WPM 2025/26 Squad Speculation, Confirmation and Mutual Termination

Napier Phoenix

Why? Oluwayemi is English isn’t he?

coochiee

Having Oluwayemi also in the squad should help him settle in. Quite a change Iraq/Libya to NZ

And he has basically 3 mths pre season with the squad. Big plus

But now need a high quality AM signing to complement 

English-Nigerian. Dual citizen, has been called up to the Nigerian squad before too.

I played Sunday league football with a couple of Nigerian guys for several years. Nicest people around and I was invited to several events where there was catered Nigerian food and many Nigerian people from around the North Island. Im not surprised the guy came across as nice and down to earth in the interview, the entire Nigerian community here are like that.

I know one of the guys moved to Wellington for work when he left our team, so there is definitely a Nigerian community down there and hopefully this new guy connects with them.

the comment you are replying to describes how you can have the best of both worlds. It means if they are good we can keep them for a second year and if not we can let them go. It is the ideal solution. What is so wrong with me saying this? It isn't a criticism of the club

ballane

imanixsupporter

A shame that we couldnt wrangle a club option for an extra year into the deal. If he has a blinder of a season that could mean a big fee for us if we had that 

Club cant win it seems they sign guys for two years and get criticized,then sign someone for 1 year and people still arnt happy

My remaining signing wish list:
Import 10

Local CB
Options:
- Aaron Calver
- Tom Beadling
- James Donachie
- Josh Laws
- Jay Rich-Baghuelou
- Ruon Tongyik (found not guilty)
- Bill Tuiloma

Local LB
Options:
- Deklan Wynne
- Zac Zoricich
- Ivan Vujica

YoungHeartHM

🎶 How many dudes you know roll like this? Not many, Ifeanyi 🎶

Should roll be changed to goal or something?

Maybe something like: "How many dudes score goals like this? Not many, Ifeanyi"

imanixsupporter

the comment you are replying to describes how you can have the best of both worlds. It means if they are good we can keep them for a second year and if not we can let them go. It is the ideal solution. What is so wrong with me saying this? It isn't a criticism of the club

ballane

imanixsupporter

A shame that we couldnt wrangle a club option for an extra year into the deal. If he has a blinder of a season that could mean a big fee for us if we had that 

Club cant win it seems they sign guys for two years and get criticized,then sign someone for 1 year and people still arnt happy

Fair enough just seems at times as if no matter what they do its wrong. There has been plenty of comments about them signing guys to two year contracts, then when things dont work out as people expect they expect the club to come to mutual terminations. You know as well as i do if he comes off there are going to be a heap of people asking why he wasnt signed for longer.

Half a Pint

YoungHeartHM

🎶 How many dudes you know roll like this? Not many, Ifeanyi 🎶

Should roll be changed to goal or something?

Maybe something like: "How many dudes score goals like this? Not many, Ifeanyi"

Or maybe, “how many dudes you know score like this? Not many, Ifeanyi.”

Half a Pint

YoungHeartHM

🎶 How many dudes you know roll like this? Not many, Ifeanyi 🎶

Should roll be changed to goal or something?

Maybe something like: "How many dudes score goals like this? Not many, Ifeanyi"

In fairness, there wasn't much going on in the old noggin' this morning at work.

But give me a bit of wordplay and I'm happy to throw something together. 😄

To put it in actual chorus format. Feel free to make notes.

How many dudes you know score like this?

How many dudes get goals like this?

Not many, Ifeayni, not many, Ifeayni

How many dudes you know got the skills to go and rock a game like this.

Uh uh, uh uh we've got Ifeayni Eze

Nommag

I played Sunday league football with a couple of Nigerian guys for several years. Nicest people around and I was invited to several events where there was catered Nigerian food and many Nigerian people from around the North Island. Im not surprised the guy came across as nice and down to earth in the interview, the entire Nigerian community here are like that.

I know one of the guys moved to Wellington for work when he left our team, so there is definitely a Nigerian community down there and hopefully this new guy connects with them.

Recently watched a Michael Palin travel doco with him in Nigeria. One takeaway they do like to laugh, of the large booming infectious variety. Lets hope he becomes a Nix fan cult favourite. The club are due a good news story.

Maybe the last line could stay I don’t know anybody and then start the first line again…

I don’t know anybody
How many dudes score like this? 
Not many, Ifeyani etc 

Also on Nigeria- massive, massive country population wise and very multicultural with an incredibly diverse population. 

"Eze, Eze, Eze" When he scores would sound kind of cool. Got the Speed & the Height. Hopefully not Appiah but his touch is apparently way better than Appiah's. 

