Wellington Phoenix Women General Discussion and Squad Speculation

Legend
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https://wellingtonphoenix.com/news/ever-present-midfielder-departs-the-phoenix

Huge loss for the club, hopefully it all works out for the best for Chloe though.

If they’re looking at replacements, surely they’ve gotta go hard on trying to get Jacqui Hand. Different positions obviously but you could play Breslin deeper or a front 3 of Breslin/Speckmaier/Hand with Longo/Taylor/Fraser in midfield.
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Marquee
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over 16 years
Holy shark. That is a huge loss. 
Also, how shark is it that women aliga have to quit to make enough money to live. 
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over 6 years
This feels really fudgeing disappointing. I genuinely assumed (as primarily a fan of the men's game and thus fairly ignorant) that given it's a pro league the players would be getting decent enough coin. After what has been an overwhelmingly positive year for women's football in New Zealand, this really sucks and puts things back into perspective. Gutted for Chloe
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WeeNix
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890
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almost 3 years
Unfortunately that's just the economic reality of of the ALW. The men's game would be screwed without tv money too. 

It's a real shame, I think she's quietly been one of our best players.
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Starting XI
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Friar Tuck
https://wellingtonphoenix.com/news/ever-present-midfielder-departs-the-phoenix

Huge loss for the club, hopefully it all works out for the best for Chloe though.

If they’re looking at replacements, surely they’ve gotta go hard on trying to get Jacqui Hand. Different positions obviously but you could play Breslin deeper or a front 3 of Breslin/Speckmaier/Hand with Longo/Taylor/Fraser in midfield.
Bit of a shock this. for all the above reasons. Jacqui Hand would obviously be an awesome pick-up but hope they are talking to Ava Collins she has just finished her US college soccer season and will be looking for a first pro contract somewhere. 
Legend
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about 9 years
Yes it is a bit sobering, that at 27 she feels she needs to choose a higher paying regular job over football. The fact she's done this, obviously shows ALW wages must be low and I'd say rules out Jacqui Hand. Read somewhere Hand is hoping to step up to the England WSL. Presumably even the 2nd tier Championship there pays better than the ALW. Anna Green also retired early (pre the WWC), choosing work over ALW football??

Wonder if by signing 4 visa players (from none previously) the club couldn't increase the wages much of their existing ALW squad members. Longo wouldn't be so cheap either (in the ALW space), though I presume she's still a NZF staffer and drawing a wage from them as well. But lets not forget NZF was part paying the wages bill of the ALW team (the coaching staff?) in the first 2 seasons.

RR
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Bossi Insider
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almost 16 years
coochiee
Yes it is a bit sobering, that at 27 she feels she needs to choose a higher paying regular job over football. The fact she's done this, obviously shows ALW wages must be low and I'd say rules out Jacqui Hand. Read somewhere Hand is hoping to step up to the England WSL. Presumably even the 2nd tier Championship there pays better than the ALW. Anna Green also retired early (pre the WWC), choosing work over ALW football??

Wonder if by signing 4 visa players (from none previously) the club couldn't increase the wages much of their existing ALW squad members. Longo wouldn't be so cheap either (in the ALW space), though I presume she's still a NZF staffer and drawing a wage from them as well.

Having to pay rent in Welly and a mortgage in Auckland must have made it really hard on Knott & her partner up in Auckland.

She will be a huge loss for us.
First Team Squad
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Starting XI
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over 5 years
coochiee
Yes it is a bit sobering, that at 27 she feels she needs to choose a higher paying regular job over football. The fact she's done this, obviously shows ALW wages must be low and I'd say rules out Jacqui Hand. Read somewhere Hand is hoping to step up to the England WSL. Presumably even the 2nd tier Championship there pays better than the ALW. Anna Green also retired early (pre the WWC), choosing work over ALW football??

Wonder if by signing 4 visa players (from none previously) the club couldn't increase the wages much of their existing ALW squad members. Longo wouldn't be so cheap either (in the ALW space), though I presume she's still a NZF staffer and drawing a wage from them as well. But lets not forget NZF was part paying the wages bill of the ALW team (the coaching staff?) in the first 2 seasons.

Yes sad state of affairs for women's football.
I'd be surprised if Hand signs on at WSL level. More likely another higher regarded Scandinavian league. Denmark or Sweden. Or maybe UK second tier championship.
But even in the UK championship a lot of the players are part time. As per Reading FC that got relegated last year.
https://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/sport/23570394.reading-fc-women-become-part-time-wsl-relegation/
Still a long way to go for womens football, even with the increasing crowds and sponsorship.

