WPM 2025/26 Squad Speculation, Confirmation and Mutual Termination

martinb

Bullion

martinb

What has made AFC strong is that no one apart from the captain and possibly May is a guaranteed starter. 

No one deserves minutes. 

We’ve seen Rogerson force his way in in pre-season, Mata in the mid-season and Gillion lose his place to Randall. After plenty of opportunities to improve. 

Competition for places made us strong before, made AFC strong this season and is what we want. We want our young pros to get limited minutes here and there while they are kept at bay by good performances from more senior teammates. 

First team minutes are not necessarily useful for development if they are not earned. 

again, we didn't start the season not wanting competition for places - hypothetically we could have had fully fit Marco, Cola, and Chico seeing out the end of the season. Imagine AFC's season if May, Moreno, and Rogerson only had combined 768 min of action (Marco, Cola, Chico and Ball) rather than the 5,098 minutes combined they have had on the pitch.

As I replied in the other thread- we quite clearly didn’t arrive with a team competing for places. The squad was a mess.

We had more minutes lost to injury in our title challenge season than this season.

We had CM players, but out of Retre, Nagasawa and Rosa Conchie none were trusted to deputise Rufer. We ended up with Sheridan and LKH in midfield. This is not an injury problem. 

Moreno played about 1000 minutes out of almost 2,000. 

Chico played 5 games for 400 minutes. Then he got injured. Spot the difference?

There were very few players near their prime physically and in a football sense. 

However we were lucky to have our top scorer in Kosta, our top assister in Ishige or another top goal contributor in Tim Payne mostly injury free for the majority of the season. That’s the equivalent of May, Moreno and Rogerson right?

Because AFC’s team wasn’t so reliant on one player to create and one player to organise the defense that they’d fall to pieces if they were injured. 

Despite whatever intentions there were it was clear after several weeks that we were lacking players near their prime and that Chief didn’t trust large swathes of our squad.

I agree on the high risk of having a key player whose absence makes us lose key games as there is nobody else able to perform that role in that setup, and no formational plan B to fall back on.  For us the previous season that was Rufer; for this season - potentially the absence of Rojas but others may provide a different opinion.

AucklandPhoenix

Let’s stop this Gillion rumour and the heated debate it has somewhat caused.

There has been no indication that this is even a remote possibility, he is under contract and you can guarantee that AFC are not going to let him go next season unless they are going to get a transfer fee from sn overseas club.

Especially, especially to the Nix.

There was no "rumour".  There was a speculation, because we love to whip up a frenzied discussion over something that is never going to happen anyway :-)
Debating over whether Gillion would be allowed by A-FC to sign up with us is akin to two bald guys fighting over a haircomb. He won't play for us, and he will be lucky to play very much for A-FC  - but he is in an excellent place (squad) to learn and develop. If he benefits from his time there surrounded by some excellent players he will also be a better player. Same goes for other young NZ guys there.

Joey Johns

Maybe Paulsen and Singh were good enough when they first got into the squad but all the others were pretty bang average their first 1 - 2 seasons in the A League. Ben Old took 3 before he looked good. Give them a chance to develop next season and some might just surprise us - while some are a bit crap, i certainly think we could get some good ones out of this crop. probably smarter to phase in around some experienced talent. Hopefully now Auckland have done well there may be some expectations for the club to step up, rather than being happy with the mediocre and not having to worry about losing fans to other teams.

imanixsupporter

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. 

 I mean that just isn't true. Surman looked pretty good in his first season and many were wondering why he wasn't given more opportunities. Old showed exciting promise in his first season and his second looked like he was gonna have a good year but he got injured. Libby was also really good when he first broke through. Even Sutton was good when he first came in.

Old got a few minutes as a thin waif early on and left a bulked boss…so both yes and no. He wasn’t the same player as 3 years prior.

Paulsen spent ages on the bench too, even after the City penalty shootout. 

In most cases we waited on them, they were hungry and broke through at boss level, not sometimes okay level.

This year, injuries have hurt, but also the selections have hurt. We've had for unknown reasons both Japanese imports on the bench behind two fullbacks playing in the midfield.

How many games has Walker played/started. No offense to the lad, but he wouldn't get near the bench at AFC, same with LBS.

The season has been a shambles.

I was hoping for some squad news after the Darwin game, perhaps announcements of players not returning next season. Maybe we can expect some early this coming week. There must be some players (other than Chico) that have already decided they are moving on, or have been told by the club that their expiring contracts won't be renewed, or that have mutually agreed with the club that it is time to go. Would be good to hear about that stuff sooner rather than later so we can have a better idea of the sorts of players the club will be wanting to bring in (other than a high quality CB and #10 that Gill said we will be looking for)

MetalLegNZ

This year, injuries have hurt, but also the selections have hurt. We've had for unknown reasons both Japanese imports on the bench behind two fullbacks playing in the midfield.

How many games has Walker played/started. No offense to the lad, but he wouldn't get near the bench at AFC, same with LBS.

The season has been a shambles.

