WPM 2024/25 Squad Speculation, Confirmation and Mutual Termination

For the defensive depth do we still see Rufer as a reasonable CB back up? Depth in midfield would allow him to step back if needed and he did a reasonable or better job there in the past when needed.  

Payne obviously as well, so with the younger ex academy guys and those experienced players in Rufer and Payne, we may have enough CB cover?

People have such short memories.

Payne was in great form at RB before shifting to CB, where he was bang average and our defence was terrible towards to end of the Talay reign as a result. Our defense improved immensely when Surman replaced Payne at CB, and Payne had another great season at RB last year.

Payne is OK at CB should he need to slide across there during a game due to a CB going off injured or something, but should not be relied upon as a CB beyond that. 

Any update on Ruiz-Diaz? Maybe they're just announcing the signings in intervals?

Feel sorry to say, but I don’t wanna see Payne at CB for us again. Plus he needs to back up last year as Vinicius Jr. for us😎!

I heard a whisper that the 4th potential transfer out was indeed Rufer.
Apparently was offered serious money to play in India and said screw that.

MetalLegNZ

I heard a whisper that the 4th potential transfer out was indeed Rufer.
Apparently was offered serious money to play in India and said screw that.

My respect for Rufer has just shot through the roof! 

Would basically have snuffed out his AW's ambitions moving to that turd of a league right when he's in the middle of some career best form. 

Wouldn't have begrudged him that move if he was say 32-33, but he's only 28!

coochiee

anaveragestem

If this transfer comes through I reckon:

#1 Our midfield is now fudgeing stacked. Would have to be in the conversation for the best midfield in the competition next year. 

#2 We need an import striker. I don't really even mind if they're tall or not but they must be astute at finishing - that is really it. Provided Chief gets our midfield working it will create a lot of chances. We need someone there good enough to finish most of the chances. 

#3 If we sign a good striker I am going to get very hype for this season. I will have fairly high expectations.

Wonder how Oscar Faulds is going with his trial in Denmark?
The mere fact that the Nix gave him that trial opportunity, says yes they want to bring in a another striker, and likely a tall one.

So yes I think you already have good reason to be getting at least a little excited, without yet knowing who that new no 9 will be.

Update for ya on Oscar.

He's got an offer in front of him from Utsiktens BK in the Swedish Superettan.

YoungHeartHM

MetalLegNZ

I heard a whisper that the 4th potential transfer out was indeed Rufer.
Apparently was offered serious money to play in India and said screw that.

My respect for Rufer has just shot through the roof! 

Would basically have snuffed out his AW's ambitions moving to that turd of a league right when he's in the middle of some career best form. 

Wouldn't have begrudged him that move if he was say 32-33, but he's only 28!

Alex is getting dangerously close to becoming the all time biggest Phoenix legend imo.

The question has to be, given his passports, why no Swiss offer? Or can you not hold Swiss and Kiwi passports?

YoungHeartHM

MetalLegNZ

I heard a whisper that the 4th potential transfer out was indeed Rufer.
Apparently was offered serious money to play in India and said screw that.

My respect for Rufer has just shot through the roof! 

Would basically have snuffed out his AW's ambitions moving to that turd of a league right when he's in the middle of some career best form. 

Wouldn't have begrudged him that move if he was say 32-33, but he's only 28!

I wouldn't begrudge any of our players following a decent payday.  He's got his own financial future to worry about.

Having said that, if he turned down the money to stay here, I do love him more.

He's probably got a long career ahead of him at the Phoenix when (hopefully that's awhile away) he stops playing, he obviously loves the club and the club loves him. He could develop through the coaching ranks, or into the administration side.

I think it would show how far the club has come if we could develop a player like Rufer and keep him here the entirety of his career.

I remember when he signed a long term deal with us during covid, there had been quite a bit of uncertainty and it felt like he'd done it at the time to kind of settle down the squad. He certainly had options outside of the A-League.

Friar Tuck

YoungHeartHM

MetalLegNZ

I heard a whisper that the 4th potential transfer out was indeed Rufer.
Apparently was offered serious money to play in India and said screw that.

My respect for Rufer has just shot through the roof! 

Would basically have snuffed out his AW's ambitions moving to that turd of a league right when he's in the middle of some career best form. 

Wouldn't have begrudged him that move if he was say 32-33, but he's only 28!

Alex is getting dangerously close to becoming the all time biggest Phoenix legend imo.

IMG_20240825_010921.jpg 411.28 KB

This feels unarguable rn

Jazzy Jeff

Friar Tuck

YoungHeartHM

MetalLegNZ

I heard a whisper that the 4th potential transfer out was indeed Rufer.
Apparently was offered serious money to play in India and said screw that.

