Getting him on a contract of this length is also great as it guarantees them FIFA dollars once picked.
If it was only until the end of the season then meh. The contract length and FIFA dollars will help his wage.
I’m just hoping that Dome has a one year extension in the clubs favour in Eze’s contract hidden from public view - as it should have been there from the beginning coming from the Iraqi league. Type of guy who was always going to be boom or bust.
I also need to find time and check the AFC and All Whites thread to identify all those who were fat shaming Billy T and now are calling it a messiah signing!!
Time to call out some people!!theprof
and now we wait for the praise being loaded on Dome and Gill and co for getting thissigning across the line....... come on you AKP and NP, time to show you're true colours.
Assuming we can't lock Eze in for a eyar or two and he leaves on a free to Europe end of this season we seriously need to bolster the strike force, Piper does ok, but he isnt the solution.
As others have said, let's see what Mlieusnic can do. Maybe we genuinely need to say to Ben Waine, or Max Mata, "would you like to go to WC 2026? Sign here."
Mlieusnic is a winger, no? So not the out and out striker/goal scorer we need. He may well create some chances for Piper but Mlieusnic is an Armiento hole fixer.
Doubt it cant have improved that much since Tuesday. Cant play till wondow opens Tuesday they said he was a couple of weeks away. Happy to get corrected but cant seem him starting before the 23d.
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...)
Not sure, I think we had some good signings in the past, although not big names like Del Piero, Fowler or Juan Mata. Still, Hernandez, Barbarouses or Ifill would in my books challenge BT as "high profile".
Steven Taylor with almost 200 appearances in the prem surely
Getting him on a contract of this length is also great as it guarantees them FIFA dollars once picked.
If it was only until the end of the season then meh. The contract length and FIFA dollars will help his wage.
I’m just hoping that Dome has a one year extension in the clubs favour in Eze’s contract hidden from public view - as it should have been there from the beginning coming from the Iraqi league. Type of guy who was always going to be boom or bust.
I also need to find time and check the AFC and All Whites thread to identify all those who were fat shaming Billy T and now are calling it a messiah signing!!
Time to call out some people!!theprof
and now we wait for the praise being loaded on Dome and Gill and co for getting thissigning across the line....... come on you AKP and NP, time to show you're true colours.
I agree, I thought he'd be going to AFC if a NZ club. Hopefully one or two more until 2027 so we can build for the rest of the season and next.
Bill was observed taking a full part in training today and looked fully fit by all accounts - expect him to be fast-tracked straight into the team.
Think his level of fitness (or lack of) has been overstated by some on here. You can't be a pro footballer and be unfit. He'd run rings around all of us 😄 🤣
With Payne still not fit, who steps aside from the starting line up to make way for Tuiloma?
Piper perhaps - moves forward, once Payne back Sheridan - but that's good to have experienced young players on the bench - I would say this is a perfect signing for the Nix - players like Sheridan and LKH who are the future CB's alongside hughes will have James and Bill to learn from. ticks all the boxes.
Bill was observed taking a full part in training today and looked fully fit by all accounts - expect him to be fast-tracked straight into the team.
Think his level of fitness (or lack of) has been overstated by some on here. You can't be a pro footballer and be unfit. He'd run rings around all of us 😄 🤣
Or go through us. Hopefully he shows Kelly-Heald how size can matter.
Bill was observed taking a full part in training today and looked fully fit by all accounts - expect him to be fast-tracked straight into the team.
Think his level of fitness (or lack of) has been overstated by some on here. You can't be a pro footballer and be unfit. He'd run rings around all of us 😄 🤣
Not really sure who your referring to but my comments are after talking to someone who may know some things
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...)
Not sure, I think we had some good signings in the past, although not big names like Del Piero, Fowler or Juan Mata. Still, Hernandez, Barbarouses or Ifill would in my books challenge BT as "high profile".
Steven Taylor with almost 200 appearances in the prem surely
Stoked about the contract length. A concrete sign of ambition from the club. Losing Rufer at the end of the season (a very real possibility) won't be so crushing now. I expected he would take a fair bit of time to get up to starting XI fitness because Chiefy seems to always slowly introduce players anyway, so I'm glad we haven't signed him for only 4 months because he'd have needed a quarter of that just getting fit.
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...)
Not sure, I think we had some good signings in the past, although not big names like Del Piero, Fowler or Juan Mata. Still, Hernandez, Barbarouses or Ifill would in my books challenge BT as "high profile".
Steven Taylor with almost 200 appearances in the prem surely
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...)
Not sure, I think we had some good signings in the past, although not big names like Del Piero, Fowler or Juan Mata. Still, Hernandez, Barbarouses or Ifill would in my books challenge BT as "high profile".
Steven Taylor with almost 200 appearances in the prem surely
Gary Hooper and Tomer Hemed for us too.
Davila
Nahhh, he signed after a failed stint at Delhi Dynamos and had only ever impressed at Santos Laguna. Despite his time in the Chelsea loan army he was far from high profile.
