Wellington Phoenix Women General Discussion and Squad Speculation

Will Hassett be coming back? Hope so

Oi Oi Edgecumbe

Will Hassett be coming back? Hope so

From a recent Stuff article:

Temple said veteran Football Ferns midfielder Betsy Hassett was “unlikely” to come back for another season given her commitments with Icelandic club Stjarnan.

Temple was targeting two more signings; an import goalkeeper and an “x-factor” player from either New Zealand or Australia, to complete the squad.

Longo would be very handy and take over captaincy as I doubt Knott would get a starting spot but would also mean a tonne of attacking midfielders in the squad!

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/a-league/300966306/american-imports-add-xfactor-to-wellington-phoenix-aleague-women-team

Wellington Phoenix have secured Porirua Park as the A-League Women’s team’s second homeground.

The recently upgraded stadium, a training venue for the FIFA Women’s World Cup, will host six of the Phoenix’s 11 home matches from December through until the end of the season in late March.

The season opener against Melbourne City on October 15 will be one of only three matches played at the club’s traditional home, Sky Stadium, with the bulk of their home games to be played at the much smaller Porirua Park.

The Phoenix will play in Porirua for the first time on December 10, when they take on three-time champions Melbourne Victory.

“We’ve been looking for a more intimate venue for the women to play this season and believe Porirua Park is the perfect fit,” said Phoenix general manager David Dome.

“Our fans will be able to get closer to the action than ever before and we will be able to create a real carnival atmosphere alongside the football.”

Great news that we have a smaller stadium for the women, pity it'sso far Qy from central Wellington, will mean a bit of travel for the fanbase. I doubt there is a huge amount of women's nix fans in Porirua.

theprof

Great news that we have a smaller stadium for the women, pity it'sso far Qy from central Wellington, will mean a bit of travel for the fanbase. I doubt there is a huge amount of women's nix fans in Porirua.

Why not? Do Western Suburbs not have a women's division?

theprof

Great news that we have a smaller stadium for the women, pity it'sso far Qy from central Wellington, will mean a bit of travel for the fanbase. I doubt there is a huge amount of women's nix fans in Porirua.

The 'Nix are looking at providing options from the Porirua station to the ground - not too far (27min walk) so maybe could have some shuttle buses. Looking at Google Maps there is a regular bus service. It's probably more annoying looking to use PT from the Hutt - using PT to get to the 10 Dec 4pm game would require leaving my house before 2pm and arrive 10min before kick-off. The cost of two train trips and a bus is not great - whereas driving will take around 20 to 30 min with parking an issue

Bullion

theprof

Great news that we have a smaller stadium for the women, pity it'sso far Qy from central Wellington, will mean a bit of travel for the fanbase. I doubt there is a huge amount of women's nix fans in Porirua.

The 'Nix are looking at providing options from the Porirua station to the ground - not too far (27min walk) so maybe could have some shuttle buses. Looking at Google Maps there is a regular bus service. It's probably more annoying looking to use PT from the Hutt - using PT to get to the 10 Dec 4pm game would require leaving my house before 2pm and arrive 10min before kick-off. The cost of two train trips and a bus is not great - whereas driving will take around 20 to 30 min with parking an issue

that's cool.

Doloras

theprof

Great news that we have a smaller stadium for the women, pity it'sso far Qy from central Wellington, will mean a bit of travel for the fanbase. I doubt there is a huge amount of women's nix fans in Porirua.

Why not? Do Western Suburbs not have a women's division?

I'm sure they do, but how many of the 1000 that turned up kast season were from the Northern suburbs compared to central? I'd guess that most of the attendees would be from the central suburbs.

Doloras

theprof

Great news that we have a smaller stadium for the women, pity it'sso far Qy from central Wellington, will mean a bit of travel for the fanbase. I doubt there is a huge amount of women's nix fans in Porirua.

Why not? Do Western Suburbs not have a women's division?

Only in social leagues.

zonknz

Doloras

theprof

Great news that we have a smaller stadium for the women, pity it'sso far Qy from central Wellington, will mean a bit of travel for the fanbase. I doubt there is a huge amount of women's nix fans in Porirua.

Why not? Do Western Suburbs not have a women's division?

Only in social leagues.

