WPM 2025/26 Squad Speculation, Confirmation and Mutual Termination

austin111

Eze will be 100% in the northern hemisphere next season. Top of the golden boot playing for a near bottom of the league club. Mid 20s and a free transfer. Everyone is looking for a goal scoring no9
Probably not one of the top four leagues but I could see him in Holland, Belgium or one of the Scandi leagues.
Great bit of scouting by the Nix. 

Know your going over the top no one at the Nix knows how to scout players or anything else about player recruitment according to some. 🙄

Works his socks off. Admire a guy who goes to Iraq or wherever to pursue  his dream

coochiee

The world of football recruitment is one of a network of agents all around the world. I'm sure Shaun Gill is constantly speaking to different agents all the time. Maybe almost daily.

He's what been doing his role over 10 years? He will have networks of a sort everywhere.

I'm sure at some time, from somewhere an overseas agent has made an enquiry on the behalf of a club about Eze. We all know the A League is much scouted by European clubs. It could have been as simple as a potential transfer talk about Issac Hughes, that then moved to a chat about Ifeanyi. Agents and club staff likely discuss all manor of stuff.

Early on when the Nigerian arrived, Chiefy said that Eze was hoping to use a season at the Nix to springboard into Europe. The Phoenix will know will by now from agent's discussions they are highly unlikely to be able to afford to keep him.

Nothing wrong with that, if everyone is open and honest about it. Plus we never want to see Eze ever put personal glory, ahead of the team. No real evidence of that so far.

Nixieboys222

No, he is not borderline EPL.. 

martinb

LG

Face it, they way Eze is playing and being on a 1 year deal, we'll lose him to overseas. So lets enjoy him for what he has given us. 8 goals and counting!!

I wonder if we’ll see Piper at CF next season and more goal threat from a bunch of players who are more like Randall than Eze, running off him and past him. 

Eze has been awesome this season so far. Inconsistent, but otherwise he’d be borderline PL if he could consistently do some of the things he’s done this season! 

….Inconsistent, but otherwise he’d be borderline PL IF he could consistently do some of the things he’s done this season!…

🙁➡️👓➡️🤓

To translate that, if he could consistently take a ball down, take two touches and bang it in the top corner (as he’s done at least twice) from 25 yards regularly, he’d be near the top of the Championship.

But if we look at Zawada who went from us to the Eredivisie, if Eze gets a good transfer, and then Ben Old, Surman, Paulsen and going back, Singh, that’s some good incentives for early career players to sign with us. We have a track record for agents to sell clubs on. 

Man, so probably only 9 more games of Eze.

AucklandPhoenix

Type of guy who will end up in non league football in the UK, when he goes back.

Offering him an extension of his contract after two games and his vertical lift, will go down as one of the most stupid contract decisions by the Nix. 

I don't think you're very familiar with the level of goalkeeping in League One and League Two then. He'd definitely be able to big up something in the 4th tier at least.

AucklandPhoenix

Do the Nix have a sister club we don’t know about?

the only one I'm aware of is the link with Tianjin Jinmen Tiger F.C. in China, which has beeen in place since 2024, not that we have seen a friendly or anything else eventuate between the two.

I just doubt some of the stuff that comes out of the club these days as so much is spin.

I also think that certain members of the nix back room use fans to spread their narrative. 

I can just see, some guy from the club (no names), when asked about the prospects of resigning Eze, tries to sell a story about no way, there are tonnes of enquires from foreign clubs. We can’t compete with that. When as someone rightfully points out there is no need to enquire as he is off contract soon.

It manages expectations about a crucial resigning if not made and then next year he mysteriously ends up at Western Sydney.


Let’s see who is correct.

noone is surprised that you of all people think someone in the club is lyuing or spinning a story, the only real shock is that you havent directly accused Dome of the lie.

AucklandPhoenix

I just doubt some of the stuff that comes out of the club these days as so much is spin.

I also think that certain members of the nix back room use fans to spread their narrative. 

I can just see, some guy from the club (no names), when asked about the prospects of resigning Eze, tries to sell a story about no way, there are tonnes of enquires from foreign clubs. We can’t compete with that. When as someone rightfully points out there is no need to enquire as he is off contract soon.