First Team Squad
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Friar Tuck

If they’re signing an import as a replacement couldn’t they just given Knott a pay increase? I guess they may not rate her enough to pay her more than just signing a new import 
Starting XI
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over 11 years
Frickn hell?! She had a complete other second job? I thought she was studying and financed this by playing 'pro' football. I guess most of the younger squad members get financed by their parents, will be the same for the Men team.
All the best Chloe, I'll miss you!
Starting XI
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Friar Tuck

Charlotte Lancaster fits the bill of ALW experience.... Would be deserving after she went to NPL NSW did well there and then came back and played well here in the NL.
Another that springs to mind with ALW experience is Alex Cidiac. Just finished up in Mexico.  But there will be quite a few A league clubs chasing her signature.
RR
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Bossi Insider
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almost 16 years
wilbaker
Friar Tuck

If they’re signing an import as a replacement couldn’t they just given Knott a pay increase? I guess they may not rate her enough to pay her more than just signing a new import 

Just cuz they are an import, it doesn't mean they will be paid that much more tbh.

I think a lot of the Scandinavian Leagues are finishing up atm, they might have picked up someone cheap who just wants to keep playing & travel the world. Not having a mortgage at home to pay (like Knott did) would also help.
One in a million
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about 17 years
Chloe Knott has been a fantastic player for us. Always gave it everything. Played out of position in first season to help the team, and is, due to her experience I'd say, always a consistent performer. Has been having the best season too. Thankyou Chloe, you are a Nix legend.
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WeeNix
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over 1 year
Knott will be a loss! She was in career best form and she's super fit this season, was covering a lot of the pitch.

Have to feel for these girls its a sad state of affairs really. They give up so much time and find themselves in a "pro" environment yet cant make a living or pay the bills. Their male coach probably on 200k and these girls get minimum wage. These girls have to also consider motherhood also so it can be a short career so you can understand their decisions around it. Sad to see good footballers have to give it away. 

Thanks not for your efforts Chloe, gave it everything for the shirt!
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Phoenix Academy
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6 months
Her values don’t align with the club? Honesty, authenticity she is saying the Phoenix don’t have..
What has happened here?
IMG_8187.png 1.2 MB

Other than the obvious pay issue… is this a jab and what is it about anyone?
WeeNix
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over 1 year
seems there's a bit more too it! fired a couple of shots at the club! more to come i'd say....
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Phoenix Academy
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6 months
Wait for something drastic to happen?
Marquee
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over 16 years
alexobc

A statement by Chloe on Instagram.
interesting Alyssa Winham's response in agreement 
LG
Legend
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almost 17 years
A Very Big loss, not just on the field but off it too. I can understand her position and I hope we do not lose more. It certainly does raise a talking point about the professional game. Not only should there be in my opinion a salary cap but more importantly a minimum wage set for all players irrespective of their club and associated performance bonuses. I said Salary cap with an eye on what some of the men are getting overseas. Football globally is raking in millions and FIFA should be looking at assisting the smaller confeds and clubs within them.

The Nix have certainly shown this season, a brand of attractive attacking football with some great players that should not be punished financially because of their gender. I maybe wrong, but that's how I see it.
WeeNix
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almost 3 years
Very weird to make veiled jabs without having the guts to put what the actual grievance is out in the open. Something doesn't sit right here.
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WeeNix
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almost 3 years
LG
A Very Big loss, not just on the field but off it too. I can understand her position and I hope we do not lose more. It certainly does raise a talking point about the professional game. Not only should there be in my opinion a salary cap but more importantly a minimum wage set for all players irrespective of their club and associated performance bonuses. I said Salary cap with an eye on what some of the men are getting overseas. Football globally is raking in millions and FIFA should be looking at assisting the smaller confeds and clubs within them.

The Nix have certainly shown this season, a brand of attractive attacking football with some great players that should not be punished financially because of their gender. I maybe wrong, but that's how I see it.

Football is a business mate, all the ideals in the world won't change that. If there isn't the market it will eventually die.

