As long as it is a classy Brazilian centre back, playing out from the back and good for 4-5 goals per year that will soften the blow of not having a number 10.
If however it’s some donkey from league one in England who can’t get a gig in that league any more, then not cool.
Didn't we sign Taylor and Wootton from League 1?
I agree its not the most exciting league to sign players from, but the defenders they've exported to the A-League have been pretty reliable, not to mention that League One is absolutely a better league than the A-League for defensive quality.
We needed a 10 far more than a CB. Our attack is toothless.
Last season we had Kosta, but he was supported by Ishige and Corban Piper. Kosta is gone, while Ishige and Piper remain. And neither is a striker, let alone a #10. So yes, while Eze and Mileusnic are good to have, there is definitely a #10-shaped-hole still in our squad.
Actually, getting outplayed quite a bit these days
Wellington Phoenix are close to announcing a new import centre back but also have their eyes on a few more Kiwis. Alex Rufer is back from injury and will feature in the Australian Cup quarterfinal tomorrow.
Hoping for a tall, athletic and goal threat CB! With LKH and Smith we already have some good targets for set pieces but adding another tall, but experienced cb is crucial since we have some very good set piece takers now in Armiento and Ishige.
LKH is tall, very tall, but jumps like a man in lead boots. Could be a killer asset when does his 10,000 box jumps.
Wellington Phoenix are close to announcing a new import centre back but also have their eyes on a few more Kiwis. Alex Rufer is back from injury and will feature in the Australian Cup quarterfinal tomorrow.
Hoping for a tall, athletic and goal threat CB! With LKH and Smith we already have some good targets for set pieces but adding another tall, but experienced cb is crucial since we have some very good set piece takers now in Armiento and Ishige.
LKH is tall, very tall, but jumps like a man in lead boots. Could be a killer asset when does his 10,000 box jumps.
Not officially yet, but he's been snapped outside their stadium which normally points to it being largely done, especially given you wouldn't expect fitness test issues to put a pin in anything since he's had recently football and the AWs callup.
100+ Championship games, 100+ League One games. Barely played in the last 3 seasons. Sounds like our kinda guy ....
Cosgrove will frustrate plenty, he’s an unorthodox striker and his striker rate at the dons was very perplexing, although service was very good. It’s telling that we’ve always wondered how the hell we managed to convince Birmingham to pay actual money for him. Marto may have a more up to date view, but dons fans were not sad to see him go.
100+ Championship games, 100+ League One games. Barely played in the last 3 seasons. Sounds like our kinda guy ....
Apparantly Bally follows him on instagram
done deal pretty much then. You two get all the lollies if this one comes through. If it does actually come through Bally would've had to have put in a good word too.
Not a bad player at all either. Still played regularly at championship level up until 2022. Probably got stuck in a team playing in a league slightly above his level and never got picked up by anyone in the last 2 years or so.
Scores a few goals a season too and is pretty damn tall at 1.92m.
100+ Championship games, 100+ League One games. Barely played in the last 3 seasons. Sounds like our kinda guy ....
Apparantly Bally follows him on instagram
done deal pretty much then. You two get all the lollies if this one comes through. If it does actually come through Bally would've had to have put in a good word too.
Not a bad player at all either. Still played regularly at championship level up until 2022. Probably got stuck in a team playing in a league slightly above his level and never got picked up by anyone in the last 2 years or so.
Scores a few goals a season too and is pretty damn tall at 1.92m.
Yas! I came here just to check for the vital height stat. Sign him up!
100+ Championship games, 100+ League One games. Barely played in the last 3 seasons. Sounds like our kinda guy ....
Cosgrove will frustrate plenty, he’s an unorthodox striker and his striker rate at the dons was very perplexing, although service was very good. It’s telling that we’ve always wondered how the hell we managed to convince Birmingham to pay actual money for him. Marto may have a more up to date view, but dons fans were not sad to see him go.
Saw him play, would suite the Nix to the ground as a not striker striker. I guess AFC feels they can turn that around.
Supporter of the world's best football teams: Waikato..., Kingz FC, NZ Knights, The Nix, The Argyle & of course the All Whites
Armiento was sharke last night. Poor first touch, couldn't beat a man and his crossing was pants.
I said one decent corner meant nothing and outside that he was poor last game.
Too early to give up on the season?
No, it's not too early to give up on the season. The catch is, if you give up you have to leave this forum (or at least not post in Nix-related boards) until the end of the season.
Ramming liberal dribble down your throat since 2009 This forum needs less angst and more Kate Bush threads
I don't think we will be able to keep Rufer if Chief stays. It has to be a priority of the club to re-sign him and I would not blame him if he started looking elsewhere.
