WPM 2024/25 Squad Speculation, Confirmation and Mutual Termination
Surely not...?
My deep dive with Shaun Gill as I spoke to @WgtnPhoenixFC's director of football about 13-year vision behind a transfer explosion Europe is "taking seriously".
— Sacha Pisani (@Sachk0) July 31, 2024
Great insight into pathway in Wellington, where Paulsen, Fraser, Old & Surman have benefited.https://t.co/lUTxwkAmLI pic.twitter.com/lDJNTyza6T
What do ALM clubs do if these players are on longer term contracts like LK-H? Take the offer now or wait, and hope their value increases further. Never guaranteed, and always that risk they do an ACL or similar career stalling injury.
https://aleagues.com.au/news/wellington-phoenix-transfers-shaun-gill-interview-paulsen-old-surman-premier-league-ligue-1-mls/
“What we also know too is that the overseas market is looking for players younger and younger. We want to have consistency in the transfer market but we also want to have consistency in terms of top six, top four and actually try to get closer to winning it at the same time.”
Does that alter the Phoenix’s approach to identifying talent?
“That’s the key thing. We have to know the kids and know where they are. You also have to be able to work with them if they’re not ready to move to Wellington.
“That’s the other issue – what’s the right age to move and leave home? For one player it’s something different for another player. It also comes into cost etc. We’re definitely trying to identify them at that U14s age group.”
Wellington’s recent dealings with Premier League side Bournemouth, 10-time French champions Saint-Etienne and MLS side Portland Timbers are proving beneficial in more ways than one.
“All of a sudden you talk to a few clubs in Europe and you say we’ve just sold this player to Bournemouth, this player to St-Etienne and all of a sudden they start taking you seriously. That’s one of the key things that has come out of it for us.
Given the academy is in Upper Hutt, even the elite in Wellington will be thinking twice about driving their kids 45 mins to Upper Hutt for trainings every second night, especially if school is city central.
I'm also not a fan of the Nix getting $1-2 Mil NZ and in 2/3 years time Bournemouth pocketing £5+ mil (a lot more I'm sure in Paulsen's case). We end up being the losers.
Also if this statement is true: "You always know that the visa players tend to get better in their second season once they settle in", why do we not give our Latin players a second season? Hernandez and Cunningham both improved the longer they were in the A League.
Given the academy is in Upper Hutt, even the elite in Wellington will be thinking twice about driving their kids 45 mins to Upper Hutt for trainings every second night, especially if school is city central.
That's often the life of a parent, driving your kid all over the show for sport. Rural mums & dads do it all the time. I think Eli Just grew up in Palmerston North, and his folks would be shuttling him down to Porirua and Ole constantly, until I'm guessing he started to live onsite.
I'm also not a fan of the Nix getting $1-2 Mil NZ and in 2/3 years time Bournemouth pocketing £5+ mil (a lot more I'm sure in Paulsen's case). We end up being the losers.
Also if this statement is true: "You always know that the visa players tend to get better in their second season once they settle in", why do we not give our Latin players a second season? Hernandez and Cunningham both improved the longer they were in the A League.
Yeah interesting point that last one. But that's the problem when you discover a gem like Davila, the Latino benchmark gets set high. Following the Mexican Sandoval and Sasse only get a season each. I think if the Nix could afford Salas they would have kept him for more than just the one campaign on loan.
We would probably be only offering a minimum wage deal, so those options back home are probably far more tempting.
We would probably be only offering a minimum wage deal, so those options back home are probably far more tempting.
His reasoning is actually surprisingly sound. Whether it happens back in Europe or not it doesn't sound like the door is completely shut back here either. Although Chiefy strikes me as someone who doesn't fudge around waiting.. 😅
I feel like we can find better. We have to.
I feel like we can find better. We have to.
Could have been a good squad option up top though. Especially given we lack height and youth up the top end of the pitch as it stands.
Had to chase the pro offer dangled in front of him though, even if it did cut short his extended trial with the Nix this time around...
Congrats to Hamish Watson from @WgtnOlympic!
— NZ National League 🏆🇳🇿 (@nzleagues) August 1, 2024
His goal against Manurewa AFC in the quarter-finals of the Chatham Cup was chosen as the best of the week 👏#NZNationalLeague #NZFootball pic.twitter.com/rth2fU5h0R
Congrats to Hamish Watson from @WgtnOlympic!
