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.
Ball didn't travel for the Australia cup game in Aus recently. Maybe there are injury related issues that might be a factor in his involvement this season.
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.
This is what I was thinking.
I get the mantra of an import slot should be a nailed on starter as they take a spot of a kiwi, but if he is off the bench, but helps develop our kiwi talent, then he's very much doing what we want.
Having said that, if he's not ready to for bench time, I wouldn't blame him for looking elsewhere.
Reminder that David Ball has scored 3 goals in the last 1,019 days. None in the last 612 days.
Totally get your point, but I do not believe it tells the whole story. You have to watch a game live (not saying you don't) to appreciate what David Ball offers on top of goals. His work rate off the ball is fantastic. He creates a lot of opportunities and gaps that others exploit. As i said, you have to see it from high up in the stands to notice it. But agree, it would be made all the better if he adds the threat of scoring himself more.
Reminder that David Ball has scored 3 goals in the last 1,019 days. None in the last 612 days.
Totally get your point, but I do not believe it tells the whole story. You have to watch a game live (not saying you don't) to appreciate what David Ball offers on top of goals. His work rate off the ball is fantastic. He creates a lot of opportunities and gaps that others exploit. As i said, you have to see it from high up in the stands to notice it. But agree, it would be made all the better if he adds the threat of scoring himself more.
I agree with everything you've said (and I imagine FT probably would too), but the counter to that is there's a point where you need him to be putting at least a few away to justify his place in the squad as an import player. And while he puts in an absolute shift for the team every time he plays, sometimes he almost looks scared to shoot when he has an opportunity
Reminder that David Ball has scored 3 goals in the last 1,019 days. None in the last 612 days.
Totally get your point, but I do not believe it tells the whole story. You have to watch a game live (not saying you don't) to appreciate what David Ball offers on top of goals. His work rate off the ball is fantastic. He creates a lot of opportunities and gaps that others exploit. As i said, you have to see it from high up in the stands to notice it. But agree, it would be made all the better if he adds the threat of scoring himself more.
I agree with everything you've said (and I imagine FT probably would too), but the counter to that is there's a point where you need him to be putting at least a few away to justify his place in the squad as an import player. And while he puts in an absolute shift for the team every time he plays, sometimes he almost looks scared to shoot when he has an opportunity
Yeah I actually love Bally and think he’s definitely there or thereabouts in terms of legend status with the Nix. His workrate is extremely commendable, but for me it’s not enough on its own to justify a spot anymore.
That passion and hard work was exactly what we needed when we were battling away in Wollongong, but we’re a better a team with bigger ambitions now.
Last season Kosta carried us in the goal scoring department. We can’t afford to rely on that again, so we need attackers who can notch a few themselves, Bally isn’t that guy anymore.
I think if we’d successfully converted him into a progressive midfielder, he would be more deserving of a spot, but there’s no room for him there so attack is his only option.
It’s tough and definitely harsh on him if he ends up being released/not used, but we’re a championship level team now and we need players that can contribute more across the board.
Nagasawa, Ishige, Rojas & Kosta are your starters. Which is exciting in itself.
But then you want OVH, GSR & Supyk to be getting good mins this season to continue their development. Brooke-Smith & likely Nathan Walker as well as the season goes on.
Ball great servant of the club, and no doubt here's been a terrific role model for the younger players, showing that every training matters, and you need to continually work hard to get there. Even the need to play through the pain sometimes, as with his toe injury a few seasons back.
But he's now sadly almost that journeyman player, who's potentially blocking the playing mins of young guys coming through. Like if he was a 34 yr old Australian most folk would be saying time to let him go.
Obviously if 2 of Nagasawa, Ishige, Rojas & Kosta were out injured, at any time everything changes. But maybe the speculation is correct, and Chief has told Ball that as things stand now, he wouldn't be getting much playing time in the new season.
James Bulkely could be a good pick up for defensive depth. He trialled with Auckland but it feels unlikely he’ll sign there with Pijnaker joining.
He's signed with Gulf United in the UAE. Don't think he even got on the pitch in trial matches for Auckland FC iirc. The Gulf United deal was always waiting if nothing else materialized back here after the OFC U19's.
In other news brought to my attention just recently, Corban Piper is in Wellington on trial with the Nix.
21 yr old (22 in 4 days) midfielder with Birkenhead, who played one season in the Irish 2nd tier with Wexford before turning to NZ. 7 goals in 20 games with BU this season
Doesn't seem Auckland FC have given him trial at all, which seems surprising.
James Bulkely could be a good pick up for defensive depth. He trialled with Auckland but it feels unlikely he’ll sign there with Pijnaker joining.
He's signed with Gulf United in the UAE. Don't think he even got on the pitch in trial matches for Auckland FC iirc. The Gulf United deal was always waiting if nothing else materialized back here after the OFC U19's.
In other news brought to my attention just recently, Corban Piper is in Wellington on trial with the Nix.
James Bulkely could be a good pick up for defensive depth. He trialled with Auckland but it feels unlikely he’ll sign there with Pijnaker joining.