Anyway, if numbers playing the sport equated to bums on seats at an event the Nix men would have had filled the stadium every home game. Just becuase someone plays the game doesnt mean they'll automatically be a paying fan of a team representing their area.

You're kind of missing my point. Why exactly do you all think that Porirua will have fewer fans of the women's team?

Doloras

You're kind of missing my point. Why exactly do you all think that Porirua will have fewer fans of the women's team?

I think it needs to be acknowledged  that Porirua park as a venue will lose some fans who came to the cake tin. It's considerably more difficult by public transport, or a further drive. (I didn't, for example, tend to go to many National league games when they were at Dave Farringdon, because of the hassle). They might gain some Kapiti or Porirua supporters now it's closer, but they will gain a much cheaper venue on the cost side. How it will all work out remains to be seen. I'd take food trucks over cake tin food any day of the week; assuming the crowds are big enough to gain a decent array of food trucks.

Point is that moving to the smaller stadium will be great if we keep the same attendances up from last year, but reality is probably that with less centrality and less connection to where the mens side are playing, numbers will probably drop. 

Happy to be proven wrong (Porirua and Wellington folk, please do!)

Double post

Oh man, the Wāhinix are going to own this league :D

Doloras

Oh man, the Wāhinix are going to own this league :D

Still one more spot isn’t there to make the squad even more awesomer?

Ohhh….. so how would Natalie or Gemma have gone if they had the same playing resources? A bit hard to compare, as those foundation players now have 2 more seasons of experience and I guess it would be how would they go if they came back this season. 

Still this raises the expectations to at least top4 for me and a run to the semis in the cup. 

Hopefully they can all gel together as a squad and be tight on and off the field. 
Fingers crossed. 

Unused sub

Doloras

Oh man, the Wāhinix are going to own this league :D

Still one more spot isn’t there to make the squad even more awesomer?

Ohhh….. so how would Natalie or Gemma have gone if they had the same playing resources? A bit hard to compare, as those foundation players now have 2 more seasons of experience and I guess it would be how would they go if they came back this season. 

Still this raises the expectations to at least top4 for me and a run to the semis in the cup. 

Hopefully they can all gel together as a squad and be tight on and off the field. 
Fingers crossed. 

Temper your expectations a bit hahaha. 

We've signed some good players but plenty of competitive teams around. Sydney, MVC, MCY and Western still have good squads and then Canberra, Roar, Adelaide, Perth should all be decent. I think minimum expectation is midtable, playoffs would be awesome if we can make it. 

Unused sub

Doloras

Oh man, the Wāhinix are going to own this league :D

Still one more spot isn’t there to make the squad even more awesomer?

Ohhh….. so how would Natalie or Gemma have gone if they had the same playing resources? A bit hard to compare, as those foundation players now have 2 more seasons of experience and I guess it would be how would they go if they came back this season. 

Still this raises the expectations to at least top4 for me and a run to the semis in the cup. 

Hopefully they can all gel together as a squad and be tight on and off the field. 
Fingers crossed. 

Expectations were pretty high at start of last season also. I remember Natalie Lawrence being pretty confident after we signed a raft of experienced Football Ferns in Rolston, Satchell and Hassett.....
Quite a few import signings today to other ALW clubs, including two import GK's. So competition is going to be as tough as ever.

Ranix

Unused sub

Doloras

Oh man, the Wāhinix are going to own this league :D

Still one more spot isn’t there to make the squad even more awesomer?

Ohhh….. so how would Natalie or Gemma have gone if they had the same playing resources? A bit hard to compare, as those foundation players now have 2 more seasons of experience and I guess it would be how would they go if they came back this season. 

Still this raises the expectations to at least top4 for me and a run to the semis in the cup. 

Hopefully they can all gel together as a squad and be tight on and off the field. 
Fingers crossed. 

Expectations were pretty high at start of last season also. I remember Natalie Lawrence being pretty confident after we signed a raft of experienced Football Ferns in Rolston, Satchell and Hassett.....
Quite a few import signings today to other ALW clubs, including two import GK's. So competition is going to be as tough as ever.

Nat was out of her depth though and should never have been given the top job.
Temple will have this team buzzing.

