter. No rush to try Europe. At some stage he will let in a howler, all keepers do. And getting over that will be a new challenge, learning process. And if he was going to Auckland he wouldn’t have just recently signed the new Nix extension 

He seems like a very grounded young guy. I would hope that common sense would tell him he's only eight games into regular first team football and that no matter how well he's been playing he still has a lot of development to do. Might seem like a strange thing to say but young talented keepers need plenty of game time to make mistakes so that they can learn form those mistakes. 

Would hate to see him whisked away by some big club only to end up on the bench/reserve team/loan out treadmill that so many young players end up on.

YoungHeartHM

🗣️ “I don’t want to lose (Alex Paulsen)”@WgtnPhoenixFC’s goalkeeping revelation Alex Paulsen made his third penalty save of the season🧤

Head coach Giancarlo Italiano is determined to keep him with the January transfer window looming.#ALM #WellingtonPhoenix pic.twitter.com/pEwUyWjnIk

— Isuzu UTE A-League (@aleaguemen) December 19, 2023

I know these sort of snapshot/edited videos are made for clicks, and I realise the buzz around the lad in this part of the world at the moment. But I do wonder if the Phoenix have received some sort of interest in Paulsen's services? 

Would have to be one hell of an offer on the table to even get around and discuss a move, but his progress & performance levels are seemingly making louder and louder noise in more cashed up regions abroad that's for sure.

he was asked if they'd sell Paulsen in January, it's just a hypothetical answer to a speculative question.

coochiee

YoungHeartHM

🗣️ “I don’t want to lose (Alex Paulsen)”@WgtnPhoenixFC’s goalkeeping revelation Alex Paulsen made his third penalty save of the season🧤

Head coach Giancarlo Italiano is determined to keep him with the January transfer window looming.#ALM #WellingtonPhoenix pic.twitter.com/pEwUyWjnIk

— Isuzu UTE A-League (@aleaguemen) December 19, 2023

I know these sort of snapshot/edited videos are made for clicks, and I realise the buzz around the lad in this part of the world at the moment. But I do wonder if the Phoenix have received some sort of interest in Paulsen's services? 

Would have to be one hell of an offer on the table to even get around and discuss a move, but his progress & performance levels are seemingly making louder and louder noise in more cashed up regions abroad that's for sure.

Dome has said that the Nix in the past have sold players too cheaply. Hence dragged out negotiations with Plymouth for Waine.

If Paulsen’s stocks consider to rise so will his transfer fee. The Olympics will be a big window for him.  I think the Nix will take their time, he’s on like a 3 year deal? Plus AP himself should wait. He’s still a youngster for a keeper and he’s the starter. Europe can wait. And if he was going to Auckland he wouldn’t have just recently signed the new Nix extension 

Yep, rest assured that if he is going somewhere, it definitely won't be on the cheap. Especially if he keeps up his excellent form.
 
I've said it before (and I don't necessarily think it will be an issue) but I'll say it again, he just needs to look over to Joe Gauci at Adelaide. There's the marker for young A-League keepers - Playing week in, week out for several seasons now, he's in the national team set up and he must be 23/24 at the moment, so realistically could have another 10-12 + years left in the game - He'll have no shortage of suitors over the next year or two to pick where he ends up. 

My original post was more of rhetorical question - I guess in the sense that everyone has a price. And who knows? What happens if a German, or Italian or English top flight side come knocking?

I'm off to find that interview to see the line of questioning behind Chiefy's answer.

Ryan

YoungHeartHM

🗣️ “I don’t want to lose (Alex Paulsen)”@WgtnPhoenixFC’s goalkeeping revelation Alex Paulsen made his third penalty save of the season🧤

Head coach Giancarlo Italiano is determined to keep him with the January transfer window looming.#ALM #WellingtonPhoenix pic.twitter.com/pEwUyWjnIk

— Isuzu UTE A-League (@aleaguemen) December 19, 2023

I know these sort of snapshot/edited videos are made for clicks, and I realise the buzz around the lad in this part of the world at the moment. But I do wonder if the Phoenix have received some sort of interest in Paulsen's services? 

Would have to be one hell of an offer on the table to even get around and discuss a move, but his progress & performance levels are seemingly making louder and louder noise in more cashed up regions abroad that's for sure.

he was asked if they'd sell Paulsen in January, it's just a hypothetical answer to a speculative question.

