AucklandPhoenix wrote: It probably does appear a strange signing as he wasn’t even deemed good enough to start for the Nix last year and for the World Cup a cultural architect was selected over him with limited minutes in your national league.
That however is more a slight on those coaches. There is a player in there.
Likely 2-3years behind Segecic in development but he is younger.
How did the rest of the Australians go in your team last year?
Sorry AucklandPhoenix - I missed this first time around so didn't see your question.
Our Aussie contingent has been a real mixed bag so far - not least due to struggling with injuries. I suspect the relentlessness of the EFL Championship (46 games in the regular season with several three game weeks) plus the physicality of the league may be a bit different from the bits and bobs I've seen of the A-League.
I'd say Segecic (he was Aussie when he signed, but has declared for Croatia) by far outperformed expectations last season - I think he featured far more than the club would have expected and made some really important contributions to a season in which we just about avoided relegation. If he's with us at the start of the season (there are rumours of some interest) then it will be a big campaign for him. I think he has some major limitations as things stand - not least he's entirely one-fotted - but he does have a knack for popping up with important goals and has something about him.
Hayden Matthews looked really good when he signed but picked up a leg injury which prematurely ended his first campaign and last season was stop/start. He looks to have lots good about him, but really needs to stay fit, get a run of games and start kicking on.
Waddingham, too has shown flashes. Last season was massively impacted by injury after a promising pre-season.
Farrell has been the worst affected though. He's managed about three or four matches and seems to pick up injury after injury. I see he picked another up when he ended up back on loan in the A-League at the end of last season. He's picked up another in pre-season here. By all accounts he was going to be coming back to the A-League anyway, but definitely no future here.
tl;dr: Segecic doing well; Matthews/Waddingham need to get/stay fit look promising; Farrell: busted flush - feel sorry for the guy - hopefully next move works out for him.
Re: Brooke-Smith - due to be announced in the next day or so.
Southernix wrote: Don't think it said visa so I'll say Oscar Faulds
We need another local striker and tried to sign him a year or two ago but he headed off to Europe instead, ended up back in Auckland's OPL squad. Hasn't re-emerged since, so could be he was on trial again?
I thought Faulds trialled at the Nix (whilst at NCR), but wasn't offered a contract? Then he headed to Luxembourg.
He was pretty average in the OPL, though the heat in the Islands didn't seem to his liking. No idea where he is now.
Ryan Feutz was the best Kiwi striker in the OPL. Now playing 2nd tier NSW NPL.
My money is on Riley Bidois
Riley Bidois might've played under Steve Coleman at Loudoun USL potentially. And has some good numbers at Monterrey Bay (4 goals in 6 games currently). Could be that Coleman put in a word? Or maybe the return of Kosta?
Good point the Bidois, and Coleman link. They will go further back to the Academy as well.
Riley B has missed the last few Monterey Bay matches. Is he enroute NZ? He did suffer an injury a month or so ago, so it's most likely just that as to why he hasn't been playing since.
But now that Luke Supyk has left (as well as Flowerdew & Perniskie from the Reserves) you'd think the Nix will recruit some cheapest Kiwi/Aussie striker, to backup Piper and Eze visa replacement.
Going to be interesting to see if they use all the visa spots they have available. I like that they arnt rushing things no need to just yet. A big no to any Kosta return for me get the impression some bridges were burnt with his last exit.
ballane wrote: Going to be interesting to see if they use all the visa spots they have available. I like that they arnt rushing things no need to just yet. A big no to any Kista return for me get the impression some bridges were burnt with his last exit.
Seems unfair on Kosta if bridges were burned, he didn't say anything disrespectful publicly. Really hard to blame him for leaving as he was singlehandedly carrying our attack on his back in his last season with us and it would have been hard to see light at the end of the tunnel when Chiefy was re-signed.
Wouldn't take him back at this point either though.
Greenie today: "We're looking to strengthen throughout, probably the spine of the team..."
Good to hear, I think we are short a CB option and a starting 6, glad it isn't being completely overlooked given the sheer number of holes we have to fill in the final third.
ballane wrote: Going to be interesting to see if they use all the visa spots they have available. I like that they arnt rushing things no need to just yet. A big no to any Kista return for me get the impression some bridges were burnt with his last exit.
