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WPM 2026/27 Squad Speculation, Confirmation and Mutual Termination

175 replies · 13,923 views

4 days ago · edited 4 days ago · History

Yipe seems the ISL in financial difficulty. They didn't even play a full season the one just gone.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/isl-to-go-ahead-with-all-14-clubs-cutting-costs-the-primary-objective-now/articleshow/126496164.cms

But they would love to have Singh there. Indian sport loves any sort of player with a loose Indian connection, aka Krishna who is Fijian Indian.

But at 27 he's too young to go to a rubbish league like the ISL. I see Kalezic hasn't got a new coaching job yet. Perhaps see where he pops up next. Though his normal bread & butter gig is a Dutch 2nd tier club, and I doubt Singh wants that level.

At least Nix fans can rest easy that it's highly unlikely Auckland will be able to find room for him within their salary cap space.

Marko Rudan is now an assistant coach at Chinese Super League club Dalian Yingbo. But the CSL these days seems as rubbish as the ISL.

Des Buckingham coaches Al-Kholood in the Saudi top flight. They are only a small club (playing in a 5,000 seater stadium), and were 14th of 18 teams this season. I'm guessing teams that low down in the league ain't much better than the best ALM clubs. Though they may expect higher calibre visa players than Singh. Des a fan of Sarpreet for sure.

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3 days ago

Let’s be honest too: Josh as an import keeper has been substandard. His playing experience was limited prior to joining us. And certainly it didn’t survive running a high line and playing out from the back.

I remember Scott Styris say the most important part of making it was knowing what advice to ignore. I feel/felt Josh relied heavily on everything Chief said, when a more experienced keeper would have previous mentors coaching and their own experience to lean on too, and block some of it out. I suppose it doesn’t help that he’s not some towering lanky figure too.

He has made some amazing saves, but he also cost us when we’d really done the hard yards in the first derby and then again with his backwards header.

If he was Kurto or Tony Warner and consistently tidy there would be fewer issues.

And as mentioned squad rebuilds, flexibility, couple of young keepers trying to break through, etc etc

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3 days ago

PKB wrote:
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.

This👆.

De Vries. Behich.

And LB for us has been a problem since Sutton (and Old) left.

If we can attack down two flanks, we’re a real threat.

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mjPK

3 days ago

Jamie Vardy is looking for a club

Oi Oi Edgecumbe... lets have a clean sheet

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3 days ago

From what I see of his wife, she doesn’t seem suited to Wellington 😂

Auckland will rise once more

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3 days ago

AucklandPhoenix wrote:
From what I see of his wife, she doesn’t seem suited to Wellington 😂

But Auckland? Way more room there for Wagatha Christie types.

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3 days ago · edited 3 days ago · History

Kazuki Nagasawa signs on for next season https://wellingtonphoenix.com/news/nix-re-sign-technically-gifted-midfielder/

Happy with that myself. I am well aware some of you will be hating this signing though. Discuss 🤣

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3 days ago · edited 3 days ago · History

I'm ok with this, he was starting to show signs of how good he could be close to the end of the season, given his age he'll probably retire here.

Queenslander 3x a year.

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anbrco

3 days ago

Despite his age he was actually one of our better players this season. Much improved from the previous one.

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anPK

2 days ago

If you told me he was going to be re-signed even a third of the way through the season I would've been pretty disenfranchised - but honestly pretty happy with this now. Really grew into his role not just on the pitch but seemingly as a leader/old head in the squad. Glad to have ya back, Kazu

Annual finals disappointment enthusiast.

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2 days ago

I share similar sentiments to many - he's grown into his role here - and his experience may be particularly useful in the middle of the park if Rufer/Retre/Conchie are all going. Hopefully his legs have another full season in them. Is he an above average VISA player? I'm not so sure, but he adds continuity which is gold in this league.

Seems to be a bit of a redemption arc - I recall the club (Gilly?) mentioning we got our import recruitment wrong at the end of Chiefy's second season and there was a bit of tension from Nagasawa/Ishige.

Would this mean there's a chance we re-sign Ishige once he's recovered from injury too?

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2 days ago · edited 2 days ago · History

It was Dome in a podcast wrapping up the season before last who basically blamed the imports and there was a heavy emphasis in the blame on the Japanese.

Believe he also talked about communication difficulties

Auckland will rise once more

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2 days ago

ishige went back to Japan, did he not?
early season comms issue may have ben solved, which fits with Kazuki's improvement

Queenslander 3x a year.

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2 days ago

Since2007 wrote:
I share similar sentiments to many - he's grown into his role here - and his experience may be particularly useful in the middle of the park if Rufer/Retre/Conchie are all going. Hopefully his legs have another full season in them. Is he an above average VISA player? I'm not so sure, but he adds continuity which is gold in this league.

Seems to be a bit of a redemption arc - I recall the club (Gilly?) mentioning we got our import recruitment wrong at the end of Chiefy's second season and there was a bit of tension from Nagasawa/Ishige.

