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WPM 2026/27 Squad Speculation, Confirmation and Mutual Termination

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about 15 hours ago
Expires 2025/26
Fin Conchie
Hideki Ishige (V)
Kazuki Nagasawa (V)
Josh Oluwayemi (V)
Paulo Retre
Alex Rufer
Luke Supyk
Manjrekar James
Nikola Mileusnic
Sarpreet Singh
Sander Kartum
Ramy Najjarine
Dan Edwards
Carlo Armiento
Ifeanyi Eze (V)
Eamonn McCarron
 
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
Bill Tuiloma
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about 15 hours ago
2ndBest wrote:
Expires 2025/26
Fin Conchie - hope he leaves
Hideki Ishige (V) - already gone
Kazuki Nagasawa (V) - 1 +1 year extension max
Josh Oluwayemi (V) - 50/50, should he stay should he go
Paulo Retre - let him go
Alex Rufer - offer's on the table, hope he stays
Luke Supyk - haven't seen a lot of him this season, should probably go
Manjrekar James (V) - really hit and miss (more miss lately) likely to leave
Nikola Mileusnic - please let him leave!
Sarpreet Singh -would be great if he stays
Sander Kartum - loan deal so likely to return to parent
Ramy Najjarine - improved in the later part of the season, so wouldnt be upset if he stayed
Dan Edwards - as above
Carlo Armiento - likely to go, he doesnt fit Greenies plan
Ifeanyi Eze (V) - gone - but this was expected
Eamonn McCarron - if he's happy to be #3 keeper then he can stay.


Queenslander 3x a year.

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Endorsed by
Mainland FC
about 14 hours ago
theprof wrote:
 2ndBest wrote:
Expires 2025/26
Fin Conchie - hope he leaves
Hideki Ishige (V) - already gone
Kazuki Nagasawa (V) - 1 +1 year extension max
Josh Oluwayemi (V) - 50/50, should he stay should he go
Paulo Retre - let him go
Alex Rufer - offer's on the table, hope he stays
Luke Supyk - haven't seen a lot of him this season, should probably go
Manjrekar James (V) - really hit and miss (more miss lately) likely to leave
Nikola Mileusnic - please let him leave!
Sarpreet Singh -would be great if he stays
Sander Kartum - loan deal so likely to return to parent
Ramy Najjarine - improved in the later part of the season, so wouldnt be upset if he stayed
Dan Edwards - as above
Carlo Armiento - likely to go, he doesnt fit Greenies plan
Ifeanyi Eze (V) - gone - but this was expected
Eamonn McCarron - if he's happy to be #3 keeper then he can stay.

 

In the article saying Eze was going, they said they weren't going to keep Josh either and didn't think they would use an import slot for a keeper.
image.png 15.66 KB
I'm an optimistic pessimist. 
I'm positive things will go wrong.
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Endorsed by
theprof
about 14 hours ago
It's nice to be in April and already have some semblance of a backline signed who have decent minutes together already. I'm not saying I don't want improvements, but LKH-Hughes-Tuiloma-Payne with AKH behind them could certainly turn into a sturdy A-League backline. Sheridan, Smith and Loke another year older in the pro environment. A visa LB and a someone to contend with Alby and I think it's looking solid.

It's anybody's guess what the hell happens further forward.
Annual finals disappointment enthusiast.

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Endorsed by
martinbqueenofthequail
about 13 hours ago
Agreed with all the above, except I am forever hoping a talented player like Armiento may be retained if Greenacre wants to have formation options.  But I totally understand how he does not fit into the 4-4-2 we will largely adopt it seems.
Najjarine is hard-working and -  like Nagasawa  - gets a lot of criticism for not being a Juan Mata.  I see them both Najjarine and Nagasawa as adaptable players capable of responding to coaches instructions, and good with dead ball.  And for a 35 year old Nagasawa covers more territory than some younger players.  With Piper and LBS likely to be there next seasons there is already a natural understanding with these two.  
Building a team completely from scratch is expensive and takes time to bed in, so whatever works should be retained.