My respect for Rufer has just shot through the roof! 

Would basically have snuffed out his AW's ambitions moving to that turd of a league right when he's in the middle of some career best form. 

Wouldn't have begrudged him that move if he was say 32-33, but he's only 28!

Alex is getting dangerously close to becoming the all time biggest Phoenix legend imo.

IMG_20240825_010921.jpg 411.28 KB

This feels unarguable rn

Hard agree, our two (real) captains, and our two top goal scorers.

https://fb.watch/ualQ3mBJjS/

Wowzers

Friar Tuck

IMG_7229.jpeg 583.56 KB

Now that would good be a good signing! Looks like he destroyed our u17 team 13 years ago...

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/football/all-whites/soccer-junior-all-whites-run-ends-with-rout/E44NPTGWX6D5NYQJ54GOAZ5DUY/

Friar Tuck

IMG_7229.jpeg 583.56 KB

Nice to see him citing his sauces now rather than claiming exclusives but I can't see a tweet from the referenced account mentioning this rumour?

Found a Yahoo Japan article talking about a move to the Nix being confirmed early September, so I take back my objection.

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/8a7fd309af0fe909131348f46d360df4d88dbdd2

Squad at this stage including the two rumoured Japanese imports

Screenshot 2024-08-25 at 3.15.08 PM.png 251.16 KB

Gardiner and Karunaratne the academy CBs that could provide some depth.

Hideki would be our 5th visa, so no visa Striker being signed.

Looks like its almost a done deal

🚨💣 EXCL:

🟡⚫️🇯🇵 Wellington Phoenix are set to sign 29 year old winger, Hideki Ishige.

An agreement was reached in recent days between the Phoenix and Gamba Osaka. Personal terms are close to being agreed upon, as Ishige is keen on making the move. https://t.co/70BjXqYl3I pic.twitter.com/8GYGK76ftb

— Ted Sterling (@TedSterlingNZ) August 25, 2024

I'm sure the chief knows what he is doing but damn we're going to be vertically challenged next season! 

Teams won't get near us or the ball. We are going to be fun to watch.

Since we aren't getting a visa striker, and it looks like Oscar Faulds isn't happening, I'd like to see Marco as a false 9. He knows how to score at A-League level and I'm sure will create plenty for Kosta too. 

He would effectively be replacing Ball in that role, Zawada barely appeared for us last season and I even remember at one point midseason after he had returned from injury we seemed to generally be worse in terms of how we were playing overall while he was on the field compared to when Kraev, Ball & Kosta was our front 3 (though Zawada always remained a lethal threat when chances appeared)

Friar Tuck

Squad at this stage including the two rumoured Japanese imports

Screenshot 2024-08-25 at 3.15.08 PM.png 251.16 KB

Gardiner and Karunaratne the academy CBs that could provide some depth.

Maybe we are rumoured for 2 Japanese guys but really will only end up getting one?

We've run a short front line for years now, with the Zawada years the only real exception. We could still pick up an Aussie like Harry Sawyer or Anthony Carter mid-season if we need tall timber up front for not much cash to add an extra dimension to our set-up.

Elemenop

Friar Tuck

Squad at this stage including the two rumoured Japanese imports

Screenshot 2024-08-25 at 3.15.08 PM.png 251.16 KB

Gardiner and Karunaratne the academy CBs that could provide some depth.

Maybe we are rumoured for 2 Japanese guys but really will only end up getting one?

The Japanese article linked by RR says we're in for both.

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/8a7fd309af0fe909131348f46d360df4d88dbdd2

"The club has also made an offer to acquire J2 Sendai midfielder Kazuki Nagasawa (32). "

Superb, excited by these two. Certainly makes a lot sense to have two as well as will help with the settling! Tatsushi will be getting some new regulars then! Interested to see what we end up doing up top. It’ll have to be someone like Rojas if Kosta gets injured? 

dunnix

We've run a short front line for years now, with the Zawada years the only real exception. We could still pick up an Aussie like Harry Sawyer or Anthony Carter mid-season if we need tall timber up front for not much cash to add an extra dimension to our set-up.

Feel like we have always tried to find a target man tho. Sheridan, Hemed, hooper. 

I like the idea of kosta and Marco running wild up front. Some speedy Japanese imports behind them and rufer and Retre holding the midfield. 

We are going to be exciting to watch If this comes true. 

Might as well sign Watto as plan B, Marco, Kosta and Ishige being plan A.

This is gunna be a good football year. 

Only other thing I can think of is that Ball is getting citizenship but didn't think that was likely at the moment. 
When we signed Rojas Chief did say we were going to be set up differently this season to suit his attributes 

martinb

Might as well sign Watto as plan B, Marco, Kosta and Ishige being plan A.

