Back to Forum

WPM 2026/27 Squad Speculation, Confirmation and Mutual Termination

289 replies · 23,192 views

22 days ago

theprof wrote:
There's no point in carrying a player like Armiento if he doesnt fit your plan or playing style though. He's a decent winger with a really good left footed shot, but he's bang average on defence. If you're not gonna play a high wide players then he's not gonna be much use to you.
He's better to move on and be in a team that will utilise him, I see him ending up a bit like Piscopo, massive talent but limited skills.

From what I've read Chris Greenacre will want a formation with 2 attacking midfielders on. So yes, I imagine Carlo, Nikola to leave and Sander, to allow those 2 new to be signed.

Permalink

22 days ago

What will Bill T do now? Will he stick around?

Permalink

22 days ago

I'd say he will for at least a year as that's his contract

I have an amazing ability to find my way out of mazes. I'm pathological.

Permalink

22 days ago · edited 22 days ago · History

theprof wrote:
There's no point in carrying a player like Armiento if he doesnt fit your plan or playing style though. He's a decent winger with a really good left footed shot, but he's bang average on defence. If you're not gonna play a high wide players then he's not gonna be much use to you.
He's better to move on and be in a team that will utilise him, I see him ending up a bit like Piscopo, massive talent but limited skills.

I see him as slightly less talented than Reno, but a bit more determined and focused. And perhaps a bit more consistent in what he offers week in and week out.

We need goal scorers and he is one.

Up to Greenie to ensure the squad doesn’t lack them if he’s letting them leave.

Permalink

Endorsed by

22 days ago

Haven’t heard from Eze yet. Whilst there’s life there’s hope!

I hope if we pick up a ten or two, it’s someone who can hit them from the edge of the box. Armiento could. Low percentage but usually on target with a lot of power behind it. If we get a ten on the ball and they’re no immediate threat that’s more players filling up the box defending, as they don’t have to come out to block the shot.

Permalink

22 days ago

I trust Greenies judgement on Armiento. However its a bid sad hes leaving. Great attitude, hes a positive guy who liked being at the club. He scored some real bangers for us in a team that didnt have many goal scorers. I wish him well werever he ends up.

Permalink

Endorsed by

22 days ago · edited 21 days ago · History

Armiento also a nice story of overcoming Hodgkin’s lymphoma (a cancer) to play ALM again with the Nix, after Brisbane let him go.

Wish him nothing but the best.

Permalink

Endorsed by

+10

21 days ago

Macarthur have let go of Kurto…. Do we bring him back?

Permalink

Endorsed by

21 days ago

Vast upgrade on last year.

Worth at least 6 -8 points in the season over one of the two young kiwi boys on the books.

No brainer if he’s willing.

Auckland will rise once more

Permalink

Endorsed by

21 days ago · edited 21 days ago · History

did Kurto gain aussie citizenship? he's been around lonmg enough, and would be the senior keeper we need to bring ALK up to the next level.

edit - answered my own question, Kurto has been in Aussie/NZ for seven years, still holds a polish passport so still a visa player, but even at 34 he'd be worth securing for another year or two on a cheap deal.

Queenslander 3x a year.

Permalink

21 days ago

Not sure if im remembering correctly but didnt he have a pretty dramatic loss of form hence the reason he was benched. Dont think he is the keeper he was and may not be the upgrade some think he may be.

GET YOUR SHIRTS OFF FOR THE BOYS

Permalink

21 days ago · edited 21 days ago · History

I think Kurto would be an improvement over Josh. Much more experienced and just feel more comfortable with him at the back. Plus I wanna see those unnecessary big dives that he used to pull out when the ball is going well wide.

Permalink

21 days ago

If we're gonna use a visa spot on a keeper again they'll have to be significantly better than Kurto.

Valley FC til I die?

Permalink

Endorsed by

21 days ago

From Reddit so grain of salt and all that.

ResidentWeavel

1y ago
Macarthur FC
Kurto has picked up residency now. Passport not miles off, likely naturalised for next season.