Would this mean there's a chance we re-sign Ishige once he's recovered from injury too?

They won't have Hideki Ishige back. He is gone and the team should get someone far more assertive against defenders and far more of a ball runner. He gave corners, free kicks, flick ons but nothing else and faded against difficult teams that competed hard.

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2 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?

Interestingly I believe in the Australia NPL leagues, goalkeeper is not allowed to be an import, hence likes of Keegan Smith back in NZ. I belive this rule was put in place so as not to hinder development of Australian goakeepers.

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1 day ago · edited 1 day ago · History

Expires 2026/27
Anaru Cassidy
Luke Brooke-Smith [S]
Alby Kelly-Heald
Lukas Kelly-Heald
Xuan Loke [S]
Kazuki Nagasawa [V]
Corban Piper
Gabriel Sloane-Rodrigues [S]
Jayden Smith [S]

Expires 2027/28
Isaac Hughes
Tim Payne
Matt Sheridan
Nathan Walker [S]
Bill Tuiloma

Expires 2028/29
Eamonn McCarron

So as it stands, assuming we do sign Corey Hollman*, we look like this atm [4-2-2-2]:

AKH
Payne Hughes Tuiloma LKH
Hollman* Cassidy
Nagasawa GSR
Piper LBS

[Updated list with the EM re-signing]

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1 day ago

RR wrote:
Expires 2026/27
Anaru Cassidy
Luke Brooke-Smith [S]
Alby Kelly-Heald
Lukas Kelly-Heald
Xuan Loke [S]
Kazuki Nagasawa [V]
Corban Piper
Gabriel Sloane-Rodrigues [S]
Jayden Smith [S]

Expires 2027/28
Isaac Hughes
Tim Payne
Matt Sheridan
Nathan Walker [S]
Bill Tuiloma

So as it stands, assuming we do sign Corey Hollman*, we look like this atm [4-2-2-2]:

AKH
Payne Hughes Tuiloma LKH
Hollman* Cassidy
Nagasawa GSR
Piper LBS

Got to get 10 new beyond that list. New foreign striker, attacking midfield, defensive midfield, left back. 4

From Aus/NZ get a goalkeeper, another centre back, another attacking midfield, a 2nd striker. A Winger. Sign Eamonn.
6

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1 day ago

Positional recruitment aside, it'd be great if we could sign someone with real height (regardless of where they actually play) and a playmaker whose set pieces can actually beat the wall more often than not.

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1 day ago

Eammon McCarron signs first pro contract till the end of 2028/2029. Like how they mention towering in the headline. They must know how some folk are fixated on height. Lol

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1 day ago

dunnix wrote:
Positional recruitment aside, it'd be great if we could sign someone with real height (regardless of where they actually play) and a playmaker whose set pieces can actually beat the wall more often than not.

Big foreign striker.
Foreign attacking midfielder.

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1 day ago

Procrastinixing wrote:
Eammon McCarron signs first pro contract till the end of 2028/2029. Like how they mention towering in the headline. They must know how some folk are fixated on height. Lol

Good. Next bring in an experienced goalkeeper from Australia for multiple seasons and give Eamonn the real big chance when he's 21. Get 4 new foreign leaders in the outfield. Zawada/Daniel/Riera types, similar characters.

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1 day ago

Procrastinixing wrote:
Eammon McCarron signs first pro contract till the end of 2028/2029. Like how they mention towering in the headline. They must know how some folk are fixated on height. Lol

1.94m accoring to his profile

Queenslander 3x a year.

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1 day ago · edited 1 day ago · History

Nice to have him locked in long term and it should prove to be good competition for AKH, but I still feel like he is a fair way away from fighting for the #1 spot, even though the potential is there.

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about 15 hours ago · edited about 15 hours ago · History

Josh Oluwayemi, Paulo Retre, Carlo Armiento, Manjrekar James, Dan Edwards, Luke Supyk and Nikola Mileusnic have all left Wellington Phoenix following the expirations of their contracts.

Honestly thought Dan Edwards was worth another season tbh.

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about 15 hours ago

RR wrote:
Josh Oluwayemi, Paulo Retre, Carlo Armiento, Manjrekar James, Dan Edwards, Luke Supyk and Nikola Mileusnic have all left Wellington Phoenix following the expirations of their contracts.

Honestly thought Dan Edwards was worth another season tbh.

lol, one name missing from that list 😂

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about 15 hours ago

Eze and Rufer not in clubs departures announcement 👀

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about 15 hours ago

RR wrote:
Josh Oluwayemi, Paulo Retre, Carlo Armiento, Manjrekar James, Dan Edwards, Luke Supyk and Nikola Mileusnic have all left Wellington Phoenix following the expirations of their contracts.

Honestly thought Dan Edwards was worth another season tbh.

Please don't tell me we're keeping Najjarine.