Hooper or Long Pins without a shadow of a doubt. No one comes close.
Still, this is an exciting signing for the club and duration was a very pleasant surprise! Hope those academy players soak up another player with great international experience, these kinds of players don’t come round very often. Credit to domey and chiefy for this one. Bravo 👏
Unlikely to happen any time soon but I'd like to see this: Oluwayemi Payne James Tuiloma Hughes LKH Rufer LBS. Nagasawa Armiento Eze Bench AKH Piper Sheridan Loke Najjarine Lots of attacking threats there, very solid at the back, and there's genuine competition for places. Nagasawa is the best 10 for now IMO.
Not many know this, and very left field here but Toto Cornejo from Argentina played 5 games for the club in 2010-11 season and he was considered a potential young starlet of Argentina football at one point. Cornejo was once the most promising player in San Lorenzo's youth system (one of the best in Argentina). Before making it to the top, Atlético Madrid was already scouting him and were about to sign him up before paperwork issues got in the way (didnt get a visa). He played for the Under-20 national team along with players like Carlos Tevez, Fernando Gago, and some guy called Lionel Messi) and Marcelo Bielsa, then the senior national team coach, called him up for training sessions with the big names (Juan Roman Riquelme said he was the most impressive player hes seen at his age). He made his First Division debut with a goal and a standing ovation; But nobody taught him how to handle such a huge upheaval at the age of 18... Injuries, getting involved with bad people, and pressure lead him career on a vastily different path to players mentioned above, now hes a rubbish collector in the city of Junin... Life is funny sometimes Friar Tuck
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...)
Not sure, I think we had some good signings in the past, although not big names like Del Piero, Fowler or Juan Mata. Still, Hernandez, Barbarouses or Ifill would in my books challenge BT as "high profile".
Steven Taylor with almost 200 appearances in the prem surely
Gary Hooper and Tomer Hemed for us too.
Davila
Nahhh, he signed after a failed stint at Delhi Dynamos and had only ever impressed at Santos Laguna. Despite his time in the Chelsea loan army he was far from high profile.
Unlikely to happen any time soon but I'd like to see this: Oluwayemi Payne James Tuiloma Hughes LKH Rufer LBS. Nagasawa Armiento Eze Bench AKH Piper Sheridan Loke Najjarine Lots of attacking threats there, very solid at the back, and there's genuine competition for places. Nagasawa is the best 10 for now IMO.
a flat back 5??? you're joking right? Payne as a wingback is fine, LKH not so much, that's why Armiento was doiung the job. Back three will be hughes, BT, and James, with Payne as RWB and probably Sheridan on the left.
Unlikely to happen any time soon but I'd like to see this: Oluwayemi Payne James Tuiloma Hughes LKH Rufer LBS. Nagasawa Armiento Eze Bench AKH Piper Sheridan Loke Najjarine Lots of attacking threats there, very solid at the back, and there's genuine competition for places. Nagasawa is the best 10 for now IMO.
Surely if he has come back fit there has to room somewhere for Nikoli especially if him and Eze have been working together.
Wingbacks prof. For mine, LKH is a better player than Sheridan, not to mention he's left footed. What LKH lacks as a winger he makes up for in ball control, vision and passing. Thanks in part to his telescopic legs, he's done pretty well defensively lately. Him playing at LWB allows Armiento to play further forward. Really can't see Sheridan starting at LWB ahead of LKH, or for that matter Edwards, who in retrospect looks surplus to requirements after Tuiloma's signing. Guess we'll see.theprof
nixin
Unlikely to happen any time soon but I'd like to see this: Oluwayemi Payne James Tuiloma Hughes LKH Rufer LBS. Nagasawa Armiento Eze Bench AKH Piper Sheridan Loke Najjarine Lots of attacking threats there, very solid at the back, and there's genuine competition for places. Nagasawa is the best 10 for now IMO.
a flat back 5??? you're joking right? Payne as a wingback is fine, LKH not so much, that's why Armiento was doiung the job. Back three will be hughes, BT, and James, with Payne as RWB and probably Sheridan on the left.
Sooooo good. Chief and Dome in an empire strikes back move. Great bit of business. Great scouting. Hopefully quiets down some of the doomster posting.
Now if we can get Mileusnic and Retre back to full noise as well as Najjarine. And then Payne. And collectively exceeding doomster expectations along with Eze, Nagasawa, Armiento and Piper.
Goal has to be top 6 min, as usual, and if the squad isn't hit by further significant injuries, maybe pushing top 4 and, either way, on form on a roll and winning at least one playoff game.
We might have our hands full getting a win this weekend with a still depleted starting squad. But touch wood.
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...)
Not sure, I think we had some good signings in the past, although not big names like Del Piero, Fowler or Juan Mata. Still, Hernandez, Barbarouses or Ifill would in my books challenge BT as "high profile".
