Wellington Phoenix Women General Discussion and Squad Speculation

Oi Oi Edgecumbe

Anyone got any idea when coach and player signings might start?

Massively long off season for ALW. I'm not expecting any signings till well after WWC. Or at very least till after the Euro season has been completed.
Hope they are doing good diligence on the coach contract. More I think about it maybe they should be looking at an experienced ALW Aussie coach that while the restrictions remain, might be able to lure some Aussie talent into the team (aka the mens team). Have the NZer's in assistant coaching roles until they are better prepared for this level.  Just my 2cents worth. Think they should be exploring all options.

Re the coach, I just hope they make the right decision not just the easiest one.

ALW's Head Coach Natalie Lawrence has decided against seeking reappointment, following a review of the team’s 22/23 campaign

Lawrence has been with the club since the introduction of the ALW's team ahead of the 21/22 season

Thank you Nat and all the best for your future!

— Wellington Phoenix 🔥 (@WgtnPhoenixFC) May 5, 2023

Interesting 🤔
I thought she was keen on an extension?

Thanks for your service though Nat. Thrown in at the deep end and at short notice. Props for driving improved performances over the back end of the women's season, and good luck in your next role.

Phillip Rollo says a replacement will be announced next week.

It's a long shot but Kiwi coach Olli Harder has recently been sacked at Toppserien club SK Brann. Previously coached Klepp in that league as well as West Ham Women. 

Would be a long shot but you never know, A-League Women is a well-regarded albeit slipping league. And he might jump at the chance to return to his Kiwi roots. 

If only Jitka could do the right thing and step aside we could offer him the double-whammy...

There's also some decent coaches around NZ who I wouldn't mind, Alana Gunn comes to mind. Or is there a budding Aussie coach we could attract across the ditch? 

I will be very, seriously disappointed if the club appoints anyone from the current coaching team - it was clear on many occasions this season that they needed better coaching staff than they had. None of them stood out either. We have got to go external this time. 

lthomas20

It's a long shot but Kiwi coach Olli Harder has recently been sacked at Toppserien club SK Brann. Previously coached Klepp in that league as well as West Ham Women. 

Would be a long shot but you never know, A-League Women is a well-regarded albeit slipping league. And he might jump at the chance to return to his Kiwi roots. 

If only Jitka could do the right thing and step aside we could offer him the double-whammy...

That's a good shout

I mean, Jitka might need a job after the World Cup...

Christo

I mean, Jitka might need a job after the World Cup...

I will genuinely stop watching the Nix Women if we appoint her 😂 only put up with watching the Ferns because it's literally the national team

RR

Phillip Rollo says a replacement will be announced next week.

Sounds like it will be Paul Temple, especially since they are making an announcementr so quickly.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/a-league/131963409/wellington-phoenix-women-to-have-third-coach-in-as-many-seasons-as-natalie-lawrence-leaves
The head of the club’s academy, Paul Temple, is a leading contender to fill the role. He has experience in the women’s game, from coaching the New Zealand under-17 team at the 2008, 2010 and 2012 World Cups.

In addition to his Phoenix academy role, he is currently an assistant to interim All Whites coach Darren Bazeley with the under-20 men’s team, who have a World Cup in Argentina later this month.

Lawrence is set to work as a coach and an opposition scout with the Football Ferns during their World Cup campaign.

Really? 
I wish Nat all the best but she totally out of her depth.

2 mins ago Paul Temple announced as new ALW head coach! Great appointment

I like this appointment. 
Be interesting to see who he brings into his coaching team. Does he promote from with-in the Nix coaching ranks. Or does he bring in the likes of Alana Gunn as assistant and maybe even Annalie Longo into a player/coach/mentor role, she def has coaching aspirations. That's if she can juggle it with her NZF role?
Just got to wait another 6 months or so now until the season kicks off. Recruitment will be interesting now we have moved on from the NZF young player development agenda.

Like how quick this was settled. I like temple as a coach as well. he knows the club and many of the players from his nzf roles. 
Hope he brings in a few gun assistants and the team kicks on!

he's found his niche. I know he's done women's football before and been successful so a good appointment. Seems the females respond better to him than the male players from both I've spoken too so it could be the way forward for the club. I think he will galvanise the group and give them an identity. Glad he hasn't said goal is to avoid the spoon, although some on here would call that a success next season, glad to hear higher bar set. Good luck to him!

Pic of Paul when Head Coach of our Under 17 side when the World Cup was held here in 2008. A few current Fern's in this squad. Click on picture to enlarge.
 

Under 17 2008.jpg 450.77 KB

 

AllWhites82

Pic of Paul when Head Coach of our Under 17 side when the World Cup was held here in 2008. A few current Fern's in this squad. Click on picture to enlarge.
 

Under 17 2008.jpg 450.77 KB

 

 Jose lol. How many of those never kicked a ball past their mid 20s? and what happened to Briony Fisher?

Feverish

AllWhites82

Pic of Paul when Head Coach of our Under 17 side when the World Cup was held here in 2008. A few current Fern's in this squad. Click on picture to enlarge.
 