Expires 2023/24
Hope Breslin [V]
Kelli Brown?
Hailey Davidson [V]
Brianna Edwards
Michaela Foster
Rylee Foster [V]
Chloe Knott
Rebecca Lake
Annalie Longo
Emma Main
Mickey Robertson
Mariana Speckmaier [V]
Kate Taylor
Alyssa Whinham
Grace Wisnewski
Marisa van der Meer

Expires 2024/25
Mackenzie Barry
Zoe McMeeken

Expires 2025/26
Daisy Brazendale
Manaia Elliott
Macey Fraser
Olivia Ingham

I'm assuming Kelli Brown's deal is for 1 season, nothing in the press release mentioned a length.

Unused sub

Doloras

Oh man, the Wāhinix are going to own this league :D

Still one more spot isn’t there to make the squad even more awesomer?

Ohhh….. so how would Natalie or Gemma have gone if they had the same playing resources? A bit hard to compare, as those foundation players now have 2 more seasons of experience and I guess it would be how would they go if they came back this season. 

Still this raises the expectations to at least top4 for me and a run to the semis in the cup. 

Hopefully they can all gel together as a squad and be tight on and off the field. 
Fingers crossed. 

Press release for Longo says she is the last outfield signing. So just a second Keeper to be signed now,

No idea how Temps plans to line up this team but I’ve put together some speculative line ups and these players are actually getting me pretty excited.

IMG_5527.png 1.89 MB

Friar Tuck

No idea how Temps plans to line up this team but I’ve put together some speculative line ups and these players are actually getting me pretty excited.

IMG_5527.png 1.89 MB

possible diamond midfield with Whinham at the top of the diamond. She's not the most athletic so more athletic players can play around her.

Hope there are a good number of fan buses coming from all over the place to where these guys are going to be playing…the start of the season deserves to have near sell out crowds at these smaller locations! 

It sure looks like an exciting line up. Looking forward to hearing about preseason games.

Elbo

Ranix

Unused sub

Doloras

Oh man, the Wāhinix are going to own this league :D

Still one more spot isn’t there to make the squad even more awesomer?

Ohhh….. so how would Natalie or Gemma have gone if they had the same playing resources? A bit hard to compare, as those foundation players now have 2 more seasons of experience and I guess it would be how would they go if they came back this season. 

Still this raises the expectations to at least top4 for me and a run to the semis in the cup. 

Hopefully they can all gel together as a squad and be tight on and off the field. 
Fingers crossed. 

Expectations were pretty high at start of last season also. I remember Natalie Lawrence being pretty confident after we signed a raft of experienced Football Ferns in Rolston, Satchell and Hassett.....
Quite a few import signings today to other ALW clubs, including two import GK's. So competition is going to be as tough as ever.

Nat was out of her depth though and should never have been given the top job.
Temple will have this team buzzing.

That may well be the case but also very harsh on Nat who was a very last minute appointment through no fault of her own.

ballane

Elbo

Ranix

Unused sub

Doloras

Oh man, the Wāhinix are going to own this league :D

Still one more spot isn’t there to make the squad even more awesomer?

Ohhh….. so how would Natalie or Gemma have gone if they had the same playing resources? A bit hard to compare, as those foundation players now have 2 more seasons of experience and I guess it would be how would they go if they came back this season. 

Still this raises the expectations to at least top4 for me and a run to the semis in the cup. 

Hopefully they can all gel together as a squad and be tight on and off the field. 
Fingers crossed. 

Expectations were pretty high at start of last season also. I remember Natalie Lawrence being pretty confident after we signed a raft of experienced Football Ferns in Rolston, Satchell and Hassett.....
Quite a few import signings today to other ALW clubs, including two import GK's. So competition is going to be as tough as ever.

Nat was out of her depth though and should never have been given the top job.
Temple will have this team buzzing.

That may well be the case but also very harsh on Nat who was a very last minute appointment through no fault of her own.

Yes that's true. But that doesn't change the fact that Nat appeared to be out of her depth even though she was involved right from the beginning. She would have learnt alot from her experience though. 
But the disappointing thing for me now is that after all the investment put into Lawrence and Lewis by NZF at international and pro league level. They have both now up and left NZ football all together leaving the women's space quite bare of experienced female coaches.

