Contracted Players - Return of the Long Pins

Thought it was more Kristian Rees

So what's Abbas' best position? 

Well, back in the 70's, it was top of the music charts

Rees was here very early on, well before the World Cup.

He originally was a left winger but at Sydney he was pushed into a DM role because of injuries & then converted into a LB. Been playing LB for the last few years, so I think that is where we will be looking at using him.

last season I was critical of nix ownership but this year I have been impressed with their obvious intent and putting their money where their mouths are

I recall that Abbas has excellent left foot, which is why I was a bit confused how we got him as a injury cover for Fenton who is a RF. Doesn't injury cover have to be like for like?  We have Mullen and Galloway at RF already.

Looked on transfermarkt.com, he's played most of his football as a leftback or central/defensive midfielder. Obviously provides competition with Doyle for left back, but we know that Darije likes to play two defensive midfielders. At the moment everyone seems to agree that WeeMac will be Paracki's DM partner, but we could see Abbas play there with Mikey being pushed up (as long as Doyle is performing well)

It used to be a defender for a defender, midfielder for midfielder etc, what side they played doesn't matter.

Dome has said that they spent the most on the squad ever last season, there was also an article in stuff how the wage bill will be lower this season but the money will be spent smarter, this was just after Darje was hired so things might have changed.

You'd have to say that the blame for recruitment probably lied with Merrick and a lot of money was spent on a few players who couldn't all be in the same starting lineup together. This year it seems as though the money has been spread out more evenly across the team.

IE we don't have to pay Kosta $750k anymore

So potentially an experienced cover for Paracki, as well as FB/Lwing.  If so that's a great bit of squad strengthening.

Can't wait for Abbas v Santalab.

Fever v Santalab.

Racist fudge.

Yeah, "Santalab's a racist" was a chant that had to be explained to me at Mt Smart last year

So Abbas can cover a few positions. Even if we get injuries etc we won't have too many played out of position

I don't agree that Weemac is or should be defensive mid.:>)

Neither do I, however that's looking the most likely pick from Darije to play next to Paracki - probably classified more as a deep playmaker with Paracki doing the ugly work and WeeMac recycling the ball. McGlinchey needs a big season if he wants to stay though; Seems to get out-muscled at DM, isn't quick or strong enough anymore to be effective on the wing, and doesn't create as many opportunities as Finkler playing centrally

He won't be. Paracki will. 

Just looking at new striker Andrija Kaludjerovic's transfer history on transfermarkt.com, it's interesting to note that Swiss club FC Thun signed Marco Rojas on loan from Stuttgart to replace Kaludjerovic when he left for Brisbane Roar in January 2015.

Both players had the same goal-scoring stats for the half season they were at Thun 2014-15:  2 goals

FC Thun stats:

Andrija Kaludjerovic:  2 goals in 15 league and cup games 2014-15  half season (August - January)

 Marco Rojas: 2 goals in 17 games 2014 -15 half season (from January - May); total 5 goals in two seasons (46 games)

https://www.foxsports.com.au/football/a-league/wellington-phoenix-signing-ali-abbas-opens-up-on-tough-spell-at-pohang-steelers-in-south-korea/news-story/8d6a356cf92625c70466bdf715092cc1

Just found a fairly new podcast - The Asian Game, host by Aussies Scott McIntyre (ex-SBS) & Paul Williams (Asian Football Feast founder). Ali Abbas interviewed in Episode1(22:10 - 40:10), mostly about Iraq's 2007 Asian Cup win, but also touches on his club career  Episode 1

Interesting to see how on the front page article about Smith blowing Maccarone a kiss they said he is "not on a professional contract" - that's probably why didn't figure as such in the WeeNix match program last week.

My question is, does he count towards the overall first team squad number then? 

You would think he is probably on a scholarship deal, which is outside the cap. Teams can have up to 6 players on those deals

Keegan Smith signs for three years https://www.wellingtonphoenix.com/news/keegan-smit...

Smith signs a pro contract with the nix.

Does this mean someone else needs to drop out or is it under the scholarship rules?

https://www.wellingtonphoenix.com/news/keegan-smit...

Yep, graduated deal that starts as youth scholarship but ends as full professional contract. Thanks.

— Wellington Phoenix (@WgtnPhoenixFC) November 8, 2017

Nix tweet it's a scholarship deal that turns into a pro contract later down the line (presumably when Italiano leaves).

No brainer, great stuff for him and his family

Shown enough to show some excellent potential. Yes, a few error but that will be fixed with time. I wish some would cut the kid some slack. There are four people playing directly in front of him that could help a bit more.

Great news - I like his style

So assuming Fenton comes back next year, thats 2 players that are 'signed' for next year.

Does this mean either Italiano or Sail will be dropped next season?

Somehow I am not 100% sure he'd be back.  A year is a long time for a young bloke and he could be getting some useful qualification in the meantime, just to avoid unpleasant surprises if the wheels fall off on his comeback.

I really doubt Fenton or Italiano will be at the club next season.

Sail has 1 more season on contract after this season, Mambo is only on a 1 year contract. So the writing is on the wall for Mambo, main question will be whether he looks to leave during the January window now.

Just curious, what has happened to Sail.   smith has come out of the blue which is great to see, very raw but has potential  But Sail has been around the club for 2 seasons.  How did Smith get ahead of him so easy?

Because of his distribution skills and his calmness...

I was surprised when Sail was signed because there were better keepers in Auckland at the time so for me, Oli Sail is not someone that has ever wowed me. I thought Zac Speedy and Conor Tracey were better keepers. Damien Hirst was alright there for a little while.

EXPIRES END OF 2017/18:

Andrew DURANTE
Gui FINKLER (f)
Scott GALLOWAY
Lewis ITALIANO
Andrija KALUDJEROVIC (f)
Roy KRISHNA (f)
James McGARRY (u21)
Michael McGLINCHEY 
Daniel MULLEN
Goran PARACKI (f)
Matthew RIDENTON
Logan ROGERSON (u21)
Marco ROSSI (+1) (f)
Alex RUFER
Dario VIDOSIC

EXPIRES END OF 2018/19:

Ali ABBAS
Tom DOYLE
Louis FENTON*
Dylan FOX
Ryan LOWRY
Adam PARKHOUSE
Oliver SAIL
Hamish WATSON

EXPIRES END OF 2019/20:

Sarpreet SINGH (u21)
Keegan SMITH*

*  contract begins September 2018

I hope that WelNix are in talks with Krishna to extend his contract then, he is becoming a Nix legend.