WPM 2022/23 Squad Speculation, Confirmation and Mutual Termination

Legend
6.8K
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14K
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over 16 years
Maybe his missus fancies some time living in NZ, trips to Queenstown or jet skiing or whatever…
He’d be a strong acquisition, has professional pedigree, is a definite utility and I’d be happy to watch him play again. He should be a step above Louis as much as we all loved that guy. If he got as much game time as Louis did, he would have a definite opportunity to make the case that he belongs at this level. You never know until you ask. As you say he’s 30 so it might be his last chance to play professionally in NZ. 

Only thing is that the coaching staff may not know him well. He’d need to get their confidence, obviously. 
WeeNix
730
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580
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over 4 years
Got this from varied sources:

WSW have placed a lucrative offer on the table to Roy who wants to play in Australia due to family reasons. 
WSW fans are pretty much convinced he will sign for them alongside Ninkovic.

Would be interesting to know if he received an offer from Phoenix.
Legend
11K
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21K
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almost 9 years
NZPhoenixFan
Got this from varied sources:

WSW have placed a lucrative offer on the table to Roy who wants to play in Australia due to family reasons. 
WSW fans are pretty much convinced he will sign for them alongside Ninkovic.

Would be interesting to know if he received an offer from Phoenix.

He’ll get to play for Rudan again then, the consummate family man.
Starting XI
480
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4.1K
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about 14 years
Nix on Twitter just posted the eyes..  does that mean we have a signing  coming 
Legend
11K
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21K
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almost 9 years
detoxin
Nix on Twitter just posted the eyes..  does that mean we have a signing  coming 

Something's happening it seems. Kosta? Juan Mata? A 37 yr old from Turkey?

Starting XI
2.9K
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2.5K
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over 5 years
detoxin
Nix on Twitter just posted the eyes..  does that mean we have a signing  coming 
Signing usual includes a notepad and pencil emoji.
Eyes only maybe some other club announcement.
But who knows.
valeo
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Legend
4.6K
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18K
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almost 17 years
Definitely Kosta.

Doesn't get me excited to be honest. Think he's well past his best.
Legend
6.8K
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14K
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over 16 years
Something happening better than things not happening. 

If it’s Kosta I don’t expect him to have to carry the team by himself which seemed like the expectation last time. 

Oli Sail overseas maybe?
First Team Squad
1.3K
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1.1K
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over 5 years
confirmed as Kosta. Happy with that
First Team Squad
2K
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1.9K
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almost 17 years
Okay as a Sotirio replacement but still need a quality striker (I see Kosta more as a winger despite how Sydney played him at times) to replace Hooper. 
Legend
11K
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21K
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almost 9 years
Yipe sound Sotiro type replacement. Known to Uffie. Knows the league well.

Hopefully a lot cheaper & settled than his last time in Welly. Someone better remove the Judas moniker off his Thread




Legend
8K
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14K
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over 16 years
I'm ok with this, hopefully he's coming back with a plan to stay around. @ year deal so that bodes well I guess. Gives us some solid A-league experience up top to support Ball, probably still need a target man type striker to balance the front 3/4 out.
Legend
11K
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21K
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almost 9 years
Marquee
2.7K
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7.2K
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almost 17 years
How many goals has he scored against us? Feels like a ton! To win my approval back he'd have to score jsut as many goals FOR us! Surely a good acquisition, but I agree with those saying he's a Sotirio replacement and we still need a younger-fitter-hopefully-better-Hooper up top to be competitive 
Starting XI
2.9K
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2.5K
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over 5 years
After a poor season with Sydney (albeit due to injury). The red against CR and the nature of his departure from the club last time. Hopefully he feels he has something to prove and comes this time with a really positive attitude. To work hard and perform for the team. And at 32 see out his career in some sort of style.
and 8 others
Starting XI
6.7K
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4.5K
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over 9 years
Welcome back Kosta. That makes it 2/2 on the decent signings front, so well done Nix

Attention turns now to getting some quality imports and we'll be well set up for a good full pre season, and with the bulk of our squad already in place.

Any further word on Boumal joining us from the Jets? Or has that one gone cold?
First Team Squad
820
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1.2K
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over 8 years
Maybe Uffie can wrangle some class out of him, but he was pretty unwilling to show it last time he was with us. Strangely not optimistic
Marquee
6.9K
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9.3K
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over 13 years
Third times a charm. The team is in a completely different situation from the last time he was here, and he's presumably not coming on marquee wages again so the weight of expectation will be different.