Nothing wrong with being a part timer if that's all that's in the budget.
First Team Squad
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Monto
LG
A Very Big loss, not just on the field but off it too. I can understand her position and I hope we do not lose more. It certainly does raise a talking point about the professional game. Not only should there be in my opinion a salary cap but more importantly a minimum wage set for all players irrespective of their club and associated performance bonuses. I said Salary cap with an eye on what some of the men are getting overseas. Football globally is raking in millions and FIFA should be looking at assisting the smaller confeds and clubs within them.

The Nix have certainly shown this season, a brand of attractive attacking football with some great players that should not be punished financially because of their gender. I maybe wrong, but that's how I see it.

Football is a business mate, all the ideals in the world won't change that. If there isn't the market it will eventually die.

Nothing wrong with being a part timer if that's all that's in the budget.
I suspect the issue for Chloe and others is doing full time type of hours for very un-full time wages. 
Phoenix Academy
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over 5 years
wow, quite the statement.
I imagine she enjoyed her time playing for Auckland United and has probably been offered a job as a full time psychiatrist which will earn the  real big bucks. Probably worth focusing on that for now and perhaps looking to go pro again in 2 years closer to the next world cup.
Phoenix Academy
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almost 11 years
The comments are interesting since the team are currently near the top and are playing far better than previous seasons.  But yea at the same time, it would be tough to train and play as a pro and also hold down a full-time job.  You basically would never have any time to yourself or family.  I don't know if they train once a day or twice a day (Im guessing once), so work at 9-5, then train 630-900, sleep, do it again for 5 days, then game day etc...maybe she was looking to have a few training days off for some work life balance? Hence the culture of the club comments? Just speculating.  All the best for her though, I thought she was not only a good player, but a vibrant personality.
WeeNix
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over 1 year
I think that statement is a little bit unprofessional and a little bit self-absorbed for a statement that she must have anticipated would be widely shared and read. 

That being said she may very well have valid disagreements with current Nix culture/management and very interested to hear how the club responds. 
Phoenix Academy
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300
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almost 11 years
The new Auckland team for next year have a womens team as well dont they....watch this space
pickledmyself
wow, quite the statement.
I imagine she enjoyed her time playing for Auckland United and has probably been offered a job as a full time psychiatrist which will earn the  real big bucks. Probably worth focusing on that for now and perhaps looking to go pro again in 2 years closer to the next world cup.
Trialist
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78
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10 months
Sounds like someone hasn’t had enough cuddles!
WeeNix
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700
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over 1 year
their women's team won't be playing until mid 2025
Sidi 1
The new Auckland team for next year have a womens team as well dont they....watch this space
pickledmyself
wow, quite the statement.
I imagine she enjoyed her time playing for Auckland United and has probably been offered a job as a full time psychiatrist which will earn the  real big bucks. Probably worth focusing on that for now and perhaps looking to go pro again in 2 years closer to the next world cup.
Marquee
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over 13 years
Pretty shocking, you'd think as a foundation player, senior player in the team, and someone with a side hustle in the sports media that she'd be a player which is the most involved culture wise and also the most financially sound. 

It's disappointing that she had to resort to such a drastic move because of culture and management, the team has always been very outwardly focused on culture and doing the right thing by it's people so for that to fail so publicly I hope it's a huge wake up call for them. Female footballers sacrifice so much to represent the club, the least the club can do is give them respect.
Marquee
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Sidi 1
The comments are interesting since the team are currently near the top and are playing far better than previous seasons.  But yea at the same time, it would be tough to train and play as a pro and also hold down a full-time job.  You basically would never have any time to yourself or family.  I don't know if they train once a day or twice a day (Im guessing once), so work at 9-5, then train 630-900, sleep, do it again for 5 days, then game day etc...maybe she was looking to have a few training days off for some work life balance? Hence the culture of the club comments? Just speculating.  All the best for her though, I thought she was not only a good player, but a vibrant personality.
they're full time players in the season, the training won't be around their work schedule like a semi-pro is. The A-League has the same minimum wage per game between the men and women and expect both to be full time. The issue is that the women have a shorter season so get paid less, and they seldom go above minimum wage. (as the article said, 30k per person on average) yet are expected to be professional during the season.

The players without support networks in NZ must really struggle.
Phoenix Academy
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6 months
I think the club does give them as much as they can, it’s unfortunate the tv revenues and ticket sales don’t earn more because the players defenitely deserve much more than they earn but where can the money come from? The ongoing problem…
Ryan
Pretty shocking, you'd think as a foundation player, senior player in the team, and someone with a side hustle in the sports media that she'd be a player which is the most involved culture wise and also the most financially sound. 

