WPM 2025/26 Squad Speculation, Confirmation and Mutual Termination

I'm not bothered about mutual terminations or who we can recruit. If we cannot keep both Kosta & Chico then I think there is zero chance that we can recruit well enough to have a succesful 2025-2026 with Chiefy at the helm. I'm not that hopeful we can even if we do. But at least there are plausible reasons for both Chico and Kosta to stay and so that's what I am allowing myself to hope for at the minute. 

ballane

imanixsupporter

I really hope they don't frontload the derbies again next season. Nix need a couple of months of decent form to attract the fans back.

Your bang on with that, surely Auckland dont get the same soft start next season they got this season.

we hit derby one in good form didnt we? 2nd in the league at one point, i'm not sure if it was then

reg22

ballane

imanixsupporter

I really hope they don't frontload the derbies again next season. Nix need a couple of months of decent form to attract the fans back.

Your bang on with that, surely Auckland dont get the same soft start next season they got this season.

we hit derby one in good form didnt we? 2nd in the league at one point, i'm not sure if it was then

Yeah but at that point we had the 23/24 season high, and genuine belief we should be able to beat AFC to help bring in a lot of the casuals and get that crowd number up. After this season's performances, if you put a derby in the first few weeks it's likely a lot of casuals will expect this season's poor performances and won't want to turn up and see the Nix get beaten again. 

Need to start the season well and get people excited again before the first derby, otherwise the crowd number likely won't get near 26,000

ballane

When running at a loss think the term "running on the smell of an oily rag" can be applicable.
Money wise things could be even tighter next year as there wont be the money from player sales to top up what we arnt getting from the APL.
The team could help greatly by playing well which in turn would help hopefully with bums on seats at 2  Home Derbys, Waitangi Day and the game in Christchurch. 
Then hopefully Paulsen,Old and Surman can trigger some of  the bonus clauses in their sales to bring in a bit more.

Maybe if the Blades are promoted to the EPL, and they buy Libby from Empoli that will trigger a clause/solidarity payment for the Nix??

But all the ALM clubs trade at a loss. Including AFC.
It all comes down to how wealthy your owners, and/or how prepared they are to throw money at a dud "investment" like an Australasian football club.

Obviously investing in sports teams (and stadium infrastructure) is something Bill Foley clearly enjoys. Almost accidental Nix principal owner Rob Morrison far less so.


FYI - just googled the Bakrie Group (Roar's owners). In 2007, Forbes Asia put the Bakrie family’s net worth at US$5.4 billion, making it Indonesia’s richest at that time. Last year, the Bakries didn’t even figure in the magazine’s Top 50 Indonesian businessmen. Their wealth was hammered by the GFC. Might explain why they are so tight to spend anything on the Roar. 

double post.

Half a Pint

reg22

ballane

imanixsupporter

I really hope they don't frontload the derbies again next season. Nix need a couple of months of decent form to attract the fans back.

Your bang on with that, surely Auckland dont get the same soft start next season they got this season.

we hit derby one in good form didnt we? 2nd in the league at one point, i'm not sure if it was then

Yeah but at that point we had the 23/24 season high, and genuine belief we should be able to beat AFC to help bring in a lot of the casuals and get that crowd number up. After this season's performances, if you put a derby in the first few weeks it's likely a lot of casuals will expect this season's poor performances and won't want to turn up and see the Nix get beaten again. 

Need to start the season well and get people excited again before the first derby, otherwise the crowd number likely won't get near 26,000

There is wisdom in that. Consider that the first derby was not the first game of the season - I would not think it should be.  You need to build up to that.

Isn’t Libby in the last year of his contract at empoli?

Doesn’t that mean nothing for the Nix if he leaves on a free?

coochiee

ballane

When running at a loss think the term "running on the smell of an oily rag" can be applicable.
Money wise things could be even tighter next year as there wont be the money from player sales to top up what we arnt getting from the APL.
The team could help greatly by playing well which in turn would help hopefully with bums on seats at 2  Home Derbys, Waitangi Day and the game in Christchurch. 
Then hopefully Paulsen,Old and Surman can trigger some of  the bonus clauses in their sales to bring in a bit more.

Maybe if the Blades are promoted to the EPL, and they buy Libby from Empoli that will trigger a clause/solidarity payment for the Nix??

