WPM 2023/24 Squad Speculation, Confirmation and Mutual Termination

RR

For all the talk on here about the owners wanting to spend less on the squad this season, we are not the only ones.

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Clubs around the league might be more youth focused this season cuz its cheaper & it has been a bumper transfer window for sales.

Now is the time for us to invest to get ahead of the other clubs.

Exactly. Sergio Ramos is a free agent

number8

RR

For all the talk on here about the owners wanting to spend less on the squad this season, we are not the only ones.

jg.png 11.94 KB

Clubs around the league might be more youth focused this season cuz its cheaper & it has been a bumper transfer window for sales.

Now is the time for us to invest to get ahead of the other clubs.

We're probably right up near the top of the perch in terms of facilities now that we're based out of NZCIS. If we can get our youngsters coming through, making an impact, and moving on through to overseas clubs for solid fees, then we have the template to really develop as a top notch line of talent.

Not perfect by any means, but it will be interesting to see how we manage when the likes of an Auckland entity come sauntering in to play down the line.

A little surprised a Rojas return to Victory is yet to be announced. Anybody know how many visa spots they (and the other Melbourne teams for that matter) have to play with?

imanixsupporter

A little surprised a Rojas return to Victory is yet to be announced. Anybody know how many visa spots they (and the other Melbourne teams for that matter) have to play with?

Victory have 3 visa players on contract for this season currently.

Well I suppose that's no barrier for Victory then. It hasn't been a month since the Qatar game so it could just be if the plan is to return to the Victory that they haven't required him to be back into preseason training yet. If we don't hear anything by the end of this month though then I think we could conclude a Victory return is far from certain. 

Just saw that a 15 year old played 45 mins against WestHam for Perth. Albeit it was pre season but are there any young bolters coming through the academy that might get game time in the Aus Cup?

Waineo'sWag

Just saw that a 15 year old played 45 mins against WestHam for Perth. Albeit it was pre season but are there any young bolters coming through the academy that might get game time in the Aus Cup?

Gabriel Sloane-Rodrigues is our star 15 year old (overseas sale potential down the line, imo) and I hope he's in consideration. No reserves appearances yet unfortunately

Kraev’s gone and got a Kiwi misso. Hopefully she’s not the world-travelling type, as I feel he’s still got so much untapped potential (within reaches of a Johnny Warren)

mrsmiis

Kraev’s gone and got a Kiwi misso. Hopefully she’s not the world-travelling type, as I feel he’s still got so much untapped potential (within reaches of a Johnny Warren)

Hopefully it means he’s happier and starts a scoring spree. Just a pity the games are so far away…

For a minute there, I thought you'd said he'd left. I must need some sleep.

mrsmiis

Kraev’s gone and got a Kiwi misso. Hopefully she’s not the world-travelling type, as I feel he’s still got so much untapped potential (within reaches of a Johnny Warren)

Word on the street she is a travelling the world type….

She's pretty quiet.

Any of the youth players having a stand out season so far?

MetalLegNZ

She's pretty quiet.

Any of the youth players having a stand out season so far?

Conchie has been noticed.

ClubOranje

mrsmiis

Kraev’s gone and got a Kiwi misso. Hopefully she’s not the world-travelling type, as I feel he’s still got so much untapped potential (within reaches of a Johnny Warren)

Word on the street she is a travelling the world type….

"...Oh Bozhidar, take me away and show me the big world out there..."
"... only in the off-season, my dove, only in the off season..."

De Vries with a couple set piece goals in the Chatham Cup today, hopefully Chiefy was watching.

From a FB group:

good morning fellow phoenix fans ive been informed by a reliable source that a english import defensive midfielder is on his way to welly. 

50+ caps in the premier league and knows david ball very well .

BrockieTheGOAT

From a FB group:

good morning fellow phoenix fans ive been informed by a reliable source that a english import defensive midfielder is on his way to welly. 

50+ caps in the premier league and knows david ball very well .

Jordon Mutch (31) - 78 games in PL. Hasnt played with Bally but were in Aus during covid so may be friends? Just left League 2 Crawley Town in July.

Adam Clayton (34) - only 34 games in PL. Born in Manchester and came up through the Man City Academy with Bally. Was with Bradford in League 2 until he transferred to 5th tier Rochdale last month.

That's all I could find haha. 

What happened to we were only looking for a CB and midfield stocks we sorted?

Might be looking to convert them to a ball playing CB.

Jordan Mutch failed at QPR. 11 appearances, 0 goals

 Ryan Bennett (Cambridge)?? 111 Games in Premier League, 36 games with Ball. But did just sign a one year deal.

LG

Jordan Mutch failed at QPR. 11 appearances, 0 goals

Failed at WSW & Macarthur also.

Speculation!! Brilliant. Love it. 

RR

LG

Jordan Mutch failed at QPR. 11 appearances, 0 goals

Failed at WSW & Macarthur also.

Yeah if we sign Mutch I’m gonna be so disappointed. Doesn’t seem he’s done anything since leaving them. 

Maybe need some detective work on Balls Instagram following on who’s a free agent

𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗔-𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗲 𝗠𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 ✍️

Fin Conchie graduates from the @WgtnPhoenixAcad and signs a three-year deal with the Phoenix men! 💪

Congratulations Fin! 👊#COYN! 🔥https://t.co/SAVRs4aeWc | 💛🖤 pic.twitter.com/c8VieNSH6R

— Wellington Phoenix 🔥 (@WgtnPhoenixFC) August 1, 2023

Oosh, been waiting for this one. Good luck Fin. 👏

This can't be right. I was reliably informed, by several blokes on here, that standing him down from the Reserves for homophobic abuse would ruin his career and his life. This is obviously a misprint for "Fin Conchie has gone to live in a cardboard box on Cuba Mall, along with all other victims of the Woke Mind Virus"

Seriously: well done Fin, keep your nose clean from now on

That was my thought too. Good learning opportunity for him, he's clearly come back from it stronger. Glad he's onboard 

Gets the number 5 shirt too. If he kicks on he could well be starting by the end of the season.

