How fantastic is it to have 17 players on deals for next season already as well. Excellent for continuity and cohesion.
Without having looked into it too greatly at this stage either, I'd think we'd be the most advanced in terms of players on board for next season too. Although I'm happy to be pointed in the right direction if this is not the case...
Promising times for this club. Unprecedented even. 🐦🔥
Newshub covered the GSR signing, and also said there's going to be a big name signing tomorrow - could this be Kraev?
Hopefully so!
How fantastic is it to have 17 players on deals for next season already as well. Excellent for continuity and cohesion.
Without having looked into it too greatly at this stage either, I'd think we'd be the most advanced in terms of players on board for next season too. Although I'm happy to be pointed in the right direction if this is not the case...
Promising times for this club. Unprecedented even. 🐦🔥
be good to limit the overtime for Gilly in the off season
Big fan of getting the work done early and getting it out the way.
The season after season of rebuilds with players both in and out the door makes your head hurt after a while. Good to see these past couple of seasons that we've obviously knuckled down and tried to get the pieces of the puzzle together before a ball is even kicked - Helped no doubt by having another vulture circling Kiwi players and other up and coming talent.
Glad that I am not the only one thinking this? Over 500 minutes in Central League/National League without a goal. If the u20's are picked on performance and form he won't make it as there are other attackers with a much better goal to minutes ratio, albeit a year or two older than him. If the team is picked on potential (which does not make sense) and not the here and now then he may make it.
Glad that I am not the only one thinking this? Over 500 minutes in Central League/National League without a goal. If the u20's are picked on performance and form he won't make it as there are other attackers with a much better goal to minutes ratio, albeit a year or two older than him. If the team is picked on potential (which does not make sense) and not the here and now then he may make it.
Let's fill our squad with 28-year-old journeymen then, since potential seems to be a non-factor
Glad that I am not the only one thinking this? Over 500 minutes in Central League/National League without a goal. If the u20's are picked on performance and form he won't make it as there are other attackers with a much better goal to minutes ratio, albeit a year or two older than him. If the team is picked on potential (which does not make sense) and not the here and now then he may make it.
Let's fill our squad with 28-year-old journeymen then, since potential seems to be a non-factor
When I last looked putting the ball in the back of the net was what won football games. Who said anything about 28-year olds?
Of course the academy sides are picked based on potential, the club is laser focused on developing and selling our own talent. You can't develop young players without playing them. What part of that doesn't make sense?
If you haven't watched him play, then either remedy that (his talent is there for anyone who wants to see it) or put some faith in the coach who's identified him and who, less than a year into his coaching career, already has an outstanding history of identifying & developing youth.
Of course the sides are picked based on potential, the club is laser focused on developing and selling our own talent. What part of that doesn't make sense?
If you haven't watched him play, then either remedy that (his talent is there for anyone who wants to see it) or put some faith in the coach who's identified him and who, less than a year into his coaching career, already has an outstanding history of identifying & developing youth.
The part that does not make sense is that we are talking about a New Zealand age grade team that will be competing to win a tournament, and not the Phoenix. Totally understand that the Phoenix have set out their stall on him.....not sure NZ Football see him through the same lens. Was not a regular starter at the U17's and will now be competing with boys older than him and with much better goal scoring records than him at NL and CL level.
Of course the sides are picked based on potential, the club is laser focused on developing and selling our own talent. What part of that doesn't make sense?
If you haven't watched him play, then either remedy that (his talent is there for anyone who wants to see it) or put some faith in the coach who's identified him and who, less than a year into his coaching career, already has an outstanding history of identifying & developing youth.
The part that does not make sense is that we are talking about a New Zealand age grade team that will be competing to win a tournament, and not the Phoenix. Totally understand that the Phoenix have set out their stall on him.....not sure NZ Football see him through the same lens. Was not a regular starter at the U17's and will now be competing with boys older than him and with much better goal scoring records than him at NL and CL level.
He's still only 16. He might not make next year's U20 WC, the NZU20s team yes shouldn't be picked on potential. But he'll likely go close, and that WC is over a year away still, so plenty of time to bang in some goals in the CL/NL. He may even score in next season's ALM.
He'll be eligible not only for next year's U20 WC, but the following one as well I imagine. Maybe more than two U20 WCs, if FIFA move them to an annual basis
Though careful not to name GSR directly, both Chief & Zawada have alluded to there being a very special talent in the club ranks. You have to trust their experienced judgement based on seeing him every day at training. But he's only 16, and the first 2 years of his contract is only on a scholarship basis. Football is littered with stories of young big talents who for various reasons didn't match the hype. But you feel staying in the safe embrace of the Phoenix for the next 3 years gives him the best chance to succeed.
Of course the sides are picked based on potential, the club is laser focused on developing and selling our own talent. What part of that doesn't make sense?
If you haven't watched him play, then either remedy that (his talent is there for anyone who wants to see it) or put some faith in the coach who's identified him and who, less than a year into his coaching career, already has an outstanding history of identifying & developing youth.
The part that does not make sense is that we are talking about a New Zealand age grade team that will be competing to win a tournament, and not the Phoenix. Totally understand that the Phoenix have set out their stall on him.....not sure NZ Football see him through the same lens. Was not a regular starter at the U17's and will now be competing with boys older than him and with much better goal scoring records than him at NL and CL level.
