I don't think a one off pre season game can really impact our decisions very much We know our academy is good. What we we don't have is the core/stability around them to make them shine over the course of a season.
Chief said it pre game. The Academy kids would get their 45 mins, and chance to shine. But really they would need to also show themselves over a consistent period of time, week in week out at trainings, National League etc - to really give themselves a real shot of cracking the first team squad.
As Greeny said in the post game, they have now given Italiano a welcome selection headache. But yeah they need to showcase more than just 45 mins in a pre season friendly, where they had the advantage of being "in season". This cohort of Weenix are having one of their better seasons in Central League, and will be interesting to see how they go in National League. And then how guys like Fergus Gillion (if selected) go at the U20 WC
It was a magnificent 45 minutes against an excellent team full of established pros preparing for the biggest season in the club's recent memory.
There was no logic to the level of performance or the result. But they did it, and they deserve the elevated status that comes with it.
Massive credit to Greenie. Deliberately leaving 2 players high up the pitch as outlets, to give his team a chance of relieving pressure and also clearly with the hope of getting something out of the game. This is what we want to see, and Greenie did this without regard for the status of the opposition.
BulliondunnixkwlapLG+6LT01, Monto, Oi Oi Edgecumbe, queenofthequail, WanderingSheep, WhoStoleMySock
8 months ago
I'd love to have him back. He was a pretty good passer, good solid defender. 27 now so an experienced player. I think he was a lot quicker than Wooten. Sadly, I think that alot of how hold ups were from Wooten playing the ball around the back line and then hoofing the long ball. The way these guys played on Saturday night was a lot different and quicker.
Proud to have attended the first 175 Consecutive "Home" Wellington Phoenix "A League" Games !!
Laws would be great, probably need the visa for an attacker/10 though.
Attack was the big problem last season and we have Piper, Sheriden, and Smith for CB depth (LKH can/should be CB too). Hughes showing a lot of promise from last game as well so him and somebody experienced like Laws should be enough to hold the back line.
If we get a visa CB then it's probably because we couldn't get the right creative 10 and we might go back to counterattack football which will be sad.newzealandpower
I wonder if we're getting Laws back. I'd be happy with that as long as we got a Visa CB too. Laws/Visa/Hughes would be great
I'd love to have him back. He was a pretty good passer, good solid defender. 27 now so an experienced player. I think he was a lot quicker than Wooten. Sadly, I think that alot of how hold ups were from Wooten playing the ball around the back line and then hoofing the long ball. The way these guys played on Saturday night was a lot different and quicker.
I liked Laws when he was with us, but he was prone to a mistake. Our defence those couple seasons was always pretty leaky, but I'm not sure if that was a personnel issue or a coaching one. Italiano has been a lot more solid defensively in his tactics than Uffie ever was so hopefully he'd make Laws rock solid defensively too.
Always thought he was decent. Thereafter played in the top Swiss league and if one of our kiwi defenders ended up there, we would have been quite rapt.
Always thought he was decent. Thereafter played in the top Swiss league and if one of our kiwi defenders ended up there, we would have been quite rapt.
I think he played quite a bit as a dm in Switzerland, probably his preferred position before signing for us and his inexperience there did result in some errors in his first season.
Someone's just messaged me (I don't know if they're on here or not) and said that it's Carlo Armiento...
Haven't heard anything on that. Don't even think his name has been brought up in any conversation either, but god damn props to the club for running a pretty tight ship on any of these potential rumours or signings.
Someone's just messaged me (I don't know if they're on here or not) and said that it's Carlo Armiento...
Haven't heard anything on that. Don't even think his name has been brought up in any conversation either, but god damn props to the club running a pretty tight ship on any potential rumours or signings.
Have heard the player is a 26 year old, Carlo is 26, Matt Ellis is 24YoungHeartHM
Someone's just messaged me (I don't know if they're on here or not) and said that it's Carlo Armiento...
Haven't heard anything on that. Don't even think his name has been brought up in any conversation either, but god damn props to the club running a pretty tight ship on any potential rumours or signings.
