WPM 2024/25 Squad Speculation, Confirmation and Mutual Termination

Friar Tuck

Chiefytheman

Ryan

Going to be an exciting season, you'd expect those are the senior players all signed. I'd hope for an experiences centre back and a striker but I think that's unlikely.

Without a clear 9, Marco and Kosta will need to be targetting 10 goals each. We'll also need Ball to contribute. Interesting that Hideki has been given the 9 jersey, I wonder if Chief will try and turn him into a consistent goalscorer.

He was a striker when he was younger and can definitely score so will be interesting to see how we use him. 
I would also like another experienced centre back but doesn't sound like Chief was going to do that.

Nikko Boxall 2: Electric Boogaloo?

No chance he gets picked up by Auckland if they’re bringing in Pijnaker.

Chief has said he will promote Academy players rather than bringing in squaddies like that. Gardiner gets big wraps from people, start blooding him to be a starter in a couple seasons.

Imagine if Chief plays with this new system and takes us to the top again? Surely he will then be on the Ange pathway to greatness.

In his latest interview in regards to transfers, Chief said, "We're pretty much done", but will perhaps promote a player or two from the academy. I suspect one of these will be to cover the CB position 

Could have a punt on Kiwi/Aus defenders elsewhere, but without a visa slot, there aren't many CBs on the market at the moment.

Alternatively, Deklan Wynne is still out of contract (I believe). With him being a LB, Kelly-Heald could be our starting CB, or Hughes for that matter, meaning we'll have some cover there. Same story goes for Connor O'Toole.

Probably not worth the wages though, best use the academy or wait till Jan if anyone is coming off contract or finishing college scholarships. Was interesting to have a gander at who there was anyway 🤷‍♂️

Chiefytheman

Ryan

Going to be an exciting season, you'd expect those are the senior players all signed. I'd hope for an experiences centre back and a striker but I think that's unlikely.

Without a clear 9, Marco and Kosta will need to be targetting 10 goals each. We'll also need Ball to contribute. Interesting that Hideki has been given the 9 jersey, I wonder if Chief will try and turn him into a consistent goalscorer.

He was a striker when he was younger and can definitely score so will be interesting to see how we use him. 
I would also like another experienced centre back but doesn't sound like Chief was going to do that.

valeo

theprof

valeo

We seem to have a huge gap at striker, the irony being that the Japanese striker Auckland signed would've been better suited to our squad makeup

This guy seems like a huge risk considering his injury history, but so was Ifill - let's hope it works out

New guy can play anywhere on the field, given he's taken the #9 I reckon we'll see him playing up front.

 He's shorter than Kosta so doesn't exactly provide a different option up there - we've got a lot of good crossers of the ball, so seems a little bit of a waste not to use it.

Yay, another season without scoring from corners incoming!

InsulinMachine

valeo

theprof

valeo

We seem to have a huge gap at striker, the irony being that the Japanese striker Auckland signed would've been better suited to our squad makeup

This guy seems like a huge risk considering his injury history, but so was Ifill - let's hope it works out

New guy can play anywhere on the field, given he's taken the #9 I reckon we'll see him playing up front.

 He's shorter than Kosta so doesn't exactly provide a different option up there - we've got a lot of good crossers of the ball, so seems a little bit of a waste not to use it.

Yay, another season without scoring from corners incoming!

It has been 18 seasons of that, you should be used to it by now!

Strangely Rojas scores a few with his noggin.

Good rumours young winger Nathan Walker will be signed. He was the only Academy kid to start against Sth Melbourne. Him & Gardiner yes look the best bets for contracts. Though I remember Luke Supyk was a surprise pick to get the last squad spot, 12 months ago.

https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2024/08/06/australia/ffa-cup/south-melbourne/wellington-phoenix/4368629/

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Out/In:
Paulsen -> Oluwayemi (V)
Duncan -> Boon
Surman -> Gardiner (probably)
Pennington -> Retre
Old -> Nagasawa (V)
Kraev (V) -> Rojas
Zawada (V) -> Ishige (V)

Bonus additions:
Luke Brooke-Smith
Nathan Walker (probably)

Sold and lost a lot of talent but brought a lot in too. A pretty good window when you line them up like that.

