WPM 2025/26 Squad Speculation, Confirmation and Mutual Termination

coochiee

I think the narrative was that Chiefy was keen on hopefully find a more 'like for like' Paulsen - ie a keeper good at playing out from the back. Not considered a Duncan strong point. 

So Duncan took the offer from VUC, even though I think he knew at the time Langerak would be arriving before Christmas.

Agruably a mistake from Gill/Italiano, given how Oluwayemi (visa player) & Duncan went this season.

Major fumble from Gill/Italiano actually.

Think we offered Duncan something but he went to the Victory because he’d be number one until Langerak arrived? Iirc

We were looking at keepers for a while after that was done and dusted.

claytonn

coochiee

I think the narrative was that Chiefy was keen on hopefully find a more 'like for like' Paulsen - ie a keeper good at playing out from the back. Not considered a Duncan strong point. 

So Duncan took the offer from VUC, even though I think he knew at the time Langerak would be arriving before Christmas.

Agruably a mistake from Gill/Italiano, given how Oluwayemi (visa player) & Duncan went this season.

Major fumble from Gill/Italiano actually.

I think once Josh came back he was much more composed overall, and likely a change from Chiefy to not play out at all costs. Josh's shot stopping is very good, he had the highest save % for the league, most saves per 90, 3rd for xg prevented.

https://www.fotmob.com/leagues/113/stats/season/23989/players/_save_percentage/league

Thanks guys, this confirms my "gut" feeling that Josh is actually an OK young  keeper and we'll be better off not pushing him to play the style he is not good at (playing out). In some ways, of all our keepers, he reminds me most of Filip Kurto, just not as confident as Kurto was when he joined us - but confidence comes from doing one's job well.

Mainland FC

Thanks guys, this confirms my "gut" feeling that Josh is actually an OK young  keeper and we'll be better off not pushing him to play the style he is not good at (playing out). In some ways, of all our keepers, he reminds me most of Filip Kurto, just not as confident as Kurto was when he joined us - but confidence comes from doing one's job well.

If he could come out and put that much famed vertical leap to use next season, he will be a much more commanding presence in the box. 

Was a few times this season when he went to come for crosses into the area but then dropped back and got caught on the goal line, or in no mans land within the 6 yard box - Most notable occasion was in the first derby up there for their 2nd goal. 

There's a keeper in there for sure, but he's going to need to show more for 25/26. As much as I like to see young Kiwis coming through, and he did alright with the opportunity afforded to him, I don't think AKH is the answer there just yet (but there is promise!).

Did anyone else notice in the last 2/3 games he distributed the ball quickly and accurately a few times by throwing it,couple of times he got it close to half way. Would love to know why we havnt seen that before especially when he has kicked it out a few times. 

I'm sure several clubs will be in for him but Fabian Monge has just been released by the Victory

Have we signed Lasogga?

martinb

Have we signed Lasogga?

This is the only thing that keeps me checking in during the off season.

Rock Hopper

martinb

Have we signed Lasogga?

This is the only thing that keeps me checking in during the off season.

I have to apologise in advance that I am way too lazy and lack knowledge and expertise to do the photo mock ups and so on that all the lads did last time. 

Actually looked up his record- might be worth a shout! He’s in the Bundesliga 2 with Schalke but not getting much playing time. And he’s 33. Not a great recent record, but even a loan deal might be the go! 

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ChatGPT even took the liberty of designing us a new kit complete with star above the logo - foreshadowing??

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Pierre Michel Lasogga and his mum spotted at Redsquare on student night - consider it a done deal.

Just saw one of the Instagram posts from Sutts and Wootton's signing announcements from the other week, and it made me think - when was the last time we made a pre-contract expiry signing? I'm pretty sure Kosta part II and Finkler were, but can't think of any others. Seems to be far more common around the rest of the league than it is for us

Is it teams like the Glory that are basically out of finals running by Christmas that are far more likely to try for pre-contract expiry signings?

I mean if your season is already in reality done months in advance, your coaching staff might as well start the next season recruitment process early. Why wait to start the rebuild, when you know who will release and the gaps you need to fill. The current lot are useless!

Maybe also a cultural thing in Aussie. I mean in the NRL they often have (messy) annoucements about some player leaving to play elsewhere next year, months before the current season finishes.

If the above is true for Perth, then it should be for us. No one except Chiefy would of believed we had a cance of making the finals realistically come the New Year.

Roy’s a free agent. Last hurrah as a bench player?

Friar Tuck

Roy’s a free agent. Last hurrah as a bench player?

Did his ACL early Dec last year. Will be 38 in August.

Given the club decided not to re-sign Chico as they didn't want to wait for him to rehab his knee injury, I doubt they will be interested in Krishna. He'd have to be very cheap, and just a bonus squaddie to start the season. He is a non visa player these days after all.

He might be better to contact Auckland FC.
https://www.fijitimes.com.fj/roy-krishna-bids-farewell-to-odisha-fc/

Actually it would be a great scope and PR, for the new OFC Pro League to have him playing for a Fijian team in that comp.

Spoiler alert everyone, Krishna will go where the most money is and that will still be India. He may publicly flirt with the idea of an A-League return but that will only be in an attempt to negotiate a better deal over there. 