YoungHeartHM

🗣️ “I don’t want to lose (Alex Paulsen)”@WgtnPhoenixFC’s goalkeeping revelation Alex Paulsen made his third penalty save of the season🧤

Head coach Giancarlo Italiano is determined to keep him with the January transfer window looming.#ALM #WellingtonPhoenix pic.twitter.com/pEwUyWjnIk

— Isuzu UTE A-League (@aleaguemen) December 19, 2023

I know these sort of snapshot/edited videos are made for clicks, and I realise the buzz around the lad in this part of the world at the moment. But I do wonder if the Phoenix have received some sort of interest in Paulsen's services? 

Would have to be one hell of an offer on the table to even get around and discuss a move, but his progress & performance levels are seemingly making louder and louder noise in more cashed up regions abroad that's for sure.

I didn't see your post originally, but thank you.

I would be interested in what other goalies think (once a keeper, always a keeper) on this age thing. I am talking as someone who was a starting Central League keeper at the age of 16 so perhaps have a bias but I honestly don't think the keeper age thing is any different to any other position.

All players, in any position, gain experience with age and experience and the old adage of “old enough if you are good enough” applies. 

The most obvious improvements from young to old are things like communication with your defenders and positioning, these are abilities that apply to all young players and the very best already have high levels in those areas, naturally.

The stats geeks will tell us that keepers make their mark at an older age than others but I wonder how much of that is because of decreased ability because of young age, or of opportunity. Keepers tend to last longer at the top level, but how much of that is because keepers tend to stay more injury free than outfielders (simply because of the nature of the position they play) and therefore the opportunities for younger keepers to get into teams are fewer.

From a development perspective, Paulsen probably gains more by starting full time at A League level than sitting on the reserve bench or playing under 23s at a Championship team but in terms of opportunity, he is better served being in Europe/UK where he is more in the shop window. 

While on my mini-rant, I get a little pissed off with this folk-lore tale that keepers are a little weird. I suppose we tend (keepers that is) like to perpetuate that notion but I don't think it applies any more to keepers than anyone else in any walk of life.

2nd Best and Doloras (who I know are keepers) do you have a view? 

I think with any player, you want to be playing the most minutes at the highest level possible. I think that is doubly so for keepers who don't get the chance for 20-30 sub appearances to show their worth. You're either in or out.

Without know club circumstances (quality of the first choice keeper, coaching etc) you would think playing 90 mins at AL level is better than 90 minutes at u23/reserve level in the UK,  and better than sitting on the bench in league 1/championship. 

Napier Phoenix

I would be interested in what other goalies think (once a keeper, always a keeper) on this age thing. I am talking as someone who was a starting Central League keeper at the age of 16 so perhaps have a bias but I honestly don't think the keeper age thing is any different to any other position.

All players, in any position, gain experience with age and experience and the old adage of “old enough if you are good enough” applies. 

The most obvious improvements from young to old are things like communication with your defenders and positioning, these are abilities that apply to all young players and the very best already have high levels in those areas, naturally.

The stats geeks will tell us that keepers make their mark at an older age than others but I wonder how much of that is because of decreased ability because of young age, or of opportunity. Keepers tend to last longer at the top level, but how much of that is because keepers tend to stay more injury free than outfielders (simply because of the nature of the position they play) and therefore the opportunities for younger keepers to get into teams are fewer.

From a development perspective, Paulsen probably gains more by starting full time at A League level than sitting on the reserve bench or playing under 23s at a Championship team but in terms of opportunity, he is better served being in Europe/UK where he is more in the shop window. 

While on my mini-rant, I get a little pissed off with this folk-lore tale that keepers are a little weird. I suppose we tend (keepers that is) like to perpetuate that notion but I don't think it applies any more to keepers than anyone else in any walk of life.

2nd Best and Doloras (who I know are keepers) do you have a view? 

You can have top-flight keepers still playing well into their 40s (eg Peter Cech). Keepers can definitely have a longer career if they keep fit and interested because the position requires less constant running about. Some would also say the requirements for being a top keeper are mental as much as they are physical; if so, it would make sense that that would develop with age, though of course the opposite might be true in some cases.

As to keepers being weird? I'm *very* weird, lol, but that's why I like being a keeper, I'm spending 50% of the game alone with my thoughts. But it's also because keepers aren't running around all the time, they're storing up rather than burning off energy for most of the game, and that might lead to volatile behaviour, or at least exacerbate pre-existing behavioural tendencies in that direction.

As to Alex, I'd love him to be playing in the international top flight, but I wouldn't want him to be shuffled off into a kind of twilight zone like Sarpreet Singh has been.

If we were to sell him in January - then surely you would look at having a loan back clause to finish off the season.

But I think a move is premature - he still hasn't got a whole season under his belt as a number 1.

After reading the comments on keepers I immediately remembered the great one-of-a-kind Rene Higuita, and his "scorpion kick".  Definitely unusual.