Looking forward to seeing him in action. A One year deal but if he knocks in a few early, there is a good chance the Club might approach with a better deal which they can do and if he is happy, he can sign. This is a win win for both parties. And as stated earlier, he gets to have 3 months to grow accustomed to the club, players and climate. 

Palace (or Possibly Bayern Munich or Arsenal) have their "Eze" and we have ours!!

Eze, Eze, Eze rolling around the stadium, massive!!

Nelfoos

To put it in actual chorus format. Feel free to make notes.

How many dudes you know score like this?

How many dudes get goals like this?

Not many, Ifayeni, not many, Ifayeni

How many dudes you know got the skills to go and rock a game like this.

Uh uh, uh uh we've got Ifayeni Eze

Has anyone seen/heard how Ifeanyi is pronounced yet?  Looks to me like four syllables so won't scan very well in place of "if any".  Maybe:

How many dudes you know roll like this?

How many dudes can score goals like this?

Ifeanyi, Eze!

Ifeanyi, Eze!

How many dudes you know got the skills to go and rock it for the Nix?

Uh uh, uh uh, Ifeanyi Eze

Oska

Nelfoos

To put it in actual chorus format. Feel free to make notes.

How many dudes you know score like this?

How many dudes get goals like this?

Not many, Ifayeni, not many, Ifayeni

How many dudes you know got the skills to go and rock a game like this.

Uh uh, uh uh we've got Ifayeni Eze

Has anyone seen/heard how Ifeanyi is pronounced yet?  Looks to me like four syllables so won't scan very well in place of "if any".  Maybe:

How many dudes you know roll like this?

How many dudes can score goals like this?

Ifeanyi, Eze!

Ifeanyi, Eze!

How many dudes you know got the skills to go and rock it for the Nix?

Uh uh, uh uh, Ifeanyi Eze

in his interview, on yt, he says his name. Didn't sound quite how it would appear

Arsenal line up Eze approach - Tuesday's gossip

The BBC had me worried there for a minute.

Bullion

Oska

Nelfoos

To put it in actual chorus format. Feel free to make notes.

How many dudes you know score like this?

How many dudes get goals like this?

Not many, Ifayeni, not many, Ifayeni

How many dudes you know got the skills to go and rock a game like this.

Uh uh, uh uh we've got Ifayeni Eze

Has anyone seen/heard how Ifeanyi is pronounced yet?  Looks to me like four syllables so won't scan very well in place of "if any".  Maybe:

How many dudes you know roll like this?

How many dudes can score goals like this?

Ifeanyi, Eze!

Ifeanyi, Eze!

How many dudes you know got the skills to go and rock it for the Nix?

Uh uh, uh uh, Ifeanyi Eze

in his interview, on yt, he says his name. Didn't sound quite how it would appear

 Went to high school with a dude named ifeanyi, "ee-fah-nee"

Simon B

Arsenal line up Eze approach - Tuesday's gossip

The BBC had me worried there for a minute.

Munich are giving them a run for their money.

Interesting signing. Looks like he is fast, solid(Stuff said 1.84m) and has a good shot. Which are all good attributes to succeed in the ALeague. We will have to wait and see but he could be ok. I liked his interview where he came across well grounded. I guess if you have played in Libya and Iraq you would need to be mentally strong.
It’s vital we recruit a Chico type creative midfielder. We currently lack anybody to play this role. This new guy is going to need someone to create or he will just be marked out of the game.
Get some experience in defense, a Chico and we could go OK this season

Ninja

wilbaker

ballane

Love it how people love to right guys off we have supposedly signed before they even are announced or have played a game. From memory i recall doubts being expressed by some about Ifill,Ball,Greenacre,Krishna,Davilla,Zawada those worked out. Think i will wait till whoever is signed has played   before i cast any doubts.

All those players bar Krishna had played in a league better than the A-League. It's more just his CV I'd be concerned with as we've never really signed a player like that before.  
Heres some highlights of him: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vftUo8KDY5w&ab_channel=ProfessionalplayershighlightsPpH 

Definitely looks too good for that level and can see he has some promising traits so could be a hidden gem. But the quality of that league does look quite bad espcially the goalkeeping.

He looks very quick, which is great.

But it worrys me if it's a sign of intent to play the same defensive, counter-attacking style of football this season.

He will be fine.
 
He won't get to touch the ball too often anyway.

Fenix

Ninja

wilbaker

ballane

Love it how people love to right guys off we have supposedly signed before they even are announced or have played a game. From memory i recall doubts being expressed by some about Ifill,Ball,Greenacre,Krishna,Davilla,Zawada those worked out. Think i will wait till whoever is signed has played   before i cast any doubts.