Permalink

Endorsed by

21 days ago

I don't agree with a foreign goalkeeper. Other than the must do attacking foreign players every season, why maybe sign a foreign goalkeeper and potentially have no foreign player space for say, a proven left back?
Sydney FC Grand Final has Garrucio and Grant. Phoenix we have Tim Payne at right and I can't name any leadership type true left back today.

Permalink

Endorsed by

21 days ago

I'd try and tempt Sail back myself, for our younger GKs to compete with. He said today on Piney's show that he is optimistic about being fit for round 1 next season. Transfermarkt says he was on a 1 year contract and haven't heard anything about an extension.

Permalink

21 days ago

imanixsupporter wrote:
I'd try and tempt Sail back myself, for our younger GKs to compete with. He said today on Piney's show that he is optimistic about being fit for round 1 next season. Transfermarkt says he was on a 1 year contract and haven't heard anything about an extension.

Can't stay in that trap of having players that are in and out of being hurt. Suffered from that 2 seasons in a row under Chief. Get someone new.

Permalink

Endorsed by

21 days ago · edited 21 days ago · History

imanixsupporter wrote:
I'd try and tempt Sail back myself, for our younger GKs to compete with. He said today on Piney's show that he is optimistic about being fit for round 1 next season. Transfermarkt says he was on a 1 year contract and haven't heard anything about an extension.

From the perspective of the AWs, it would be dumb to have Sail & Woud at the same club. Looks like the former's contract was short term to end in June.

Oli has Aus citzenship. So if not the Nix, he might pop up back over the Tasman at another ALM club.

Permalink

20 days ago

I'd rather have Josh the Sail!

Queenslander 3x a year.

Permalink

Endorsed by

19 days ago · edited 19 days ago · History

I pointed it out a couple of weeks ago on here, but it is worth noting now because it's been confirmed - Sarpreet Singh's parent club over in Serbia has been relegated this morning...

Permalink

Endorsed by

19 days ago

So you're telling me there's a chance?

Valley FC til I die?

Permalink

Endorsed by

JuPK+4

19 days ago

YoungHeartHM wrote:
I pointed it out a couple of weeks ago on here, but it is worth noting now because it's been confirmed - Sarpreet Singh's parent club over in Serbia has been relegated this morning...

Sign him. Then get a foreign attacking midfielder to replace Sander.

Permalink

Endorsed by

19 days ago

Sander was here on loan from Hearts, given his limited game time I doubt the Nix offer an extension and I doubt Hearts would accept it.
Getting Singh off FK TSC Bačka Topola would be amazing! his loan runs to the end of June.

Queenslander 3x a year.

Permalink

Endorsed by

19 days ago

YoungHeartHM wrote:
I pointed it out a couple of weeks ago on here, but it is worth noting now because it's been confirmed - Sarpreet Singh's parent club over in Serbia has been relegated this morning...

Does that make it more or less likely he'll be able to get an early release of his contract?
It seemed like the new coach didn't rate him but are they gonna get someone else in? or now they're playing at a lower level and might lose some other players he'll be back up in the pecking order. But I can see Singh wanting to move and not play in the second tier of Serbia so we may have to pay a fee to get him?

Permalink

19 days ago · edited 19 days ago · History

Transfermarkt has his contract with TSC ending at the end of this season, so we would be able to sign him on a free anyway.
It could be wrong though so I'm taking it with a very large grain of salt. I don't think his contract length was mentioned by TSC in their press release last year.

Permalink

19 days ago

certainly no harm in putting a contract in front of him, although I'd guess his agent and him would be waiting until after the WC to see what other offers come.

Queenslander 3x a year.

Permalink

Endorsed by

19 days ago

coyn3864 wrote:

image.png 77.87 KB
Transfermarkt has his contract with TSC ending at the end of this season, so we would be able to sign him on a free anyway.
It could be wrong though so I'm taking it with a very large grain of salt. I don't think his contract length was mentioned by TSC in their press release last year.

if i remember correctly I think before he had signed with us on loan, transmarkt had his contract ending next season. But that could be wrong.