It manages expectations about a crucial resigning if not made and then next year he mysteriously ends up at Western Sydney.


Let’s see who is correct.

Clubs about to spend millions of dollars rarely do the minimum of due diligence, one finds.

AucklandPhoenix

I just doubt some of the stuff that comes out of the club these days as so much is spin.

I also think that certain members of the nix back room use fans to spread their narrative. 

I can just see, some guy from the club (no names), when asked about the prospects of resigning Eze, tries to sell a story about no way, there are tonnes of enquires from foreign clubs. We can’t compete with that. When as someone rightfully points out there is no need to enquire as he is off contract soon.

It manages expectations about a crucial resigning if not made and then next year he mysteriously ends up at Western Sydney.


Let’s see who is correct.

This is what they call a hermeneutic of suspicion.

If he is signed for millions in salary sure, but to think he will be earning millions that’s a big call.

There will be no transfer fee.

I’m wondering if Real Madrid rang the Liverpool CEO, when Trent was six months away from becoming a free agent and asked him about the strengths and weaknesses of Trent?

martinb

AucklandPhoenix

I just doubt some of the stuff that comes out of the club these days as so much is spin.

I also think that certain members of the nix back room use fans to spread their narrative. 

I can just see, some guy from the club (no names), when asked about the prospects of resigning Eze, tries to sell a story about no way, there are tonnes of enquires from foreign clubs. We can’t compete with that. When as someone rightfully points out there is no need to enquire as he is off contract soon.

It manages expectations about a crucial resigning if not made and then next year he mysteriously ends up at Western Sydney.


Let’s see who is correct.

Clubs about to spend millions of dollars rarely do the minimum of due diligence, one finds.

Ezy showing more defensive intent and putting in more effort than some of our midfielders, just saying

for people saying Eze could go to the EPL is laughable haha. might as well say half the league could play EPL/Championship level.

A lot of A-League players can't even crack the Scottish league and from a friend who follows the league closely, he told me other than the 3 or 4 teams the league is EFL 1 + 2 standard.

Also if Singh has an injury longer than 2-3 weeks they should terminate his loan. I know Bill scored from a set piece but him and Singh are just taking the club for a ride.

how do you see Bill and Singh taking the club for a ride?
Both made the decision to come here to boost their gametime and chances of being picked for the WC. Bill has had a slow start but hopefully after last game is coming right. 
Singh's injury is a concern, but he didn't come injured! If it's serious then no doubt he'll be sent back to his parent club to recover and his WC chances are most likely done. If it was just a knock and nothing major then hopefully he is eased back into the lineup.

AucklandPhoenix

If he is signed for millions in salary sure, but to think he will be earning millions that’s a big call.

There will be no transfer fee.

I’m wondering if Real Madrid rang the Liverpool CEO, when Trent was six months away from becoming a free agent and asked him about the strengths and weaknesses of Trent?

martinb

AucklandPhoenix

I just doubt some of the stuff that comes out of the club these days as so much is spin.

I also think that certain members of the nix back room use fans to spread their narrative. 

I can just see, some guy from the club (no names), when asked about the prospects of resigning Eze, tries to sell a story about no way, there are tonnes of enquires from foreign clubs. We can’t compete with that. When as someone rightfully points out there is no need to enquire as he is off contract soon.

It manages expectations about a crucial resigning if not made and then next year he mysteriously ends up at Western Sydney.


Let’s see who is correct.

Clubs about to spend millions of dollars rarely do the minimum of due diligence, one finds.

If Trent was playing for Bolton, and 6 months prior to that he'd been running around in Belarussian league maybe so, via an agent.

AucklandPhoenix

If he is signed for millions in salary sure, but to think he will be earning millions that’s a big call.

There will be no transfer fee.

I’m wondering if Real Madrid rang the Liverpool CEO, when Trent was six months away from becoming a free agent and asked him about the strengths and weaknesses of Trent?

martinb

AucklandPhoenix

I just doubt some of the stuff that comes out of the club these days as so much is spin.

I also think that certain members of the nix back room use fans to spread their narrative. 

