Wellington Phoenix Women General Discussion and Squad Speculation

This ain't helping !


https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/350168223/football-ferns-call-ups-rob-wellington-phoenix-half-their-starting-11

Out: 
Annalie Longo, Brianna Edwards, Kate Taylor, Macey Fraser, Mackenzie Barry and Michaela Foster. 


Lake, mcMeekin, RFoster can cover
 three of them,but we need a new
 midfield! Breslin, Elliott and whinham will have to step up!

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/350168223/football-ferns-call-ups-rob-wellington-phoenix-half-their-starting-11

You'd think Klimkova will help out & release a few of the 6 early. Once Leat & Esson arrive Edwards will be 3rd choice GK. And honestly Doloras could play in goal, it's still a walk in the park. Keep your ph handy  

Ferns are going to win this tourney (incl final) in their sleep. ALW players will all be needed first game Tonga tomorrow, as the UK contingent arrive late. Why not allow some of ALW players (incl Nix) to miss the final on Feb 18th. Though changing flights at the 11th hour Samoa to Sydney (WSW game away) could yes be tricky

Fenix

This ain't helping !


https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/350168223/football-ferns-call-ups-rob-wellington-phoenix-half-their-starting-11

Out: 
Annalie Longo, Brianna Edwards, Kate Taylor, Macey Fraser, Mackenzie Barry and Michaela Foster. 


Lake, mcMeekin, RFoster can cover
 three of them,but we need a new
 midfield! Breslin, Elliott and whinham will have to step up!

Lake has a quad sprain apparently that why she didn't play the last game  and Speckmaier a tight hamstring. So both could be doubtful as well. Main seems to be on restricted minutes also.

   
                   Foster
Davidson Jaber Lake McMeeken
                 Errington 
           Whinham Breslin 
       Main Speckmaier Cox

Danieli
Brown
Brazendale
Elliot
Robertson 

Jerez (NZ U17s, Kate Sheppard Cup hero with Western Springs?) now with the Nix?

Is that Ela Jerez? 👀 https://t.co/qItljqToKm

— The Niche Cache (@thenichecache) February 7, 2024

The only players on contract for next season so far are:
Mackenzie Barry - end of 2024/25 season
Zoe McMeeken - 2024/25
Alyssa Whinham - 2024/25
Macey Fraser - 2025/26

Plus Daisy Brazendale, Manaia Elliott and Olivia Ingham who all have scholarship contracts to the end of 2025/26, and Ella McMillan, Aimee Danielli and Helena Errington who are in the Reserves set-up. Everyone else will be off contract in the next few months.

I'd say most of the Kiwis will stay, except maybe Kate Taylor who might look overseas, and Kelli Brown who might want to return to Aus. Depending on if R.Foster re-signs as well, Bri Edwards might not want to be no.2 for another season.

I'd expect to lose one or two imports as well - but keeping Speckmaier and Cox has to be a priority.

Whinhams contract has ended end of this season

Elbo

Whinhams contract has ended end of this season

So it has - I knew she'd signed a two-year deal but thought it was at the start of this season, rather than in 2022. So add her to the names off-contract

Wonder if that the end for Longo at the Nix. She might retire after the Olympics. 

Ranix

Wonder if that the end for Longo at the Nix. She might retire after the Olympics. 

It's probably time unless there's an appropriate off-field role. Didn't she have a role at NZ Football?

lthomas20

Ranix

Wonder if that the end for Longo at the Nix. She might retire after the Olympics. 

It's probably time unless there's an appropriate off-field role. Didn't she have a role at NZ Football?

She was the women's development officer at NZF as of last year, can only assume she's still doing that.

https://twitter.com/soccerdonna/status/1775828777060168021?t=WKCB-b2yAfvNIg1qoBhBXA&s=19

Foster drawing interest overseas.

coochiee

Jerez (NZ U17s, Kate Sheppard Cup hero with Western Springs?) now with the Nix?

Is that Ela Jerez? 👀 https://t.co/qItljqToKm

— The Niche Cache (@thenichecache) February 7, 2024

Trainig with the first team - but unable to sign a contract due to age restrictions I believe.

Will be a great addition next year to the team.

Ranix

https://twitter.com/soccerdonna/status/1775828777060168021?t=WKCB-b2yAfvNIg1qoBhBXA&s=19

Foster drawing interest overseas.