What happened to our signing announcement that was promised by now?
Have they reneged having seen how we went last night perhaps?
They never promised a signing announcement…
They said the deal was close to being signed, in the next few hours (at the time of interview). It was about when the deal would be done, nothing about when it would be announced
Rufer has already stated his intention to move overseas at season's end
My guess Rufer is still only here because of the new baby. You're not moving with a pregnant wife into some random country. Family first.
If I was Rufer, I'd look for a temporary move to simply keep me in the All Whites picture given it's a WC year.
With most of our mids in teams better then the Nix and most fit and playing, he'll quickly drop down the pecking order and off the radar.
Based on what I saw the other night, I wouldn't pick him for the Ashes series if I were Baz, he looked unfit and off the pace.
don't get this logic. If you're playing well, you're playing well. Plenty of instances of players in under performing teams being selected for their national team like that one guy who i think played for wolves in the late 80s to early 90s (mark healey?) who was playing in the then 2nd div and getting picked for England.
Rufer has already stated his intention to move overseas at season's end
My guess Rufer is still only here because of the new baby. You're not moving with a pregnant wife into some random country. Family first.
If I was Rufer, I'd look for a temporary move to simply keep me in the All Whites picture given it's a WC year.
With most of our mids in teams better then the Nix and most fit and playing, he'll quickly drop down the pecking order and off the radar.
Based on what I saw the other night, I wouldn't pick him for the Ashes series if I were Baz, he looked unfit and off the pace.
don't get this logic. If you're playing well, you're playing well. Plenty of instances of players in under performing teams being selected for their national team like that one guy who i think played for wolves in the late 80s to early 90s (mark healey?) who was playing in the then 2nd div and getting picked for England.
Steve Bull??
Proud to have attended the first 175 Consecutive "Home" Wellington Phoenix "A League" Games !!
Rufer has already stated his intention to move overseas at season's end
My guess Rufer is still only here because of the new baby. You're not moving with a pregnant wife into some random country. Family first.
If I was Rufer, I'd look for a temporary move to simply keep me in the All Whites picture given it's a WC year.
With most of our mids in teams better then the Nix and most fit and playing, he'll quickly drop down the pecking order and off the radar.
Based on what I saw the other night, I wouldn't pick him for the Ashes series if I were Baz, he looked unfit and off the pace.
I think he's pretty safe, tbh. Looking at our options for 6s and 8s, It's Thomas, Stamenic and Bell who are clear. You need at least 4 for that position going into a tournament, and I can't think of anyone else who would currently challenge Rufer for that - Howieson or MDD would need a massive season to dislodge him I reckon.
Who would have thought a bloke with 0 preseason minutes is "unfit and off the pace"?
Doesn't mean he isnt nailed on for the All Whites. None of the options who could displace him are half the player, the only way he misses out is injury.
Would love a source on the Rufer leaving thing too, especially given the user who's saying it and their penchant for seeing glasses completely empty.
Rufer said it on the unused subs podcast. And maybe I don't have a penchant for seeing half empty glasses, maybe the glass is actually much less than half fullNelfoos
Who would have thought a bloke with 0 preseason minutes is "unfit and off the pace"?
Doesn't mean he isnt nailed on for the All Whites. None of the options who couls displace him are half the player, the only way he misses out is injury.
Would love a source on the Rufer leaving thing too, especially given the user who's saying it and their penchant for seeing glasses completely empty.
Rufer said it on the unused subs podcast. And maybe I don't have a penchant for seeing half empty glasses, maybe the glass is actually much less than half fullNelfoos
Who would have thought a bloke with 0 preseason minutes is "unfit and off the pace"?
Doesn't mean he isnt nailed on for the All Whites. None of the options who couls displace him are half the player, the only way he misses out is injury.
Would love a source on the Rufer leaving thing too, especially given the user who's saying it and their penchant for seeing glasses completely empty.
seeing the glass half empty is certainly your strongest asset
Rufer said it on the unused subs podcast. And maybe I don't have a penchant for seeing half empty glasses, maybe the glass is actually much less than half fullNelfoos
Who would have thought a bloke with 0 preseason minutes is "unfit and off the pace"?
Doesn't mean he isnt nailed on for the All Whites. None of the options who couls displace him are half the player, the only way he misses out is injury.
Would love a source on the Rufer leaving thing too, especially given the user who's saying it and their penchant for seeing glasses completely empty.
seeing the glass half empty is certainly your strongest asset
In fairness to him, I heard it exactly the same, that after this season he was off abroad to try again.
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