WPM 2025/26 Squad Speculation, Confirmation and Mutual Termination

Mainland FC

Amazing how a couple of Wellington Harbour shots can get us to argue what our new backline would look like. Anyone who said we are gloom merchants here, you have been proven wrong. We are eternal optimists.

I think it's fairer to say: we are locked into a very deep It's So Over/We're So Back cycle

He'd be a great DM in the A League. Surely it's on a long deal... can't see him getting many offers elsewhere. 

There is at least a week till the window opens, in the meantime I suggest we should start checking TradeMe, daily, on who is buying a second hand TV and a washing machine, etc, in Welly.

So to sum up what we've got here:

-We have signed Billy T.

-It is a long term contract.

-If we sign Billy T, we're also definitely signing a 10 too. 

-We're 4 points off Auckland after beating them in the 2nd derby.

-We're looking real tasty for the finals.

Source: two shots of what is allegedly the Wellington waterfront 🤣 - don't even worry about the fact Chief has been down playing signings!!

I'm all aboard for this dire train of hope.

On another note - If we do make a signing this January, that would be the third January window in a row we've made signings. Or would it be the fourth? My memory is a bit foggy on Uffie's last season with us.

You really have to praise welnix for backing the team and coach like this. We must be one of the only teams in the league to make significant January signings in recent years.

Seems to me that AFC would be foolish to not pick up BT if we are getting him.

We aren't going to be difficult to outbid wages wise. They only have one decent CB contracted for next season. Plus the fact that BT is from Auckland and Samoan which is a much bigger deal there than in Wellington.

Only reason I can imagine that they wouldn't want him is if Corica and the coaching staff see his terrible fitness over the last two seasons as a big red flag for their system/ethos.  

Edit: or maybe it is because BT isn't worried about money for the moment and would rather go to a club where he is guaranteed plenty of game time ahead of the World Cup, and would prefer to live in Wellington than Auckland 

imanixsupporter

Seems to me that AFC would be foolish to not pick up BT if we are getting him.

We aren't going to be difficult to outbid wages wise. They only have one decent CB contracted for next season. Plus the fact that BT is from Auckland and Samoan which is a much bigger deal there than in Wellington.

Only reason I can imagine that they wouldn't want him is if Corica and the coaching staff see his terrible fitness over the last two seasons as a big red flag for their system/ethos.  

Edit: or maybe it is because BT isn't worried about money for the moment and would rather go to a club where he is guaranteed plenty of game time ahead of the World Cup, and would prefer to live in Wellington than Auckland 

why would he go to afc and potentially end up like pijnaker or Elliot.

Piney reporting that he's signed until the end of the season. 

Yeah we havent brought in anybody decent and got them on a multi season deal in a while, have we. Was always going to be 6 months. 

Edit: knowing our luck we get him fit and in form and he will waltz up to Auckland and sign for 3 years 

If that did happen, is no point getting bitter and twisted about it.

He's an Aucklander, and almost more importantly an Auckland Samoan. If Sakai retires, I could definitely see AFC signing BT and making him captain. And that would be a great football story for NZ. 

The guy who's dad sold his fishing boat, to finance his early career, returns to the world's biggest Polynesian city to be captain of the football team. Would definitely help the code make some inroads into the under tapped Polynesian market in Aotearoa.


For now it's a great little coup the Nix bringing him to Welly. I wrote off any real chance of that happening because of the wages he was on in the MLS. Happy to be very wrong, and he now has a few weeks in Welly to get hammered fitness wise and hopefully be ready to make an immediate impact when the window officially opens. I pick him to be very good at ALM level.

And hey maybe he loves his time in the capital, and extends long term. He could be a natural new Nix captain if Rufer leaves?? And as someone else said Welly in some ways is a small version of rainy, hipster central, lefty, Portland.

2ndBest

Piney reporting that he's signed until the end of the season. 

Good enough for me. Someone start printing the yellow 'Billy T' towels!

It obviously would be great if we could get him for a longer deal but I honestly don’t care too much, it’s just good to get some reinforcements in this season to make a stronger push.

Then going into next season we’ll be able to use whatever import slots avaible to fill the gaps needed as hopefully we won’t have one with season ending injury and not use an import slot on a GK. 

Very happy with Bill signing even if it is only till the end of the season. Hopefully he enjoys his time enough to want to extend. Him signing could or should also give crowd numbers a much needed bounce back.

Now, a superstar 10 as well, please?

As 2ndBest pointed out on Twitter, we could have a CB pairing of Billy T and James. Hopefully that doesn't lead to any comedic defending ...

RR

As 2ndBest pointed out on Twitter, we could have a CB pairing of Billy T and James. Hopefully that doesn't lead to any comedic defending ...

But it could lead to an excellent YF tee-shirt logo!

Mainland FC

RR

As 2ndBest pointed out on Twitter, we could have a CB pairing of Billy T and James. Hopefully that doesn't lead to any comedic defending ...

But it could lead to an excellent YF tee-shirt logo!

Tifo right there for his 1st home game and selling Yellow Towels

Mainland FC

RR

As 2ndBest pointed out on Twitter, we could have a CB pairing of Billy T and James. Hopefully that doesn't lead to any comedic defending ...

But it could lead to an excellent YF tee-shirt logo!

Where's the horis in our scrum?

Is he not a free agent so could play as soon as he signs?

BrockieTheGOAT

Is he not a free agent so could play as soon as he signs?