Nix fans will still claim Edwards is better

Two goals from open play all season - it did age well

Doloras

Reportsare

Temple: "Macey Fraser is a goalscoring midfielder"

Me: checks Capital Football results for WP Reserves: Fraser has scored no goals

When is she scoring goals - at training?

Reports are training goals do not count.

This aged well

Re the above comment, why would you discount Fraser's 3rd goal (that great free kick)? If she's a real threat from a dead ball situation, that just adds to the narrative she's a goal scoring midfielder.

3 goals from 19 games, not bad at all in her first pro season.

https://theniche-cache.com/football/2024/4/11/the-wellington-phoenix-a-league-womens-2023-24-season-in-review

I reckon Rebecca Lake was one of the finds of the season, I'd argue she could have been in the player of year conversation. 
Stepped up when required early on, coming on to secure games and then playing almost every minute until injured after Van der Meer was ruled out.
She was VC apparently too, and a key part of the leadership group. I assume she'll be resigned fairly smartly...

Macey Fraser has signed for the Utah Royals in the NWSL

Macey Fraser sold to Utah Royals in the NWSL for an A-League women's record transfer. No official number but higher than the previous record $100k. 

Really positive that NZ girls can now see a clear pathway to the big leagues through this club.
They now need to sigh Errington to a long deal. She's still under 20 but has a lot of potential. The first player that comes to mind to fill that Macey Fraser gap.

This is exactly what we want from our club - a pathway for professional athletes to make a living, make it to the ferns and then progress to better/bigger things.
Hopefully the first of many

Ela Jerez is the next big thing. Windham to become the player we all think she can be next year.

Huge for Fraser, for us and for the League. You love to see it.

That's great for her and the club.  

Not gonna lie, selfishly wanted to watch her in Nix colours for another year.

Great news for Macey.  I hope she won't be stuck on the subs bench.  What is the rest of the team like??

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/350247547/wellington-phoenix-star-macey-fraser-join-utah-royals-league-women-record-deal

Edit: spelling.

Oceanic6

Great news for Maisie.  I hope she won't be stuck on the subs bench.  What is the rest of the team like??

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/350247547/wellington-phoenix-star-macey-fraser-join-utah-royals-league-women-record-deal

From what I've read young players initially struggle to get playing time in the NWSL. I'd say she will do well to make the subs bench, and may have some time with their 2nd team.

The USWL is likely one of the top 5 womens leagues in the world after all.
https://herfootballhub.com/12-womens-football-leagues-to-follow-in-2022-and-how-to-watch/

Fraser wasn't even considered good enough for the ALW until this season.

Gemma Lewis and Natalie Lawrence really bad at talent ID, or has Fraser's fast progress surprised all including Temple?

Edit - Though yeah reading the Stuff article, it sounds like she could be fast tracked into their first team. They are struggling being 13th of 14 teams, having only being restablished in the NWSL last year. They have an Aussie assistant coach, and Katie Bowen played for them from 2018-2020

The team is coached by former US international and 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup winner Amy Rodriguez.

“Macey is a player that can make an immediate impact on our team,” Utah sporting director Kelly Cousins said.

“We are excited to welcome her to the club and to watch her develop here in Utah.”

Fraser described the move as an “unreal opportunity” and said she was grateful for Temple and the Phoenix for helping her rekindle her love for football.

https://us.soccerway.com/national/united-states/national-womens-soccer-league/2024/regular-season/r79504/

Selfishly sad to lose her. She has been awesome to watch, was really great to see her and Alyssa starting to combine really well in the attacking midfield.

Totally a massive loss for the nix but also a huge marketing win for us, clearly her talent was seen and value recognised by the royals. this is only good news for the nix club.

It does boggle the mind she never got a look in prior.

I wonder if any other A League players might get a look in - Kate Taylor another player with potential. Is COX worth another shot by another team?

Shout out also to the Welnix owners for investing in setting up a women's team. The club's ALW side now a critical pathway, in the development of young NZ female footballers. $100K a small, well earned return on their investment.

And as others have mentioned Fraser's signing demostrates to likes Whinham, Errington, Jerez or whoever that there is a pathway - even if it means starting in the ALW with it's minimal wages to begin with.

coochiee

Shout out also to the Welnix owners for investing in setting up a women's team. The club's ALW team now a critical pathway, in the development of young NZ female footballers. $100K a small, well earned return on their investment.