All those players bar Krishna had played in a league better than the A-League. It's more just his CV I'd be concerned with as we've never really signed a player like that before.  
Heres some highlights of him: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vftUo8KDY5w&ab_channel=ProfessionalplayershighlightsPpH 

Definitely looks too good for that level and can see he has some promising traits so could be a hidden gem. But the quality of that league does look quite bad espcially the goalkeeping.

He looks very quick, which is great.

But it worrys me if it's a sign of intent to play the same defensive, counter-attacking style of football this season.

He will be fine.
 
He won't get to touch the ball too often anyway.

you're expecting the same tactics as last season?
if you have listened to any of the interviews with Gill and the comments from the club after the non-attacking stle of last season you'd know that Italiano has been given very strong directions to change the style. The board has by all accounts has demanded attacking footy or else!

theprof

Fenix

Ninja

wilbaker

ballane

Love it how people love to right guys off we have supposedly signed before they even are announced or have played a game. From memory i recall doubts being expressed by some about Ifill,Ball,Greenacre,Krishna,Davilla,Zawada those worked out. Think i will wait till whoever is signed has played   before i cast any doubts.

All those players bar Krishna had played in a league better than the A-League. It's more just his CV I'd be concerned with as we've never really signed a player like that before.  
Heres some highlights of him: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vftUo8KDY5w&ab_channel=ProfessionalplayershighlightsPpH 

Definitely looks too good for that level and can see he has some promising traits so could be a hidden gem. But the quality of that league does look quite bad espcially the goalkeeping.

He looks very quick, which is great.

But it worrys me if it's a sign of intent to play the same defensive, counter-attacking style of football this season.

He will be fine.
 
He won't get to touch the ball too often anyway.

you're expecting the same tactics as last season?
if you have listened to any of the interviews with Gill and the comments from the club after the non-attacking stle of last season you'd know that Italiano has been given very strong directions to change the style. The board has by all accounts has demanded attacking footy or else!

I'll believe it when I see it.

So much false rhetoric has been spewed over the past 2 seasons. Besides, it's one thing expecting it, and another thing executing it. 

Think you will find THERE WILL BE CONSEQUENCES if things dont change. Have serious doubts its all just rhetoric.

reg22

theprof

Fenix

Ninja

wilbaker

ballane

Love it how people love to right guys off we have supposedly signed before they even are announced or have played a game. From memory i recall doubts being expressed by some about Ifill,Ball,Greenacre,Krishna,Davilla,Zawada those worked out. Think i will wait till whoever is signed has played   before i cast any doubts.

All those players bar Krishna had played in a league better than the A-League. It's more just his CV I'd be concerned with as we've never really signed a player like that before.  
Heres some highlights of him: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vftUo8KDY5w&ab_channel=ProfessionalplayershighlightsPpH 

Definitely looks too good for that level and can see he has some promising traits so could be a hidden gem. But the quality of that league does look quite bad espcially the goalkeeping.

He looks very quick, which is great.

But it worrys me if it's a sign of intent to play the same defensive, counter-attacking style of football this season.

He will be fine.
 
He won't get to touch the ball too often anyway.

you're expecting the same tactics as last season?
if you have listened to any of the interviews with Gill and the comments from the club after the non-attacking stle of last season you'd know that Italiano has been given very strong directions to change the style. The board has by all accounts has demanded attacking footy or else!

I'll believe it when I see it.

So much false rhetoric has been spewed over the past 2 seasons. Besides, it's one thing expecting it, and another thing executing it. 

2 seasons? you're including the one where we finished second as well?
Last season we can all accept was a right off, mistakes were made, the manager's sold a vision and for whatever reason didnt follow through with it.

This season will be very different, it's pretty clear the board were not happy with the results of last season, nor did they like what they saw as far as style. Italiano has been given a chance to show he can deliver the attractive, attacking footy as promised. 

I certainly dont think its rhetoric this season!

theprof

reg22

theprof

Fenix

Ninja

wilbaker

ballane

Love it how people love to right guys off we have supposedly signed before they even are announced or have played a game. From memory i recall doubts being expressed by some about Ifill,Ball,Greenacre,Krishna,Davilla,Zawada those worked out. Think i will wait till whoever is signed has played   before i cast any doubts.

All those players bar Krishna had played in a league better than the A-League. It's more just his CV I'd be concerned with as we've never really signed a player like that before.  
Heres some highlights of him: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vftUo8KDY5w&ab_channel=ProfessionalplayershighlightsPpH 

Definitely looks too good for that level and can see he has some promising traits so could be a hidden gem. But the quality of that league does look quite bad espcially the goalkeeping.