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about 15 hours ago

Nommag wrote:
Eze and Rufer not in clubs departures announcement 👀

I’d ignored Rufer as we know his situation, but it was eze I was referring to. It’s the hope that kills you 😂

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about 14 hours ago

WanderingSheep wrote:
Nommag wrote:
Eze and Rufer not in clubs departures announcement 👀
I’d ignored Rufer as we know his situation, but it was eze I was referring to. It’s the hope that kills you 😂

The hope is killing me, but it's super weird that they haven't announced it. I would have thought he would have been a lock to leave. Maybe a long contract extension with the potential for a visa for life after football is on the table. That has to be attractive, NZ is a nice place to live.

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about 14 hours ago · edited about 14 hours ago · History

Would say its a case of whether we want them to leave or to stay. We're happy to let these guys go but want to retain the others not named.

Probably points to Rami staying. We could do worse than Rami/Kazu/Singh as the main 3 options in the 10 but would obviously be heavily reliant on how we use the rest of the visa spots around them, and Greenie keeping the 4-2-2-2 (which i expect because surely we keep Armiento otherwise).

Valley FC til I die?

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about 14 hours ago · edited about 14 hours ago · History

Nommag wrote:
Eze and Rufer not in clubs departures announcement 👀

Alex Rufer, Ifeanyi Eze, Ramy Najjarine and Fin Roa Conchie are also off contract but not mentioned here, which suggests they're still in negotiations, though club has said on the record they're resigned to losing Eze. - Phillip Rollo

Hopefully not announcing Rufer means he hasn't signed yet, so can still be convinced to stay.

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about 14 hours ago

RR wrote:
Nommag wrote:
Eze and Rufer not in clubs departures announcement 👀
Alex Rufer, Ifeanyi Eze, Ramy Najjarine and Fin Roa Conchie are also off contract but not mentioned here, which suggests they're still in negotiations, though club has said on the record they're resigned to losing Eze. - Phillip Rollo
Hopefully not announcing Rufer means he hasn't signed yet, so can still be convinced to stay.

If they 100% believed eze was going they would have announced it today to start the search for a new striker imo.

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about 14 hours ago · edited about 14 hours ago · History

Nommag wrote:
RR wrote:
Nommag wrote:
Eze and Rufer not in clubs departures announcement 👀
Alex Rufer, Ifeanyi Eze, Ramy Najjarine and Fin Roa Conchie are also off contract but not mentioned here, which suggests they're still in negotiations, though club has said on the record they're resigned to losing Eze. - Phillip Rollo
Hopefully not announcing Rufer means he hasn't signed yet, so can still be convinced to stay.
If they 100% believed eze was going they would have announced it today to start the search for a new striker imo.

They'll be searching without announcing it.

It means that theres an offer on the table to Eze, not that there's necessarily any chance of him accepting it.

Valley FC til I die?

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about 14 hours ago · edited about 14 hours ago · History

Massive if Eze and Rufer stay.

If that happens and a couple of decent imports are signed, then I’m picking minor premiers, average crowds of 10,000 before the final, with a capacity grand final against Auckland and Dome can keep on having contract for life with a statute outside the stadium!!

Auckland will rise once more

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about 14 hours ago

AucklandPhoenix wrote:
Massive if Eze and Rufer stay.

If that happens and a couple of decent imports are signed, then I’m picking minor premiers, average crowds of 10,000 before the final, with a capacity grand final against Auckland and Dome can keep on having contract for life with a statute outside the stadium!!

Obsessed

Valley FC til I die?

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about 14 hours ago

Would have thought Sander would have been on this list…… unless I missed his goodbye already?

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about 13 hours ago

He'll leave at the end of his loan as expected, if he hasn't already.

His socials show he's no longer in NZ.

Valley FC til I die?

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about 13 hours ago

AucklandPhoenix wrote:
Massive if Eze and Rufer stay.

If that happens and a couple of decent imports are signed, then I’m picking minor premiers, average crowds of 10,000 before the final, with a capacity grand final against Auckland and Dome can keep on having contract for life with a statute outside the stadium!!

Does the statute declare that the Dome slander will cease? 😏

As for the lads that have been released I don't think there can be too many complaints in all honesty.

Of those that are leaving you'd have to say that Armiento will likely pick up a gig pretty quickly. As for the rest, thanks for your service and good luck for the future. 💛🖤

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about 13 hours ago

Roa conchie's contract is expiring but wasnt announced as leaving, which I find interesting.

Don't see what chiefy and greenie see in Ramy. He has moments but 90% of the time when he gets the ball our attack breaks down immediately. Always choosing the wrong option, taking too long or just losing the ball. Must be unreal in training.

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coPK

about 13 hours ago

Edwards hard done by there. Unless we have some grand plans in the offseason for an LB signing, he's a domestic product I wouldn't have minded us having a crack at nurturing. Another season and he could have found his groove to become a steady and dependable member of the backline in a similar manner to Josh Laws.

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