But all the ALM clubs trade at a loss. Including AFC.
It all comes down to how wealthy your owners, and/or how prepared they are to throw money at a dud "investment" like an Australasian football club.

Obviously investing in sports teams (and stadium infrastructure) is something Bill Foley clearly enjoys. Almost accidental Nix principal owner Rob Morrison far less so.


FYI - just googled the Bakrie Group (Roar's owners). In 2007, Forbes Asia put the Bakrie family’s net worth at US$5.4 billion, making it Indonesia’s richest at that time. Last year, the Bakries didn’t even figure in the magazine’s Top 50 Indonesian businessmen. Their wealth was hammered by the GFC. Might explain why they are so tight to spend anything on the Roar. 

To be fair, I do not think Bakrie Group ever spent much on the Roar.  Which is a shame, considering what a good club with great history it was/is.  Oh, the days of Roarcelona, when Ange was in charge, and Thomas Broich was their most sublime player. 

AucklandPhoenix

Isn’t Libby in the last year of his contract at empoli?

Doesn’t that mean nothing for the Nix if he leaves on a free?

No. Contract expires in 12 months, mid 2026

Yeah look given how the recruitment went this season I doubt WP HQ would want to pay extra money (terminations) to give the same recruiters another go.

Waine not retained by Plymouth. 

Where do I sign??
We have a saying in Rome that roughly translates to "if only he would fall for that"...as if to say, we'd be getting a real good deal (and he, not so much).

I'd be shocked if he came back, given that he also has a UK passport and that there's bound to be a L2 team looking for young striker..but I'd welcome him with open arms.

I will say this though, if he can't get a deal in L2 at least, then he's better off in the A-League for next season 

newzealandpower

Where do I sign??
We have a saying in Rome that roughly translates to "if only he would fall for that"...as if to say, we'd be getting a real good deal (and he, not so much).

I'd be shocked if he came back, given that he also has a UK passport and that there's bound to be a L2 team looking for young striker..but I'd welcome him with open arms.

I will say this though, if he can't get a deal in L2 at least, then he's better off in the A-League for next season 

"I will say this though, if he can't get a deal in L2 at least, then he's better off in the A-League for next season " - just not anywhere in the A-League, please.

I note that this hasn't been brought up in this thread at least.

Gillion still has 1 year on his AFC contract, but is well down the pecking order behind Rogerson, Francois, Moreno and Randall. If I were the Nix I'd be enquiring about whether he would like a change in scenery and whether AFC would be fussed about him leaving. Despite his current limitations I still reckon he would be worth a punt. Far more ready for the A-League right now than Piper was at the start of this season. He might just be one assist or goal away from a breakthrough of sorts. 

Is he really any better than what we have he maybe fast and able to beat a player but his passing and crossing are no better than what our young guys are. Hope the Nix dont go for him would much prefer to see them continue to work on the ones we have especially given the game time most of them got this year. As far as assists go you could say the same about our young guys.
Given another off season of training can see our guys being ahead of him especially as Auckland rarely use him know.

We have no attacking depth at all and not many visa spots to play around with. I'm not saying he should be signed as a nailed-on starter, just as a useful addition to the squad. 

As far as comparisons to our young players go, he earned an All Whites callup this season, and I don't think there is a single person in the world who thinks any of Walker, Supyk, LBS or GSR are even close to being good enough to be in the All Whites right now. 

All probably academic, AFC probably wouldnt let him go to Wellington even if he wanted to. 

newzealandpower

Where do I sign??
We have a saying in Rome that roughly translates to "if only he would fall for that"...as if to say, we'd be getting a real good deal (and he, not so much).

I'd be shocked if he came back, given that he also has a UK passport and that there's bound to be a L2 team looking for young striker..but I'd welcome him with open arms.

I will say this though, if he can't get a deal in L2 at least, then he's better off in the A-League for next season 

I still hold out hope he'll come back to the Nix (big play if we could land it) but wouldn't be surprised if he landed elsewhere in Europe. Places like Switzerland, Belgium, Austria, Netherlands would be a slight compass adjustment from the UK, but it would keep his European footballing dream alive. 

Others have said League Two (minimum) but I also don't think League Two keeps you well enough in the fray for All Whites selection - A good level mind you, but it also opens the door for others to make a move.

There would have to be some serious production out of him at that level - More so than his history in England so far would suggest as well. And then what if he did go to a club at that level, but they start struggling or go through a managerial change? He was kept out during the back end of the season at Mansfield because they went and got another couple of forwards in the last transfer window.