He looks very quick, which is great.

But it worrys me if it's a sign of intent to play the same defensive, counter-attacking style of football this season.

He will be fine.
 
He won't get to touch the ball too often anyway.

you're expecting the same tactics as last season?
if you have listened to any of the interviews with Gill and the comments from the club after the non-attacking stle of last season you'd know that Italiano has been given very strong directions to change the style. The board has by all accounts has demanded attacking footy or else!

I'll believe it when I see it.

So much false rhetoric has been spewed over the past 2 seasons. Besides, it's one thing expecting it, and another thing executing it. 

2 seasons? you're including the one where we finished second as well?
Last season we can all accept was a right off, mistakes were made, the manager's sold a vision and for whatever reason didnt follow through with it.

This season will be very different, it's pretty clear the board were not happy with the results of last season, nor did they like what they saw as far as style. Italiano has been given a chance to show he can deliver the attractive, attacking footy as promised. 

I certainly dont think its rhetoric this season!

Yip, here's hoping

My observations of false rhetoric are not results based

Bullion

Napier Phoenix

Why? Oluwayemi is English isn’t he?

coochiee

Having Oluwayemi also in the squad should help him settle in. Quite a change Iraq/Libya to NZ

And he has basically 3 mths pre season with the squad. Big plus

But now need a high quality AM signing to complement 

He has Nigerian heritage and has been called up to Nigerian squads.

Nigeria's a big country and the various parts of it don't necessarily get on well

ballane

Think you will find THERE WILL BE CONSEQUENCES if things dont change. Have serious doubts its all just rhetoric.

I agree. I'm not accusing Gilly or Domey of false rhetoric.

Mainland FC

Just

This guy feels more like a Cola replacement than a Kosta replacement.

Maybe with how bad last season was for us with poor striker service/goal scoring, it would be difficult to attract a top striker so we taking a chance on this guy.

The defenders and especially the goalkeepers look not great in the highlight video, but he seems like a high energy guy who will be motivated to prove himself so if we back him early maybe he'll grow into replacing Kosta.

I do not expect Eze to be a Kosta replacement. There is no Kosta replacement. If he grows into a Huysegems replacement that is OK by me - that's better than a Yan Sasse replacement.
Incidentally, how many of you here noticed that Yan Sasse was playing at the Club World Championship for a Tunisian club?  Good on him to make it to that level at 28.

And he played quite well too. Shows some were wrong to dismiss him at the Phoenix.

LT01

Mainland FC

Just

This guy feels more like a Cola replacement than a Kosta replacement.

Maybe with how bad last season was for us with poor striker service/goal scoring, it would be difficult to attract a top striker so we taking a chance on this guy.

The defenders and especially the goalkeepers look not great in the highlight video, but he seems like a high energy guy who will be motivated to prove himself so if we back him early maybe he'll grow into replacing Kosta.

I do not expect Eze to be a Kosta replacement. There is no Kosta replacement. If he grows into a Huysegems replacement that is OK by me - that's better than a Yan Sasse replacement.
Incidentally, how many of you here noticed that Yan Sasse was playing at the Club World Championship for a Tunisian club?  Good on him to make it to that level at 28.

And he played quite well too. Shows some were wrong to dismiss him at the Phoenix.

Not to make it into an off-topic thread, but I thought that Sasse would have benefitted from a closer management, as he had the potential.  I felt he had skills but was all over the place with applying them; so a decision-making issue, possibly a maturity issue?  As a result I think someone looked at him and said "this is not what a visa player should be doing, we need proven winners, development players we have our own already thank you"  and the rest is history.

martinb

Maybe the last line could stay I don’t know anybody and then start the first line again…

I don’t know anybody
How many dudes score like this? 
Not many, Ifeyani etc 

Also on Nigeria- massive, massive country population wise and very multicultural with an incredibly diverse population. 

martinb

Maybe the last line could stay I don’t know anybody and then start the first line again…

I don’t know anybody
How many dudes score like this? 
Not many, Ifeyani etc 

Also on Nigeria- massive, massive country population wise and very multicultural with an incredibly diverse population. 

I checked Wikipedia and It took me by surprise just what massive difference there is between the population size of Nigeria and every other country on the African continent.  Nigeria makes up 15% of the total population of Africa.  They are pretty much twice as populous as countries ranked 2, 3 and 4 on the list.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_African_countries_by_population

Both Oluwayemi and Eze strike me as being more like Sam Obisanya (Ted Lasso) than being members of Boko Haram. ie urbane & educated.
I'm sure they will get on fine. Probably become new best mates.


