WPM 2025/26 Squad Speculation, Confirmation and Mutual Termination

2789 replies · 178,863 views
4 days ago
Keep Rufer keep Rufer keep Rufer...

Oi Oi Edgecumbe... lets have a clean sheet

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Endorsed by
ni
4 days ago
If Rufer is leaving I wouldn't be opposed to keeping Retre around. He was very ordinary for most of the season. But he's been very good in the last few games under Greenie, and without Rufer or Nagasawa the central midfield stocks look very thin.



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Endorsed by
Oi Oi Edgecumbe
1 day ago
Piper selling his car because he's moving overseas...
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I'm an optimistic pessimist. 
I'm positive things will go wrong.
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1 day ago · edited 1 day ago · History
or he's one of the first flooded car sales from Wellington.
he signed a two year extension at the start of the season, so if he is leaving we should get some cash for him.

Queenslander 3x a year.

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Endorsed by
KiwiMancunian
1 day ago · edited 1 day ago · History
Highly doubt that an overseas club wants to pay money to take Piper from us AND that the transfer dealings for such a sale are already done.

More likely that Corban has personal reasons for wanting to go overseas and the club aren't standing in his way. 
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1 day ago
will be interesting to see what comes out in the release

Queenslander 3x a year.

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1 day ago · edited 1 day ago · History
Transfer news and rumors kicking in to gear super bloody quick this year!

You'd think these guys would end up using aliases or friends accounts to sort these types of deals. 🤣

I'll ask around and see what I can find.
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Endorsed by
ballaneBrockieTheGOATBullionHalf a Pint+5
1 day ago
Procrastinixing wrote:
Wonder where he is off to? 
I recommend Christchurch. We have a drier weather here, so far.


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Endorsed by
Oi Oi EdgecumbeSimon B
1 day ago
YoungHeartHM wrote:
Transfer news and rumors kicking in to gear super bloody quick this year!

You'd think these guys would end up using aliases or friends accounts to sort these types of deals. 🤣

I'll ask around and see what I can find.
He's listing Rufer's. 
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1 day ago · edited 1 day ago · History
Bullion wrote:
 YoungHeartHM wrote:
Transfer news and rumors kicking in to gear super bloody quick this year!

You'd think these guys would end up using aliases or friends accounts to sort these types of deals. 🤣

I'll ask around and see what I can find.
He's listing Rufer's. 
Not quite? Here's what I've dug up.

https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/volkswagen/tiguan/listing/5797909515

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Would have thought that's a pretty obvious player departure in all honesty. 

Would be uncanny if Piper has the same year, make, model and mileage on his Volkswagen Tiguan. 🤣
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Endorsed by
BullionHalf a PintKiwiMancunianLT01+3
1 day ago
Yakcall wrote:
Piper selling his car because he's moving overseas...
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Looks like somebody’s let him know about this discussion as he has updated the listing on Facebook now. Could be a mislead, but it’s much more likely to be Mileusnic anyway
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Endorsed by
LT01SouthernixYoungHeartHM
1 day ago
so Corban is selling Mileusnic's car, who to be fair has probably dfecided to stay in Aus after their MacArthur game.

Queenslander 3x a year.

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1 day ago
With so many players leaving, this off season should be exciting - just glad we have the WC to enjoy to make up for our footy free weekends outside our own amatuerish attempts!
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Endorsed by
LT01theprofWanderingSheep
about 16 hours ago · edited about 16 hours ago · History
Losing our usual 8 - 13 players, rebuilding yet again. Some things never change. Would love to have Rufer for our 20th Anniversary. 
Proud to have attended the first 175 Consecutive "Home" Wellington Phoenix "A League" Games !!

The Ruf, The Ruf, The Ruf is on Fire!!

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Endorsed by
brdunnixMainland FCSouthernix+1
about 14 hours ago
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So we have 14 expiring players, my quick thoughts:
Sign if we can: Rufer and Eze for obvious reasons, Singh I think we can get him cheap and he's still in a prime age range to build a team around if we keep him fit, Armiento shown enough usefulness and spark to deserve another crack
Maybe: Nagasawa has shown strong patches this season and can be versatile position wise but only 1 year deal because of his age, Edwards has been alright in his appearances and could prove himself with more gametime, Supyk struggling to break through but good with the ressies and is only 20
Preferably not: Josh is an okay keeper but not a high enough standard for a visa spot, similar for Kartum plus we'd have to pay a fee for him, Conchie has probably had enough time to impress and hasn't much
Need to go: Najjarine end product and decision making continues to be poor and on his 4th A-L team has had his chance, Retre is over the hill and not the player he was, James has made too many errors and isn't visa standard for this league, Mileusnic hasn't hit form for us at all and also getting on in age.
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Endorsed by
theprof
about 13 hours ago
Conchie has only played under Chief. Im curious what he does playing for someone else.
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about 13 hours ago
MetalLegNZ wrote:
Conchie has only played under Chief. Im curious what he does playing for someone else.
Hasn't offered enough over that time to warrent taking another youngesters place. Conchie has had his oppourtunities and really hasnt offered anything. 

