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.
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.
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.
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???
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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/
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!
Might be competition for the gloves? Possibly Duncan let go or a 3rd keeper role with some coaching or something?
It’s nervy to go into a season with 2 young keepers. Paulsen has always been a cool customer and had had the cup run and a long time with key members of the team at a lower level.
Might be competition for the gloves? Possibly Duncan let go or a 3rd keeper role with some coaching or something?
It’s nervy to go into a season with 2 young keepers. Paulsen has always been a cool customer and had had the cup run and a long time with key members of the team at a lower level.
Don't forget reduced contribuiton from the league means all budgets will be tight - wouldn't be surprised in the least if we have 2 young keepers.
21 yr old Adam Pavlesic has left Sydney where he was Redmayne's backup. He wants to be a starter somewhere. I don't think he's found another club yet. He was apparently coached by Chief previously in the NSW NPL or similar.
Maybe him and Boon will go head to head for the starter's role or some plan like that.