Permalink

Endorsed by

19 days ago

wilbaker wrote:
if i remember correctly I think before he had signed with us on loan, transmarkt had his contract ending next season. But that could be wrong.

You're absolutely right, I just checked the wayback machine.
So if we want to sign him we have to hope that he's got a relegation release clause or that TSC wants to go mutual with him.

Permalink

19 days ago · edited 19 days ago · History

wilbaker wrote:
YoungHeartHM wrote:
I pointed it out a couple of weeks ago on here, but it is worth noting now because it's been confirmed - Sarpreet Singh's parent club over in Serbia has been relegated this morning...
Does that make it more or less likely he'll be able to get an early release of his contract?
It seemed like the new coach didn't rate him but are they gonna get someone else in? or now they're playing at a lower level and might lose some other players he'll be back up in the pecking order. But I can see Singh wanting to move and not play in the second tier of Serbia so we may have to pay a fee to get him?

From memory he had a relegation out clause when Hansa Rostock dropped to the 3.Liga in Germany. There was a bit of noise circulating back here when it happened because not many Kiwi players have ever utilized such a clause, let alone in Europe!

I don't know what his current contract status will be in Serbia or whether he's got another year to go on it, but it's probably a very safe bet that he's not going to be playing Serbian second tier footy next season.

As it is, three of his last four clubs have ended up being relegated when he's been on the books. There's no way he has left those couple of lines out in his latest contract (if it is indeed a multi year deal).

Good thing we can't get relegated at least, so there's a selling point! 🤷‍♂️😅

Permalink

Endorsed by

19 days ago

TSC's relegation must improve Nix's chances of nabbing Singh.

But 100% he ain't commiting to anything until post the WC.

And we really have no idea how he will go at the big dance. How match fit is he?
Will he be a big part of Bazeley's plans or more bit part coming in late off the pine.

Permalink

Endorsed by

19 days ago

Massive couple of months ahead for him.

Permalink

18 days ago

Really thought we might've had at least one re-signing announcement by now

Annual finals disappointment enthusiast.

Permalink

Endorsed by

coJu

18 days ago

most likely all those we are keeping are all ready on contract, those who are off contract this year are the ones going to the world cup.
conversations will be happening.

Queenslander 3x a year.

Permalink

18 days ago

Jazzy Jeff wrote:
Really thought we might've had at least one re-signing announcement by now

Possibly waiting on confirmation of new salary cap?

Permalink

Endorsed by

18 days ago

One thing I cannot understand on here is the negativity towards an import spot filled by a goal keeper.

GK is one of the positions in a football team, some will argue more important than others.

How much did Paulsen's contribution make to the season coming second? Same as Kurto in Rudan's season. On the other scale, the mistrust in goal keeping in 2017 and the Keegan Smith fiasco. Not his fault though. The unmentioned coach threw him under the bus.

Can it be explained why goalkeeping cannot be an import?

Permalink

Endorsed by

18 days ago

Walsall Boy wrote:
One thing I cannot understand on here is the negativity towards an import spot filled by a goal keeper.

GK is one of the positions in a football team, some will argue more important than others.

How much did Paulsen's contribution make to the season coming second? Same as Kurto in Rudan's season. On the other scale, the mistrust in goal keeping in 2017 and the Keegan Smith fiasco. Not his fault though. The unmentioned coach threw him under the bus.

Can it be explained why goalkeeping cannot be an import?

I think an import keeper is fine when you don't have many gaps in other areas of the team that would need to be filled with an import. So right now with Rufer probably not resigning we have two dm spots, 2 attacking mids, 2 strikers and a LB so need to be filled with 5 visa spots. Piper and LBS could make a case for 2 of those starting spots but also aren't seen as nailed on starters.

Its rumoured we might sign Hollman for that DM spot, and if we get Singh. There's 5 spots left so unless theres another quality local in those remaining spots I think the visas are better spent there than goalie.

But you definitely have a case for an import goalie over an import LB.

I also think another reason people don't seem to be a big fan of import goalies because if they aren't as good as hoped and become a bench warmer its seen as a big waste since they're unlikely to see any minutes unlike a Kartum who wasn't a starter but did score a couple goals off the bench so theres at least some value even though he wasn't a starter.