Ivan Vujica is available on a free if we don't like our current LB options

Can Ugarkovic please come back.
https://melbournecityfc.com.au/news/20250606-ugarkovic-departs/

thumper

Can Ugarkovic please come back.
https://melbournecityfc.com.au/news/20250606-ugarkovic-departs/

Isnt he going to join Kosta at WSW.

How’s this one for ambition or is it actually realistic considering the league he has just left?

Ali Olwan, free agent after a year in the Malaysian league. 

Jordan International, big body,  25 years old, great international scoring record and just scored a hat trick to take Jordan to the World Cup. Note he has also scored against New Zealand. 

Jordanians speak good English usually, so that’s another tick.

Give him the Kosta money plus whatever they will receive for having him at the World Cup.

Not realistic at all. He is very visible in Asian football and he will be getting much bigger offers than Kosta money

Jeez guys
Don’t want to be a downer but Perth making all these signing …. Meanwhile …. Hope it’s not an omen.

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I guess the good news is that, of the list of players who are only contracted for the coming season, the only one that we really don't want to lose is Rufer. Unfortunately he has signalled his intent to make an overseas move at the end of 2025/2026. But we could lose the rest and I wouldn't be particularly bothered.

Tunnelrat

2ndBest

Expires 2024/25
Kosta Barbarouses (Option for 25/26 season)
Dublin Boon
Stefan Colakovski
Francisco Geraldes (V) [Loan]
M̶a̶r̶c̶o̶ R̶o̶j̶a̶s̶ 
S̶a̶m̶ S̶u̶t̶t̶o̶n̶ 
S̶c̶o̶t̶t̶ W̶o̶o̶t̶t̶o̶n̶ (̶V̶)̶

Expires 2025/26
Fin Conchie
Hideki Ishige (V)
Kazuki Nagasawa (V)
Josh Oluwayemi (V)
Paulo Retre
Alex Rufer
Luke Supyk

Expires 2026/27
Corban Piper
Luke Brooke-Smith
Alby Kelly-Heald
Lukas Kelly-Heald
Xuan Loke
Gabriel Sloane-Rodrigues
Jayden Smith

Expires 2027/28
Isaac Hughes
Tim Payne
Matt Sheridan
Nathan Walker

Clayton Taylor's off contract at the Jets - would be handy

I'm sure he can't wait to go to Wellington to play Chiefyball and play for less than competitive wages 

imanixsupporter

I'm sure he can't wait to go to Wellington to play Chiefyball and play for less than competitive wages 

Would still be better than what he was on this season tbf. But yeah, he will have plenty of suitors I'd imagine

imanixsupporter

I'm sure he can't wait to go to Wellington to play Chiefyball and play for less than competitive wages 

isn't this getting tedious now?

My point is that it isnt realistic. He is a highly rated young Aussie who will have many options. We don't beat out competition for signings, we never have, we never will. See Kosta, Sutton, Wootton, Pennington, Kraev for recent examples.

Yep thats why we have NEVER ? signed anyone with any ability. Your becoming very tiresome and so god dammed negative.
I may be overly optimistic but would rather have that any day of the week than the shark you seem to be always posting across all threads.
 

We get good players, just not obvious signings, players that other A-League teams are really keen to have. As soon as almost all of our players build up solid reputations in the A-League, theyre poached by other A-League clubs. On the flipside, we very rarely get A-League standouts to come and play for us when their team wants to keep them or other A-League teams are in for them too. 

Well we tend to get A league standouts from our city and nearby cities- Payne, Surman, Kosta, Paulsen and Rufer. Old. 

But yeh, we’re not in the market for Aussies so much and Welly has always been a tricky sell over Sydney or Melbourne. 

Are we signing Curtis Good?

Today feels like a good day

— Wellington Phoenix 🔥 (@WgtnPhoenixFC) June 9, 2025

Good morning 👀

— Wellington Phoenix 🔥 (@WgtnPhoenixFC) June 9, 2025

guess we wait till 12 to find out.

YoungHeartHM

Are we signing Curtis Good?

Today feels like a good day

— Wellington Phoenix 🔥 (@WgtnPhoenixFC) June 9, 2025

Good morning 👀

— Wellington Phoenix 🔥 (@WgtnPhoenixFC) June 9, 2025

Great shout YH. Was surprised to see He's 32 now, but he'd still be decent enough and would provide much needed experience to the backline

If we can get a good local back line that does make me a bit more excited about the squad. 

That hopefully leads us to an import goal scorer and a ten/secondary goal scorer…or a CM/playmaker? Hmm.

And then! If LBS, GSR, Walker and Supyk can start to menace and compete for two available bench spots then I’m starting to get excited to see our football.

Jazzy Jeff

YoungHeartHM

Are we signing Curtis Good?

Today feels like a good day

— Wellington Phoenix 🔥 (@WgtnPhoenixFC) June 9, 2025

Good morning 👀

— Wellington Phoenix 🔥 (@WgtnPhoenixFC) June 9, 2025

Great shout YH. Was surprised to see He's 32 now, but he'd still be decent enough and would provide much needed experience to the backline

I had to think long and hard about it. Two "good's" thrown in and that was enough to seal it for me. 🤣

Most importantly for us though is he wouldn't occupy a visa slot, and is a like for like replacement with Wootton.

Now for the important stuff that seems to get people going around here. He's also a fudgeing giant!

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Can't wait until his wiki page height gets updated to 17.10m. 😂