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Endorsed by
queenofthequail
about 12 hours ago · edited about 10 hours ago · History
Since this time of year consists mainly of throwing out names for fun - Joe Wallis - backup NZU20s keeper to Henry Gray last year.

He's made the bench a few times for West Brom in the Championship this season, so must be going alright in the UK. A one season loan spell from the Baggies? Greeny will know his strengths from the U20s.

Though logically the Nix will look to sign an experienced/journeyman ALM keeper, with the younger AKH and McCarron there as well. That's now that Oluwayemi will be leaving according to Rollo.
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about 11 hours ago
Yep, an experienced ALM keeper that may be currently a backup elsewhere would be high on my list.
If you consider that good old Redmayne was "asked to consider retirement" by Sydney, and he is having a decent year at CCM.....  I recall he was quite bitter about suddenly confronting a prospect of unemployment at 37, before making the trip up north. And Kurto was also relegated to the bench as a backup for his club. He is a visa player, but there might be others who are not.


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about 11 hours ago
Reportedly Kurto got Australian residency last year. Maybe not far off being an Aussie citizen and non visa player. 
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Endorsed by
KiwiMancunian
about 7 hours ago · edited about 7 hours ago · History
Who’re our 6s or 8s? Who’s our LB? Who’re our goal scorers? 

We only answered one of those 3 questions this season. 

Hope we know the answers to these earlier this time around. 

I might add to this with the people off contract, including mixed happiness with Najjarine and Nagasawa’s uncertain status, who our playmakers are too.


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about 6 hours ago · edited about 6 hours ago · History
Mainland FC wrote:
Yep, an experienced ALM keeper that may be currently a backup elsewhere would be high on my list.
If you consider that good old Redmayne was "asked to consider retirement" by Sydney, and he is having a decent year at CCM.....  I recall he was quite bitter about suddenly confronting a prospect of unemployment at 37, before making the trip up north. And Kurto was also relegated to the bench as a backup for his club. He is a visa player, but there might be others who are not.
Dean Bouzanis
Macklin Freke
Filip Kurto
Jack Duncan
Jack Warshawsky
Noah James
Cameron Cook

From what I gather, they are the off contract Keepers.

I didn't rate him at the Jets, he never played for us but I liked what I saw from Duncan at the Victory. He fell behind Warshawsky when he picked up an injury and missed a couple weeks.

Noah James has looked good when he played for the Jets but seems injury prone.
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Endorsed by
KiwiMancunianMainland FC
about 6 hours ago · edited about 6 hours ago · History
martinb wrote:
Who’re our 6s or 8s? Who’s our LB? Who’re our goal scorers? 

We only answered one of those 3 questions this season. 

Hope we know the answers to these earlier this time around. 

I might add to this with the people off contract, including mixed happiness with Najjarine and Nagasawa’s uncertain status, who our playmakers are too.
I reckon we should keep Dan Edwards, he didn't look that out of place.

Said this a couple times on Twitter, I would really like us to make a play for Ben Gibson at the Jets. Only problem is he is one of Tony Rallis' clients, so have to deal with him but that is also why the Jets might not re-sign him.
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about 5 hours ago · edited about 5 hours ago · History
With Lachlan Rose signing for Dundee United, I imagine Milligan is promising Gibson a much bigger role at the Jets next season. Looking in from the outside hard to see him leaving Newcastle.

And yeah agree Edwards was sort of okay. First season at A League level, and had it disrupted by injury, just when was putting a run of games together. Suits a back 4. Was more consistent than cold & hot Payne. Depends whether Greeny & co think Edwards can improve further.
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about 5 hours ago
RR wrote:
 martinb wrote:
Who’re our 6s or 8s? Who’s our LB? Who’re our goal scorers? 

We only answered one of those 3 questions this season. 

Hope we know the answers to these earlier this time around. 

I might add to this with the people off contract, including mixed happiness with Najjarine and Nagasawa’s uncertain status, who our playmakers are too.
I reckon we should keep Dan Edwards, he didn't look that out of place.