Seems unfair on Kosta if bridges were burned, he didn't say anything disrespectful publicly. Really hard to blame him for leaving as he was singlehandedly carrying our attack on his back in his last season with us and it would have been hard to see light at the end of the tunnel when Chiefy was re-signed.
Wouldn't take him back at this point either though.
Except he had pretty much signed off by January just like Wooten and Sutton did when they knew they were leaving, all 3 turned in some lack lustre performances to finish the season. Maybe the fault lay on both sides and neither side wanted to dispespect the other.
Any chance we get LBS loaned back here for the season? He'd surely be far more likely to get good minutes here rather than from Pompey's bench or at some lower-tier English team?
I'd say reading the below, no his time at the Nix is over.
Greenacre, who also coached Brooke-Smith at the Under-20 World Cup, said he was sad to see him go but wished the player well on his next chapter.
Although he is yet to establish himself as an A-League starter, the youngster’s potential is clear.
“I’m obviously disappointed to lose Luke. He’s an integral part in terms of us playing young players and I really wanted that opportunity to work with Luke because I think we can get him to another level,” he said.
“But obviously the powers that be decide whether it’s the right move for the player and the right move for the club, and we’ve decided it’s the right way to go.
“We want to help produce young players and if we can make a profit from them and reinvest that into the club and to the owners, that’s what we want to do.”
ballane wrote: Going to be interesting to see if they use all the visa spots they have available. I like that they arnt rushing things no need to just yet. A big no to any Kosta return for me get the impression some bridges were burnt with his last exit.
The fact that Kosta tried getting Salah's shirt at the World Cup shows me what type of player he is. He'll only see us as his last option, dude's an absolute snake and every time he could have left in the past, he jumped at it.
dunnix wrote: Any chance we get LBS loaned back here for the season? He'd surely be far more likely to get good minutes here rather than from Pompey's bench or at some lower-tier English team?
if I was LBS, I'd be like nah to a loan back, Greenie didn't even seem to rate him...
dunnix wrote: Any chance we get LBS loaned back here for the season? He'd surely be far more likely to get good minutes here rather than from Pompey's bench or at some lower-tier English team?
I expect he's being signed with a view to keeping him in and around our squad at the start of the season. It's not really been our policy to bring young players in and loan them straight out in recent years. He's young enough that he isn't going to count towards our squad-size limit.
Depending on how things are progressing they might re-evaluate in January but, even in that case, would imagine they'd be looking for something UK-based.
If we did sign Hollmann, I wouldnt mind going for a VISA right (wing?) back. If Greenie plays a 4-2-2-2 a lot of the width would come from his fullbacks, haven't been entirely convinced that Sheridan is strong in this area. That would really solidify our back line I think. But hey, excited to see some exciting attacking signings!
Since2007 wrote: If we did sign Hollmann, I wouldnt mind going for a VISA right (wing?) back. If Greenie plays a 4-2-2-2 a lot of the width would come from his fullbacks, haven't been entirely convinced that Sheridan is strong in this area. That would really solidify our back line I think. But hey, excited to see some exciting attacking signings!
Sheridan is a known quantity whether we consider him strong enough or not. Putting a visa player there might be a nice to have in an ideal world, but well below the priority of filling our AM and striker roles. In those positions, we do not seem to have much choice, because of so many gaps there right now. If we cannot bring in an Australian player unwanted elsewhere, then it has to be a visa player / players.
Since2007 wrote: If we did sign Hollmann, I wouldnt mind going for a VISA right (wing?) back. If Greenie plays a 4-2-2-2 a lot of the width would come from his fullbacks, haven't been entirely convinced that Sheridan is strong in this area. That would really solidify our back line I think. But hey, excited to see some exciting attacking signings!
Greeny likes to get two for one deals with his fullbacks...both delivering crosses and getting back and doing the defensive work...but loading one side at a time. Needs pacey fullbacks who can put in a big shift.
Sheridan is definitely growing as a player but does he have that pace to get up and down?
There is always a chance as well, that Payne won't last long in Paraguay and be available come January. Hopefully for him that doesn't happen, but it wouldn't be a huge surprise if that was the case.
Nelfoos wrote: Doesn't appear to be anything there now. Either deleted or an expired story?
Would be a very good striker signing, though I doubt its an overly realistic one - contracted to December this year with LAFC on $1.5m USD a year.
Years ago, when he was on the outer in Turkey, a newspaper linked him with a loan back here. Someone ITK at the time suggested those bridges were very much burnt. So, yeah would be nice but it would be a miracle if it happened.