Our season has been a shambles because of our coach and boardroom staff. 

All of which are here again next season..

AFC’s performance crystallised the difference between them and the Phoenix.

The goal summed it up - De Vries wrnt FORWARD in a situation where at best the Nix would have routed it backbto the halfway line.

Always looking to go forward - from the first minute to the last.

And it was much the same last year albeit with better players.

Well done AFC - thoroughly deserved win.

nufc_nz

MetalLegNZ

This year, injuries have hurt, but also the selections have hurt. We've had for unknown reasons both Japanese imports on the bench behind two fullbacks playing in the midfield.

How many games has Walker played/started. No offense to the lad, but he wouldn't get near the bench at AFC, same with LBS.

The season has been a shambles.

Our season has been a shambles because of our coach and boardroom staff. 

All of which are here again next season..

Do they do the same job? 

Gillion was pants today. AFC can keep him.

Marto

Gillion was pants today. AFC can keep him.

Admittedly I had distractions whilst watching, but I thought he was fine. Not great, but did what Corica wanted him to do. The fact Steve C who sees him every day at training trusted him with 30+ mins in such a big game, says something. In comparison he bought on Brimmer 17 mins later.

Was it Gillion who played in Moreno late on? Man the Colombian could have almost killed off the tie, with just a touch more luck.

Coochie time to give yourself an uppercut.

Spelling errors, time to ban yourself for a while as well.

Just wait until after all the kiwis overseas have played and been reported please.

Who knows more about football Steve Corica or Pinocchio I wonder?

Alf Tupper

AFC’s performance crystallised the difference between them and the Phoenix.

The goal summed it up - De Vries wrnt FORWARD in a situation where at best the Nix would have routed it backbto the halfway line.

Always looking to go forward - from the first minute to the last.

And it was much the same last year albeit with better players.

Well done AFC - thoroughly deserved win.

AFC is a top quality team, enjoyable to watch.

Positive, attack-minded, the players believe in themselves and are given licence to play good football. 

Leading 1-0 away from home against Victory, and they still back themselves to score more goals. 

As a football fan, it's great to watch.

Please, enough talking about Auckland in this thread, I can't take much more. Save it for the AFC thread

MetalLegNZ

This year, injuries have hurt, but also the selections have hurt. We've had for unknown reasons both Japanese imports on the bench behind two fullbacks playing in the midfield.

How many games has Walker played/started. No offense to the lad, but he wouldn't get near the bench at AFC, same with LBS.

The season has been a shambles.

Both probably would if Auckland were suffering the same injury/sickness crisis that we went through.
Doubt very much that at the start of the season the plan was to have both starting so much. Would imagine the plan would have been to bring them along the same way Paulsen,Surman,and Old were lots of training within the squad then the odd game thrown in.
Yep the season has been a shambles but its also shown we have a crop of young guys who wont look out of place in the future.
Me i cant to wait to see what they can produce after their first off season and another preseason with senior players.

i agree. Can we banstick people who talk about the galactic empire in this thread. 

I agree with a lot of things you say, but not this. Was pretty funny though.

MetalLegNZ

There is no way Walker is better than Gillion.

Walker would struggle to beat his own meat at this stage.

Bonnie Janssen on the Football Fever podcast said she thinks that Kosta is staying based upon his answer to a question asked by a journo after the Darwin game about the prospect of the Wrexham game. Apparently made it sound like he would be playing in the game despite trying to be careful with his wording. Don't know what to make of this as I haven't seen the interview, Kosta strikes me as someone clever enough to be able to not give anything away if he doesn't want to but maybe (hopefully) her intuition is right on this.  

Hopefully her psychological knowledge is better then her football one.

Wonder if the Nix would take into account WC player payments when looking to sign players, last WC Fifa paid clubs USD 10,950 per player, per day. 1 week at the current exchange rate with payments staying the same (may not due to more national teams and players, may be more due to North American location and more games meaning more revenue) and each All White would be netting the 'Nix just shy of NZ$130k. Certainly should be a factor (alongside cap restraints) for signing players. 

Kosta Barbarouses – who is out of contract at the Wellington Phoenix and believed to have other A-League suitors – was involved in the same number of goals, scoring 10 and setting up another.

From the Voerman All Whites squad article

The longer there is no news on Kosta, the worst this gets.

AucklandPhoenix

The longer there is no news on Kosta, the worst this gets.

For us. Could be quite good for Kosta if he’s ramping up bids. Could be quite good for the club if they’ve signed him but not announced it.

imanixsupporter

Kosta Barbarouses – who is out of contract at the Wellington Phoenix and believed to have other A-League suitors – was involved in the same number of goals, scoring 10 and setting up another.

From the Voerman All Whites squad article

His contract doesn't expire until June 1st right? So 'Kosta Barbarouses - who is soon to be out of contract at the Wellington Phoenix' or 'Who will be out of contract at the Wellington Phoenix by the time these matches are played' 🤣

imanixsupporter

Bonnie Janssen on the Football Fever podcast said she thinks that Kosta is staying based upon his answer to a question asked by a journo after the Darwin game about the prospect of the Wrexham game. Apparently made it sound like he would be playing in the game despite trying to be careful with his wording. Don't know what to make of this as I haven't seen the interview, Kosta strikes me as someone clever enough to be able to not give anything away if he doesn't want to but maybe (hopefully) her intuition is right on this.  