I'm glad we have managed to get pretty much our whole squad sorted quite nice an early. Considering how much turnover we have had its great to see all visa spots sorted with about 1.5 months of preseason to go - everyone should hopefully be settled in nicely by the time the season rolls around

Speculation.
Seems harsh.

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He's likely not a starter and has probably been told that, might have even been told we'd like to transition him to an off field role and he might be looking at ways to prolong his playing career. But I doubt we're looking to force him out of the squad as he's a popular person in the team.

iirc we extended his contract to this season because him and his family served us well during COVID and that gave them security etc. If he's been told he isn't a starter maybe he wants to go somewhere to do that but he also has his coaching set up here. Wonder what his source his...

If he was off contract at the end of last season would the club have offered him an extension?

Ranix

Speculation.
Seems harsh.

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Has Nicholas gotten anything right?

Huge fan of Ball as a bloke, but it seems like the demands of the league have well and truly caught up to him. It'd be great if he could be classed as a local for this season and give us the visa spot to use mid-season if needed.

WhoStoleMySock

Ranix

Speculation.
Seems harsh.

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Has Nicholas gotten anything right?

He does get things right but he's more of an aggregator and often doesn't credit the source. He's grown pretty quickly though so who knows. 

I wonder if he is sensationalizing this a little.

It wouldn't shock me if the club said they weren't looking to extend his deal at this stage & they won't stand in his way if his agent is able to secure a longer term deal elsewhere.

RR

I wonder if he is sensationalizing this a little.

It wouldn't shock me if the club said they weren't looking to extend his deal at this stage & they won't stand in his way if his agent is able to secure a longer term deal elsewhere.

On one of the podcasts he was on recently he said "he thought he had a few more years in him" and the 'Nix probably wouldn't offer him that but he has his coaching setup here so who knows.

Ranix

Speculation.
Seems harsh.

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Would open up a visa slot. 

I think he would still be a good option to have on the bench though as he's a very hard worker on the pitch and can also be a mentor to younger players. So I'd be keen to keep him for that but yeah as mentioned above maybe he wants more playing time than Chiefy is offering - or this could be completely fake, who knows

Love Ball and he's given a lot to the club, but I think it is probably the right time to part. I don't think he's a starting player anymore, at least not every week. 

Perfect outcome would be for him to get citizenship but it doesn't seem on the cards (another thing to blame on the pandemic).

It would be understandable for him to leave to get minutes elsewhere, especially now we have 2 new imports that seem to play similar positions as him and I hope we wouldn't stand in the way of him doing that considering what he's given to the club. I'd be shocked if that's in the A-League though.

The ISL, or some other league in Asia?? Means that if his wife and kids are well settled in Wellington, they can maybe stay in NZ whilst he continues playing - just visit him in school holidays etc. The ISL is a pretty short comp from memory.

How big is his football academy?  All pretty new and smallish isn't it? Likely someone could keep it running in his absence. Read that Tommy Smith has some sort of academy in Suffolk, yet spent time in Colorado and now Auckland.

Then once Ball finishes playing, he comes back to the Nix into an off field role, likely at Weenix. He's seen how Greenacre has made a new life from himself & his family in NZ. Ifill as well.

Half a Pint

Ranix

Speculation.
Seems harsh.

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Would open up a visa slot. 

I think he would still be a good option to have on the bench though as he's a very hard worker on the pitch and can also be a mentor to younger players. So I'd be keen to keep him for that but yeah as mentioned above maybe he wants more playing time than Chiefy is offering - or this could be completely fake, who knows

He's not demanding a starting spot, which visas should be.

He was meant to be a kiwi by now. Maybe its never going to happen..

Love the guy but as an import we need more.  If he was a kiwi/Aussie then yep... sign him up for another 3 years. 

