WPM 2024/25 Squad Speculation, Confirmation and Mutual Termination
“I recognise the importance they played in the scholarship that first got me going as a professional footballer,” he said.
“My family and I still talk about the Yellow Fever and the financial commitment they made, the ‘Retro Ricki’ car we had for the week or two in Wellington and the trip to Queenstown to play Melbourne.
“If it wasn’t for the scholarship I would have had a very different path to professional football.
“I’m very grateful for the start the Yellow Fever gave me and even though I left I hope they can still see it as a special thing that I’m coming back.”
https://wellingtonphoenix.com/news/welcome-back-marco/
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ugh! I'm not overly happy about it, but I'm prepared to be proven wrong. If he manages a Kosta like season then I'll change my tune.
That, the quotes above, and the fact that he's also wearing the number 21 again makes me optimistic he's going to be absolutely humming when Round 1 comes around.
I'm looking forward to hopefully getting to know Rojas a bit more, with him being at the Nix. Even though he's played 45 games for the AWs, I feel we don't really know him well. Like he's a bit misunderstood, with different priorities these days, and seemingly a little media shy.
I always got the feeling Melbourne was really now his home, and he didn't think much of his first spell at the Nix. But he's said some nice things in that article, and often as we mature we look back more fondly on past experiences. A touch of nostaglia even. He's far closer to the end of his career, than the start of it.
In Chief we Trust.
Italiano is backing himself to get the best out of Rojas, like he did with Kosta Barbarouses during the Phoenix’s run to the semifinals last season.
The fact he was signed when Auckland FC has just came on the scene, and I daresay is the most high profile off contract available kiwi, speaks volumes for the club that the Nix have become.
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Welcome back Marco! 🐦🔥
— Wellington Phoenix 🔥 (@WgtnPhoenixFC) July 8, 2024
Marco Rojas returns to the Wellington Phoenix on a one-year deal! 🤩#COYN! 🔥
💛🖤 | https://t.co/SAVRs4aeWc pic.twitter.com/tWhkynuAgO
https://twitter.com/WgtnPhoenixFC/status/1810448800928108645?t=GTCxd-6TJQRdsHSNjQSySw&s=19
Edit: DAMN IT.
Copy the link from twitter - it will look like this. ⬇️
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Change x to twitter. Like so ⬇️
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Welcome back Marco! 🐦🔥
— Wellington Phoenix 🔥 (@WgtnPhoenixFC) July 8, 2024
Marco Rojas returns to the Wellington Phoenix on a one-year deal! 🤩#COYN! 🔥
💛🖤 | https://t.co/SAVRs4aeWc pic.twitter.com/tWhkynuAgO
https://twitter.com/WgtnPhoenixFC/status/1810448800928108645?t=GTCxd-6TJQRdsHSNjQSySw&s=19
Edit: DAMN IT.
Riiiight, okay that worked like a charm, thank you! Watch me forget that for the next signing 😂
He's said all the right things so far, and I think Chiefy can get the best out of him.
It wasn't so long ago a lot of us thought signing with theRoar for the remainder of last season was just so he could then go on to AFC - when in fact he's come to us instead which is a really great turn around! Until a week or so ago I never even considered he may come back to us.
Also we know AFC and the Roar wanted him so it's even better that we were able to fend them off, potentially it says a lot about the pulling power the Nix have within the league with the great NZCIS facilities
Copy the link from twitter - it will look like this. ⬇️
https://x.com/WgtnPhoenixFC/status/1810448800928108645?t=aIqjrp-nAGZIuFkvYzkIDQ&s=19
Change x to twitter. Like so ⬇️
https://twitter.com/WgtnPhoenixFC/status/1810448800928108645?t=aIqjrp-nAGZIuFkvYzkIDQ&s=19
Copy the new link, delete the old link, and paste the newly copied link. ⬇️
Welcome back Marco! 🐦🔥
— Wellington Phoenix 🔥 (@WgtnPhoenixFC) July 8, 2024
Marco Rojas returns to the Wellington Phoenix on a one-year deal! 🤩#COYN! 🔥
💛🖤 | https://t.co/SAVRs4aeWc pic.twitter.com/tWhkynuAgO
https://twitter.com/WgtnPhoenixFC/status/1810448800928108645?t=GTCxd-6TJQRdsHSNjQSySw&s=19
Edit: DAMN IT.
It's the DAMN IT that's done me in here. 🤣🤣
Hopefully you've got it working now any way with a little bit of extra help.
