Pouwels (25) fits Cheif's and Welnix current recruitment policies better the Lasagna (31). The older of the two has some goal scoring pedigree but hasnt really continued that in recent years, 5 goals in about 70+ games. The younger doesnt have the numbers behind him but Zawada didnt really wither and he had one great season for us.
Pouwels (25) fits Cheif's and Welnix current recruitment policies better the Lasagna (31). The older of the two has some goal scoring pedigree but hasnt really continued that in recent years, 5 goals in about 70+ games. The younger doesnt have the numbers behind him but Zawada didnt really wither and he had one great season for us.
Agreed on Pauwels' potential, but he ain't a bargain buy either.
Sharp-shooter Oscar Faulds’ days of creating nightmares for Kiwi goalkeepers could be over – flying to Denmark to try out for a full-time professional contract.
Last month Faulds spent a week trialling under Wellington Phoenix coach Giancarlo Italiano. It is understood that the A-League team were keen for him to return for another trial.
Unfortunately it's the pathway for the elite. Unless you live in Wellington. Better than no pathway though I guess.
It shouldn’t be the only pathway for elite players. Not everyone can afford to pay academy fees but unfortunately over the past few years NZF have overlooked many good club players in favour of weenix Academy players to over represent in NZ age group squads. NZF need to invest in creating more pathways for players to represent at age group level. What works for Phoenix style of play doesn’t necessarily mean it fits with a NZ style of play - this is where we go wrong with our national Team selections.
interesting watch this video. Wellington Phoenix might have been too slow off the mark in regards to Oscar Faulds. goal-scoring machine https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/football/inside-the-rovers-oscars-big-chance/WPOII5KDZRMEHZNXDYRSBJKBFQ/
There's talk of Chief scouting in Japan so I've had a geeze on transfermarkt and found some big unit strikers that could be good options on loan (or if they get released).
Jay-Roy Grot 26 years old, Dutch, 193cm, Kashiwa Reysol (J1) I really like the look of this fella, definitely fits in the Zawada mould. Former Leeds player, he's played a lot in the Eredivisie and Danish Superliga. He's contracted to 2026 but seems to have been completely frozen out by Kashiwa. Could be a loan or release option?
Kosuke Konosh*ta (Can't link because swear filter) 29 years old, Japanese, 190cm, Kashiwa Reysol (J1) Another big unit who's not playing much at Kashiwa. This guy has played most of his football in Japan, Germany, Norway and Sweden. Contracted to 2025 but could be a loan/release option. Why aren't Kashiwa playing these big fellas?
Solomon Sakuragawa 21 years old, Japanese, 190cm, Yokohama FC (J2) This guy is pretty young but has played over 100 games in the J2 league. Seems to just be getting scraps at the end of games having played 25 games but only 28% of the minutes available. Contracted to 2025, could be a great loan option.
Hahaha was very happy but couldn't drink because of work in the morning. Must say as happy as I was for us winning I was quote disappointed with the nix that turned up. Giving Rojas and Barba bench minutes, aswell as the sushi debacle after game was a bit of an insult, but at least it's made the cup exciting this year. 3 upsets for a league teams with jets and mcarthur vsing each other next round the chances for the state league teams get better and better
There's talk of Chief scouting in Japan so I've had a geeze on transfermarkt and found some big unit strikers that could be good options on loan (or if they get released).
Jay-Roy Grot 26 years old, Dutch, 193cm, Kashiwa Reysol (J1) I really like the look of this fella, definitely fits in the Zawada mould. Former Leeds player, he's played a lot in the Eredivisie and Danish Superliga. He's contracted to 2026 but seems to have been completely frozen out by Kashiwa. Could be a loan or release option?
Kosuke Konosh*ta (Can't link because swear filter) 29 years old, Japanese, 190cm, Kashiwa Reysol (J1) Another big unit who's not playing much at Kashiwa. This guy has played most of his football in Japan, Germany, Norway and Sweden. Contracted to 2025 but could be a loan/release option. Why aren't Kashiwa playing these big fellas?
Solomon Sakuragawa 21 years old, Japanese, 190cm, Yokohama FC (J2) This guy is pretty young but has played over 100 games in the J2 league. Seems to just be getting scraps at the end of games having played 25 games but only 28% of the minutes available. Contracted to 2025, could be a great loan option.
I like the notion that Ibusuki terrorised us enough last year that Chiefy has gone out to get his own massive unit from Japan
Should also add, the Olympics was a shop window for him to try and land somewhere. I see there are still rumours about the UK floating around, albeit not as strongly as perhaps they were several weeks back when interest and rumours started flying about.
Highly doubt we would be in for him given some of the numbers I've heard being mentioned. Would by far and away the most well compensated player we would ever have had - To give some indication of $$$ we're talking here...
It wouldn't stop him from a move back to Europe per se, but with their seasons kicking off, or about to, the longer he remains out of contract I'd wager a return to the A-League edges ever closer, even if it is somewhat unlikely at this stage.