It's disappointing that she had to resort to such a drastic move because of culture and management, the team has always been very outwardly focused on culture and doing the right thing by it's people so for that to fail so publicly I hope it's a huge wake up call for them. Female footballers sacrifice so much to represent the club, the least the club can do is give them respect.
Marquee
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over 13 years
theaucklandphoenixfan
I think the club does give them as much as they can, it’s unfortunate the tv revenues and ticket sales don’t earn more because the players defenitely deserve much more than they earn but where can the money come from? The ongoing problem…
Ryan
Pretty shocking, you'd think as a foundation player, senior player in the team, and someone with a side hustle in the sports media that she'd be a player which is the most involved culture wise and also the most financially sound. 

It's disappointing that she had to resort to such a drastic move because of culture and management, the team has always been very outwardly focused on culture and doing the right thing by it's people so for that to fail so publicly I hope it's a huge wake up call for them. Female footballers sacrifice so much to represent the club, the least the club can do is give them respect.
Pay might be out of their control, but team culture definitely is. People will earn less money if the work environment is good, but if the money is bad and the environment is bad then of course people are going to leave. If Chloe said this in isolation then that's one thing, maybe she just had a falling out with Temple or a disagreement on playing style or whatever, but with Whinhamm backing her up - well that shows it's culture not individual personalities.
WeeNix
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890
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almost 3 years
Ryan
theaucklandphoenixfan
I think the club does give them as much as they can, it’s unfortunate the tv revenues and ticket sales don’t earn more because the players defenitely deserve much more than they earn but where can the money come from? The ongoing problem…
Ryan
Pretty shocking, you'd think as a foundation player, senior player in the team, and someone with a side hustle in the sports media that she'd be a player which is the most involved culture wise and also the most financially sound. 

It's disappointing that she had to resort to such a drastic move because of culture and management, the team has always been very outwardly focused on culture and doing the right thing by it's people so for that to fail so publicly I hope it's a huge wake up call for them. Female footballers sacrifice so much to represent the club, the least the club can do is give them respect.
Pay might be out of their control, but team culture definitely is. People will earn less money if the work environment is good, but if the money is bad and the environment is bad then of course people are going to leave. If Chloe said this in isolation then that's one thing, maybe she just had a falling out with Temple or a disagreement on playing style or whatever, but with Whinhamm backing her up - well that shows it's culture not individual personalities.

Not necessarily at all, the Nix have been around for a lot of years now and overall I think it's fair to say that the culture that surrounds the team is overwhelmingly positive in regards to how players get treated. I can't think of too many negative blips.

Frankly one senior player making strange, vague comments about culture mean very little without actual info to back it up and a player who's still very young possibly backing her up on social media (but again, we have no context) means even less.

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Trialist
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45
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9 months
Correct me if I'm wrong, but weren't Knott and Whinham the only two players effectively inherited from last season?

I wonder if plans for Wisnewski's injury replacement was looking detrimental to either's involvement in future matchday squads, possibly inspiring those references to appreciating commitment and sacrifice or to genuine care for development. 
Opinion Privileges revoked
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over 14 years
cheesecake
Correct me if I'm wrong, but weren't Knott and Whinham the only two players effectively inherited from last season?

I wonder if plans for Wisnewski's injury replacement was looking detrimental to either's involvement in future matchday squads, possibly inspiring those references to appreciating commitment and sacrifice or to genuine care for development. 
Looks like some people *liked it better* the way it was in the first two seasons
Starting XI
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over 5 years
Generally where there's smoke there's fire. And I hope the club can be humble and respectful in response to this. NZ has a bad track record in treatment of females in Pro environments. Canoeing, Cycling, Rugby to name a few. Although its hardly surprising there are issues when you think its the first female pro football team in NZ and at the Nix. Integrating a female team into a long established male environment will come with challenges.
Important that the Nix get the right help here to address this. The sentence that got me in Chloes post "Its not good enough to wait for something drastic to happen before changes are made" This rings so true, you just need to reflect on Olivia Podmore and what happened at NZ cycling. Also currently what happening at Sheffield United Women with Maddy Cusack.
I personally hope the club makes the moves to show the players they takes this seriously, but also that the players can appreciate it is a really new thing for the club to be establishing the first womens pro team in NZ, and that not everything is going to be perfect from the start.

Wellington Phoenix Women General Discussion and Squad Speculation

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