If we want change next year we have to strive for better or at least be willing to give other younger players a chance. 
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about 12 hours ago · edited about 12 hours ago · History
LT01 wrote:
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So we have 14 expiring players, my quick thoughts:
Sign if we can: Rufer and Eze for obvious reasons, Singh I think we can get him cheap and he's still in a prime age range to build a team around if we keep him fit, Armiento shown enough usefulness and spark to deserve another crack
Maybe: Nagasawa has shown strong patches this season and can be versatile position wise but only 1 year deal because of his age, Edwards has been alright in his appearances and could prove himself with more gametime, Supyk struggling to break through but good with the ressies and is only 20
Preferably not: Josh is an okay keeper but not a high enough standard for a visa spot, similar for Kartum plus we'd have to pay a fee for him, Conchie has probably had enough time to impress and hasn't much
Need to go: Najjarine end product and decision making continues to be poor and on his 4th A-L team has had his chance, Retre is over the hill and not the player he was, James has made too many errors and isn't visa standard for this league, Mileusnic hasn't hit form for us at all and also getting on in age.
Armiento should be a maybe. Mostly because he doesn't suit Greenie playing style. He does provide that spark and actually tries to score, but he also started falling off even before Cheif was sacked so a bit meh on getting him back.

Would move Josh to a maybe too. He has had many class moments throughout his time here which were sadly overshadowed by his massive howlers under Chiefy in big games. Don't think there are many better local options available so wouldn't mind keeping him for maybe a year with AKH challenging. Greenie style also puts less pressure on the GK so howlers are less likely. 

Would put Conchie, Supyk, and Edwards in a category of "Sign for OFC pro league team" (if we get a team in 2027). Perfect league to see if they can step up and show what they can do with regular game time. All 3 are too good for reserves and not likely to get decent game time in A league to develop as we should be signing better players.
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Endorsed by
WanderingSheep
about 2 hours ago · edited about 1 hour ago · History
Just wrote:
 LT01 wrote:
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So we have 14 expiring players, my quick thoughts:
Sign if we can: Rufer and Eze for obvious reasons, Singh I think we can get him cheap and he's still in a prime age range to build a team around if we keep him fit, Armiento shown enough usefulness and spark to deserve another crack
Maybe: Nagasawa has shown strong patches this season and can be versatile position wise but only 1 year deal because of his age, Edwards has been alright in his appearances and could prove himself with more gametime, Supyk struggling to break through but good with the ressies and is only 20
Preferably not: Josh is an okay keeper but not a high enough standard for a visa spot, similar for Kartum plus we'd have to pay a fee for him, Conchie has probably had enough time to impress and hasn't much
Need to go: Najjarine end product and decision making continues to be poor and on his 4th A-L team has had his chance, Retre is over the hill and not the player he was, James has made too many errors and isn't visa standard for this league, Mileusnic hasn't hit form for us at all and also getting on in age.
Armiento should be a maybe. Mostly because he doesn't suit Greenie playing style. He does provide that spark and actually tries to score, but he also started falling off even before Cheif was sacked so a bit meh on getting him back.

Would move Josh to a maybe too. He has had many class moments throughout his time here which were sadly overshadowed by his massive howlers under Chiefy in big games. Don't think there are many better local options available so wouldn't mind keeping him for maybe a year with AKH challenging. Greenie style also puts less pressure on the GK so howlers are less likely. 

Would put Conchie, Supyk, and Edwards in a category of "Sign for OFC pro league team" (if we get a team in 2027). Perfect league to see if they can step up and show what they can do with regular game time. All 3 are too good for reserves and not likely to get decent game time in A league to develop as we should be signing better players.
If, as has been mentioned Rufer ups stick and leaves, I would look to  move Nagasawa up to be retained on a one year deal. Don't think there's much point in getting our hopes up over Eze staying either at this stage.

Armiento would drop down to a maybe for me. Not because I don't rate him, but because I don't think Greenie can fit him in to the setup that he wants to play. He won't want to hang around for a bench role in all honesty - But there will be plenty of suitors across the ditch based on his early season form too.

Interesting point re: Supyk, Conchie & Edwards. Would be good pickups for OFC Pro League if we get the team, but I doubt they'd want to stomach the drastic paycuts they'd have to take. Edwards would probably end up back in the better paying NPL if that is the option he's faced with.

Can't really disagree with the others though. Aside from Nagasawa, Eze, Rufer and Singh (if we can get him) there's not much on that list that I would be wanting to lock in for next season and beyond. I can see why people would want to keep Oluwayemi too, but honestly I've got so much PTSD over his past performances and some absolutely absurd howlers. But I will admit he's been far steadier and more confident since Greenie's been at the helm.
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44 minutes ago
The only comment I would make is that we are in a peculiar situation with goalkeepers - all those currently on our books are relatively early in their professional development. 
The thing about Josh is that his good saves were really good and he is fast and athletic. His bad misses were spectacular, too. He is 1.85m tall, so not particularly short, although not in the category of Alby or Eamon, both of whom are probably prone to altitude sickness just by standing up (both around 1.95m tall). He offers something different than our Kiwi boys, so if he went we would probably need another backup keeper that is also more mobile and athletic, even if potentially well past his prime.
I understand Josh has been given a contract extension very early in his season with us already, so the discussion may be a moot point. If this is not the case then it would make more sense to sign an older keeper as a back up while Alby (and also McCarron) are our long term development projects.


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22 minutes ago
I agree with the sentiment re Josh, he's been superb in some ways but horrid in others, he's takling an import spot and is in all reality only a little older than the other keepers in the squad. I'd oprefer we let him go, bring in an older experienced Aleage keeper (not Sail) that can mentor Alby and support him, but also capable of doing the job if asked.

Queenslander 3x a year.

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