As for the Gillion call, I could get on board with that. Definitely a footballer in there, but he just needs to get his head up and make better decisions, which is something that will come with experience. I don't think Auckland will change up things too much though, so I won't hold out too much hope on that move.

2nd Best listed Waineo’s release by Plymouth in this thread. A pointer to a homecoming perhaps? Ben would have been chatting to Wood, Bazeley, David Ball even maybe U20s coach Des about what’s the best next move 

If Waine doesn’t come to the Nix, I’d like to see the Nix approach AFC for a loan deal for Jonty Bidois. Promising striker I think, who like Gillion has struggled for playing time just due to Auckland having lots of top attackers.  

And there are shades of Ben Old about Gillion. It took Old a few seasons in the ALM to have his breakout season

Liam Gillion is going to be 23 by the start of the next season. If we sign him it would either hamper the development of lbs (16), gsr (17), walker (19) and others in the academy like his brother Fergus, or he won't get much time if we are able sign players like Chico and they stay fit.

Sign Gillion - he is far more ready than any of our youngsters and it would be good for them to have to fight for their spot on merit - not get it due to a lack of depth.

Would take Gillion on a multi-year contract, 175-250k salary, insta-sign from me.

Would be the easiest signing in history, if he's available and keen.

Have seen enough to know how much potential he has. And would be one of first names on the team sheet for me.

Ninja

Would take Gillion on a multi-year contract, 175-250k salary, insta-sign from me.

Would be the easiest signing in history, if he's available and keen.

Have seen enough to know how much potential he has. And would be one of first names on the team sheet for me.

sign him for up to 10% of the cap?

Ninja

Would take Gillion on a multi-year contract, 175-250k salary, insta-sign from me.

Would be the easiest signing in history, if he's available and keen.

Have seen enough to know how much potential he has. And would be one of first names on the team sheet for me.

He'd love the 250% pay rise

Bullion

Ninja

Would take Gillion on a multi-year contract, 175-250k salary, insta-sign from me.

Would be the easiest signing in history, if he's available and keen.

Have seen enough to know how much potential he has. And would be one of first names on the team sheet for me.

sign him for up to 10% of the cap?

Alright let’s go 150-200 then. 5-7.5% of the cap.

Easy signing for me.

Na, no thanks on gillion. Good fella but not the quality we need. Would be taking up the spot of one of youngsters we already have. Plus, the guy cant pass. 

andrewvoerman

Ninja

Would take Gillion on a multi-year contract, 175-250k salary, insta-sign from me.

Would be the easiest signing in history, if he's available and keen.

Have seen enough to know how much potential he has. And would be one of first names on the team sheet for me.

He'd love the 250% pay rise

Perfect. Great business.

I’m not going to say Gillion is the magic bullet answer to the Nix’s woes but this team is going to die, if the philosophy is to stop signing better players because they may get in the way of 16 and 17 year old minutes.

AucklandPhoenix

I’m not going to say Gillion is the magic bullet answer to the Nix’s woes but this team is going to die, if the philosophy is to stop signing better players because they may get in the way of 16 and 17 year old minutes.

Would be a fair comment if Gillion wasn’t sharke. Which he is. Waineo or someone better please. Don’t need another player who can’t score or pass.

What are you talking about, Waine and Gillion play different positions, it'd never be an either or with them 

Gillion's a game breaker. 

These players come pre-set with higher risk traits and therefore score lower with the mundane systems-play type stuff that football has descended in to

Yea he didn't get an All Whites call up for no reason. 

At the start of the season everyone was talking about him. He was creating chances, making things happen, troubling defences.

Sure, his final product may not have been quite there, but that's small in the grand scheme of things. It can be worked on.

For some reason he fell out of favour. Maybe a string of 'poor' performances (depends what your standard is), falling out with the coach, ego? Who knows.

At the end of the day, he creates things, is attacking-minded, and a point of difference. This is the type of player the Nix need to take a gamble on. Appreciate others have different views, but if I was Italiano, I'd be seriously inquiring now.

Gillion is bang average and didn't show remotely the same development throughout that Piper did stepping up from the same level. At their age, the development has to be rapid and there's been no indication of that from him. 