He's still only 16. He might not make next year's U20 WC, the NZU20s team yes shouldn't be picked on potential. But he'll likely go close, and that WC is over a year away still, so plenty of time to bang in some goals in the CL/NL. He may even score in next season's ALM.
He'll be eligible not only for next year's U20 WC, but the following one as well I imagine. Maybe more than two U20 WCs, if FIFA move them to an annual basis
Though careful not to name GSR directly, both Chief & Zawada have alluded to there being a very special talent in the club ranks. You have to trust their experienced judgement based on seeing him every day at training. But he's only 16, and the first 2 years of his contract is only on a scholarship basis. Football is littered with stories of young big talents who for various reasons didn't match the hype. But you feel staying in the safe embrace of the Phoenix for the next 3 years gives him the best chance to succeed.
Looking backwards (and we shouldn't) as an exercise to beat boredom - which, if any, of departures of recent years would we welcome back if given the opportunity. Please ignore spelling errors - going off memory. All ex-phoenix and currently still playing somewhere.
Kurto Sail David Williams Davilla Pescipo Lewis Devlin Tomed Hooper Any others I cannot think of right now worthy of consideration.
Looking backwards (and we shouldn't) as an exercise to beat boredom - which, if any, of departures of recent years would we welcome back if given the opportunity. Please ignore spelling errors - going off memory. All ex-phoenix and currently still playing somewhere.
Kurto Sail David Williams Davilla Pescipo Lewis Devlin Tomed Hooper Any others I cannot think of right now worthy of consideration.
I would have wanted to keep Davila and Lewis - maybe Devlin as well, although was happy to see him go to Europe rather than stick with the Jets after he initially signed for them. Everyone else was pretty easily replaced - although we seem to be doing okay this season after Lewis's departure
Sotirio off the bench would be handy option as well.
As for targets for next season, I bought it up in the Other Matches thread that Adelaide don't seem keen to re-sign Ibusuki. I reckon he could do an okay job at filling Zawada's shoes for a bit cheaper.
Looking backwards (and we shouldn't) as an exercise to beat boredom - which, if any, of departures of recent years would we welcome back if given the opportunity. Please ignore spelling errors - going off memory. All ex-phoenix and currently still playing somewhere.
Kurto Sail David Williams Davilla Pescipo Lewis Devlin Tomed Hooper Any others I cannot think of right now worthy of consideration.
Sorry I can't ignore the spelling errors! That's a card fest right there for the prowling Spelling Ref.
You have created a trail of Davilla posts now I see.
Though Tomed that makes me giggle. Why bother having 2 names when you can just go all Brazilian and make do with one.
Oh and I'd go Singh or Sing if that's better. McCowatt worthy of a mention, much better player than when he left.
Davila was and still is a one of a kind player, not easily replaceable with like for like. But it would require building a team around him rather than asking him to slot into an existing team structure, so that time is well and truly over.
Wellington Phoenix – who are jostling with Central Coast Mariners for the Premiers title – have relied more heavily on players aged 21 or under, with the 8,663 minutes handed out to players in that category by coach Giancarlo Italiano this season by far the largest total in the A-League.
Focusing back in on players aged 21 and under, let’s see which teams have looked to hand over more trust to their youngsters when compared to last season.
Nine of the Isuzu UTE A-League’s 12 teams have all given more minutes to those players this season than they did do over the course of 2022-23. So, what about the three teams that have instead gone the other way.
If Tomer Hemed were still with us in the current geopolitical situation, there would be fudging riots
Probably would hav been ok as long as he kept the Israeli flag away from the game. If he'd brought it out or grabbed one from the crowd then there might be some issues.
When he scored at Eden Park, he ran up to the fans and someone pulled a Palestinian flag on him. That was uncomfortable then, now it would probably start a fist-fight
When he scored at Eden Park, he ran up to the fans and someone pulled a Palestinian flag on him. That was uncomfortable then, now it would probably start a fist-fight
Looking backwards (and we shouldn't) as an exercise to beat boredom - which, if any, of departures of recent years would we welcome back if given the opportunity. Please ignore spelling errors - going off memory. All ex-phoenix and currently still playing somewhere.
Kurto Sail David Williams Davilla Pescipo Lewis Devlin Tomed Hooper Any others I cannot think of right now worthy of consideration.
You forgot Sotorio. What happened to him at the Jets??
He was there for one season only, and went to India (Kerala) about a year ago. Poor bugger ruptured his achilles tendon soon after and has been out of action ever since.
You forgot Sotorio. What happened to him at the Jets??
3 goals and 4 assists in his only season at the Jets before joining Kerala Blasters in India last June - and tearing his achilles two weeks in. Still on the comeback from that injury but according to his instagram is close to a return.
Simon Hill in his introductory remarks for this game said Surman attracting interest from the English Championship and Old is attracting interest from Denmark.
Yes, come on YF Sleuths, can’t believe you’ve been gazumped on this…….imanixsupporter
Simon Hill in his introductory remarks for this game said Surman attracting interest from the English Championship and Old is attracting interest from Denmark.