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.
He did couch it in a way that at his age overseas clubs might be less interested - didn't seem a forgone conclusion.
I am sure I have read two points on here somewhere.
I. David Ball had liked him on a social media feed. That is what would have started the speculation given that he was available.
2. David Ball is acting as a player agent as well as playing semi pro. If that is the case, Bally liking someone won't be a reliable guide that Phoenix is linked. He is going to like any player he speaks with.
“He’s aggressive, he’s strong, he’s very good with the ball, he has good experience across a number of leagues around the world and he’s an international." - Chief
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.
He’s miss quoting unused subs where he says he hasn’t given up on playing overseas, he wants to get thru this season earn a call up to the All Whites and then “see what happens” so yes he would like to go play over seas but doesn’t exactly say he will no longer play for the nix after this season
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.
He’s miss quoting unused subs where he says he hasn’t given up on playing overseas, he wants to get thru this season earn a call up to the All Whites and then “see what happens” so yes he would like to go play over seas but doesn’t exactly say he will no longer play for the nix after this season
Sounds much more like it. Could be a straight bat from him, but seems to have been extrapolated to mean something he didn't say.
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.
No matter how much water is in the glass you're going to claim we're in an unending drought and that the glass has been shattered.
Happy with that signing, adding some more height to the team, looking at some videos of him loves a long ping in behind the defence which fits with the tactics we seem to wanna do. Has played DM a little bit so should definitely be good with the ball and maybe he'll play there if Nagasawa isn't up to it and the likes of Payne, LKH and Sheridan can cover CB.
International player, top flight experience in a few less notable European countries and listed on wiki as 1.91m (6'3"). Promising signs, lets see how he beds in.
Playing CPL recently doesn't seem overly exciting, but they did win the league with him there and he was signed for a fee from there by his Costa Rican club.
Wonder if it means Hughes shifts to one side on the back 3 and frees up Payne to play WB again. Mixed feelings on that given Loke's showings, though he might go better on the left than either LKH or Armiento to date.
Good signing on paper, played around the world and FC Midtjylland probably being the name I recognise the most. Welcome aboard! Looking forward to seeing what he contributes.
This is as much hearsay as what I said. I'd advise people transcribe what he actually said from the podcast, I may do so this evening, but my recollection is that his comments made it very clear that he wanted to move overseas, not that it was simply an option. Of course he may end up staying longer if no good overseas options eventuate, but I'm pretty sure it his ambition to play overseas and the end of this season specifically is when he wants to do that Nelfoos
YellowAndBlack
Nelfoos
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.
He’s miss quoting unused subs where he says he hasn’t given up on playing overseas, he wants to get thru this season earn a call up to the All Whites and then “see what happens” so yes he would like to go play over seas but doesn’t exactly say he will no longer play for the nix after this season
Sounds much more like it. Could be a straight bat from him, but seems to have been extrapolated to mean something he didn't say.
EVERY NZ player wants to play overseas IF AT ALL POSSIBLE.
I mean, I want to be a billionaire too. Doesn't mean I won't still be working in Wellington and supporting the doubty Phoenix again next year. :) :) :)
This is as much hearsay as what I said. I'd advise people transcribe what he actually said from the podcast, I may do so this evening, but my recollection is that his comments made it very clear that he wanted to move overseas, not that it was simply an option. Of course he may end up staying longer if no good overseas options eventuate, but I'm pretty sure it his ambition to play overseas and the end of this season specifically is when he wants to do that Nelfoos
YellowAndBlack
Nelfoos
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.
He’s miss quoting unused subs where he says he hasn’t given up on playing overseas, he wants to get thru this season earn a call up to the All Whites and then “see what happens” so yes he would like to go play over seas but doesn’t exactly say he will no longer play for the nix after this season
Sounds much more like it. Could be a straight bat from him, but seems to have been extrapolated to mean something he didn't say.
His quote "How he wants to play is ideal because that’s exactly how I want to play as well.
“He told me the team wants to be a possession dominating team and I’m a centre back that wants to keep the ball."
Every chance of him having the ball all game based on last years efforts.
Yes I think you will find that last season generally Wootton had most touches of the ball in most games. But this guy looks like a big unit and could be just what we need in defence. Potentially good signing. As we saw on Tuesday, three young NZ defenders really didn't cut it. Although a lot of blame has to go on the missing midfield cover for some of the goals we conceded. Shame now that the extra visa spot is used on a GK when Auckland have two good NZ keepers on there books. Another visa AM would have been nice. Lets see what Chiefy can come up with from local stocks for that attacking position.