I'd be shocked if we signed him. We have already signed Rojas who feels like a very similar player in a similar position. If Singh comes home it will be to the Jafa's
Would be a good move for AFC. Huge, huge population of Indian/Indian kiwis in Auckland
I'd be shocked if we signed him. We have already signed Rojas who feels like a very similar player in a similar position. If Singh comes home it will be to the Jafa's
Would be a good move for AFC. Huge, huge population of Indian/Indian kiwis in Auckland
To put a more positive spin on things - Didn't Chiefy say a signing was expected within a couple of weeks, well, a couple of weeks ago now? 😏
I'm not sure my heart can handle what I think you're saying.
For the record, I think (hope) he's going back to Europe. That point in his career is fast approaching where if he doesn't make the right move now, then it's becoming increasingly likely that he probably never will - As much as it hurt to say that...
The son of a former British BMX champion (Phil), Luke Brooke-Smith has achieved fame as a junior BMX star. An eight-time national champion, he finished second at the junior world championships in 2019 in Belgium.
Brooke-Smith believes his experiences on the bike have benefited him on the football field, having overcome plenty of adversity.
“I was seven when I went to my first world champs. I qualified for the quarter final, , crashed, got a concussion. Next year in Columbia, I made the final. So I was top eight in the world. I was in third, crashed in the final. 2017, I broke my leg six weeks before. I got out of my cast a week before the competition and ended up getting sixth in the world. 2019 is when I got second and then in my last world champs in 2022, this American takes me out and that’s it, my world champs done.
“So I think BMX made me mentally very strong.”
“I think I want to make my professional debut with this season coming. I’ve just moved to Phoenix. I was there for two weeks before I came here and then I’m properly moving over and I’m doing preseason with the first team. And then after that, they’re going to decide whether I sign a scholarship or sign with under 23s.”
“And so I want to hopefully play a professional game by the end of this season coming. So I think I’ve got to about May next year, but in the long term, I’ve always said I’ll know I’ve made it when I can buy my parents a house.”
The prospect of playing at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar next year is a huge motivation for Brooke-Smith, who knows scouts from all around the world will be in attendance.
“Three mates went to the last World Cup and I think they got sick of me asking questions about it!
“Scouts are going to realise that talent is coming through New Zealand and they’re going to start looking at the games. Then it’s just up to me on how I want to do – if I perform, then you never know what could happen.”
I’ve got it as: - AKH will be promoted to senior contract - Sheridan will be promoted to senior contract - Supyk might also been promoted to a senior contract imo
- Gardiner, Gillion and Brooke-Smith offered scholarship deals - potentially also Boon
If Supyk remains on a scholarship deal that would mean we have 15 senior players and 5 scholarship players.
Squads need 18-23 senior players and you can have an additional 16 players on scholarship. That means we’ve got room for 3-8 more senior signings (assuming the players I’ve guessed will be made senior are) We also have room for up to 3 additional VISA players.
I reckon we can expect to see an import GK and import attacker come in. Would be nice to get one more defensive player in as well, but overall the squad is looking pretty healthy to me.
Add in two or three older/established players to the squad and we'll have a really nice overall balance. I'm really looking forward to seeing these young guys step up and dominate over the next few years.
Very, very good. He's raw, but is an exciting prospect for sure. One of the best on show at the recently completed OFC U-16 tournament as well.
Auckland were also apparently after him, but as far as I heard nothing really eventuated past chatter. Had heard word they wanted him to be involved with their reserve team for next seasons Northern League campaign and move up from there with them. So I guess you'd call it a nice steal.
Comes to the Nix, via Ricki's Herbert's Academy in Cambridge. Brooke-Smith is good mates with Dylan Gardiner (they had a month training in Spain together early 2023) who also trained at Herbert's same Academy.
Handy for the Nix to have Ricki in the Waikato, as the battle for NZ's best young talent is about to really heat up between AFC & Phoenix.
Brooke-Smith looked very useful in the limited mins I watched of the NZ U16s in Taihiti. Solid lad for his age, all that BMX racing giving him a decent set of thighs. Debuted for Cambridge FC? as a 15 year old in senior footy.
Very good signing I'd say, and a nice win over AFC who were also reportedly courting him. English parentage which should help with the long game, of a transfer fee to Europe. Interesting read about him in the article below. He's ambitious, stating he wants to debut in the ALM this season, with the European dream already front & centre. Could be one of our better players at next year's U17 WC in Qatar.
Edit - even though he has been at Ricki's Academy he probably is yes a bit raw, as he's not been 100% focused on football until this year. Was still riding BMX (which took him a bit over the world) until late last year. 8 times national champ in his age group or something.
Very, very good. He's raw, but is an exciting prospect for sure. One of the best on show at the recently completed OFC U-16 tournament as well.
Auckland were also after him, but as far as I heard nothing really eventuated past chatter. Had heard word they wanted him to be involved with their reserve team for next seasons Northern League campaign and move up from there with them. So I guess you'd call it a nice steal.
Give it a couple years and they'll fork out $4m for him