I for one would be disappointed if we shafted Ball like this. He's contacted to us until the end of the 2025 season, so unless we are selling him I'd expect he has a big part to play this season. Sure he hasn't scored a tonne of goals for us in the last season or two, but he has been a massive influence on and off the field. I think given the squad we have assembled we are looking ok with Ball in the mix, sure he may not be starting all the games but I'm sure he'll be fine with it. He's 34 and probably looking to set up shop here with his own junior academy.

theprof

I for one would be disappointed if we shafted Ball like this. He's contacted to us until the end of the 2025 season, so unless we are selling him I'd expect he has a big part to play this season. Sure he hasn't scored a tonne of goals for us in the last season or two, but he has been a massive influence on and off the field. I think given the squad we have assembled we are looking ok with Ball in the mix, sure he may not be starting all the games but I'm sure he'll be fine with it. He's 34 and probably looking to set up shop here with his own junior academy.

We wouldn’t be shafting him, if he leaves it would have to be a mutual decision because of his contractual status.

Friar Tuck

theprof

I for one would be disappointed if we shafted Ball like this. He's contacted to us until the end of the 2025 season, so unless we are selling him I'd expect he has a big part to play this season. Sure he hasn't scored a tonne of goals for us in the last season or two, but he has been a massive influence on and off the field. I think given the squad we have assembled we are looking ok with Ball in the mix, sure he may not be starting all the games but I'm sure he'll be fine with it. He's 34 and probably looking to set up shop here with his own junior academy.

We wouldn’t be shafting him, if he leaves it would have to be a mutual decision because of his contractual status.

I've seen no suggestion anywhere that Ball is wanting to leave the nix - in fact just the opposite. If he does leave by some mutual termination of his contract then it is likely to have been the club that have instigated it by indicating to Ball that he wont be getting the gametime previously agreed to or at least informed that he's not seen as a big part of the competition this year - ie shafted. But, I dont actually see the club treating a legend like Ball this way.

theprof

Friar Tuck

theprof

I for one would be disappointed if we shafted Ball like this. He's contacted to us until the end of the 2025 season, so unless we are selling him I'd expect he has a big part to play this season. Sure he hasn't scored a tonne of goals for us in the last season or two, but he has been a massive influence on and off the field. I think given the squad we have assembled we are looking ok with Ball in the mix, sure he may not be starting all the games but I'm sure he'll be fine with it. He's 34 and probably looking to set up shop here with his own junior academy.

We wouldn’t be shafting him, if he leaves it would have to be a mutual decision because of his contractual status.

I've seen no suggestion anywhere that Ball is wanting to leave the nix - in fact just the opposite. If he does leave by some mutual termination of his contract then it is likely to have been the club that have instigated it by indicating to Ball that he wont be getting the gametime previously agreed to or at least informed that he's not seen as a big part of the competition this year - ie shafted. But, I dont actually see the club treating a legend like Ball this way.

Telling Bally he might not get the football he wants here and that we'll let him pursue more gametime elsewhere if he wants is hardly "shafting". He understands the reality of pro football and that everyone has to earn their minutes.

That said, I agree that this is pretty baseless until we hear anything from a remotely reputable source.

Good bench option - but you want more from a Visa player.

That been said - he looks to suit this years set up better than last, so may be able to play a bigger role if given the chance. I certainly think he would be better than OVH in a fluid attacking system etc.

I'd hope if there is anything to this rumor it's that Chief has let him know how he wants to play and that might mean Ball gets less game time than he's used to and we're letting him make a decision that is right for him and his family.

theprof

Friar Tuck

theprof

I for one would be disappointed if we shafted Ball like this. He's contacted to us until the end of the 2025 season, so unless we are selling him I'd expect he has a big part to play this season. Sure he hasn't scored a tonne of goals for us in the last season or two, but he has been a massive influence on and off the field. I think given the squad we have assembled we are looking ok with Ball in the mix, sure he may not be starting all the games but I'm sure he'll be fine with it. He's 34 and probably looking to set up shop here with his own junior academy.

We wouldn’t be shafting him, if he leaves it would have to be a mutual decision because of his contractual status.