Permalink

Endorsed by

PK+2

18 days ago · edited 18 days ago · History

Walsall Boy wrote:
One thing I cannot understand on here is the negativity towards an import spot filled by a goal keeper.

GK is one of the positions in a football team, some will argue more important than others.

How much did Paulsen's contribution make to the season coming second? Same as Kurto in Rudan's season. On the other scale, the mistrust in goal keeping in 2017 and the Keegan Smith fiasco. Not his fault though. The unmentioned coach threw him under the bus.

Can it be explained why goalkeeping cannot be an import?

Chris Greenacre really ought to get 5 foreign player leaders in the outfield. Greenacre/Ifill/Riera/Krishna/Taylor/Ball were important as foreign outfield leaders. Can be done. Having a foreign goalkeeper immediately means they can't have 1 more proven foreign player in either defensive midfield, centre back or left back. They have suffered in the outfield under Chief for 2 seasons, and that needs all the help it can get. & some aussies will only play for a Melbourne or Sydney club. If they were able to secure Austin Ayoubi, Harry Politidis, Kosta Grozos and Ben Gibson with a flick of the fingers, then maybe I would agree, but I don't think it's that easy.

Permalink

Endorsed by

18 days ago

I think the possibility of signing Singh would be low to non existent.

He only came back to get games and make the World Cup squad and pay day.

Rumours of him wanting 800k to go to AFC in the start up year and they said no.

If he decides his career is over in Europe, I expect the riches of India would be his next logical stop.

Auckland will rise once more

Permalink

18 days ago

AucklandPhoenix wrote:
I think the possibility of signing Singh would be low to non existent.

He only came back to get games and make the World Cup squad and pay day.

Rumours of him wanting 800k to go to AFC in the start up year and they said no.

If he decides his career is over in Europe, I expect the riches of India would be his next logical stop.

Yeah hard to know what Singh will want to do post World Cup but he might be lacking options if he doesn't get many minutes to impress at the World Cup.

Can't see too many European teams chasing him as of right now, and probably in the lower tiers if so like the Portugese second div again.

His wage demands will be a lot now unless he does some magic at the World Cup and I think his 800k demand to AFC was more of a if you pay me this I'll give up on the European dream with few Euro clubs interested in him at the time.

Can't see him going to India, I swear I saw something that they've lost a lot of funding and a lot of the high earners are now leaving?

But yeah still a real possibility he'd want more than we'd be willing to offer.

Permalink

18 days ago · edited 17 days ago · History

AucklandPhoenix wrote:
I think the possibility of signing Singh would be low to non existent.

He only came back to get games and make the World Cup squad and pay day.

Rumours of him wanting 800k to go to AFC in the start up year and they said no.

If he decides his career is over in Europe, I expect the riches of India would be his next logical stop.

I think there is every chance of getting him in all honesty. But it's definitely going to hinge on other factors - Rufer staying/going, announcement of the actual salary cap, as well as the level of investment the board give Greenie, especially when there are so many gaps in the squad to start with.

800k per year as a stipulation to sign for Auckland when they were in their infancy always felt like it was more of a "I don't want to come back from Europe yet, but if you pay me what I want then sure" negotiation play from Singh.

Unfortunately for him, no one can say that anything he has done of late screams anything more than say $300,000-$500,000 at a stretch (still a lot of money in fairness). I'd also go as far to say that his ability to leverage off the back of having been signed previously to Bayern Munich has also waned significantly as well.

The hope is that we can get him to come back to Wellington and give him what he's after (ain't no way in hell he's demanding 800k now lol) but also give him a clause to say that we won't stand in his way if an offer comes in for him. Whatever happens though, the hope here has to be that there is at least some ambition from the club to go out and sign a top quality Kiwi - Notwithstanding the aforementioned other factors that need to be considered.

It would be an embarassment if he ended up in India.

Permalink

Endorsed by

Back to Wellington Phoenix Men Forum Home Back to top