No big team buys a keeper-or any player for that matter - on 8 games and a few penalty saves.

Not helping your argument with that. May as well have used Sail as your reference point.

ClubOranje

“Napier Phoenix” wrote:

2nd Best and Doloras (who I know are keepers) do you have a view?

Not helping your argument with that. May as well have used Sail as your reference point.

This is all speculation of course. What is your reference point exactly?

I'm sure some big teams have in fact spent money on young keepers before. Because believe it or not they have oooooooodles of cash and are happy to take a chance on any young player if they have a potential upside to them allowing the large club to on-sell them. 

I'm not saying it will happen in this case just that it absolutely could happen and has happened in the past.

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oops wrong thread 

Careful now, Ryan will be in to give you the dictionary definition of the word we any minute now.

.  All the speculation about AP and his form, has in the large part been based on the fact that he has three penalty saves out of four this season.

Good luck to the lad and it is of course always great for a keeper to be saving a penalty.  But I do believe we have all been caught up in the hype of the statistics.  If you look the three saves individually and without emotion, to be honest, they are all poor penalties that a half decent keeper at this level should be saving.  It was the same with Mark Paston that famous night in 2009. All of the good keepers we have had over the years I reckon would have saved those three penalties.

Yes, he has been excellent and deserves to be top of the player ratings.  But the first time anyone took a decent penalty against him this season (Newcastle), he buried it.  

The transfer window opens 10th January & we have 1 visa slot available. Think we try and get reinforcements when it opens? What position would you want to see picked up?

RR

The transfer window opens 10th January & we have 1 visa slot available. Think we try and get reinforcements when it opens? What position would you want to see picked up?

Hopefully it is only one.

RR

The transfer window opens 10th January & we have 1 visa slot available. Think we try and get reinforcements when it opens? What position would you want to see picked up?

For what's worth looking at the squad, if any one player was out injured for a time I think Payne would be the biggest loss. So someone who can cover RB/CB. 2nd choice a striker who better fits Chiefy's system than Zawada.

Don’t agree with that. From a keeper’s perspective, there are a couple of keys when facing a penalty, sometimes all at the same time.

First is research; obviously easier at the higher levels assisted by technology. Knowing the propensity of the penalty taker, and acting on that.
Second is observation. Keeping an eye on the penalty taker and reacting to them.
Thirdly is luck. Just choosing where you are going to go and commit to it.

Fourth, is mental, making yourself bigger, talking smack to the penalty taker, trying to out-psych him etc.

So, it is a bold statement to say x out of a number of keepers would of saved those as each keeper approaches penalties differently. So without knowing what style or collection of styles each keeper uses, it is purely speculation and of little value as a critique.

Walsall Boy

.  All the speculation about AP and his form, has in the large part been based on the fact that he has three penalty saves out of four this season.

Good luck to the lad and it is of course always great for a keeper to be saving a penalty.  But I do believe we have all been caught up in the hype of the statistics.  If you look the three saves individually and without emotion, to be honest, they are all poor penalties that a half decent keeper at this level should be saving.  It was the same with Mark Paston that famous night in 2009. All of the good keepers we have had over the years I reckon would have saved those three penalties.

Yes, he has been excellent and deserves to be top of the player ratings.  But the first time anyone took a decent penalty against him this season (Newcastle), he buried it.  

RR

The transfer window opens 10th January & we have 1 visa slot available. Think we try and get reinforcements when it opens? What position would you want to see picked up?

I would've said a creative midfielder but maybe Ben Old is the answer to that so maybe another forward.

Napier Phoenix

Don’t agree with that. From a keeper’s perspective, there are a couple of keys when facing a penalty, sometimes all at the same time.

First is research; obviously easier at the higher levels assisted by technology. Knowing the propensity of the penalty taker, and acting on that.
Second is observation. Keeping an eye on the penalty taker and reacting to them.
Thirdly is luck. Just choosing where you are going to go and commit to it.

Fourth, is mental, making yourself bigger, talking smack to the penalty taker, trying to out-psych him etc.

So, it is a bold statement to say x out of a number of keepers would of saved those as each keeper approaches penalties differently. So without knowing what style or collection of styles each keeper uses, it is purely speculation and of little value as a critique.

Walsall Boy

.  All the speculation about AP and his form, has in the large part been based on the fact that he has three penalty saves out of four this season.

Good luck to the lad and it is of course always great for a keeper to be saving a penalty.  But I do believe we have all been caught up in the hype of the statistics.  If you look the three saves individually and without emotion, to be honest, they are all poor penalties that a half decent keeper at this level should be saving.  It was the same with Mark Paston that famous night in 2009. All of the good keepers we have had over the years I reckon would have saved those three penalties.