I've seen no suggestion anywhere that Ball is wanting to leave the nix - in fact just the opposite. If he does leave by some mutual termination of his contract then it is likely to have been the club that have instigated it by indicating to Ball that he wont be getting the gametime previously agreed to or at least informed that he's not seen as a big part of the competition this year - ie shafted. But, I dont actually see the club treating a legend like Ball this way.

Mutual = both parties agree. If he doesn’t want to leave, he’s within his rights to sit on the bench for the season.

Maybe Ball wants to go to India and make some big money...

As others have said he will have a different role for us this year due to his age/speed and who we have brought in. 

Elemenop

Maybe Ball wants to go to India and make some big money...

As others have said he will have a different role for us this year due to his age/speed and who we have brought in. 

I would think if it was Ball pushing for it, a move would have happened before the UK window shut. He had offers to go home previously.

Bally is the type of pro that we want around with the young guys, it would be a massive shame to lose him. His impact to the team will be felt more off the field than on it this season, so I get that using a visa slot for him on paper looks a waste but his experience is invaluable.

When the club have just named him as one of the 5 visa slots for the season, this doesn't ring true. Perhaps someone is just making stuff up to suit their own opinion.

Ball has also done a bit of a podcast and interview tour over the off season where he hasn't seemed unsettled and has talked up his time at the nix 

Ryan

Ball has also done a bit of a podcast and interview tour over the off season where he hasn't seemed unsettled and has talked up his time at the nix 

As far as I’m aware (third hand news), he is very happy here and certainly has no intentions of leaving (this was a few weeks back). I’d hope if it had any basis it was on his terms and a short stint in India. I certainly wouldn’t  want to see him leave the club permanently. We’ve all gone through too much together. 

Watched an interview this afternoon and if you wonder what a player like Ball brings to a young squad off the pitch and how valuable he is to a development club like the nix watch this. He talks a lot about helping young players and seeing examples in a team. Talks about making a difference to NZ.

Alternatively Chief has found a player he really wants, but he doesn’t have a spot!

Hard to know how Ball will/would go this season. Didn’t have his greatest season last season. But he is a versatile player who can play anywhere across the front line.  Some of us may struggle with accepting a bench role for a visa player? 

TBH what I’m hearing from Chief sounds a little complicated. I thought we were good last season because we kept it simple. But if he can get it working, awesome. 

We were good last season because we conceded the least number of goals. I'm not sure that will be the case this season.
Think we will have a more fluid attack but might well concede a few more along the way.

Ranix

We were good last season because we conceded the least number of goals. I'm not sure that will be the case this season.
Think we will have a more fluid attack but might well concede a few more along the way.

Maybe, we had the league's best keeper last season and a very strong back 4. This season we have a new import keeper who'll take a bit of time to learn the league and his back four, but on attack we look strong. Hopefully Chief's tactics keep the goals away and have us playing some attractive footy. 

theprof

Ranix

We were good last season because we conceded the least number of goals. I'm not sure that will be the case this season.
Think we will have a more fluid attack but might well concede a few more along the way.

Maybe, we had the league's best keeper last season and a very strong back 4. This season we have a new import keeper who'll take a bit of time to learn the league and his back four, but on attack we look strong. Hopefully Chief's tactics keep the goals away and have us playing some attractive footy. 

I think it is inevitable that we will concede more than last year. I don't see how we couldn't with Wootton getting another year older, losing Finn & Paulsen. Plus having the height of the team lowered significantly - will definitely hurt a bit at corner time when you don't have Zawada blocking any shorter crosses. 

It is pretty clear that the key is to score many more than we concede this coming season. To add to that, if your attack is extremely potent, creative and you hold the ball (which I assume is what we're going for) then you force other teams into more defensive formations they're not used to, blunting their attack somewhat. These are the things we will be relying on in a basic sense I am guessing.

Hopefully we get exciting footy, high scoring games and lots of wins. 

I think to be successful this year we can’t control the ball but keep playing backwards, there needs to be more of emphasis on the ball always moving forwards, or if we are going to play that style again we need to be training on how to deal with a high press, as once teams figured us out and just put that high press on us we didn’t go as well…… clearly just my opinion I’m not a coach 😂 and realise others might not agree with me