WPM 2024/25 Squad Speculation, Confirmation and Mutual Termination

I doubt we will see a replacement for Paulsen come from another club in the A-league. Many clubs tried the build-up play with the keeper but failed. Unless Chiefy thinks Duncan is good enough, we could see a visa spot for GK.

Saw Kraev in town today, along with his expecting partner. Good news and hopefully means he's negotiating to extend jus contract 

Chiefy watching the Reserves at Petone yesterday.

I personally was impressed with the lad Dylan Gardiner at centre back.  Very good in the year and assured on the ground playing out.  

Walsall Boy

Chiefy watching the Reserves at Petone yesterday.

I personally was impressed with the lad Dylan Gardiner at centre back.  Very good in the year and assured on the ground playing out.  

He’s a star in the making I reckon, perfect eventual Surman replacement. He was playing weekly for Hamilton Wanderers at 16 and captained the U-17 All Whites.

With Chief back in town announcements on Kraev and Duncan must be due soon you’d guess

kwlap

I thought he’d signed for a polish side?

Nothing formally announced

I see Uli’s been released. Surely he is worth a punt. 

kwlap

I see Uli’s been released. Surely he is worth a punt. 

You jest?  If he's found gulty of these spot fixing charges - especially if he's identified as the ring leader - he faces a ban of several years that likely spells the end of his career. No one will be looking at him until this case is over. If he is found completely innocent, then yeah he will have suitors. But you sense the NSW cops didn't make those very public arrests without some hard evidence.

See that Colombia has now been announced as the country of origin of the spot fixing ring.

coochiee

kwlap

I see Uli’s been released. Surely he is worth a punt. 

You jest?  If he's found gulty of these spot fixing charges - especially if he's identified as the ring leader - he faces a ban of several years that likely spells the end of his career. No one will be looking at him until this case is over. If he is found completely innocent, then yeah he will have suitors. But you sense the NSW cops didn't make those very public arrests without some hard evidence.

See that Colombia has now been announced as the country of origin of the spot fixing ring.

Yeah the only football team he's signing for will be the prison one!

Interesting that Davila has had his contract terminated by MAC, but as yet Lewis hasn't. 

Though Davila has already made his court appearance, whilst Lewis has his on Thursday. So we wait to see what MAC do with Lewis after that.

Baccus & Millar the other alledged parties have already been released, at the end of their contracts.

coochiee

Interesting that Davila has had his contract terminated by MAC, but as yet Lewis hasn't. 

Though Davila has already made his court appearance, whilst Lewis has his on Thursday. So we wait to see what MAC do with Lewis after that.

Baccus & Millar the other alledged parties have already been released, at the end of their contracts.

Davilla has pretty much admitted his involvement though? I recall that Lewis has claimed he's innocent, I guess MAC cant terminate Lewis' contract until he's proven/admits his guilt???

kwlap

I see Uli’s been released. Surely he is worth a punt. 

Lots of people in this thread apparently didn't get the joke

"

Punt. Of course. Blind to the obvious attempted humour.

Guess with Uli find the situation more sad than funny.

What I don't get is how the news spoke of mutual termination between Uli and the Bulls. Surely spot fixing will be classed as gross misconduct and therefore be termination worthy?

Re Clayton Lewis, maybe they are waiting for his court appearance to see how he pleads? If innocent, I guess they will wait until the courts have spoken?

theprof

coochiee

Interesting that Davila has had his contract terminated by MAC, but as yet Lewis hasn't. 

Though Davila has already made his court appearance, whilst Lewis has his on Thursday. So we wait to see what MAC do with Lewis after that.

Baccus & Millar the other alledged parties have already been released, at the end of their contracts.

Davilla has pretty much admitted his involvement though? I recall that Lewis has claimed he's innocent, I guess MAC cant terminate Lewis' contract until he's proven/admits his guilt???

yep, the CEO of MacArthur has said that Uli told him he did it, Lewis's lawyer has said he's innocent.

newzealandpower

What I don't get is how the news spoke of mutual termination between Uli and the Bulls. Surely spot fixing will be classed as gross misconduct and therefore be termination worthy?

Re Clayton Lewis, maybe they are waiting for his court appearance to see how he pleads? If innocent, I guess they will wait until the courts have spoken?

As someone else alluded to the judicial process isn’t over. If they both agree they can get it done quicker and with less trampling on the good things he did. It’s almost like an apology to club and fans.

Everyone knows his story and he brought at times sparkling football to the fans here and there. It feels like he’s still got a lot of sympathy, even if it was a dumb thing to do. Football is part an entertainment business and he entertained.

Rojas apparently seen at NZCIS. No idea what he thinks of the training facilities 

zonknz

Rojas apparently seen at NZCIS. No idea what he thinks of the training facilities 

Maybe he has joined the All Blacks coaching staff.  Mind you, there appears to be little room on the non players bus within that group

Would be a pretty solid replacement for Ben Old, get it done 

imanixsupporter

Would be a pretty solid replacement for Ben Old, get it done 

hmmmmm replacing a young up and coming player with an aging player that has had little to no football in the last year or two?

Would be fantastic. 

theprof

imanixsupporter

Would be a pretty solid replacement for Ben Old, get it done 

hmmmmm replacing a young up and coming player with an aging player that has had little to no football in the last year or two?

Bringing a rogue Jedi in from the cold. A star returns to its orbit. 

theprof

imanixsupporter

Would be a pretty solid replacement for Ben Old, get it done 

hmmmmm replacing a young up and coming player with an aging player that has had little to no football in the last year or two?