I can just see, some guy from the club (no names), when asked about the prospects of resigning Eze, tries to sell a story about no way, there are tonnes of enquires from foreign clubs. We can’t compete with that. When as someone rightfully points out there is no need to enquire as he is off contract soon.

It manages expectations about a crucial resigning if not made and then next year he mysteriously ends up at Western Sydney.


Let’s see who is correct.

Clubs about to spend millions of dollars rarely do the minimum of due diligence, one finds.

its probably Eze's agent being open with the 'Nix that they're fielding enquiries from overseas clubs (maybe the club has been asked given Eze's background is less well known than someone like TAA)

observerfromuh

for people saying Eze could go to the EPL is laughable haha. might as well say half the league could play EPL/Championship level.

A lot of A-League players can't even crack the Scottish league and from a friend who follows the league closely, he told me other than the 3 or 4 teams the league is EFL 1 + 2 standard.

tell your friend he needs to follow more closely, we have the best teams in the world, with the best players and best academies. This league has produced sensational talents like vanilla chocolate Ruben Zadkovich and man who fell into Getafix's cauldron as a child Corban Piper.

theprof

how do you see Bill and Singh taking the club for a ride?
Both made the decision to come here to boost their gametime and chances of being picked for the WC. Bill has had a slow start but hopefully after last game is coming right. 
Singh's injury is a concern, but he didn't come injured! If it's serious then no doubt he'll be sent back to his parent club to recover and his WC chances are most likely done. If it was just a knock and nothing major then hopefully he is eased back into the lineup.

I just think they came for minutes and game time and maybe not as up to standard compared to other potential signees. if Bill was actually decent, AFC who are actually up to something and need defensive signings would have sniffed around.

He came to the league to get time with a proven MLS career, he has looked pretty average since joining. 

The same could happen with Singh (who has an injury record and is well you guessed it, injured).

observerfromuh

theprof

how do you see Bill and Singh taking the club for a ride?
Both made the decision to come here to boost their gametime and chances of being picked for the WC. Bill has had a slow start but hopefully after last game is coming right. 
Singh's injury is a concern, but he didn't come injured! If it's serious then no doubt he'll be sent back to his parent club to recover and his WC chances are most likely done. If it was just a knock and nothing major then hopefully he is eased back into the lineup.

I just think they came for minutes and game time and maybe not as up to standard compared to other potential signees. if Bill was actually decent, AFC who are actually up to something and need defensive signings would have sniffed around.

He came to the league to get time with a proven MLS career, he has looked pretty average since joining. 

The same could happen with Singh (who has an injury record and is well you guessed it, injured).

I just don't think afc have the squad/cap space, maybe for Singh given short term loan but their cap concessions i think expire after this season so they have to try and fit whoever they want to keep in their current squad under the cap.

observerfromuh

theprof

how do you see Bill and Singh taking the club for a ride?
Both made the decision to come here to boost their gametime and chances of being picked for the WC. Bill has had a slow start but hopefully after last game is coming right. 
Singh's injury is a concern, but he didn't come injured! If it's serious then no doubt he'll be sent back to his parent club to recover and his WC chances are most likely done. If it was just a knock and nothing major then hopefully he is eased back into the lineup.

I just think they came for minutes and game time and maybe not as up to standard compared to other potential signees. if Bill was actually decent, AFC who are actually up to something and need defensive signings would have sniffed around.

He came to the league to get time with a proven MLS career, he has looked pretty average since joining. 

The same could happen with Singh (who has an injury record and is well you guessed it, injured).

I'll have what this guy's having. Havent had hallucinations like that in a while.

FFs. 

Nobody said Eze could go to the EPL. 

I said that ‘IF….IF! he could do some of the things he’d done this season consistently, he’d be borderline EPL.’ 

That is saying the guy has done amazing things and ordinary things. And IF, again IF, his game was only the amazing things he’d be top of the Championship/bottom of the EPL. 

Instead he’s currently at the Nix in the A league, which tbf is probably below his level. 

Please note the difference and stop running off on some mouth foaming tangent because a couple of people can’t read. 

