Ernie Merrick - former Phoenix manager

You're right about that. Though is a 5 game sample enough to prove his worth as a manager? I think we have the squad to be able to replicate our form when we had Burns at the club, so I think we should have a more experienced manager take over. 

Lead story on the midday news.

Could Greenacre do any worse?

Considering the teams form, one would hope management has someone teed up.

looks like we will be looking for another new coach and Greenarce will be tempary coach

Lets get Sam Allerdyce on the phone. Surely worth a call.

There's nobody else in the country who can do realistically do Des Buckinghams job.

I'd be leaving it up to the new manager to decide whether he wants to bring in his own assistants or not.

It was more of a tongue in cheek suggestion, rather than an immediate solution.

Can see him getting the reigns for rest of season though. If Welnix are meticulous with their planning, they won't just jump in to sign another manager. 

Probably a wide ranging world wide search that will take months and months and end up with either Ramon or Hudson getting the reigns...

maybe promoting the weenix coach

Ramon. Do it.

I wonder if the Phoenix have someone in mind as in the press release he said:

Fudge off (wait until after xmas)

Who out thought the coach of the (was it) 3rd best club coach in the world to Take The Top NZ trophy on a very limited budget :-)

It's interesting when I hear people say "we have the squad" but I really don't think we do. I think we have spent a lot of money and not come up with a very good squad. I think that recruitment was one of Merrick's weakest points.

MILLICICH IN! 

Ramon or Emblem are my picks.

What will be of more interest to me are the possible squad and formation changes... Do Lia and Finkler suddenly find themselves on the bench or Kosta after a slow start etc.

Biggest mistake this season was getting Gui in imo. Not because he's necessarily a terrible player; but because that was not the area we needed to strengthen.

Not upset he's gone, possibly should have been earlier, but maybe a 'good luck ernie' or something similar banner from the fever for Saturday's game?  He's done a lot for the club, and despite the results on the field, I think has been a fantastic ambassador for the Phoenix.

How about Myron Bleiberg from the Goldcoast?

hahaha you make me laugh LG! Good one!

I will be amazed if a new coach plays Roly, Lia and Parkhouse in the same positions

And he has a 2 year deal as well. I think Roly and A-Rod will have to be moved on at the end of the season. They are our only two foreign players with their contracts up. My worry is that most of the money is already locked up for the 17/18 season. You can release players but that can be a messy thing to do. It's going to be tough for a new manager to come in because our team is built one way and the new manager probably doesn't have the players to play his style. Apart from being in Hamish Watson, it is difficult to suggest many changes to the starting XI.

Bring back Ricki :)

Agreed. Defensively we are very weak, we're overloaded with attacking midfielders who don't score goals, and we have one striker who scores but can't take penalties.

I think a new coach has a bit to work with going forward, but that defensive midfield area is weak as piss.

Mossy

Tratt Durante Rossi Iwata

Te Atahwai Riera

Parkhouse Roly Lewis

Kosta Krishna

NICE.

I think at the very least we have a Top 6 side

Roly isn't the same as Gui, in our team I'd rather have Gui playing than Roly because we need a play maker.

Isn't the salary cap going up next season? Apparently a lot of players are holding off signing deals because they think their value will increase so it isn't a bad thing having higher cost players locked in.

Prepare to be amazed (for at least 2 out of the 3).

Ernie is an honourable man and has done the honourable thing.

Apparently Welnix turned down Steve Coppell last time: you can tell from my avatar what I thinkof that. Is he still available?

I think Tribulietx has to come into serious consideration.

We still only have two foreign spots available. The problem for us is that we are not in the market for quality Australian players. We got Burns but most others don't come here. Even if the salary cap goes up, we will have to spend that money on kiwis and we haven't been bringing many of them back from Europe either.

Thanks for all your work and giving it a go Ernie

I'm leaning towards our new manager having a first name of Bert. Not as cool as Wolfgang Wolf of Wolfsburg but still, in our own way, would mean something. 

It's already early December so no reason why he could not be given a stint after the CWC later this month. 

He was approached by Brisbane Roar before they chose Aloisi (who is half as good a coach, IMHO).

Wow that escalated quickly come out for a break and holy shark. Never good to lose your coach mid season but do think something had to be done. Even with the new signings we were getting much of the same. Very important Welnix get the next appointment right really don't think the fan base can take much more mediocrity. Might be time for the new gaffer to think about a change of captain ad well.

I'm sure a team with 12 players would be doing ok.

If we were to go with 4231

Moss

Tratt Dura Rossi Doyle

Lia/Rodriguez Roly

Kosta Gui WeeMac

Krishna/Watson

Which will likely morph into the 41212/4222 we have been playing - Kosta pushes high, WeeMac tucks in with Doyle playing high and wide.

At least the press conferences would be fun.

Merrick got stuck in a rut as far as his coaching formula went and was unable to move beyond his limited tactics of counter-attacking with little attention to retaining possession in midfield. Persisting with Vince Lia game after game showed his inability to progress tactically in this area..

Became easy for opposition teams to nullify the Phoenix attacks.

I think the squad is potentially the best the Phoenix have had - Rossi is a better player than Sigmund, Tratt and Parkhouse show promise as wing-backs despite their inexperience, Bonevacia remains class in the midfield, Finkler, Barbarouses and Krishna are three of the best attacking options the Nix have ever had, Watson is showing real promise as second choice striking option.

Rodriguez is a decent enough midfielder but maybe wasn't being given a clearly defined role by Merrick.

Ridenton has a contribution to make as defensive midfielder instead of Lia who should become a squad player - useful to have on the bench with his experience but you don't want him starting.

Moss and Durante remain the two excellent senior pros in the team you can rely on.

I wasn't surprised that Merrick resigned this morning - I thought by half-time on Sunday that he should be given a month to turn things around or else be sacked. It couldn't go on this way, especially after last season's poor showing.

Glad I do that Patrick, rather you laughing than pissed off. Same to the other users on here.

John Key resigning as PM too apparently. Coincidence? Nah.