Phoenix vs Wrexham | Sat 19th July | 5:00pm | RoF

lol, so the general consensus is that people are saying Libby is switching what is recognised as being one of the top four leagues in the world for the A league?

Come on guys. 

Put together the best players in the current A league, allow them to play out of their own stadium in Shepherd’s Bush and they would be certain to be relegated.

Hard for Mullin to make the squad when he is no longer at the club.

Jack Marriot had to have his appendix out and has to stay in New Zealand longer that he would have expected.  

Great opportunity for 1 or more of the young kids, to be noticed.
Like the 18 yr old who scored the winner for Sydney during the week.


Wellington Phoenix squad
1. Josh Oluwayemi (Gk), 5. Fin Roa Conchie, 9. Hideki Ishige, 15. Isaac Hughes, 17. Gabriel Sloane-Rodrigues, 18. Lukas Kelly-Heald, 23. Luke Supyk, 24. Xuan Loke, 25. Kazuki Nagasawa, 27. Matt Sheridan, 29. Luke Brooke-Smith, 31. Ryan Lee, 32. Ryan Watson, 33. Dylan Gardiner, 34. Nick Murphy, 35. Matt Foorde (Gk), 36. Luke Mitchell, 37. Anaru Cassidy, 39. Jayden Smith, 40. Eamonn McCarron (Gk), 42. Fergus Gillion, 44. Dan Makowem, 45. Lewis Partridge, 46. Lachlan Candy, 47. Luke Flowerdew, 48. Mac Munro.

Unavailable: 3. Corban Piper, 6. Tim Payne, 7. Ifeanyi Eze, 8. Paulo Retre, 14. Alex Rufer (captain), 19. Nathan Walker, 30. Alby Kelly-Heald.

Head coach: Giancarlo Italiano.

Wrexham squad
Arthur Okonkwo, Callum Burton, Danny Ward, Max Cleworth, Aaron James, Dan Scarr, Eoghan O’Connell, Max Purvis, Lewis Brunt, Tom O’Connor, Ryan Longman, Ryan Barnett, Matty James, George Evans, George Dobson, Andy Cannon, Alex Moore, Ollie Rathbone, Elliot Lee, Harry Ashfield, James McClean (captain), Jacob Mendy, Seb Revan, Ryan Hardie, Sam Smith, Callum Edwards, Mo Faal, Ollie Palmer, Jack Marriott, Jay Rodriguez.

AucklandPhoenix

lol, so the general consensus is that people are saying Libby is switching what is recognised as being one of the top four leagues in the world for the A league?

Come on guys. 

Put together the best players in the current A league, allow them to play out of their own stadium in Shepherd’s Bush and they would be certain to be relegated.

He would be playing Serie B if he stayed if I am not mistaken. Championship would be above that level and would have a lot more attention from Premier League sides, more so globally due to the clubs media reach. All in all I think it is a good move for him. If he has a good season, I can see him being picked up by a PL team as a left sided utility player

Sheffield U were reportedly interested in Libby as well. Shame that didn't happen as he could link up with Bindon, and on paper the Blades look a much better chance of promotion to the EPL.

9 min pre match Chiefy interview.
https://youtu.be/6bgV2UyTmbo

Piper has osteitis pubis (aka Singh & Old) and is out until late September at the earliest.

Eze won't be ready for Perth. Apparently the first scouting video Chiefy saw of him, he wanted him.

Trialists won't play Wrexham game. But yeah an opportunity for some of the Academy kids to stick their hand up, as per young Lacey for SFC midweek.

Tickets for sale on Trademe

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https://www.instagram.com/nzcis_/p/DMPfSdzzb_T/?img_index=1


A nice touch from NZCIS (the picture I'm inserting probably isn't showing up as I'm on plane wifi, but the Insta link works)

This is neat.  I think they did this for when Sweden were staying out there for the World Cup too. They also have croc bikes out there lol.

Phil Parkinson said the facilities are premier league standard. Great to hear. 

So seems like we will be fielding a starting 11 of youngsters then its the Academy boys second half. Great opportunity and experience for the youngsters.
Are we concerned about a score blowout? Its really really early season for our guys against a Championship side. Many of the Wrexham players will want to impress the coach before the new season starts. They wont be jogging around. We all know its preseason but what will the general public think if we get smashed 0-8?

It does seem a little like last season when the public forked out money to see a full team, only to get less than they had a right to expect. 

You can’t help injuries and absences, but failing to exhibit much in an exhibition game would be another lost opportunity. Unveiling a signing or at least some trialists or something would be a good bit of PR to signal to the public we’ve moved on from last season. 

Heck, even Toto would be fun. 

Sending out 17 year olds for a full half against a touring Championship team is a novel approach, but I guess we’d have to have signed a bunch to do anything different. But even in our main squad we’ve got 8 players available whose debut was earlier than last season. And that is generous with a couple. 

Still hope it’s fun! Maybe there’ll be a contest for a fan or two to play some minutes…

No way the nix will swap teams at 45.

Will play the top team till they run out of  ⛽️ 

At least they have got the Libby deal done in time to get him to record a video message to play at the stadium, or something like that

AucklandPhoenix

No way the nix will swap teams at 45.

Will play the top team till they run out of  ⛽️ 

So 40?

imanixsupporter

At least they have got the Libby deal done in time to get him to record a video message to play at the stadium, or something like that

Be great for the show lol

I'm looking forward to today, despite how thin our squad is - the offseason is just too long so it's good to have an excuse to get back down to the stadium, sing some songs and have a few drinks.