Ta.

observerfromuh

theprof

how do you see Bill and Singh taking the club for a ride?
Both made the decision to come here to boost their gametime and chances of being picked for the WC. Bill has had a slow start but hopefully after last game is coming right. 
Singh's injury is a concern, but he didn't come injured! If it's serious then no doubt he'll be sent back to his parent club to recover and his WC chances are most likely done. If it was just a knock and nothing major then hopefully he is eased back into the lineup.

I just think they came for minutes and game time and maybe not as up to standard compared to other potential signees. if Bill was actually decent, AFC who are actually up to something and need defensive signings would have sniffed around.

He came to the league to get time with a proven MLS career, he has looked pretty average since joining. 

The same could happen with Singh (who has an injury record and is well you guessed it, injured).

so you think they came to the Nix asking to be signed?
Singh and his agent have both said the Nix were talking to them at the start of the season, they decided to stay in Europe. 
Tuiloma and his agent may have been marketing themselves around the world because his contract was up, Nix jumped at the chance to get him!
Nothing of this says that the Nix are been taken for a ride.

Singh's injury is down to an unfortunate  knee on knee contact not a personal fitness thing.

Also if they wanted to play for a World Cup spot they would be playing the best they can.

They'd be taking the club for a ride 8f instead of retiring they wanted one last pay check and didn't try very hard.

Hungry players wanting a world cup squad is what we want right?

martinb

FFs. 

Nobody said Eze could go to the EPL. 

I said that ‘IF….IF! he could do some of the things he’d done this season consistently, he’d be borderline EPL.’ 

That is saying the guy has done amazing things and ordinary things. And IF, again IF, his game was only the amazing things he’d be top of the Championship/bottom of the EPL. 

Instead he’s currently at the Nix in the A league, which tbf is probably below his level. 

Please note the difference and stop running off on some mouth foaming tangent because a couple of people can’t read. 

Ta.

!00% A habit of some on here to read things and somehow turn around what was intended to something else.
Similar to those who continually question things that are posted with honest intent but for whatever reason they are incapable of thinking they just might be true.
More than happy in future to keep some of the things i hear to myself so will no longer post them . Despite the claims of some much of what has been posted has happened or hasnt yet.
Do wonder sometimes if those who are continually critical of nearly everything the Phoenix staff and management do. Have at any time taken the time to speak to any of those people in those positions or is everything posted by those people complete and utter false speculation and outright lies. 

I wonder if the club ever chat to Daniel? He is an agent and does a few players in the middle east and elsewhere. Perhaps he could get us a striker and a midfielder  etc?? 

observerfromuh

theprof

how do you see Bill and Singh taking the club for a ride?
Both made the decision to come here to boost their gametime and chances of being picked for the WC. Bill has had a slow start but hopefully after last game is coming right. 
Singh's injury is a concern, but he didn't come injured! If it's serious then no doubt he'll be sent back to his parent club to recover and his WC chances are most likely done. If it was just a knock and nothing major then hopefully he is eased back into the lineup.

I just think they came for minutes and game time and maybe not as up to standard compared to other potential signees. if Bill was actually decent, AFC who are actually up to something and need defensive signings would have sniffed around.

He came to the league to get time with a proven MLS career, he has looked pretty average since joining. 

The same could happen with Singh (who has an injury record and is well you guessed it, injured).

A-FC do not quite need another defender, they have Sakai, Pijnaker, Girdwood-Reich, Elliot, Dan Hall and deVries.
Yes it can be argued that (like the Nix) the A-FC have only won against the Smurfs lately.  But they are not exactly leaking like a sieve. if they wanted Tuiloma to bolster their defence they would have asked earlier, when Tommy Smith decided to return to England.  As they are now, their defence is sorted.

Its a tough call recruiting players. And hindsight is a great thing.
You scout someone from some obscure league and give them a 1 year contract. Then they turn out ok and you could have made money on a transfer. But you would get it in the neck if you gave a dud player a 2 year contract.
The Nix are actually good at recruiting. We have uncovered some real gems over the years. None of them stay very long for various reasons. But its annoying not to get transfer money. Selling players out of the academy is one way to generate income. But trading players works as well(obviously not inter AL)
 Could the Nix have been a bit braver with some of their contract lengths? Tough call!

observerfromuh

theprof

how do you see Bill and Singh taking the club for a ride?
Both made the decision to come here to boost their gametime and chances of being picked for the WC. Bill has had a slow start but hopefully after last game is coming right. 
Singh's injury is a concern, but he didn't come injured! If it's serious then no doubt he'll be sent back to his parent club to recover and his WC chances are most likely done. If it was just a knock and nothing major then hopefully he is eased back into the lineup.