And as others have mentioned Fraser's signing shows to others like Whinham, Errington, Jerez or whoever that there is a pathway - even if it means starting in the ALW with it's minimal wages to start with.

While the Phoenix are remaining tight lipped on the exact sum paid by Utah, it’s understood Fraser’s sale comfortably tops the rumoured $100,000 Bay FC spent to sign Canadian goalkeeper Lysianne Proulx from Melbourne City in February.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/350247547/wellington-phoenix-star-macey-fraser-join-utah-royals-league-women-record-deal

If you listen to Domey talking about game day costs, it’s a very handy piece of revenue I’d imagine. 

Who was the lass who went to WSW? 

And Whinnan seems a very exciting prospect too. 

It certainly gives the Phoenix credibility to these players.

I presume you are thinking of Miley Clegg, who is now also in the NWSL.

Clegg's Racing Louisville actually play Fraser's Utah Royals this weekend, though likely neither will be involved. Fraser needs to wait for a US work permit for starters.

coochiee

I presume you are thinking of Miley Clegg, who is now also in the NWSL.

Clegg's Racing Louisville actually play Fraser's Utah Royals this weekend, though likely neither will be involved. Fraser needs to wait for a US work permit for starters.

And Clegg is still injured.

Also if Fraser is named in the ALW all-stars, is she likely to be able to play against Arsenal? Not sure if the NWSL is in-season now or when Fraser will be likely to join the team if she's waiting for a work permit.

coochiee

Oceanic6

Great news for Maisie.  I hope she won't be stuck on the subs bench.  What is the rest of the team like??

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/350247547/wellington-phoenix-star-macey-fraser-join-utah-royals-league-women-record-deal

From what I've read young players initially struggle to get playing time in the NWSL. I'd say she will do well to make the subs bench, and may have some time with their 2nd team.

The USWL is likely one of the top 5 womens leagues in the world after all.
https://herfootballhub.com/12-womens-football-leagues-to-follow-in-2022-and-how-to-watch/

Fraser wasn't even considered good enough for the ALW until this season.

Gemma Lewis and Natalie Lawrence really bad at talent ID, or has Fraser's fast progress surprised all including Temple?

Edit - Though yeah reading the Stuff article, it sounds like she could be fast tracked into their first team. They are struggling being 13th of 14 teams, having only being restablished in the NWSL last year. They have an Aussie assistant coach, and Katie Bowen played for them from 2018-2020

The team is coached by former US international and 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup winner Amy Rodriguez.

“Macey is a player that can make an immediate impact on our team,” Utah sporting director Kelly Cousins said.

“Not only does she have the temperament, but has the technical and physical abilities to succeed in the NWSL.

“We are excited to welcome her to the club and to watch her develop here in Utah.”

Fraser described the move as an “unreal opportunity” and said she was grateful for Temple and the Phoenix for helping her rekindle her love for football.

https://us.soccerway.com/national/united-states/national-womens-soccer-league/2024/regular-season/r79504/

On Lewis and Lawrence. I see Gemma Lewis is back in NZ working in the Northern Region. Natalie Lawrence who is at Lewes in the UK Championship, who are unfortunately about to get relegated down to regional level football. So probably both Lawrence and Jacqui Hand who is also at Lewes will both be looking for new gigs in a couple of weeks.

SamCoughlan

coochiee

I presume you are thinking of Miley Clegg, who is now also in the NWSL.

Clegg's Racing Louisville actually play Fraser's Utah Royals this weekend, though likely neither will be involved. Fraser needs to wait for a US work permit for starters.

And Clegg is still injured.

Also if Fraser is named in the ALW all-stars, is she likely to be able to play against Arsenal? Not sure if the NWSL is in-season now or when Fraser will be likely to join the team if she's waiting for a work permit.

Clegg has been training about 2 weeks now with Louisville.

Things you 💜 to see

After sustaining an injury prior to joining #RacingLou, Milly Clegg is in training with the team! pic.twitter.com/qpksElkcCr

— Racing Louisville FC (@RacingLouFC) April 2, 2024

Both great news and bad news at the same time! Super stoked for Fraser getting this opportunity but I had really hoped that we were going to get another season of her before she left us.

Hopefully this also shows others what is possible by playing with the Nix and makes it a more attractive prospect for them