Tuiloma was contracted when the ALM window shut, so has to wait until it opens before he can be registered.

Knowing Chiefy (and also knowing BT's level of fitness shown during the last international window) he will need a couple weeks before he makes a matchday squad and then will take another 3 weeks of sub appearances to build up "loading in his legs" or something. Even if he was a free agent since the last window and could be registered today I wouldnt be surprised if he didnt start a game until February

imanixsupporter

Knowing Chiefy (and also knowing BT's level of fitness shown during the last international window) he will need a couple weeks before he makes a matchday squad and then will take another 3 weeks of sub appearances to build up "loading in his legs" or something. Even if he was a free agent since the last window and could be registered today I wouldnt be surprised if he didnt start a game until February

Bang on isnt match fit but dont think he is as far away as you think.

Also again if he's to play as you'd expect at RCB between James and Sheridan/Payne (RWB) in back 3/5, he doesn't need the higher level of fitness that you need to play full back. 

And it's at full back where Bazeley was playing him for 50-60 mins, if he was a starter.

A high-line back 3 requires a bit more running than the typical CB though

Just throwing another name into the mix with no proof behind it, but I see Calvin Harris is available on a free after being released from Colorado in the new year.

Not the best goalscoring record after playing primarily on the wing, but could add another dimension to our front line after several years of MLS experience? Transfermarkt says he can also play as a 10 but it wouldn't be his primary position.

Get Harris back to NZ, and hopefully eligible then for the AWs!
No idea if his previous years in NZ, would speed up his eligibility.

Any back ground on Harris? Have not heard of him. I guess we are not going to get much out of Muelsnic this season. Hes been injured since last May....so over 8 months. Did he do an ACL? Bizarre situation. Same for poor Walker who hasnt played since WC under 20s. 
With both these guys out plus our Japanese import we are down three forwards

*Walker hasn’t played since scoring against Chile in a World Cup….#sometimelegspinnersunion 

Though actually maybe he has? And then got a second injury? 

Any more Tuiloma speculation? Biesla to coach us next season? 

Thinking about how good it would have been to have had Ishige to hit Piper, Eze or Billy T at a corner. Perhaps someone else will step up. 
Or Bill will take them. 

austin111

Any back ground on Harris? Have not heard of him. I guess we are not going to get much out of Muelsnic this season. Hes been injured since last May....so over 8 months. Did he do an ACL? Bizarre situation. Same for poor Walker who hasnt played since WC under 20s. 
With both these guys out plus our Japanese import we are down three forwards

25 yr old Calvin Harris - young gun in the Academy, 5-6 years ago, with English/Hong Kong citizenship. His development a bit hindered in NZ due the FIFA rules not letting him play senior football due to his young age??

The club were very tempted to use a visa spot on him with the A League squad, but didn't and he left for a US college after being in NZ 3-4 years. 

Picked no 2 pick in MLS Draft by Colorado. As a rough guide they reckon Joe Bell would have likely been no 2 pick if he had gone into the Draft and not to Norway from his US college. Harris would in the AWs mix if he was eligible.

Must be the men's turn today?
Time to announce Tuiloma signing.

Jessie Merino

Mainland FC

RR

As 2ndBest pointed out on Twitter, we could have a CB pairing of Billy T and James. Hopefully that doesn't lead to any comedic defending ...

But it could lead to an excellent YF tee-shirt logo!

Where's the horis in our scrum?

'Billy T James??

billytjames.jpg 124.83 KB

I've done comedy gigs among a hundred other things in my life, and in the green room of the Classic Theatre in Auckland, they've got a big painting of Billy T, like an old-school Labour household would have one of Micky Savage

Doloras

I've done comedy gigs among a hundred other things in my life, and in the green room of the Classic Theatre in Auckland, they've got a big painting of Billy T, like an old-school Labour household would have one of Micky Savage

Have some great memories of Billy T entertaining the staff after hours at a pub i worked at in Auckland. 

Nix hinting at an announcement on Instagram with a photo of the kitchen. Incoming today?

Nelfoos

Nix hinting at an announcement on Instagram with a photo of the kitchen. Incoming today?

A female signing?? And you do realise I was just kidding. I suspect the club are throwing the Kitchen sink at getting in someone good.

Bill definitely being announced today from the hints

LG

Nelfoos

Nix hinting at an announcement on Instagram with a photo of the kitchen. Incoming today?

A female signing?? And you do realise I was just kidding. I suspect the club are throwing the Kitchen sink at getting in someone good.

A bit of an overplayed and out dated joke don't you think? 🤔

Tuiloma possibly our highest profile signing ever?

Obviously having the World Cup around the corner is a pretty big factor too, but it is good to see we have some pull in the market given the backbone of the club is built on promoting from within, or picking up unknown quantities who then go on to boss the league (and then inevitably leaving 1-2 years later...)

Nelfoos

Nix hinting at an announcement on Instagram with a photo of the kitchen. Incoming today?

the next post on their story is an even bigger hint, if not a dead give away!

bill.jpg 70.24 KB

anaveragestem

LG

Nelfoos

Nix hinting at an announcement on Instagram with a photo of the kitchen. Incoming today?

A female signing?? And you do realise I was just kidding. I suspect the club are throwing the Kitchen sink at getting in someone good.

A bit of an overplayed and out dated joke don't you think? 🤔

fits his recent comments about female officials.

But to the news at hand - huge signing - well done Nix and fans!