He's signed with Gulf United in the UAE. Don't think he even got on the pitch in trial matches for Auckland FC iirc. The Gulf United deal was always waiting if nothing else materialized back here after the OFC U19's.
In other news brought to my attention just recently, Corban Piper is in Wellington on trial with the Nix.
Oh and according to Niche Cache, Bulkely did get some trial mins for AFC, both in NZ against the 2 local clubs, and then on their 3 game NSW tour. Hopefully he does well back in the UAE.
Gardiner seems the logical choice to get that scholarship CB spot at the Nix.
James Bulkely could be a good pick up for defensive depth. He trialled with Auckland but it feels unlikely he’ll sign there with Pijnaker joining.
He's signed with Gulf United in the UAE. Don't think he even got on the pitch in trial matches for Auckland FC iirc. The Gulf United deal was always waiting if nothing else materialized back here after the OFC U19's.
In other news brought to my attention just recently, Corban Piper is in Wellington on trial with the Nix.
Feel like we would be a bit bloated adding Piper to Rufer, Retre, Al-Taay, Nagasawa, and Conchie.
Piper also a CB isn't he? Maybe Chief has seen enough from Conchie.
Yeah Piper is listed as defender on Soccerway with Birkenhead. If he's been playing in the backline there his 7 Northern League goals this season is even more impressive.
But yes from the outside Piper trialling doesn't seem great for Conchie, and certainly not Fergus Gillion re his chances of getting a contract.
Piper also a CB isn't he? Maybe Chief has seen enough from Conchie.
Yeah Piper is listed as defender on Soccerway with Birkenhead. If he's been playing in the backline there his 7 Northern League goals this season is even more impressive.
But yes from the outside Piper trialling doesn't seem great for Conchie, and certainly not Fergus Gillion re his chances of getting a contract.
Again. At least good seeing the Nix prepared to look outside the academy. even if its only trialling players to look at them.
Piper also a CB isn't he? Maybe Chief has seen enough from Conchie.
Yeah Piper is listed as defender on Soccerway with Birkenhead. If he's been playing in the backline there his 7 Northern League goals this season is even more impressive.
But yes from the outside Piper trialling doesn't seem great for Conchie, and certainly not Fergus Gillion re his chances of getting a contract.
Again. At least good seeing the Nix prepared to look outside the academy. even if its only trialling players to look at them.
Fully prepared to eat my words should Hughes, Gardiner, and Karunaratne prove me wrong. But I'd be quite concerned if we don't sign a more experienced first choice partener to Wooton.
Piper also a CB isn't he? Maybe Chief has seen enough from Conchie.
Yeah Piper is listed as defender on Soccerway with Birkenhead. If he's been playing in the backline there his 7 Northern League goals this season is even more impressive.
But yes from the outside Piper trialling doesn't seem great for Conchie, and certainly not Fergus Gillion re his chances of getting a contract.
Again. At least good seeing the Nix prepared to look outside the academy. even if its only trialling players to look at them.
Fully prepared to eat my words should Hughes, Gardiner, and Karunaratne prove me wrong. But I'd be quite concerned if we don't sign a more experienced first choice partener to Wooton.
Hughes is ready for Surman's minutes. Signing an experienced CB there would stifle development - more depth wouldn't go amiss but I'd prefer someone like Piper than an older player who'll take minutes away from our player development conveyor belt.
Piper also a CB isn't he? Maybe Chief has seen enough from Conchie.
Yeah Piper is listed as defender on Soccerway with Birkenhead. If he's been playing in the backline there his 7 Northern League goals this season is even more impressive.
But yes from the outside Piper trialling doesn't seem great for Conchie, and certainly not Fergus Gillion re his chances of getting a contract.
Been playing, at deepest, as a midfielder for Birkenhead from what I've seen. A lot of the time he's behind Monty Patterson and his strike partner running onto knockdowns as an advanced midfielder while Jorgensen/van den Hoven sit.
Piper also a CB isn't he? Maybe Chief has seen enough from Conchie.
Yeah Piper is listed as defender on Soccerway with Birkenhead. If he's been playing in the backline there his 7 Northern League goals this season is even more impressive.
But yes from the outside Piper trialling doesn't seem great for Conchie, and certainly not Fergus Gillion re his chances of getting a contract.
Been playing, at deepest, as a midfielder for Birkenhead from what I've seen. A lot of the time he's behind Monty Patterson and his strike partner running onto knockdowns as an advanced midfielder while Jorgensen/van den Hoven sit.
Was about to say this. Don't think he's played as a defender this season from what I've seen. Even from his time in Ireland he played predominantly as a DM iirc.
Strikes me as a player very similar to Alex Rufer to be honest. A tenacious ball winner who loves a duel/battle. For someone who hasn't really been involved in a pro setup (Irish first division is more semi-pro) he's built like an absolute unit. Very strong.
Interesting to hear about Piper trialling. Surprised that Auckland have not had a look at him. Has played as both AM and DM for Birko. Big strong unit and very mobile. Could probably do a job at CB at a pinch Quite verstaile which I think fits Cheifys model Well worth a look imo