Yes, he has been excellent and deserves to be top of the player ratings.  But the first time anyone took a decent penalty against him this season (Newcastle), he buried it.  

Yeah exactly. Yes some of them weren't great pens but you see it all the time even if its a bad pen and you go the wrong way it's going in. 

I expect with the next pen Paulsen faces, the taker will just come in & blast it. No real attempt at placement.

Walsall Boy

.  All the speculation about AP and his form, has in the large part been based on the fact that he has three penalty saves out of four this season.

Good luck to the lad and it is of course always great for a keeper to be saving a penalty.  But I do believe we have all been caught up in the hype of the statistics.  If you look the three saves individually and without emotion, to be honest, they are all poor penalties that a half decent keeper at this level should be saving.  It was the same with Mark Paston that famous night in 2009. All of the good keepers we have had over the years I reckon would have saved those three penalties.

Yes, he has been excellent and deserves to be top of the player ratings.  But the first time anyone took a decent penalty against him this season (Newcastle), he buried it.  

OK! Take out the three penalties that he has saved and he has still had a great season to date. Many of his saves have been superb. Include the three penalties and you will see that he saved them against top class players with a record of usually scoring.

Paulsen is also very good & confident with the ball at foot. As someone else said, he's an important cog in how the Nix can often play out to beat the initial press, then hit a 30 metre attacking switch forward.

Walsall Boy

.  All the speculation about AP and his form, has in the large part been based on the fact that he has three penalty saves out of four this season.

Good luck to the lad and it is of course always great for a keeper to be saving a penalty.  But I do believe we have all been caught up in the hype of the statistics.  If you look the three saves individually and without emotion, to be honest, they are all poor penalties that a half decent keeper at this level should be saving.  It was the same with Mark Paston that famous night in 2009. All of the good keepers we have had over the years I reckon would have saved those three penalties.

Yes, he has been excellent and deserves to be top of the player ratings.  But the first time anyone took a decent penalty against him this season (Newcastle), he buried it.  

I disagree. I think what Paulson does really well with his penalty's is that he has figured out the stuttered run up. With his movement he is putting doubt into the penalty takers minds. Because stuttered runup is all about making the goal keeper pick a direction. But Paulson kind of fakes which makes the penalty's taker second guess. 

RR

The transfer window opens 10th January & we have 1 visa slot available. Think we try and get reinforcements when it opens? What position would you want to see picked up?

Depth is our issues generally. But even more so at centreback.

I would be most worried about our two centre midfielders and think back-up for them could be crucial. Both are on 3 yellow cards each I think. 

Buffon II

Careful now, Ryan will be in to give you the dictionary definition of the word we any minute now.

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coochiee

I expect with the next pen Paulsen faces, the taker will just come in & blast it. No real attempt at placement.

which increases the risk of blasting it wide or over the bar - win win for Paulsen, he's done enough now to make scoring a pen harder for the next guy.

Oi Oi Edgecumbe

I would be most worried about our two centre midfielders and think back-up for them could be crucial. Both are on 3 yellow cards each I think. 

Yeah Rufer and Pennington are on 3 each but Al-Taay only has 1 and Conchie and Old have none.

2ndBest

RR

The transfer window opens 10th January & we have 1 visa slot available. Think we try and get reinforcements when it opens? What position would you want to see picked up?

Depth is our issues generally. But even more so at centreback.

I would say right back.  If a CB is injured, Payne can cover, but we then need a RB backup.  If Payne is injured, even more so.

Nix and Callan Elliott to bury the hatchet, and sign Eliott on a short term deal (aka Niko Boxall last season).

coochiee

Nix and Callan Elliott to bury the hatchet, and sign Eliott on a short term deal (aka Niko Boxall last season).

Sutton can play both sides at a stretch right? So if Payne is injured Sutton roRB and Kelly-heald takes LB.

Oi Oi Edgecumbe

I would be most worried about our two centre midfielders and think back-up for them could be crucial. Both are on 3 yellow cards each I think. 

If a Visa CM's not on the table (maybe not considering Old's push for gametime), I think I trust Conchie to step up in the absence of Al-Taay or Pennington

Personally I’d like to see Callan Elliot return and a VISA 8, 10 or 9 - whichever position Chief thinks would be best suited for another import. 

Friar Tuck

Personally I’d like to see Callan Elliot return and a VISA 8, 10 or 9 - whichever position Chief thinks would be best suited for another import. 

 Yeah, I reckon another player like Kraev that can play up top out wide but also play deeper would be the ideal for player depth.