Under 17 2008.jpg 450.77 KB

 

 Jose lol. How many of those never kicked a ball past their mid 20s? and what happened to Briony Fisher?

Works at a gym in Byron Bay. Occasionally misses the old days.

Paul temple looks 12

Doloras

Feverish

AllWhites82

Pic of Paul when Head Coach of our Under 17 side when the World Cup was held here in 2008. A few current Fern's in this squad. Click on picture to enlarge.
 

Under 17 2008.jpg 450.77 KB

 

 Jose lol. How many of those never kicked a ball past their mid 20s? and what happened to Briony Fisher?

Works at a gym in Byron Bay. Occasionally misses the old days.

 
She should get a job in the gym on Home & Away with the other Kiwis

That team had some great attacking players, McLaughlan, Wall, Mathis, White, Campbell this is the crop of players who could have bridged the gap between the older generation of Ali Riley’s vintage and those in their mid 20s now. Was this group too young for ALW or did that not start until 2013 or so? A whole bunch of them must have gone to us colleges, but didn’t have the opportunities or chase them to play pro overseas. With the Nix and an Auckland team on the horizon hopefully that won’t happen again and we see more players in higher European leagues getting  game time like the younger group of All Whites. 

YF making grown women cry!  Cool little comment though.
Just maybe the Western Springs saga, as someone said is an Auckland thing!
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/world-cup/300882452/the-podium-wellington-teacher-hopes-to-inspire-students-as-fifa-womens-world-cup-volunteer

Jenna Vreeburg, who also teaches maths at Wellington College, tells The Podium podcast she is one of 5000 volunteers for matches in New Zealand and Australia.

“I really just wanted to be involved. I am a sportswoman (football, softball, and volleyball). I've just been really encouraged and really proud of what's happening in women's sport at the moment.

“Case in point, I went to a Phoenix women's game earlier this year, season two and I found myself a blubbery mess in the stands at the 80 minute mark when the Yellow Fever took their shirts off and swung them around for the women.”

Feverish

AllWhites82

Pic of Paul when Head Coach of our Under 17 side when the World Cup was held here in 2008. A few current Fern's in this squad. Click on picture to enlarge.
 

Under 17 2008.jpg 450.77 KB

 

 Jose lol. How many of those never kicked a ball past their mid 20s? and what happened to Briony Fisher?

Fun fact: Her brother Finn and sister Niamh are both professional cyclists who ride for two of the biggest teams on the men's World Tour and Women's World Tour.

Of note in the NPL NSW
Ava Pritchard also playing in the NSW NPL. Looks like she got a run off the bench for Sydney Uni. Great to see. Kelli Brown v Charlotte Lancaster in Rams v Bulls. Kelli Brown with a brace in that game.

Kelli Brown with another brace this week in NPL NSW.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ihfnEoU_c4

And Charlotte Lancaster with a goal and a team of the week nomination.

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David Dome talks some Nix ALW. Also includes a bit of ALM.
https://flight-of-the-nix.podcastpage.io/channel/flight-of-the-nix/video/david-dome-interviews-with-the-flight-of-the-nix-for-the-fourth-time

Kelli Browns, Mcathrur rams v Ava Pritchards, Sydney Uni last night.
Another brace for Kelly Brown. 3 in a row now for Brown. First goal was a very well struck free kick from well outside the box.
https://twitter.com/ByPhillipRollo/status/1665511905341972480

Rebecca Lake in team of the week. For Northern Tigers NPL NSW.

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Ranix

Kelli Browns, Mcathrur rams v Ava Pritchards, Sydney Uni last night.
Another brace for Kelly Brown. 3 in a row now for Brown. First goal was a very well struck free kick from well outside the box.
https://twitter.com/ByPhillipRollo/status/1665511905341972480

 Brown will be picked up by someone - best it be the Phoenix. Her and Main would offer more than we had this year,for sure.

Wow. Another quality brace to go with a pair of quality assists this week. Kelli Brown has really announced herself in the Aus. top women's comp playing in that centre forward position. That's fours braces in four weeks for her now. 
If she continues this form she will have plenty of A league suitors for next season. Couldn't blame her too for going elsewhere after being overlooked by the Nix last season.

I thought she was injured last year

Oi Oi Edgecumbe

I thought she was injured last year

That was 2 seasons ago. Was overlooked for Pritchard Rolston and co last season

Highlights of Kelli Browns goals & assists from NPL NSW this week. brown is no. 44.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jn4B_giaxo

Is worth a look. She shows good strength, touch and finishing. Something not always said of NZ strikers in the same sentence. Brown in this form and Clegg up front would be a good combination for the Nix and even the Ferns for the future.
Be very interesting to see how Brown goes in Aus from here.

And unsurprisingly. Kelli Brown makes team of the week. NPL NSW
That's a kiwi girl in team of the week for 3 weeks running now.

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Announcement on a player signing at 5pm.

Emma Main signs a 1 year deal
https://twitter.com/WgtnPhoenixFC/status/1668483305157824513

Really happy to see we have secured her, she looked a very good prospect at the end of last season.