Also you never know we may get a breakout performance from a young academy player that we can get overly excited about!

I just hope we don't get beaten too badly as I'd like to think a decent performance could convert a few casuals into fans and get them coming along during the season (even though I know history shows friendlies between European and A-League teams has never resulted in an uptick in crowd numbers the following season)

imanixsupporter

At least they have got the Libby deal done in time to get him to record a video message to play at the stadium, or something like that

Has to be a Libby chant broken out today surely

Game day pax: 23722

YellowAndBlack

imanixsupporter

At least they have got the Libby deal done in time to get him to record a video message to play at the stadium, or something like that

Be great for the show lol

I’m sure the cameras will head down to Petone as Parkinson and Cacae’s proud dad share a glass of wine. All those Napoli shirts on the wall and yarns about Libby heading to Nix trainings as a school boy on his moped. 

coochiee

YellowAndBlack

imanixsupporter

At least they have got the Libby deal done in time to get him to record a video message to play at the stadium, or something like that

Be great for the show lol

I’m sure the cameras will head down to Petone as Parkinson and Cacae’s proud dad share a glass of wine. All those Napoli shirts on the wall and yarns about Libby heading to Nix trainings on his moped. 

His Dad will be loving all the free advertising nearly everything you read mentions the restaurant.

My advice. Don't give away any set pieces, corners. We are totally outsized.

very late meet and greet! 

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Must say TVNZ coverage on the news last night was good.  I know they are yhe broadcast partner but still.  On the other hand Three news had nothing. 

I'm disappointed that we didn't have imports in time for this, I don't think it's unreasonable we would have wanted to get people in early enough to get them as much training time together and this is such a fantastic opportunity for the side to play together. Its also real disappointing we don't have a competitive side to maybe snag the win.

With the players we have unavailable, if we can manage a better result than Victory, I'll be okay with that.

Hope the kids/academy players enjoy the experience.

Nommag

I'm disappointed that we didn't have imports in time for this, I don't think it's unreasonable we would have wanted to get people in early enough to get them as much training time together and this is such a fantastic opportunity for the side to play together. Its also real disappointing we don't have a competitive side to maybe snag the win.

The guys have only been training since 1st of July 1st game isnt till October so plenty of time. Rather the club takes their time than get people in quickly. European transfers only opened 1st July  so apart from free agents wouldnt have been many to choose from.

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 I made a sign.

When was the last time we didn’t sign someone for free however?

ballane

Nommag

I'm disappointed that we didn't have imports in time for this, I don't think it's unreasonable we would have wanted to get people in early enough to get them as much training time together and this is such a fantastic opportunity for the side to play together. Its also real disappointing we don't have a competitive side to maybe snag the win.

The guys have only been training since 1st of July 1st game isnt till October so plenty of time. Rather the club takes their time than get people in quickly. European transfers only opened 1st July  so apart from free agents wouldnt have been many to choose from.

AucklandPhoenix

When was the last time we didn’t sign someone for free however?

ballane

Nommag

I'm disappointed that we didn't have imports in time for this, I don't think it's unreasonable we would have wanted to get people in early enough to get them as much training time together and this is such a fantastic opportunity for the side to play together. Its also real disappointing we don't have a competitive side to maybe snag the win.

The guys have only been training since 1st of July 1st game isnt till October so plenty of time. Rather the club takes their time than get people in quickly. European transfers only opened 1st July  so apart from free agents wouldnt have been many to choose from.

I thought Piscopo was the one and only time we've paid a transfer fee for a player

I believe that is the case as well.

Smeltz4PM

AucklandPhoenix

When was the last time we didn’t sign someone for free however?

ballane

Nommag

I'm disappointed that we didn't have imports in time for this, I don't think it's unreasonable we would have wanted to get people in early enough to get them as much training time together and this is such a fantastic opportunity for the side to play together. Its also real disappointing we don't have a competitive side to maybe snag the win.

The guys have only been training since 1st of July 1st game isnt till October so plenty of time. Rather the club takes their time than get people in quickly. European transfers only opened 1st July  so apart from free agents wouldnt have been many to choose from.

I thought Piscopo was the one and only time we've paid a transfer fee for a player

That’s correct, you can find the full list of players we’ve signed and the associated fee here: https://www.transfermarkt.com/wellington-phoenix/transferrekorde/verein/8445

Piscopo the only one with a fee paid. It says €100k but from memory it was about $125k NZD.

I think the rationale was he was a young gem and we were going to make money after selling him on if it but we never did

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Maybe a sort of 433?

GSR - Ishige - LBS

Nagasawa - Roa Conchie - Sheridan

LKH - Smith - Hughes - Loke

Oluwayemi

Gonna be a back 5 for sure with a lineup that green. Sheridan in the back 3

imanixsupporter

Gonna be a back 5 for sure with a lineup that green. Sheridan in the back 3

Probably right, not a fan of LKH at LWB though 

I know it’s not that long since the last season ended, but feels good to be walking up towards the RoF again.

Solid lines outside the Wrexham merch tent too.

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no Nathan Walker either?

Today will be a good gauge if the Japanese boys and goalie should have moved on 

The travelling replica of The Turf is pretty fun, lots of Welsh accents in the crowd and the drinks come in a souvenir cup (and maybe I’m just out of practice drinking gin but the Dragon Juice has a bit of a kick to it).