Nelfoos wrote: Doesn't appear to be anything there now. Either deleted or an expired story?
Would be a very good striker signing, though I doubt its an overly realistic one - contracted to December this year with LAFC on $1.5m USD a year.
I'm reading on Transfermarkt now he is valued at 500,000 Euros now, his value has gone down from his 20s to now age 31. (Value, not wage)
That doesn't mean much - I doubt we'd be paying any transfer fee for him anyway and its only that low because there's 5 months to run on his contract.
Any move back here would mean a significant reduction in salary and a loan wouldn't make much sense with his contract expiring halfway through. He's good enough to stay in the MLS for a while yet.
IIRC the guy who owns LAFC has a part share in Auckland FC (mate of Foley's??).
If Tyler is ever to play football in NZ again, I'd wager it's for the team in the 09.
But on $NZ2.6m a season he ain't likely leaving the MLS any time soon. 1 goal and 2 assists to date in the MLS for LAFC in 2026.
The proposal to redevelop Auckland's Western Springs Stadium into the "Auckland Arena" was backed by a consortium that included LAFC co-ownerBennett Rosenthal. However, the ambitious project led by Auckland FC backers was officially withdrawn in July 2025 due to the complexities of public land development.
Oi Oi Edgecumbe wrote: Why are the Nix posting Tyler Boyd clip on Instagram?
I'm curious to hear more about this and not sure why the conversation's seemingly already moved on.
What was the nature of the clip, exactly? A compilation of his plays or just a cameo amongst other players? Did you notice whether the clip had been up for long before it's been taken back down? Was there any text or graphics added to the footage? Did it have the appearance of being a scheduled post gone wrong like with the GSR departure?
Oi Oi Edgecumbe wrote: Why are the Nix posting Tyler Boyd clip on Instagram?
I'm curious to hear more about this and not sure why the conversation's seemingly already moved on.
What was the nature of the clip, exactly? A compilation of his plays or just a cameo amongst other players? Did you notice whether the clip had been up for long before it's been taken back down? Was there any text or graphics added to the footage? Did it have the appearance of being a scheduled post gone wrong like with the GSR departure?
Seemed very random. I was trying to work out if it was him arriving in Wellington or they were walking down a catwalk so admin thought it amusing?
Oi Oi Edgecumbe wrote: Why are the Nix posting Tyler Boyd clip on Instagram?
I'm curious to hear more about this and not sure why the conversation's seemingly already moved on.
What was the nature of the clip, exactly? A compilation of his plays or just a cameo amongst other players? Did you notice whether the clip had been up for long before it's been taken back down? Was there any text or graphics added to the footage? Did it have the appearance of being a scheduled post gone wrong like with the GSR departure?
Yeah the clip had text "Tyler Boyd signed 26/27 ✅️🔥🔥🍆" strange that Edgecumbe didn't mention that 🤔🤔
If it's this from Boyd's Insta, it's him his partner and kids modelling on some sort of LA runway, his little daughter clad in a LAFC top. All this to a song by Boyd's doppelganger Justin Beiber. https://www.instagram.com/p/DbQ4sP7Bxdq/
I see that Boyd & Tuiloma are Insta friends. Nothing to see here.
Shades of Piper selling Mileusnic's car online, and suddenly Corban is off overseas.
coochiee wrote: If it's this from Boyd's Insta, it's him his partner and kids modelling on some sort of LA runway, his little daughter clad in a LAFC top. All this to a song by Boyd's doppelganger Justin Beiber. https://www.instagram.com/p/DbQ4sP7Bxdq/
I see that Boyd & Tuiloma are Insta friends. Nothing to see here.
Shades of Piper selling Mileusnic's car online, and suddenly Corban is off overseas.
If so, then the Phoenix ought to look at another option. Not a winger or striker, but Johnny Yull from Adelaide. If he doesn't get an offer to go North, what does he want? Or for a striker/winger, maybe Raphael Lea'i, with A League level 1 on 1 coaching to add a bit more consistency, why not? He actually scored against Bulgaria this year. Or Alex Saniel, the Vanuatu Adam Taggart. Still got 4 foreign places, imagine 1 or 2 of those 3, an attacking midfielder from a more advanced league and a main striker from a more advanced league. Something a bit like the Mariners 2020s recruitment.