I don't know why he'd want to roll the dice and move to another club at this point of his career.

he's scoring goals in an environment he knows. I'm confident he will resign if he sees the club are bringing in some re-enforcements. 

Fully throwing a name out there with nothing behind it, but Marco Tulio's contract runs out in Japan at the end of the year. Proven quantity in the league and would be a bit of a statement signing.

dunnix

Fully throwing a name out there with nothing behind it, but Marco Tulio's contract runs out in Japan at the end of the year. Proven quantity in the league and would be a bit of a statement signing.

 He was class for CCM. That's the sort of import I'd love! 

Liam Jordan, David Browne? Any story on them. Could be a good profile of player to bring back to nz.

Davide Brown has given the game away by all accounts

reg22

Davide Brown has given the game away by all accounts

That is a shame, he was a fantastic talent at City back in the day.

Liam Jordan. In Sweden (top tier), and just recovered from a long term injury.
Prior that he was of course with McCowatt & Just at Helsingor.

A South African fan provided this update.

Forgotten 4-cap Bafana Bafana attacker returns in Europe Liam Jordan was included in the Brommapojkarna matchday squad after recovering from a 13-month injury layoff. 

Brommapojkarna lost 2-1 to Malmo in a Swedish top-tier match and Jordan was an unused substitute.

The 26-year-old is the son of Keryn Jordan, the former Bafana Bafana, Moroka Swallows & Manning Rangers striker.

Plays in the same league as Bafana midfielder Luke Le Roux of Varnamo.

This is the last week of Kosta's contract. He also only has until the end of this week to trigger the automatic extension he has an option for. As such I think we can expect some news on him this week. 

On the Football Fever podcast today Piney said he thought Waine might be going to AFC rather than the Nix, as he is such an obvious like-for-like replacement for Mata should Shrewsbury demand that he return to them, but he didn't seem to have any good reason for saying that other than that. Bonnie Janssen, unprompted, then declared she thinks Waine is better than Mata. Maybe not the wisest thing to say as a football journalist. 

Can't remember if it was the Gill or Domey podcast interview but the question was asked whether we would be going after some All Whites out of contract in Europe and the answer was that the Nix had approached a player or players in that situation and their preference was to try and stay over there, and Waine must have been that player or one of those players. I'd be more gutted about Waine going to AFC than Kosta right now. Kosta has already proved himself to be an A-League mercenary. 

Piney ‘ never seen the like’ ? For 12 months. Dead to me. And also hard to see how he can report fairly on the club given the ‘recruitment photo’ with the shirt. 

Guess they’ll just offer Waino more money.

Kosta has come home to Welly twice. Harsh call, maximising a limited productive period in a short career window as being a ‘mercenary.’ 
Hope he stays. Understand if he goes, unless it’s Auckland.

Hope we can offer the potential of Kosta as a strike partner to Waino. And then we eat the league for breakfast. 

How much does a club get from FIFA, if they have a player under contract who makes the World Cup squad?

Must act as a bit of an incentive for the kiwi clubs targeting All Whites 

AucklandPhoenix

How much does a club get from FIFA, if they have a player under contract who makes the World Cup squad?

Must act as a bit of an incentive for the kiwi clubs targeting All Whites 

it's literally on this page posted a few days ago - about us$11k per player per day at the last world cup

I have a question.

🚨 BREAKING from @FootballFeverAu (🌕):

Kosta Barbarouses (35) - it is a 'fight' between WS Wanderers and Melbourne Victory for his signature. 🇳🇿🔥🥊 pic.twitter.com/hjkRNyhfQu

— AusFootHQ (@ALeagueHQ) May 26, 2025

Are we even in this fight?

Lord help us...

Hard to imagine Victory announcing anything like this in the next week.

Jelacic has been released from Roar - appeal to his Kiwi roots?

Should add some context - Paul Fill was on that podcast, and he was the one who mentioned the Kosta situation as being pretty strong mail that both clubs were in for him.

Everything he said was spot on too. Kosta was feeding off scraps this year, and he still managed to fight his way towards the pointy end of the top goal scorers in the league. What happens if he signs on and we find ourselves in the same situation next season but his productivity is down? It could mean he misses out on a World Cup squad. Given its his last chance to get to that stage, then from that point of view you can see why he'd entertain other offers. 

People (Australians) saying he's too old for even a two year deal (which is the term being touted) but man, that guy is still streets ahead of a majority of the guys in the league. He could play anywhere for any club to be honest. 

It's a shark situation, but the damning part for mine, as I mentioned earlier is that we don't even seem to be in the race. Ifill didn't even mention the potential of staying at the Nix when talking about that situation, which is more than a little disheartening.