Said this a couple times on Twitter, I would really like us to make a play for Ben Gibson at the Jets. Only problem is he is one of Tony Rallis' clients, so have to deal with him but that is also why the Jets might not re-sign him.
I don’t mind that. He did fail to convince two coaches that he was the starter. 

I still wouldn’t mind perhaps a utility visa that was primarily an attacking LB who could also cover a couple of other midfield roles or say RB too. Tell Edwards he is still a chance but he will have to compete for it.


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about 3 hours ago · edited about 3 hours ago · History
Expires 2025/26
Fin Conchie - Release or prove me wrong.
Kazuki Nagasawa (V) - 1 +1 year extension max - Sounds fair.
Josh Oluwayemi (V) - 50/50, should he stay should he go - Sounds fair.
Paulo Retre - Release. Not on the same page as the rest of the midfield. Tries hard but not best suited to the current style. 
Alex Rufer - Re-sign. Keep Him.
Luke Supyk - Release.
Manjrekar James (V) - Release.
Nikola Mileusnic - Release.
Sarpreet Singh - Sign.
Sander Kartum - Let go back to parent club. Failed to live up to hopes after that great goal on debut.
Ramy Najjarine - Release or prove me wrong.
Dan Edwards - Release or prove me wrong.
Carlo Armiento - Re-sign him.
Ifeanyi Eze (V) - Going but give it a try to Re-sign him.
Eamonn McCarron - Made no more mistakes than anyone else between the posts. I thought he did quite well when he did play.

The only real gripe I have is this frigging 4-2-2-2 formation. I hate it. Route one football. I'd prefer either a 4-4-2 so we have the width for LBS and Armiento to be used for their talents. Or a 4-1-2-1-2 formation for away games mainly. This crap of playing it around the back line and then hopefully a long ball over the top is horrible. Mind you, what we really need is players passing to team mates and not constantly to no one or to the opposition as per the last few seasons. I really miss Kraeve and Pennington. Pennington had a very good understanding with Rufer than made our central midfield strong.

LBS is the sort of player I would pay money to watch, especially out on that wing. Armiento is similar when allowed.
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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about 2 hours ago
The formation may have been more about what Greeny had than a preference.

Edwards a hard no. Poor distribution and not the best defender.

Nagasawa a no too. Imports need to dominate their position. I'd rather take the risk of finding something better than stick with serviceable.
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about 1 hour ago · edited about 1 hour ago · History
RR wrote:
 Mainland FC wrote:
Yep, an experienced ALM keeper that may be currently a backup elsewhere would be high on my list.
If you consider that good old Redmayne was "asked to consider retirement" by Sydney, and he is having a decent year at CCM.....  I recall he was quite bitter about suddenly confronting a prospect of unemployment at 37, before making the trip up north. And Kurto was also relegated to the bench as a backup for his club. He is a visa player, but there might be others who are not.
Dean Bouzanis
Macklin Freke
Filip Kurto
Jack Duncan
Jack Warshawsky
Noah James
Cameron Cook

From what I gather, they are the off contract Keepers.

I didn't rate him at the Jets, he never played for us but I liked what I saw from Duncan at the Victory. He fell behind Warshawsky when he picked up an injury and missed a couple weeks.

Noah James has looked good when he played for the Jets but seems injury prone.
for keepers, I always thought Matt Sutton would have been a decent signing for both NZ teams when he got released. 

Any thoughts on loaning/buying Gray from Ipswich?
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41 minutes ago
Do young keepers ever get loaned to far away A League clubs from their parent European clubs?
Problem is that you are only 2 injuries away from suddenly having to recall your 4th ranked keeper. 

That's tricky when they are 30 hours away by plane. I think Gray's loan deals have gone 4th tier, National League and now League Two. A routine of start the season training around the Ipswich first team, then mid season get sent out on loan. He's contracted at Ipswich for another 12 months. He won't be ready for the first team if they get promoted to the EPL, but maybe a chance of being no 2 there next season if they stay in the The Championship.
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