WPM 2026/27 Squad Speculation, Confirmation and Mutual Termination
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4 days ago
We have enough depth across the backline in all areas. LKH is our 3rd choice CB and Sheriden has played CB enough to operate as a 4th choice if needed with Loke deputising for him.
We need a DM, AM and a striker, plus I would love a genuine winger who can take on a player and excite people.
Yeah the depth chart is looking okay for the defence, names in bold as likely starters:
GK: Gray AKH McCarron
LB McGarry LKH Sheridan Lee
CB Tuiloma Hughes LKH Smith Sheridan
RB Sheridan Loke Tuiloma Lee
Given every club is strapped for cash this year, I think that's fine for depth personally and agree with others, I'd much prefer to the bulk of the money to be spent on the forwards and midfield.
I think we need one more defender, probably a CB. Nobody other than Hughes & Tuiloma in our squad is a proven performer at A-League level as a CB in a back 4 formation. Maybe LKH, Sheridan & Smith can do a good job in such a system but it's a gamble because we have basically not seen any of them play in a CB pair in the A-League.
Edit: we have lost a senior CB in James, lost a senior RB in Payne, lost our starting LB from the tail end of last season (Edwards), and also lost the player who played LWB for us for most of the season (Armiento), and we have only signed one senior LB in McGarry. I don't trust our kids to replace the rest of what we have lost.
... But having said that, i guess playing a back 4 system rather than 5 does mean less defenders are needed in the squad, so pure ins & outs aren't so relevant. I stand by my initial reasoning above though
Loke can cover LB as well? I think he got the Aussie cup assist from there.
I said before I wouldn’t mind an experienced defensive utility player like Manny or Jon McKain who can cover DM, CB and RB if needed.
I’m feeling 50/50 on that now.
If we start with the team as is now we could well be okay on defense.
But we’re missing a lot of goals and creativity and if we can’t score and take the pressure off the defense, it’s certainly going to be a problem.
We need to at a minimum replace LBS, Armiento in terms of goals and Eze in terms of goals. At a bare minimum.
I’m not sure about Piper. I thought he’d done enough to be starting, but he affects how the team plays and he needs the confidence of his strike partner. He generates such varied responses!
And if we can bring in a player who can play 6/8/10 and contribute a few too, on top of the 3 like for like replacements above we’ll be doing well.
Then we need to find out about Rufes.
What’s making me happy is the quality of the rumours, and results. Hollman (rumoured), McGarry, Gothard, Gray. All better than we had. All coming off good seasons elsewhere.
Considering the quality so far and the way they’ve approached it, the way the club has cashed in on players after a couple of seasons without fees and the publicity around NZ football after the World Cup I’m feeling optimistic.
imanixsupporter wrote: I think we need one more defender, probably a CB. Nobody other than Hughes & Tuiloma in our squad is a proven performer at A-League level as a CB in a back 4 formation. Maybe LKH, Sheridan & Smith can do a good job in such a system but it's a gamble because we have basically not seen any of them play in a CB pair in the A-League.
Edit: we have lost a senior CB in James, lost a senior RB in Payne, lost our starting LB from the tail end of last season (Edwards), and also lost the player who played LWB for us for most of the season (Armiento), and we have only signed one senior LB in McGarry. I don't trust our kids to replace the rest of what we have lost.
... But having said that, i guess playing a back 4 system rather than 5 does mean less defenders are needed in the squad, so pure ins & outs aren't so relevant. I stand by my initial reasoning above though
Yes, they must get 1 more centre back to replace Manjrekar James. Probably from Australia.
That list might look ok on paper but if we have our normal bad luck and get injuries to a couple of the main guys we are going to be in touble. Definatly think there needs to another signing that is capable of stepping straight into the starting lineup. Yes there needs to be a lot of the emphasis put on the attack but as most should be aware you dont get anywhere unless you have your defence in order. Early days so hopefully the good surprises are still to come.
Rightly or wrongly I think Greeny will be happy enough with LKH, Smith and likely one of Munro/Gardiner (scholarship deal?) to back up Hughes & Tuiloma.
Greeny could look at a trial for James Bulkeley who is playing for Western Springs I think. Will know him from the NZU20s
Rightly or wrongly I think Greeny will be happy enough with LKH, Smith and likely one of Munro/Gardiner (scholarship deal?) to back up Hughes & Tuiloma.
Greeny could look at a trial for James Bulkeley who is playing for Western Springs I think. Will know him from the NZU20s
That is Jayden Smith, it's tagged as him on Instagram
Rightly or wrongly I think Greeny will be happy enough with LKH, Smith and likely one of Munro/Gardiner (scholarship deal?) to back up Hughes & Tuiloma.
Greeny could look at a trial for James Bulkeley who is playing for Western Springs I think. Will know him from the NZU20s
If they could get James Bulkeley then yes. Use the foreign players and players from Australia for midfield and attack. I'm sure some will want that Chris Greenacre under 20s link.
Yep, I think the defensive depth is fine, especially if they pick up a local like Bulkeley. The time for Australian journeymen back ups should be gone.
It’s also crucial that Greenacre makes a decision on where he wants Piper to play. Still think that he could be a beast in the centre of defence.
The money and emphasis must be in the midfield and attack.
With salaries from Payne, Rufer, Singh and the other four imports and Australians let go, coupled with cash injections from LBS and Payne, they really should be able to get a preety good quality bunch of imports and aim high up the table this year.