"New Zealand Football are pleased to confirm that Natalie Lawrence has been appointed women’s U-17 head coach and talent pathway manager to oversee women’s football development for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2024 cycle."
https://www.nzfootball.co.nz/newsarticle/130168?newsfeedId=1253682

Things haven't changed on that front since the end of June, have they? 

cheesecake

"New Zealand Football are pleased to confirm that Natalie Lawrence has been appointed women’s U-17 head coach and talent pathway manager to oversee women’s football development for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2024 cycle."
https://www.nzfootball.co.nz/newsarticle/130168?newsfeedId=1253682

Things haven't changed on that front since the end of June, have they? 

Yes. Lawrence left NZ after that announcement and Leon Birnie has taken over as U17 coach at short notice. Leon is currently in the islands with the NZ women's team at the OFC U17 world cup qualification tournament.

PS. Lawrence was also part of the Football Ferns coaching staff at the world cup. But has since left NZ. As I said... disappointing after given all these opportunities. I know coaches are under no obligation to stay here and not move on. But if we want to develop NZ female coaches in this country to improve women's football locally........

In fact first game of the U17 qual tournament for the girls is today at 4pm. Here is the link to the live stream
https://www.oceaniafootball.com/livestream-new-zealand-v-cook-islands-ofc-u-16-womens-championship-2023/

cheesecake

"New Zealand Football are pleased to confirm that Natalie Lawrence has been appointed women’s U-17 head coach and talent pathway manager to oversee women’s football development for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2024 cycle."
https://www.nzfootball.co.nz/newsarticle/130168?newsfeedId=1253682

Things haven't changed on that front since the end of June, have they? 

EDIT : What RANIX said above

I think the Legacy of Lawerence’s year (apart from another wooden spoon) is the fact her 3 big signings Rolston, Satchell and Hasset aren’t returning. The first two being pretty disappointing despite the fanfare.

Looks like Domey and the club made a promise on the pod to fund a bus from a pre-match venue to the ground for active support! 👍👍
Nice. 

martinb

Looks like Domey and the club made a promise on the pod to fund a bus from a pre-match venue to the ground for active support! 👍👍
Nice. 

that and not raining on the idea of bar tabs at the back bencher.

theprof

martinb

Looks like Domey and the club made a promise on the pod to fund a bus from a pre-match venue to the ground for active support! 👍👍
Nice. 

that and not raining on the idea of bar tabs at the back bencher.

hoping for the Sandbar 

Bullion

Friar Tuck

No idea how Temps plans to line up this team but I’ve put together some speculative line ups and these players are actually getting me pretty excited.

IMG_5527.png 1.89 MB

possible diamond midfield with Whinham at the top of the diamond. She's not the most athletic so more athletic players can play around her.

Yes a diamond midfield would work. There was talk about Taylor moving into more of a DM role. We seem to have a very versatile squad so really hard to speculate how we might line up. Should be plenty of competition for starting spots. And a bit of better quality off the bench. Still a month before season start......

image.png 109.69 KB

Maybe Edwards should start in goal as the incumbent. I was pretty happy with her play by the end of last season. Also we don’t seem to have a strong back up for Foster at left back. Unless we move VDM across but that then mucks up the CB pairing. Still looking like a very exciting squad. 

Unused sub

Maybe Edwards should start in goal as the incumbent. I was pretty happy with her play by the end of last season. Also we don’t seem to have a strong back up for Foster at left back. Unless we move VDM across but that then mucks up the CB pairing. Still looking like a very exciting squad. 

I believe Temps said one of the reasons McMeeken was re-signed was her ability to play both RB and LB. My assumption would be that VDM would be the first cab off the rank to cover at LB though. Barry, Taylor and Lake are all very competent CBs.

Doloras, Porirua Park is about a 20 minute walk from the nearest Railway Station, has limited Car Parking - about as much as Newtown Park. It is about 10-15 minutes away from Sky stadium, depending on the State Highway 1 traffice...and Ngauranga Gorge. Bus service is ???  It's in a very much Rugby/Rugby League demographic area. It did have some money spent on it for the WWC recently but for many it will be out of the way.

The Great news is that Season Tickets for Women's games is about $99 which is pretty good value as the squad assembled have great potential - I hope to go to some of the practices to report back on how things look.

Does a full men's season Season Ticket cover both seasons??