Who would you suggest?

imanixsupporter

Would be a pretty solid replacement for Ben Old, get it done 

Hmm, we have a somewhat poor record of signing ex stars or aging stars of the A league.

Smeltz
Burns
Finkler

Any others i cannot immediately recall.

Having said that.  Kosta may have broken that mould last season. 

 

Believe Wellington Phoenix have signed goalkeeper Dublin Boon from Dutch side Roda JC.

Boon, 19, moved to Roda last year after coming through the ranks at Christchurch club Nomads, and made three bench appearances for the side.

— sam smith 🇳🇿 (@mrsmiis) July 2, 2024

 

Friar Tuck

theprof

imanixsupporter

Would be a pretty solid replacement for Ben Old, get it done 

hmmmmm replacing a young up and coming player with an aging player that has had little to no football in the last year or two?

Who would you suggest?

I would take any one of the academy kids in his place, or any other midfielder signing that fits within the club's vision, but a massive no thanks to Rojas.

Doloras

 

Believe Wellington Phoenix have signed goalkeeper Dublin Boon from Dutch side Roda JC.

Boon, 19, moved to Roda last year after coming through the ranks at Christchurch club Nomads, and made three bench appearances for the side.

— sam smith 🇳🇿 (@mrsmiis) July 2, 2024

 

Excellent news if true. I'd suggested earlier the Phoenix make a loan deal play for Kees Sims, but Boon sounds promising. The Nix not a totally closed shop for non Academy Kiwis, after all. Helps forge some links with the Sth Island given he's a Cantab

If he sat on the bench thrice for an Eredivisie club he must be useful.
Useful enough to be the starting keeper in the ALM?  You would think he wouldn't leave a top tier Dutch club (Europe is the promised land after all), without having been given some assurances he's got a realistic shot at being no 1 GK at the Nix, this coming season.

I guess he can see what starring in the ALM has done for Paulsen, as a large incentive to return to NZ.

Now that Chiefy is back, you'd think there must be some news soon on whether Duncan is staying, or going.

Weird signing. We already have 2 good youth keepers.

I can't see him coming in to be number 2 here when he is number 2 there.

Duncan off then at a guess.

Walsall Boy

imanixsupporter

Would be a pretty solid replacement for Ben Old, get it done 

Hmm, we have a somewhat poor record of signing ex stars or aging stars of the A league.

Smeltz
Burns
Finkler

Any others i cannot immediately recall.

Having said that.  Kosta may have broken that mould last season. 

three examples from the hundreds of players we've signed hardly makes a poor record. 

Rojas would be a great signing. He looked good a in patches at Brisbane and with a full preseason and the facilities we've got he could light up the league.

MetalLegNZ

Weird signing. We already have 2 good youth keepers.

I can't see him coming in to be number 2 here when he is number 2 there.

Duncan off then at a guess.

He was not #2 there.

ClubOranje

MetalLegNZ

Weird signing. We already have 2 good youth keepers.

I can't see him coming in to be number 2 here when he is number 2 there.

Duncan off then at a guess.

He was not #2 there.

Yes Boon only got onto the bench for 3 Eredivise games, as Roda had some keeper injuries. We await to hear for news on Duncan

Even more weird if he is third or fourth choice there to come here and effectively be the same... unless one of our younger goalkeepers are off.

Just seems like an odd signing.

I would take Rojas in a pinch - as long as it doesn't break the bank.

He has matured significantly since he was a young boy breaking into the team.

Rojas is a rusty 32-year-old who has run out of options overseas - for him it's Auckland, Wellington or bust. As long as his salary and contract length expectations recognise that ... maybe? Perhaps a 1+1 contract?

Chiefy worked wonders with players old and young last season, so I'm confident he could bring out the best in Rojas. Getting/keeping him fit is the issue. He's always been a bit fragile physically and I don't see him playing 90 minutes too often, whoever he ends up playing for. 

MetalLegNZ

Even more weird if he is third or fourth choice there to come here and effectively be the same... unless one of our younger goalkeepers are off.

Just seems like an odd signing.

If he's leaving Europe for the Nix, it will be to battle it out for the no 1 GK spot. Either with Duncan, Alby Kelly-Heald or perhaps some older keeper the Nix will sign as a Duncan replacement.

The Nix also have 18 yr old Matt Foord (last year's NZ U17s) on their books. But he's injured and yet to play in the Central League.

Nix's GK coach Ruben Parker has been involved with the NZ U17s since 2020. I'm sure he knows a bit about 19 yr Boon, his strengths and weaknesses. Maybe he's been identified as a better keeper at this stage than Kelly-Heald (also 19), especially re playing out from the back, which is so important to how Chief sets up the team.

Oh and Roda JC (3rd last season) actually play in the Dutch 2nd tier (Eerste Divisie). But they are a big club for that league.  They were victims of Matt Garbett and his Breda mates in the promotion playoffs, as Breda went on their crazy playoff run. Roda only missed out on automatic promotion on GD.
https://us.soccerway.com/players/dublin-boon/847837/

Trivia - Hawkes Bay raised Parker has a Bachelor of Wine Science degree, and apparently speaks some pretty good Spanish. Translated when Salas arrived.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruben-parker-007397151/?originalSubdomain=nz

Is Boon confirmed? 

We can probably determine what kind of role he’s going to play by how much the Nix socials team push the signing, as they’re not going to announce an academy signing in my opinion, could be very wrong though!