He'll do well, a couple of steps up on Sotirio.
and 1 other
First Team Squad
2.9K
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1.9K
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over 6 years
I'm happy about this. He was a marquee when he came back in 2016, but there's no way he's on marquee money this time. Think about how shrewdly Uffie and Gilly have been with their signings over the last 3 years, and some of you now have just instantly lost faith and think they would've spunked a load of money on an aging Kosta? Maybe they have, but maybe he's on a reasonable deal for both parties, given that all communication from the club points to us signing an import striker and import wide 10. Kosta will likely be the Piscopo/Sotirio replacement, rather than the Sandoval or Hooper replacement. Anyway, rant over, keep the faith in Uffie and Gilly
Marquee
3.1K
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6.7K
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over 16 years
Anyone taking bets on how long he will last? 
Marquee
6.9K
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9.3K
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over 13 years
newzealandpower
How many goals has he scored against us? Feels like a ton! To win my approval back he'd have to score jsut as many goals FOR us! Surely a good acquisition, but I agree with those saying he's a Sotirio replacement and we still need a younger-fitter-hopefully-better-Hooper up top to be competitive 
Press release says he'll be wearing the number 7 so I doubt we see him as our primary goal scorer.

Edit: Press conference 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3l9w8dC8m4

He had another two year offer from Sydney as well as a few other A-League clubs but he wanted to come home. He's motivated to bring us a title. He also said he left last time because the team wasn't working - seems to lay some blame with Merick.

Phoenix Academy
630
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470
·
about 9 years
Ryan
newzealandpower
How many goals has he scored against us? Feels like a ton! To win my approval back he'd have to score jsut as many goals FOR us! Surely a good acquisition, but I agree with those saying he's a Sotirio replacement and we still need a younger-fitter-hopefully-better-Hooper up top to be competitive 
Press release says he'll be wearing the number 7 so I doubt we see him as our primary goal scorer.

Edit: Press conference 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3l9w8dC8m4

He had another two year offer from Sydney as well as a few other A-League clubs but he wanted to come home. He's motivated to bring us a title. He also said he left last time because the team wasn't working - seems to lay some blame with Merick.

 Yea his one season had Merrick leaving, Des/Greenie caretaker coaches and we were about to sign Kalezic. Kosta left at the height of the shambles
Trialist
1
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3
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almost 2 years
Lachyloolaa
Maybe Uffie can wrangle some class out of him, but he was pretty unwilling to show it last time he was with us. Strangely not optimistic

Yeah I have pretty much zero confidence this guy will deliver anything of substance. He often looks the goods but fails to really fire, well for the Phoenix and All Whites. 
Opinion Privileges revoked
4.5K
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9.7K
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over 14 years
My mum doesn't even follow football, but she was listening to the CR game and informed me of her lack of regard for "that Kosta".
Legend
11K
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21K
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almost 9 years
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/129033427/all-white-kosta-barbarouses-eyes-fifth-aleague-title-as-he-returns-to-wellington-phoenix

Barbarouses will be hoping his second return to the Phoenix has a happier ending than his first one.

After a solid campaign in 2016-17, where he scored five goals and assisted five more, he sought a release from the second and final year of his contract, for what were said at the time by the club to be “reasons not pertaining to football”.

When asked if he could shed any light on the situation five years ago, Barbarouses’ first answer was: “Mostly footballing [reasons]”.

When pressed, he said there was also “some [family] stuff going on. A combination of a bit of both. It’s tough to get into it completely”.

One reason he did give for his decision to return again, even though there was interest in his services elsewhere in the league, was the fact that his extended Wellington-based family have barely met his daughters as a result of Covid-19 pandemic border restrictions.

Reflecting on 2016-17, a season where the Phoenix had a change of coach after eight matches, Barbarouses said: "You read all sorts of stuff that flies about, but the stability wasn't really there”.

“It was a tough year on the field. I think for me, if things are going well on the field, that's 80-90% of the battle.

“I'm not saying leaving was the right or wrong thing, but I left and joined really two really good teams, and I've won two more championships since then. I think maybe the timing just wasn't right.