Should never have got an AWs call up and I don't expect to ever see him as an ALM regular, after the other AFC options comfortably surpassed him. I'd be quite disappointed if we were after him, LBS, Walker and GSR may well be offering more by the end of next season with more minutes. Plus those 3 players actually may have sale value which, again, Gillion is likely too late a bloomer for.

What a sad state we're in that we're arguing over whether or not we should sign an Auckland bench warmer, a guy who for a quarter of the season wasn't even in the match day squad.

Not saying he's not worth a shout but man...

MetalLegNZ

Sign Gillion - he is far more ready than any of our youngsters and it would be good for them to have to fight for their spot on merit - not get it due to a lack of depth.

This is the attitude we need. Clarity about positions and competition for places. 

And players who are squad players for now, offering cover and competition. Fewer project players. 

It’s possible there’s a bit of overlap with what Waine can offer the team, but I’m sure that’s okay. 

Gillion might be average, but we need a few average professional footballers- ones who can trap the ball and pass and run- in our squad. and it’s not clear that he is average. 

And Imo Gillion is out because Randall is better and that multi club transfer dude came in. He lost his place because the others were better, though Francois had also been fairly meh.

We need some lads in their 20s with a bit of motivation, plenty to prove and a lot of running in the legs, whether they are Kiwis or Aussies. They don’t all have to be world beaters. It’s the A league. Not every player has to be on sale, but they do have to be ready to do a job at a minimum consistent level now. 

But yes, cover and competition for key spots is what I want to see next season. 

Absolute crap about the nzfc/handy prem. That’s surely something of a crisis for the academy. We and any Auckland academy need it back. 

martinb

MetalLegNZ

Sign Gillion - he is far more ready than any of our youngsters and it would be good for them to have to fight for their spot on merit - not get it due to a lack of depth.

This is the attitude we need. Clarity about positions and competition for places. 

And players who are squad players for now, offering cover and competition. Fewer project players. 

It’s possible there’s a bit of overlap with what Waine can offer the team, but I’m sure that’s okay. 

Gillion might be average, but we need a few average professional footballers- ones who can trap the ball and pass and run- in our squad. and it’s not clear that he is average. 

And Imo Gillion is out because Randall is better and that multi club transfer dude came in. He lost his place because the others were better, though Francois had also been fairly meh.

We need some lads in their 20s with a bit of motivation, plenty to prove and a lot of running in the legs, whether they are Kiwis or Aussies. They don’t all have to be world beaters. It’s the A league. Not every player has to be on sale, but they do have to be ready to do a job at a minimum consistent level now. 

But yes, cover and competition for key spots is what I want to see next season. 

Absolute crap about the nzfc/handy prem. That’s surely something of a crisis for the academy. We and any Auckland academy need it back. 

 
Average is doing some seriously heavy lifting. But I get your point. It’s still a no from me. 

He's the kiwi Totori. 

I reckon Merrick or a coach with more patience could have got something out of Totori at A league level. Totori had a finish and a pass, as well as a run the ball over the sideline. After all originally we said Krishna was a flat track bully and Merrick didn’t play him for a while. 

Not so relevant, but did enjoy watching him and Krishna at Waitak for a while there. 

Actually, in terms of GSR, Walker and Brooke-Smith (I don’t like the Pounds nickname- with the accidental allusions to weight and…yeh)  the Krishna example is a bit instructive. And compare to Ben Old. Nobody got minutes until they were ready or earned them.

He has 1 season of professional football and did good enough IMO.  Did Siggy or Krishna stand out in their first seasons... no!

Gillion is a better option currently than our youth players like Supyk or GSR etc.

LBS, Walker, Piper are highly overrated by the people on this forum. It is no surprise to me that we finished as low as we did on the table given how much they all played for us. Our standards have slipped so very far from last season. None of these guys are even nearly as good as any of Singh, Cacace, Waine, Old, Surman or Paulsen were for us (or Marco & Kosta before they first left many moons ago). I genuinely hope that none of them are considered part of our best XI when next season starts. I won't pass judgement on GSR because I have barely seen him.

I'm not saying that any of these guys won't develop into solid professionals capable of playing regularly in the A-League either. Some players need a few extra years to really kick on, like Rufer (and LBS is extremely young). I am just saying that they aren't ready to be A-League regulars now and it is totally fine if they aren't being given starts all the time and have to prove they are better than other players to get them. 

What's the love on Walker? I heard he played like 23 of our 26 matches. What has he actually done to justify that?