This is gunna be a good football year. 

Secret third option: David Ball resurgence, 15 goal season

When Ishige was young he was compared to Shinji Ono and trained with Manchester City. He was hoped to be the next big player from Japan but didn't quite happen.  Similar to Davila and that worked for us. 
He is friends with Kazuki Nagasawa on Instagram too which only seems to be a recent following 

Chiefytheman

Only other thing I can think of is that Ball is getting citizenship but didn't think that was likely at the moment. 
When we signed Rojas Chief did say we were going to be set up differently this season to suit his attributes 

As any one seen Ball lately? Maybe he's about to leave?

Watched a bit of j league over the years. Fantastic league with fast pressing players with agility and skill.

Also preety much no dick head country and the players will likely give 100 percent. 

These guys may also ultimately be wanting to move permanently here at this stage in their lives so not a bad place to shop.

Chiefytheman

Only other thing I can think of is that Ball is getting citizenship but didn't think that was likely at the moment. 
When we signed Rojas Chief did say we were going to be set up differently this season to suit his attributes 

It's possible if there was some special exemption giving due to COVID?
He joined us in 2019, so this would be his 5th season/year with us, so technically he should be eligible.

Gill said in one of the podcasts that he didn't think it would happen, there'd have to be special dispensation from the government and that would only happen if the all whites were interested in him.

https://youtu.be/0Ld7YF5ndYw?si=J0c1R9A1zxENFgW7

Kazuki Nagasawa's final interview for Vegalta Sendai yesterday.

All in Japanese of course, but I got one of my Japanese followers on Twitter to translate. Here's what he gave me

Looking back on your time at Vegalta Sendai
Many supporters came to the away games, we wanted to finish with a win, but it was very frustrating to lose, but we have fought the whole season and although we didn't get a result today, we will fight as one, so I hope that we will fight the remaining games, including promotion, with the help of our supporters. I hope you will fight for the remaining games, including promotion, with the help of the supporters.

I joined Vegalta Sendai in August last year and it was a really difficult and frustrating season, but we couldn't change the situation and we had minimal results, but then Gori came in and we focused on fighting together and things changed a little bit, and there were some things that I thought the young players would be okay, but they were not. I was happy to see the young players playing so reliably in the games.
I hope that I can be a role model as an older player, and that's what I've been working hard for.

Reasons for the decision to move abroad
I simply wanted a new challenge.
When I was 22, I tried out for Germany and at that time, despite the level of the league, I had a lot of experience and my range as a player and a person had broadened and I wanted to try again at the end of my career.
This year I will be 33 and I was given a chance at that age, so I decided to give it a try because this was my last chance and I wanted to give my life a shot.

Memorable moments at Vegalta Sendai
On a personal note, my daughter was born in the middle of the camp, but she was difficult to deliver and it took several days for her to come out, but I told the team that I wanted to be there as a father, and they were happy to let me be there because it was an important moment in my life.
Gori also told me that he trusted me and wanted me to be ready for the games, and he agreed, even though he had only joined the team a short time before.

I think the relationship is built on trust, and I think the team is united because of the maneger Gori, and the supporters who support the team are the driving force for the players, so I wanted to win for Gori.

Any last messages for the supporters?
I really wanted to win at home, but due to my own schedule I had to say goodbye on the road.
I hope to make the most of this challenging situation and grow as a player myself, and I look forward to meeting you all again one day, however that may turn out.

No Wellington Phoenix mention, but sounds like a class bloke to have on board. Excited to see what he can bring us, and it sounds like we should be expecting an announcement any day now.

Credit when credit is due, this bloke got the Costa transfer story correct. So he moves up the sauce rankings slightly.

EXCLUSIVE: South Melbourne striker Harrison Sawyer has received offers from multiple A-league clubs. A decision will be made after the NPL season 🔜👀#aleague #southmelbourne #nplvic pic.twitter.com/Hd5oSoeVgR

— Nicholas Lennon (@NicholasLennon0) August 26, 2024

Sadly I think because of lack of other options, we might be one of them if this is true.

RR

Credit when credit is due, this bloke got the Costa transfer story correct. So he moves up the sauce rankings slightly.

EXCLUSIVE: South Melbourne striker Harrison Sawyer has received offers from multiple A-league clubs. A decision will be made after the NPL season 🔜👀#aleague #southmelbourne #nplvic pic.twitter.com/Hd5oSoeVgR

— Nicholas Lennon (@NicholasLennon0) August 26, 2024

Sadly I think because of lack of other options, we might be one of them if this is true.

He'd be a good option from the bench, offer something different.