— NZ National League 🏆🇳🇿 (@nzleagues) August 1, 2024
His goal against Manurewa AFC in the quarter-finals of the Chatham Cup was chosen as the best of the week 👏#NZNationalLeague #NZFootball pic.twitter.com/rth2fU5h0R
6 Phoenix goals and has scored fairly prolifically wherever he’s been since. Are you seriously suggesting him as a squad member?
A big bodied visa striker, maybe with some recent injury history, that makes them a bit cheaper. The transfer fees the club have received this year, you would hope allow Chief & Gill to sign someone like that.
Or it could be a loan deal, for a younger player with his parent club wanting him to get game time somewhere. Gill quoted in that A Leagues article this week, saying off the back of the transfers of Paulsen, Old & Surman - overseas clubs can see the ALM as a quality league to player development, so more open to potential loan s down under.
Yipe they looked closely at Faulds but didn't pull the trigger. Maybe they are waiting to see what happens with LK-H, subject of a sale rumour. He gets sold for a 7 figure sum like the other 3, Welnix give the green light to sign a quality visa no 9. I'm just making this up, but whether they commit to signing a real quality overseas guy up front will be all about what the club can or can't afford.
Supyk isn't ready, and you need sometime different to Kosta to offer a Plan B.
But I do remember El Grap who used to post on here, and who's opinions were well respected, once say that in his view Watson was a better player now than when he last played for the Nix. Admittedly El Grap would have posted that a few years ago, and Watson is now 31.
I'm also not a fan of the Nix getting $1-2 Mil NZ and in 2/3 years time Bournemouth pocketing £5+ mil (a lot more I'm sure in Paulsen's case). We end up being the losers.
Also if this statement is true: "You always know that the visa players tend to get better in their second season once they settle in", why do we not give our Latin players a second season? Hernandez and Cunningham both improved the longer they were in the A League.
First outing on Tuesday 💪#TogetherWeRise | #COYN! 🐦🔥
— Wellington Phoenix 🔥 (@WgtnPhoenixFC) August 3, 2024
📸 - @NZPhotomac
💛🖤 | https://t.co/SAVRs4aeWc pic.twitter.com/Ik5zwHTS7v
I'm also not a fan of the Nix getting $1-2 Mil NZ and in 2/3 years time Bournemouth pocketing £5+ mil (a lot more I'm sure in Paulsen's case). We end up being the losers.
Also if this statement is true: "You always know that the visa players tend to get better in their second season once they settle in", why do we not give our Latin players a second season? Hernandez and Cunningham both improved the longer they were in the A League.
Exactly my point. His second was a lot better then his first. I wanted him to stay longer, was an exciting player to watch.
So, like I and others have done in the past, I decided to compile a small list of some over 190cm free agent strikers from transfermarkt. Before I continue, I understand we highly likely won't be able to afford the first two options shown even with the recent sales we've made with Paulsen, Old, Surman, and still maybe yet LKH.
Zinho Gano (30) 198cm - Born in Belgium but plays for the Guinea-Bissau national team. Lots of experience in the Jupiler League, pretty good goalscoring record there as well, 58 goals in 183 games. Current market value is €900k (1.6 million in NZD).
https://www.transfermarkt.com/zinho-gano/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/182446
Lucas Joao (30) 193cm - Born in Portugal and of Angolan descent, he made two appearances for the senior team before switching to the Angola national team. A few of you have probably already heard of this guy, 71 goals in the EFL Championship, also played in the Liga Portugal, CSL, and QSL. Current market value is €800k (1.4 million in NZD).
https://www.transfermarkt.com/lucas-joao/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/234787
Maarten Pouwels (25 nearly 26) 200cm - The most affordable and tallest out of the three, really yet to settle down besides the KK Divisie, had a spell with Louisville City in 2023 but only made three starts. Current market value is €250k (450k in NZD).
https://www.transfermarkt.com/maarten-pouwels/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/583816
Bonus:
Aaron Seydel (28) 199cm - Not just an out and out striker, meaning he can be versatile. Close to 100 games in the 2. Bundesliga and just coming off a season of 16 games in the Bundesliga, including five starts, with Darmstadt 98 who finished last and were relegated. Did miss eight matches with injury though. Actually looking at his career, he has had quite a few injuries. Current market value is €500k (900k in NZD).
https://www.transfermarkt.com/aaron-seydel/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/187499
https://www.transfermarkt.com/aaron-seydel/verletzungen/spieler/187499
You will never live that down I'm afraid. The Chinese whisper that took on a life of it's own. Lasogga now with Schalke 04 II.