Friar Tuck

Gets the number 5 shirt too. If he kicks on he could well be starting by the end of the season.

Wonder if playing the defensive midfielder role in Argentina at the World Cup helped him get that. It's typically number '6' as the defensive midfield spot here, or number '4' traditionally in the UK, but Argentina are very big on the number '5' for that role. Every Argentinian (senior) World Cup squad since 1990 has featured a DM wearing that '5', Leandro Paredes the most recent last year.

wilbaker

RR

LG

Jordan Mutch failed at QPR. 11 appearances, 0 goals

Failed at WSW & Macarthur also.

Yeah if we sign Mutch I’m gonna be so disappointed. Doesn’t seem he’s done anything since leaving them. 

Maybe need some detective work on Balls Instagram following on who’s a free agent

Bit of a long shot, but could it be Danny Drinkwater? He and David Ball follow eachother on Instagram, and he has 104 EPL appearances according to TransferMarkt. Free agent at the moment after most recently playing for Chelsea and Reading.

Not saying it is him, but he's the only player I could find who fits all the criteria.

https://www.transfermarkt.com/danny-drinkwater/profil/spieler/73491

Delighted they got this over the line. Despite English ancestry he doesn’t have a passport, so this scuppered some interest; glad he’s signed on with us. Pegging him as a starter (past the suspension, of course)

alexobc

wilbaker

RR

LG

Jordan Mutch failed at QPR. 11 appearances, 0 goals

Failed at WSW & Macarthur also.

Yeah if we sign Mutch I’m gonna be so disappointed. Doesn’t seem he’s done anything since leaving them. 

Maybe need some detective work on Balls Instagram following on who’s a free agent

Bit of a long shot, but could it be Danny Drinkwater? He and David Ball follow eachother on Instagram, and he has 104 EPL appearances according to TransferMarkt. Free agent at the moment after most recently playing for Chelsea and Reading.

Not saying it is him, but he's the only player I could find who fits all the criteria.

https://www.transfermarkt.com/danny-drinkwater/profil/spieler/73491

Yeah I was thinking him but the appearances threw me off. I’m a leicester fan too so it would be amazing for us to sign a former fox. 

but Drinkwater is probs the one player I wouldn’t want us to sign he’s really gone off the boil these last few years. A lot of the clubs he’s played for have said he’s been terrible and he’s had a few incidents iirc I think one of them was punching a youth kid in a friendly?? So idk if he’ll fit in with the culture we want.

wilbaker

alexobc

wilbaker

RR

LG

Jordan Mutch failed at QPR. 11 appearances, 0 goals

Failed at WSW & Macarthur also.

Yeah if we sign Mutch I’m gonna be so disappointed. Doesn’t seem he’s done anything since leaving them. 

Maybe need some detective work on Balls Instagram following on who’s a free agent

Bit of a long shot, but could it be Danny Drinkwater? He and David Ball follow eachother on Instagram, and he has 104 EPL appearances according to TransferMarkt. Free agent at the moment after most recently playing for Chelsea and Reading.

Not saying it is him, but he's the only player I could find who fits all the criteria.

https://www.transfermarkt.com/danny-drinkwater/profil/spieler/73491

Yeah I was thinking him but the appearances threw me off. I’m a leicester fan too so it would be amazing for us to sign a former fox. 

but Drinkwater is probs the one player I wouldn’t want us to sign he’s really gone off the boil these last few years. A lot of the clubs he’s played for have said he’s been terrible and he’s had a few incidents iirc I think one of them was punching a youth kid in a friendly?? So idk if he’ll fit in with the culture we want.

I dunno. We never usually get quality players available at our price without there being a reason.  Might be away from the British press and public he might enjoy the pace of Australasian life and football. That’s on the transfer staff to figure that out. We’ve already got Wootton as a stable force at the back. If he can play in the midfield or at the back and make it happen for us I’m keen. If he can is another question. But guess we’ll see. 

And yeh welcome Finn. Everyone is rating you so sounds decent. Don’t mind a combative midfielder, but if you have to say something learn a few new words from the boys. Or even the classic Connollyism ‘Gettyfueybasa!’ 

RR

Wellington Phoenix coach Giancarlo Italiano on the one remaining import spot on his roster for 2023/24.@newstalkzbsport pic.twitter.com/b0Bhjt0Tx1

— Jason Pine (@pineynz) August 2, 2023

"we have some options, but I'm not telling you who they are"
not shocked.

YoungHeartHM

𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗔-𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗲 𝗠𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 ✍️

Fin Conchie graduates from the @WgtnPhoenixAcad and signs a three-year deal with the Phoenix men! 💪

Congratulations Fin! 👊#COYN! 🔥https://t.co/SAVRs4aeWc | 💛🖤 pic.twitter.com/c8VieNSH6R

— Wellington Phoenix 🔥 (@WgtnPhoenixFC) August 1, 2023

Oosh, been waiting for this one. Good luck Fin. 👏

With him serving a 10 game ban is there anything that says what matches these apply too? Do the reserve games count or is it just first team games?

From Stuff article sounds like he'll be okay for ALM season  start or close to.

Conchie’s ban will run through to October, preventing him from making his Phoenix debut in Friday’s Australia Cup round of 32 clash away to NPL Queensland club Peninsula Power.