Someone's just messaged me (I don't know if they're on here or not) and said that it's Carlo Armiento...
Haven't heard anything on that. Don't even think his name has been brought up in any conversation either, but god damn props to the club running a pretty tight ship on any potential rumours or signings.
Someone's just messaged me (I don't know if they're on here or not) and said that it's Carlo Armiento...
Haven't heard anything on that. Don't even think his name has been brought up in any conversation either, but god damn props to the club running a pretty tight ship on any potential rumours or signings.
Retre getting lonely as the sole Aussie in the squad? How times have changed.
Maybe they will sign both Armiento & Ellis, with the latter to be converted into a LB/LWB? It would seem strange (almost cruel) to bring Ellis in for a 2nd trial, and then not even offer him a spot.
If memory serves, Armiento started at each of his new A-League clubs with a hiss and a roar then kinda faded out? I think there was even some light Socceroos chat around him for a while too...
Pretty sure he had injury issues though, and that put paid to any of that chat.
Not the worst signing in the world, but not the kind of player we want to pin all our creative hopes onto either!
Would be good for depth and if he can have a similar impact he had in his 22/23 season. I hope that we'd still be looking at an import 10 though if we feel we can get a decent local CB.
Carlo has already landed in Wellington and is getting into the swing of things.
“I had a good spell of consistent games over in Italy and now I want to bring that back to the A-League and hit the ground running with the Phoenix." - Carlo
LGMainland FCMoMontonewzealandpower+5nixin, Oi Oi Edgecumbe, theprof, WhoStoleMySock, YoungHeartHM
8 months ago
YoungHeartHM
Someone's just messaged me (I don't know if they're on here or not) and said that it's Carlo Armiento...
Haven't heard anything on that. Don't even think his name has been brought up in any conversation either, but god damn props to the club for running a pretty tight ship on any of these potential rumours or signings.
Someone's just messaged me (I don't know if they're on here or not) and said that it's Carlo Armiento...
Haven't heard anything on that. Don't even think his name has been brought up in any conversation either, but god damn props to the club for running a pretty tight ship on any of these potential rumours or signings.
The Phoenix have signed the former Adelaide United, Perth Glory and Brisbane Roar forward for the 2025-26 season.
Armiento, 26, spent the past year with Turris in Serie C and was about to sign with a new club in Italy before Nix head coach Giancarlo Italiano came calling.
“It takes me a long time to decide on players and I was scouting Carlo for about a month before I reached out to his agent,” Italiano said. “When I spoke to Carlo we were immediately on the same page and he was soon on a plane back home.
“The way I want to play this season is a little bit more adventurous in the final third and I need players that suit the playing style.
“When Carlo gets around the box he loves to shoot, loves to create, loves to put in good crosses and he’s a real attacking threat.
“The way we’re going to play this season he’s going to be an influential left-sided player that’s going to give us a lot of goals and assists.” Italiano also believes Armiento will be a great fit off the pitch.
“We’ve been looking to bring in more players that are in that 23 to 28 age bracket to balance the team.
“Carlo fits the mould and from all of the character references we’ve gotten he’s pretty down to earth and he just wants to get here and prove his talent.
“I think he’ll be very good for the changing room.”
Carlo Armiento arrived in Wellington late on Sunday night and trained with his new teammates for the first time today (Tuesday, July 22).
“As soon as I spoke with Giancarlo I got the vibe that he wanted me and after that I made my mind up to come back,” Armiento said.
“He wants the Phoenix to play on the front foot, keep the ball and play attacking football. As an attacking player that was good to hear.
“I want to come back to the A-League to show what I’ve learnt in Italy and bring my experience back to Wellington.
“I know there are a lot of young players at the Phoenix. I’ve been in their shoes so with my experience I can help the team in that way.”
Armiento also hopes to help the team on the pitch.
“I’ve got a good left foot and I can hit a ball quite well. I hope to cross in a few balls for the strikers and the attackers.
“I had a good spell of consistent games over in Italy and now I want to bring that back to the A-League and hit the ground running with the Phoenix.
“Hopefully Chiefy can get the best out of me and I can help the team be successful.”
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