WPM 2026/27 Squad Speculation, Confirmation and Mutual Termination

Bradman99 wrote:

 Ranix wrote:
The way I remember it. (correct me if I'm wrong). A few years back the club decided on a policy to prioritise bringing players through the acadamy. That way when players that became successful and were on sold the club got a bigger margin from future transfers of that player. The Nix being the original development club.
I think that Chiefy bought into this arrangement and that was a big part of his brief to becoming coach.

But i agree I think this policy has been to the detriment of the success this club has had. For various reasons.

It appears as if more A-League clubs are moving to the academy development method of recruitment. 

ballane wrote:

 Joey Johns wrote:
Roa Conchie is probably not A League standard, not even sure he is A League bench standard as he offers little to change a game. Pretty damning that the most impact he has had at the club is saying a slur on the field 3/4 years ago. 

Prepare to be disapointed went to training and he is playing a  part and looking confidant doing it. Never ceases to amaze me how quick some are to right off young players when they havnt really had much of a go,yet coaches continually give those same guys time.

Joey Johns wrote:

 ballane wrote:

 Joey Johns wrote:
Roa Conchie is probably not A League standard, not even sure he is A League bench standard as he offers little to change a game. Pretty damning that the most impact he has had at the club is saying a slur on the field 3/4 years ago. 

Prepare to be disapointed went to training and he is playing a  part and looking confidant doing it. Never ceases to amaze me how quick some are to right off young players when they havnt really had much of a go,yet coaches continually give those same guys time.

Well im sure he looks like a real luka modric in training but ill reserve my judgement for the games and hope im proved wrong - although he has had plenty of game time to prove he can do something other than pass sideways

ballane wrote:

 Joey Johns wrote:
Roa Conchie is probably not A League standard, not even sure he is A League bench standard as he offers little to change a game. Pretty damning that the most impact he has had at the club is saying a slur on the field 3/4 years ago. 

Prepare to be disapointed went to training and he is playing a  part and looking confidant doing it. Never ceases to amaze me how quick some are to right off young players when they havnt really had much of a go,yet coaches continually give those same guys time.

Tyler wrote:
I heard that the Napier import Cooke was trialling at the Nix. Unsure he’s quite the level we are looking for. 

MetalLegNZ wrote:
England youth maps suggest there was a player there, but if hes a striker those numbers are poor.

Tyler wrote:
I heard that the Napier import Cooke was trialling at the Nix. Unsure he’s quite the level we are looking for. 

AucklandPhoenix wrote:
Is this guy the shortest guy who has played for the Nix?

Edit - looks like it’s Krishna, which has surprised me.

Southernix wrote:
1.72m is just on the short side of the NZ national average (~1.78m). English average seems to be shorter (~1.75m).

Marco Rojas is the shortest I've found (1.68m), followed by Roy Krishna (1.69), Hideki Ishige (1.70) and Kosta Barbarouses (1.71). I'm sure I could probably find more if I went digging.

From the current squad Xuan Loke is 1.72 and Kazuki Nagasawa 1.73.

Simon B wrote:
After reading about Cooke's behaviour in the Chatham Cup thread (red carded after NCR's loss in the semi, even though he scored), are we sure he passes the No Dickheads test?

YoungHeartHM wrote:
Has he gone too early on the social media following? 👀

Screenshot_20260817_210751_Instagram.jpg 281.08 KB

Was at Macarthur last year - I didn't watch a whole lot of them last season because Macarthur as a club don't particularly excite me. But he would seem like a decent pickup as a LW/AM - if anyone has any other intel on him?

licensed-image.jpeg 355.8 KB

I definitely wasn't led this way by a little birdie either... 🤭🫣

For those with a height fixation he's 1.84 too!

Not that you need any more credibility, but his latest post on Instagram has one particularly notable photo

Screenshot_20260817-214200_Instagram.jpg 146.04 KB

YoungHeartHM wrote:
Has he gone too early on the social media following? 👀

Screenshot_20260817_210751_Instagram.jpg 281.08 KB

Was at Macarthur last year - I didn't watch a whole lot of them last season because Macarthur as a club don't particularly excite me. But he would seem like a decent pickup as a LW/AM - if anyone has any other intel on him?

licensed-image.jpeg 355.8 KB

I definitely wasn't led this way by a little birdie either... 🤭🫣

For those with a height fixation he's 1.84 too!

Buffon II wrote:

 Simon B wrote:
After reading about Cooke's behaviour in the Chatham Cup thread (red carded after NCR's loss in the semi, even though he scored), are we sure he passes the No Dickheads test?

Danny Vukovic played for the club.

Doloras wrote:

 Buffon II wrote:

 Simon B wrote:
After reading about Cooke's behaviour in the Chatham Cup thread (red carded after NCR's loss in the semi, even though he scored), are we sure he passes the No Dickheads test?

 
Danny Vukovic played for the club.

All goalkeepers are dickheads (source: I'm a goalkeeper)

Doloras wrote:

 Buffon II wrote:

 Simon B wrote:
After reading about Cooke's behaviour in the Chatham Cup thread (red carded after NCR's loss in the semi, even though he scored), are we sure he passes the No Dickheads test?

 
Danny Vukovic played for the club.

All goalkeepers are dickheads (source: I'm a goalkeeper)

theprof wrote:
29 in 2 days. Aleague experience, he could be a good squaddie option for an AM

HattyCW wrote:
So, are we getting a men’s signing today?

Nelfoos wrote:
Note the song they've picked to accompany the post. All but confirms YHMs scoop.

Interested to see if he plays as a 9 exclusively or if there will be another visa attacker on the way.

HattyCW wrote:

 Nelfoos wrote:
Note the song they've picked to accompany the post. All but confirms YHMs scoop.

Interested to see if he plays as a 9 exclusively or if there will be another visa attacker on the way.

Someone posted a rumour a few weeks back relating to Bidois potentially returning (Think it was about his girlfriend posting in a Welly Facebook page looking for work.

If we aren’t getting an out and out visa striker, then I guess will go with a front two of Bidois or Piper, and Duran.

https://x.com/i/status/2089578069422231946