Good little list. Though with visa players, the free agent angle don't seem so important, as a bit of chatter about possible loan signings coming in.
The current ages of the Wellington Phoenix's starting eleven in the Aussie Cup defeat vs South Melbourne:
— The Niche Cache (@thenichecache) August 7, 2024
19, 20, 32, 20, 22, 24, 20, 19, 18, 18, 17
Five teenagers, three 20 year olds, only one bloke over 24 (that being captain and designated babysitter Scott Wootton) pic.twitter.com/qO7GE3dYR8
You will never live that down I'm afraid. The Chinese whisper that took on a life of it's own. Lasogga now with Schalke 04 II.
Good little list. Though with visa players, the free agent angle don't seem so important, as a bit of chatter about possible loan signings coming in.
The current ages of the Wellington Phoenix's starting eleven in the Aussie Cup defeat vs South Melbourne:
— The Niche Cache (@thenichecache) August 7, 2024
19, 20, 32, 20, 22, 24, 20, 19, 18, 18, 17
Five teenagers, three 20 year olds, only one bloke over 24 (that being captain and designated babysitter Scott Wootton) pic.twitter.com/qO7GE3dYR8
Come on coochiee, is that really necessary? I had just joined the forum when I did all that, I don't care if it's become a joke here, I'm just trying to be helpful.
I know my track record on here has been mixed and I've got plenty of things wrong in the past or said some stuff that can be considered out of touch or ridiculous, but like everyone else here I do what I can to contribute.
Also who knows at the moment whether the possible signings from Asia are going to be a striker or keeper.
And don’t worry about Lasogga Wusty! He would have been a great shout. Seemed like a fascinating guy, and an interesting player. Back in the day we were linked with a Dutch guy called Putter which was good craic for a while. But Lasogga was the best thing on the forum in the last 4 years imo! Don’t think Coochie is having too much of a shot.
So, like I and others have done in the past, I decided to compile a small list of some over 190cm free agent strikers from transfermarkt. Before I continue, I understand we highly likely won't be able to afford the first two options shown even with the recent sales we've made with Paulsen, Old, Surman, and still maybe yet LKH.
Zinho Gano (30) 198cm - Born in Belgium but plays for the Guinea-Bissau national team. Lots of experience in the Jupiler League, pretty good goalscoring record there as well, 58 goals in 183 games. Current market value is €900k (1.6 million in NZD).
https://www.transfermarkt.com/zinho-gano/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/182446
Lucas Joao (30) 193cm - Born in Portugal and of Angolan descent, he made two appearances for the senior team before switching to the Angola national team. A few of you have probably already heard of this guy, 71 goals in the EFL Championship, also played in the Liga Portugal, CSL, and QSL. Current market value is €800k (1.4 million in NZD).
https://www.transfermarkt.com/lucas-joao/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/234787
Maarten Pouwels (25 nearly 26) 200cm - The most affordable and tallest out of the three, really yet to settle down besides the KK Divisie, had a spell with Louisville City in 2023 but only made three starts. Current market value is €250k (450k in NZD).
https://www.transfermarkt.com/maarten-pouwels/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/583816
Bonus:
Aaron Seydel (28) 199cm - Not just an out and out striker, meaning he can be versatile. Close to 100 games in the 2. Bundesliga and just coming off a season of 16 games in the Bundesliga, including five starts, with Darmstadt 98 who finished last and were relegated. Did miss eight matches with injury though. Actually looking at his career, he has had quite a few injuries. Current market value is €500k (900k in NZD).
https://www.transfermarkt.com/aaron-seydel/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/187499
https://www.transfermarkt.com/aaron-seydel/verletzungen/spieler/187499
My pick is either us trying to unearth another Zawada or getting a loan player (Seaun Gill has been saying that the relationships we're building by selling players into Europe are going both ways with loans)