This is as much hearsay as what I said. I'd advise people transcribe what he actually said from the podcast, I may do so this evening, but my recollection is that his comments made it very clear that he wanted to move overseas, not that it was simply an option. Of course he may end up staying longer if no good overseas options eventuate, but I'm pretty sure it his ambition to play overseas and the end of this season specifically is when he wants to do that Nelfoos
YellowAndBlack
Nelfoos
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.
He’s miss quoting unused subs where he says he hasn’t given up on playing overseas, he wants to get thru this season earn a call up to the All Whites and then “see what happens” so yes he would like to go play over seas but doesn’t exactly say he will no longer play for the nix after this season
Sounds much more like it. Could be a straight bat from him, but seems to have been extrapolated to mean something he didn't say.
35min in.
"I'm at an age where a lot of clubs aren't looking at me, that's just the way football has gone. I do still want to, y'know try and play overseas, but I need to have another good year, then go to the World Cup and see what happens".
Almost like someone's gone and taken the most negative interpretation possible, then stated it as fact.
“One of my old teammates at Midtjylland, Bozhidar Kraev, used to play for Wellington so I’ve heard a lot of good things about the Phoenix and the A-League.
"And I also spoke to one of my friends, Awer Mabil (Socceroos forward), and he told me very good things about the A-League so I was very open to the opportunity.”
Born in a "cricket-mad family" and named after an Indian batsman, Sanjay Manjrekar, cool stuff.
Frees Hughes or Sheridan up to play 10! Sheridan with the hit of the pre-season so far, even if it was saved. He pole axed the keeper! I don’t think I’m serious…
Well we have a squad now. Noby wan more is coming to save us. We do with what we’ve got.
And sorry Mr Eze about half of the Aussie refs are complete dickheads. I know you’ve been used to polite but firm Asian refs. You gunna have to deal.
backline prety sorted now, assuming back three with Hughes and James and Sherindan, feels pretty solid - it kinda felt like Hughes needed a block of a man beside him who will sit deep and can control the ball play - like Wootton did. James seems to fill that rile, allowing Payne to go back to RWB with Loke as his backup, I guess that means LKH is at LWB with Rufer Nagasawa, LBS, Ishige, Armiento and Eze filling the midfield and forward spots
Frees Hughes or Sheridan up to play 10! Sheridan with the hit of the pre-season so far, even if it was saved. He pole axed the keeper! I don’t think I’m serious…
Well we have a squad now. Noby wan more is coming to save us. We do with what we’ve got.
And sorry Mr Eze about half of the Aussie refs are complete dickheads. I know you’ve been used to polite but firm Asian refs. You gunna have to deal.
Nah, chiefy will have LKH will be playing number 10 at this rate
Can Loke play on the left? I don’t want to see him starting every game, but as one of the most reliable players in our preseason I don’t want to see him as a backup to Timmy.
IMHO the club is still short a centreback. Sheridan hares off downfield too far and too often. Doesn't seem to see himself as a CB. LKH's style of play is not suited to CB. Though a big guy he's not aggressive nor good in the air, and his tricky footwork means the occasional error. Better at DM or LB. Payne is suited but also error prone since his return. Munro is untested, and Smith untested and too slow. Then there's the need for injury cover, competition for a place, rotation, and flexibility to play 3 proper CBs. Wonder if Ben Collins at Heidelberg is available. He looked great, nice touch, can beat a player and stride through the midfield, has a pinpoint long pass. 25 and has played A league before.
IMHO the club is still short a centreback. Sheridan hares off downfield too far and too often. Doesn't seem to see himself as a CB. LKH's style of play is not suited to CB. Though a big guy he's not aggressive nor good in the air, and his tricky footwork means the occasional error. Better at DM or LB. Payne is suited but also error prone since his return. Munro is untested, and Smith untested and too slow. Then there's the need for injury cover, competition for a place, rotation, and flexibility to play 3 proper CBs. Wonder if Ben Collins at Heidelberg is available. He looked great, nice touch, can beat a player and stride through the midfield, has a pinpoint long pass. 25 and has played A league before.
Collins probably doesn't want to take a pay cut
And useful to have a cb or two bring the ball out of defence in a back 3 if the space is there and opposition are only blocking passing lanes/clogging up midfield
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