Nigeria is projected to become the fourth most populous country in the world by 2100. While currently the sixth largest, it is experiencing rapid population growth and is expected to surpass the United States in population size before 2050. By the end of the century, Nigeria is projected to be the fourth most populous, with a population exceeding 470 million

If we’re thinking a Brazilian attacking midfielder, then I quite like the look of this guy.

Bruno Oliveira (Born 1998)

Experience in Brazil and the Korean 2nd tier. Still only 27 as well.

Doloras

Bullion

Napier Phoenix

Why? Oluwayemi is English isn’t he?

coochiee

Having Oluwayemi also in the squad should help him settle in. Quite a change Iraq/Libya to NZ

And he has basically 3 mths pre season with the squad. Big plus

But now need a high quality AM signing to complement 

He has Nigerian heritage and has been called up to Nigerian squads.

Nigeria's a big country and the various parts of it don't necessarily get on well

Your not wrong there. 

My employer uses security guards to take flight and cabin crew straight from the plane to their hotel competely bypassing passport control etc. The hotel itself is full of security staff as Nigeria is so volatile.

The big winner in all of this is the player himself. He's moved from one dangerous country to another. NZ will be paradise for him after Nigeria, Libya and Iraq.

Mainland FC

LT01

Mainland FC

Just

This guy feels more like a Cola replacement than a Kosta replacement.

Maybe with how bad last season was for us with poor striker service/goal scoring, it would be difficult to attract a top striker so we taking a chance on this guy.

The defenders and especially the goalkeepers look not great in the highlight video, but he seems like a high energy guy who will be motivated to prove himself so if we back him early maybe he'll grow into replacing Kosta.

I do not expect Eze to be a Kosta replacement. There is no Kosta replacement. If he grows into a Huysegems replacement that is OK by me - that's better than a Yan Sasse replacement.
Incidentally, how many of you here noticed that Yan Sasse was playing at the Club World Championship for a Tunisian club?  Good on him to make it to that level at 28.

And he played quite well too. Shows some were wrong to dismiss him at the Phoenix.

Not to make it into an off-topic thread, but I thought that Sasse would have benefitted from a closer management, as he had the potential.  I felt he had skills but was all over the place with applying them; so a decision-making issue, possibly a maturity issue?  As a result I think someone looked at him and said "this is not what a visa player should be doing, we need proven winners, development players we have our own already thank you"  and the rest is history.

We really needed one less player! 

Iirc we had a season divided into 3. First third Kraev scored a lot, then …Zawada(?) and in the final 3rd play went through Sasse and he picked up a few stats there. As with last season our squad was unbalanced. Last year we lacked players, that season players got in each other’s way. 

But Sasse was a very instinctive player and his feel for the game was off, for whatever reason. He didn’t come across as a calculating player. Whatever he needed to succeed wasn’t there that season. 
Yeh- last 6 games he had 3 goal contributions., though we lost 4. That was the same as the 16 games before that.

Myer Bevan could be worth looking at. Did well at the club world cup and could be a useful back up striker

Peverell

Myer Bevan could be worth looking at. Did well at the club world cup and could be a useful back up striker

Well apparently two guys from the Northern League are trialling with the Nix. One basically confirmed as Matt Ellis, the other - no leaks as yet.

Does anyone want to hunt through this training video and spot any possible trialists?

Wrexham in 2️⃣ days!

See you soon 🟡⚫️ pic.twitter.com/0lc9DLVcAX

— Wellington Phoenix 🔥 (@WgtnPhoenixFC) July 17, 2025

Sounds like an Incan panpipe soundtrack to me!
Peruvian no 10 on the way, or just a Chiefy mum remix tape.

Touching grass. pic.twitter.com/SyfqtqWLd3

— Wellington Phoenix 🔥 (@WgtnPhoenixFC) July 16, 2025

Any rumours on the next signing?

coochiee

Peverell

Myer Bevan could be worth looking at. Did well at the club world cup and could be a useful back up striker

Well apparently two guys from the Northern League are trialling with the Nix. One basically confirmed as Matt Ellis, the other - no leaks as yet.

 Where do you hear this sort of stuff such as trialists?

Themooseman

coochiee

Peverell

Myer Bevan could be worth looking at. Did well at the club world cup and could be a useful back up striker

Well apparently two guys from the Northern League are trialling with the Nix. One basically confirmed as Matt Ellis, the other - no leaks as yet.

 Where do you hear this sort of stuff such as trialists?

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