“I'm pretty confident this time that with everyone in charge and the playing group, that things are going to work out really well.”

Early retirement
3.1K
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34K
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almost 17 years
He had a horrid run of luck in his second stint, role being asked of him, staffing challenges and a case of the yips.

Stoked he's back.
and 4 others
First Team Squad
2K
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1.3K
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over 5 years
I have a feeling with the squad being settled, uffie in charge and Kosta wanting to prove himself this will work out to be a better signing than a lot of people think. The experience to youth balance in the squad now looks good too.
and 7 others
WeeNix
290
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540
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almost 17 years
Man you guys are hard to please. He's got loads of experience in big games, he doesn't take a VISA and he knows a lot of the team. 

He's not our import striker or AM and he's not a D&CK. 

Welcome back Kosta!  He if stays fit and scores 4+ goals next season, I'm happy.

Also, please come back to me when you are ready to eat your words... 
mrdobalina
Lachyloolaa
Maybe Uffie can wrangle some class out of him, but he was pretty unwilling to show it last time he was with us. Strangely not optimistic

Yeah I have pretty much zero confidence this guy will deliver anything of substance. He often looks the goods but fails to really fire, well for the Phoenix and All Whites. 
and 4 others
WeeNix
740
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620
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over 15 years
I think I'd be more exited had I not seen his cameo against Costa Rica last week.
Good intent from the club though and I think it will probably prove to be a sound move
Legend
6.8K
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14K
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over 16 years
Smeltz4PM
I think I'd be more exited had I not seen his cameo against Costa Rica last week.
Good intent from the club though and I think it will probably prove to be a sound move

May even be good! Last time he came in with sky high expectations. That wee cameo may have dampened expectations and give him a chance to exceed them. 
WeeNix
360
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760
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over 16 years
His mistake against Costa Rica was just an awful error. Doubt we'll ever see him do that again. I'm a bit excited to see a Wellington lad back in the team. I reckon he'll go well here - he'll be playing for his friends and family who'll be sitting in the crowd. A real local lad made good. Welcome home Kosta and family.
Marquee
6.9K
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9.3K
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over 13 years
Yep, coming to the end of his career, the only thing he really has left to prove is to be successful at his home club.
and 1 other
First Team Squad
2K
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1.3K
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over 5 years
I wonder now with signing Kosta if we still use 3 import slots in the attacking area or we target a RB or even GK. Personally, if we were to sign a quality attacking import RB it would add a lot to the team in an area we're probably weakest in and would also make switching to the other formation Uffie used last year a stronger option to consider using depending on the team we're facing.

Phoenix Academy
1.1K
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460
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over 2 years
Aaah bugger it, at this point sign Rojas on the other side too. I could absolutely  get behind an all kiwi redemption wonderstory of two home-grown products returning home after a checkered relationship with the club to bring them to their first ever season winning title! 
and 8 others
RR
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Bossi Insider
9.2K
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33K
·
over 15 years
EXPIRES END OF 2022/23:
Callan ELLIOT
Joshua LAWS
Clayton LEWIS
Nicolas PENNINGTON
Alex RUFER
Oliver SAIL
Steven UGARKOVIC

EXPIRES END OF 2023/24:
Kosta BARBAROUSES
Ben OLD
Alex PAULSEN
Ben WAINE

EXPIRES END OF 2024/25:
Tim PAYNE
Finn SURMAN
Sam SUTTON
Oskar VAN HATTUM
Scott WOOTTON [V]  
David BALL [V] 
WeeNix
740
·
620
·
over 15 years
Really hope there's some discussions or an offer on the table for a new contract for Lewis
Phoenix Academy
75
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160
·
almost 17 years
Still remember Kosta coming on for Team Wellington vs Auck City at Kiwitea St for the last few minutes of a game, aged 15... more than half his life time ago!  Hope he goes well for us!
and 6 others
Legend
6.8K
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14K
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over 16 years
It’s guna be cool to have some one on the team who played in an attack featuring Ifill and Greenacre! 
Starting XI
460
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2.3K
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almost 17 years
martinb
It’s guna be cool to have some one on the team who played in an attack featuring Ifill and Greenacre! 

Get the band back together!

WPM 2022/23 Squad Speculation, Confirmation and Mutual Termination

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