I just think they came for minutes and game time and maybe not as up to standard compared to other potential signees. if Bill was actually decent, AFC who are actually up to something and need defensive signings would have sniffed around.

He came to the league to get time with a proven MLS career, he has looked pretty average since joining. 

The same could happen with Singh (who has an injury record and is well you guessed it, injured).

People wonder why there is so much negativity around the Nix, and then you get fans saying that whoever they signed must suck because they signed with us

Armiento said he'd love to stay here but "nothing has happened yet" in response to a Piney question about whether there had been any talks about him staying on yet

imanixsupporter

Armiento said he'd love to stay here but "nothing has happened yet" in response to a Piney question about whether there had been any talks about him staying on yet

🤦‍♂️🫣

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This is who's finishing up according to Transfermarkt.

LT01

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This is who's finishing up according to Transfermarkt.

Rufer, Carlo, and may as well keep Conchie because I doubt he'd be on much under a new deal and we can't get rid of literally everyone. The rest are either going or can go imo.

Well, we now have the ashes that the Phoenix can rise from!
I am almost feeling a sense of relief ... and at the same time applaud the way in which Chiefy resigned with dignity.

Phoenix til I die.
Come on you Nix!

Thought I’d leave this here cos a Scottish accent usually makes me feel better for personal reasons as well as footballing ones, and the hope that we’ll soon see some performances to sing its related chant for again.

I never post on this but wanted to throw this in the mix. Chief - great guy but I’m glad he’s said goodbye as we need new ideas and new energy. New lease of energy and ideas for me has to the return of Rudan, out of work, point to prove in the league, he loved Wellington and I remember the feeling with him in charge was electric. We need that back. I don’t like the Greeny and Ifill chat, despite them both being legends. Durante won’t leave Victory I can’t imagine. What do we think? I’m Rudan in

willyboy15

I never post on this but wanted to throw this in the mix. Chief - great guy but I’m glad he’s said goodbye as we need new ideas and new energy. New lease of energy and ideas for me has to the return of Rudan, out of work, point to prove in the league, he loved Wellington and I remember the feeling with him in charge was electric. We need that back. I don’t like the Greeny and Ifill chat, despite them both being legends. Durante won’t leave Victory I can’t imagine. What do we think? I’m Rudan in

No friggen way you cant be serious.

I’d play this for the rest of the season. Payne can earn his way back in too because Sheridan is bang average.

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Friar Tuck

I’d play this for the rest of the season. Payne can earn his way back in too because Sheridan is bang average.

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I think Eze asked for Piper to be benched. That’s my feeling. He wanted to play through the middle. Otherwise yeh, Piper to start any and every day. Is it Piper playing off Eze? Last time it was Eze playing off Piper.

LKH has been found out on the flanks. But I don’t have a better suggestion than yesterday’s 4, so may as well try him again. I think he’s a CB, not a FB. He’s certainly not zippy like Behich or other good FBs.

This suffers a bit from Chief’s last season. I’d probably add Nagasawa or Mileusnic into the mix somewhere. I do want to see more of LBS and Cassidy, but with support, not taking all the responsibility. 

It also means we don’t play with a ten or a ranging forward with : Najjarine, Sander, LBS, Singh (if he makes a return).  Do you have a plan for the first two blokes? Telling players they were crap and wouldn’t play was also a problem Chief had last season. That loses good will and squad cohesion too. 

But it might work over 8 games. 🤷‍♂️ Do you keep the same formation when you sub? What variations?

There's 8 matches left, could potentially be 7 points off finals if MacArthur win their game in hand. Give it 3 more rounds and if we haven't got the new manager bounce, I'd prefer we just play the blokes who we want to keep, or who want to stay. I don't want to watch Retre or James anymore