Based on my understanding of the (unconfirmed) salary cap for next season, scholarship players won't exist, so that puts us at 16 Senior Players currently. LBS out, Hollman in keeps that number the same.
With 4 visa players in the expected spots and using the 4-2-2-2 Geeeny ran last season we're probably looking at the following squad:
GK: Henry Gray, Alby Kelly-Heald & Eamonn McCarron DF: Isaac Hughes, James McGarry, Bill Tuiloma, Matt Sheridan, Lukas Kelly-Heald, Xuan Loke & Jayden Smith DM: Visa #2, Corey Hollman, Fin Roa Conchie & Anaru Cassidy AM: Kazuki Nagasawa (V), Visa #3 & Nathan Walker ST: Visa #4, Visa #5 & Corban Piper
Which makes a squad of 20 players, leaving 3 spots open.
One definitely has to be a Striker, as currently Piper is the one and only sub, so it would be good to have a back-up/second sub.
Second probably AM as the LBS replacement. Walker is currently our only sub for this position and spent last season out injured. I believe Roa Conchie can play up here if needed, although I still think another option would be good.
Last one is probably has some more freedom. Could go for someone like James Bulkeley as an extra defensive back-up. I'd probably look further forwards for another AM/ST option just in case (tend to see more subs further forward). Could also go for another option in the DM spot as it doesn't seem like Cassidy was in the picture much last season. Rogue option is to save it and see if you can bring someone in during the Summer window (e.g. Riley Bidois or Kyle Adams), but that's probably only if the Nix are confident in getting high quality over any options they could sign now.
Rightly or wrongly I think Greeny will be happy enough with LKH, Smith and likely one of Munro/Gardiner (scholarship deal?) to back up Hughes & Tuiloma.
Greeny could look at a trial for James Bulkeley who is playing for Western Springs I think. Will know him from the NZU20s
Hmmm, thinking he might get loaned back to us? Surely not…
I’d hope we get versatility with our imports too.
Maybe an 8/10 and a 10/striker. After all LBS was the latter and Nagasawa was the former. No reason we can’t get some players with transferable skills. And a beast goal scorer to rival Eze.
Assuming the Nix social media guy, who I assume is also responsible for updating their Wikipedia page is doing his/her job, it’s a very real possibility.
Still listed as a Nix player and has not been removed.
AucklandPhoenix wrote: Assuming the Nix social media guy, who I assume is also responsible for updating their Wikipedia page is doing his/her job, it’s a very real possibility.
Still listed as a Nix player and has not been removed.
Players still seem to be listed there until an official club farewell (or end of loan spell in the case of Kartum). Even though it was known that we wouldn’t be retaining Carlo, Josh, James, Mileusenic, and a few others after comments made by Greeny the players were still listed there.
Rufer is still on there even though his contract expired end of last month.
Not that this means anything but Phoenix website I've noticed has been updating the squad list. Like as RR mentioned neither team has confirmed the transfer so at this point LBS (and Rufer) are still up on website but anyone else that has gone is not there. Henry Gray and James McGarry is already on the website
Worth noting Wikipedia is updated by volunteers (occasionally me), who typically don't update until clubs make official releases.
He could very well be gone, but until one of the clubs makes a post, it won't be updated. Squad page is similar, it is most likely updated after news is released to try and prevent news leaking early.
You've got to love it when those super convincing inner vibes and the blissful power of unrestrained assumption dispense with idle fancies like verifiable fact. Sigh, indeed.
AucklandPhoenix wrote: Do we read anything into no one has made this official then?
i.e: straight loan back?
It would be smart for Portsmouth to loan him back out to us, he's still so young and early in his development another season in the A-League is surely better for his development than loaning out to a L1/2 side and espcially if they're trying to survive relegation or trying to get promoted can see him not getting much gametime.
AucklandPhoenix wrote: Do we read anything into no one has made this official then?
i.e: straight loan back?
It would be smart for Portsmouth to loan him back out to us, he's still so young and early in his development another season in the A-League is surely better for his development than loaning out to a L1/2 side and espcially if they're trying to survive relegation or trying to get promoted can see him not getting much gametime.
or a L1 loan could work so he can learn the English game and how clubs are setup. Assisting 10-15 in a L1 campaign would be more impressive.
We need to stop thinking the A-League is EFL Championship level or anywhere close to it.
I think pounds could go well in league one tbh. Normally I'd be hesitant about a young winger coming over here but LBS definitely has the physical attributes to do alright. Depends on the team, of course. I suspect if portsmouth do sign him they'll be intending to have him for this season though.
coochiee wrote: Does Weenix's Ryan Lee (age 19) play on the right or left as a fullback? Is he in the picture for a Scholarship deal?
Bit of a standout in that Wrexham game. Assist for Flowerdew's goal.
Nix might only fill 4 of the visa spots being season kicks off, keeping options open for the January window. They have done it before.
I think primarily a left back but can play either probably. Has decent pace and can get forward for good crosses.
Saw him playing in the Reserves against Napier on Saturday and he looked pretty sharp. Started at LB but seemed to move to CB and then RB during the match - so is versatile. Worked really well in combo with Gardiner too.
Good progress then. I imagine they would want to sign new midfielders after that, so the squad would have enough to get into practice games sort of soon.