Steven Taylor with almost 200 appearances in the prem surely
Yeah I knew that post was going to come back to haunt me FFS. 😂
His signing is a bit of a “shot across the bow” for Rufer, personal opinion only but right now I’d expect him to to slot into that RWB, either subbing off for Payne as they build his minutes or potentially moving into either a CB or most likely (for me) the CDM role and Rufer goes to the pine once Payne comes on to take the RWB role. This gives Bill time at his most likely position as a RWB for the All Whites and time in that CDM role should Rufer not resign , and because they have Bill now Rufer will have to make a decision re-sign early well he can still command what he wants or take the gamble see if he’s done enough this season to be picked up over seas or as a import for another Aussie club or AFC for the price he wants or risk having to re-sign with the Nix when they know he didn’t get picked up by anyone else and they can low ball him. Clarifying I’m not saying he will take Rufer position permanently this season just that I think he will get minutes in CDM and once Payne is playing 90min Bill will probably be a starting CB
His signing is a bit of a “shot across the bow” for Rufer, personal opinion only but right now I’d expect him to to slot into that RWB, either subbing off for Payne as they build his minutes or potentially moving into either a CB or most likely (for me) the CDM role and Rufer goes to the pine once Payne comes on to take the RWB role. This gives Bill time at his most likely position as a RWB for the All Whites and time in that CDM role should Rufer not resign , and because they have Bill now Rufer will have to make a decision re-sign early well he can still command what he wants or take the gamble see if he’s done enough this season to be picked up over seas or as a import for another Aussie club or AFC for the price he wants or risk having to re-sign with the Nix when they know he didn’t get picked up by anyone else and they can low ball him. Clarifying I’m not saying he will take Rufer position permanently this season just that I think he will get minutes in CDM and once Payne is playing 90min Bill will probably be a starting CB
Cant agree at all did you not see Bills interview about talking to Payne and Rufer and he cant wait to play with them. If anything given Chiefs use of Rufer i would think Rufer is more likely to sign with the Nix because Bill has signed. If you listen to Chief he wants to utilize Bills experience from playing out from the back which would suggest a CB combo of Bill,James and Hughes. Dont think his signing will force Rufer into leaving. Personally i think it strengthens our chances of keeping him
I love this signing, but it's not top 5 material. Played a handful of minutes as a 18 year old in France and his history in the states has more long stretches of poor form and inaction than good form... outside of one really good 12 to 18 month patch.
He is a good signing, but not top 5. Hooper, Taylor, Ifil, Davina and Hemed all better playing history.
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...)
Not sure, I think we had some good signings in the past, although not big names like Del Piero, Fowler or Juan Mata. Still, Hernandez, Barbarouses or Ifill would in my books challenge BT as "high profile".
Steven Taylor with almost 200 appearances in the prem surely
Yeah I knew that post was going to come back to haunt me FFS. 😂
anything to keep the forum churning over and give me an excuse to google player stats at work
Great signing IMO. An experianced defender is exactly what we need. Plus Bill will be a leader off the field as well. When Payne comes back we will have two experianced AWs in defense. The Tuiloma unfit thing has become a bit of a urban myth. The guy hasnt been lying on the beach in Bali for the last few months. Hes been in a pro environment where they train and are checked for aerobic fitness and body mass etc. He looked OK for the AWs at RWB recently. As a CB in the AL he will be fine. I'm really really happy about this signing. Well done Nix management Now how about seeing if Chico is sick of Brazil and is homesick for Wellington.
His signing is a bit of a “shot across the bow” for Rufer, personal opinion only but right now I’d expect him to to slot into that RWB, either subbing off for Payne as they build his minutes or potentially moving into either a CB or most likely (for me) the CDM role and Rufer goes to the pine once Payne comes on to take the RWB role. This gives Bill time at his most likely position as a RWB for the All Whites and time in that CDM role should Rufer not resign , and because they have Bill now Rufer will have to make a decision re-sign early well he can still command what he wants or take the gamble see if he’s done enough this season to be picked up over seas or as a import for another Aussie club or AFC for the price he wants or risk having to re-sign with the Nix when they know he didn’t get picked up by anyone else and they can low ball him. Clarifying I’m not saying he will take Rufer position permanently this season just that I think he will get minutes in CDM and once Payne is playing 90min Bill will probably be a starting CB
Cant agree at all did you not see Bills interview about talking to Payne and Rufer and he cant wait to play with them. If anything given Chiefs use of Rufer i would think Rufer is more likely to sign with the Nix because Bill has signed. If you listen to Chief he wants to utilize Bills experience from playing out from the back which would suggest a CB combo of Bill,James and Hughes. Dont think his signing will force Rufer into leaving. Personally i think it strengthens our chances of keeping him
No I didn’t see it sorry will have to go look for it, and didn’t mean to imply I think rufer would leave now we have Bill, more that he might decide to re-commit sooner rather than later. Also only just read that Chief implied Payne might be back this week so yeah CB Bill incoming? But in all honesty I still stand by what I wrote regarding Rufer having to make a decision and if he doesn’t re-sign I’d expect Bill to potentially step into that role next season.