Anyway, back to the football. Good recruitment that. If we can get him to do something similar to what Kosta did last term then we're on to a winner.
Also, this is excellent recruitment for the likes of GSR. Big time role model to look up to.
I will be eagerly awaiting the presser to see what he sounds like but I'm already partly sold on how good this is going to be. If we can get him fit, he is going to fly again in the A-League. We of any club have the best chance to get him fit - Kosta can attest to that with the facilities we have at our disposal.
Different sort of player (will be age 33 in November) than fast, dynamic, counter attacking Old. Rojas ain't got the legs now to play like that.
I think OVH will be the one to try replace Old. Maybe GSR if he shows that ability, but you feel he is a way off being a ALM starter.
However already you can see Chiefy saying the Nix will try play a bit different (more stylish), with Marco on board.
Different sort of player (will be age 33 in November) than fast, dynamic, counter attacking Old. Rojas ain't got the legs now to play like that.
I think OVH will be the one to try replace Old. Maybe GSR if he shows that ability, but you feel he is a way off being a ALM starter.
However already you can see Chiefy saying the Nix will try play a bit different (more stylish), with Marco on board.
Agree with you that Rojas is not really like for like with Old, not even sure if OVH is. OVH looks like a target man type striker being played on the wing when he gets a chance, I reckon he'd be better served as the central man. Will be interesting to see how Chief uses the assets he's left with. Assuming Kraev stays he could well end up being the focal point of our attack build up play.
Think he'll be less busy with the ball compared to Old but will hopefully use his experience to be in the right spot and be more clinical than Old. So probably a bigger impact with goals and assists but less of an impact in general play.
Also, we've got an offer in front of Kraev and will expect an answer in the next couple of weeks.
Gill said that we're better positioned than most clubs and are comfortable with our off season and that even with players sold we have more stability than normal. Also said a number of players out there are chasing contracts that no longer exist and have to accept lower wages for the new reality of the league (wonder if what we've got in front of Kraev is lower which is why he's taking his time)
Think he'll be less busy with the ball compared to Old but will hopefully use his experience to be in the right spot and be more clinical than Old. So probably a bigger impact with goals and assists but less of an impact in general play.
Disagree.
I see him as more of a like for like after the Lasogga deal fell through.
Disagree.
I see him as more of a like for like after the Lasogga deal fell through.
God with all the cash for these transfers we've got we'd be mad not to go all in on Lasogga now.
Disagree.
I see him as more of a like for like after the Lasogga deal fell through.
Think he'll be less busy with the ball compared to Old but will hopefully use his experience to be in the right spot and be more clinical than Old. So probably a bigger impact with goals and assists but less of an impact in general play.
Wellington Phoenix head coach Giancarlo ‘Chiefy’ Italiano says the 2023-24 semi-finalists will be changing formation next season.
— Sacha Pisani (@Sachk0) July 9, 2024
‘Nix will “evolve” their system to play to Marco Rojas’ strengths. https://t.co/Efiru3aHtG pic.twitter.com/Uc6ZaknRdi
It’s a Kiwi derby, but also a Sydney coach derby and you feel he’s really keen to get ascendancy.
Being a Johny Warren award winner, he's also one of the A-League greats. Surprising he's never won the toilet seat.
With our current squad (hoping Kraev stays), that could look like this:
Personally I’d like to see an import left winger, preferably left footed. I’d also like another striking option, alongside reinforcements at CM and CB.
Provided Kraev re signs I think we'll be lucky to see more than 1 large signing amongst the forwards. That will likely be someone who is an out and out goal scorer. The remaining signings up front will be academy or from the national league I reckon.
I wouldn't get excited about too many more signings, after all the club mainly wants to promote from within now.
Seems like the intention is to sign more attackers and not just stick with what we have got. But then again, one of those recruitment opportunities might just be the re-signing of Kraev (fingers crossed). I'd like to see an out and out 9 to replace Zawada myself, even if he almost certainly won't be as good.
Seems like the intention is to sign more attackers and not just stick with what we have got. But then again, one of those recruitment opportunities might just be the re-signing of Kraev (fingers crossed). I'd like to see an out and out 9 to replace Zawada myself, even if he almost certainly won't be as good.
A few days ago was a strong rumour on 22 yr old Swede/Kiwi, Oscar Faulds from Napier City Rovers. Leading goal scorer in the Central League. Previously mostly 3rd tier in Sweden.
If Kraev re-signs I wouldn't expect much more in the way of big spending. Though as Welnix have done in recent seasons with Sandoval, and Salas coming in after the season has started - can always be a wait & review period.