The Championship feels a bit too high of a level for Surman to head to tbh. Triantis looked a better prospect and he barely played this season before his loan to Scotland.
I reckon Denmark would be a good stepping stone for Old but he probably needs 1 more full season in the ALM first.
Triantis went to Sunderland though, one of the bigger Championship clubs. It might be a smaller Championship side like Waine's Plymouth that are enquiring on Surman. Waineo telling the coaches, hey there is this young gun CB at my former club. I'm sure Plymouth with their lower budget than many, are always on the lookout for a potential 'bargain' buy.
Surman only has to ask his Nix team mate Wootton, as to whether he thinks he can make the grade at that level quickly. Wootton played nearly 100 games in the English 2nd tier. From memory Waine consulted both Ball, and Wootton (ex Plymouth) before making his move to the UK. Yes the Pilgrims were in League One at the time.
I reckon the Welsh clubs Cardiff City & Swansea City could also be possible destinations.
Nix will be dead set keen to get a fee for likes of Surman, Old & Paulsen. They saw last season's grand finalists CCM & Melb City, each sell 4-5 players afterwards. Finn's contract finishes in bit over 12 months, so unless he signs an extension, the Nix have a set time frame (by Jan 2025 window) to sell him.
Olympics yes a shop window, but that may not be best by Surman as he would then miss basically all the pre season for whatever UK club he signed with. That would put him behind the 8 ball from the get go, re adapting to the tough scene there. Best for him would be to sign & move to the UK soon after the ALM season finished, settle in up north, get a few weeks of pre season in, before off to Paris for 2-3 weeks.
Old is contracted for 3 more years (end of season 26/27), so not so much urgency for the Nix to work on getting a fee for him. Again it could be a lower level Danish Superliga club that are looking at him. And he could always be loaned down to a 2nd tier team intitally, like FCK did with Stamenic for basically 1.5 seasons from memory.
The Championship feels a bit too high of a level for Surman to head to tbh. Triantis looked a better prospect and he barely played this season before his loan to Scotland.
I reckon Denmark would be a good stepping stone for Old but he probably needs 1 more full season in the ALM first.
I think you might be under selling him a little by saying it's to high of a level. He is still very young and could be seen as a player to add depth, not start perhaps.
10 clean sheets in just over 20 games is impressive.
Is the Championship to high for Bindon currently?? Because personally I'd say Surman is playing at the higher level. Not sure who has the higher ceiling though.
The Championship feels a bit too high of a level for Surman to head to tbh. Triantis looked a better prospect and he barely played this season before his loan to Scotland.
I reckon Denmark would be a good stepping stone for Old but he probably needs 1 more full season in the ALM first.
I think you might be under selling him a little by saying it's to high of a level. He is still very young and could be seen as a player to add depth, not start perhaps.
10 clean sheets in just over 20 games is impressive.
Is the Championship to high for Bindon currently?? Because personally I'd say Surman is playing at the higher level. Not sure who has the higher ceiling though.
I'm not talking about Surman's development ceiling, I have no idea how far he could go.
The step up from A-League to the Championship is a huge one. A move to Scotland/League One would be less of a step up & he would have more chance of regular first team game time to develop.
The Championship feels a bit too high of a level for Surman to head to tbh. Triantis looked a better prospect and he barely played this season before his loan to Scotland.
I reckon Denmark would be a good stepping stone for Old but he probably needs 1 more full season in the ALM first.
I think you might be under selling him a little by saying it's to high of a level. He is still very young and could be seen as a player to add depth, not start perhaps.
10 clean sheets in just over 20 games is impressive.
Is the Championship to high for Bindon currently?? Because personally I'd say Surman is playing at the higher level. Not sure who has the higher ceiling though.
I'm not talking about Surman's development ceiling, I have no idea how far he could go.
The step up from A-League to the Championship is a huge one. A move to Scotland/League One would be less of a step up & he would have more chance of regular first team game time to develop.
Surman could absolutely sign for a Championship side, though, with an eye to his development. It's an interesting decision - sign for a Champ club as a rotation plater with a clear plan laid out for your future progression, or sign in League One on a lower wage but with immediate first-team football more likely?
Compared to players further forward a CB who is consistent and reliable is quite a recommendation.
Bindon perhaps is hoping to develop into a team leading personality and performer.
I think Surman is underrated because he’s not flashy, but just gets the job done. And there’s plenty of place for a team player like that higher up the pyramid.
Perhaps his athleticism or season fitness would need a step up at Championship level, which is longer than the A league. And get used to playing in winter again. As long as he goes to a club with good staff and facilities and has people he can trust, then I’m sure he adjusts well.
The Championship feels a bit too high of a level for Surman to head to tbh. Triantis looked a better prospect and he barely played this season before his loan to Scotland.
I reckon Denmark would be a good stepping stone for Old but he probably needs 1 more full season in the ALM first.
Best thing for Old is to stay, he's not there yet. Last thing he needs is to be warming the bench at a good club, or playing pub football lower down. We don't want another Singh situation.
The Championship feels a bit too high of a level for Surman to head to tbh. Triantis looked a better prospect and he barely played this season before his loan to Scotland.
I reckon Denmark would be a good stepping stone for Old but he probably needs 1 more full season in the ALM first.
I think you might be under selling him a little by saying it's to high of a level. He is still very young and could be seen as a player to add depth, not start perhaps.
10 clean sheets in just over 20 games is impressive.
Is the Championship to high for Bindon currently?? Because personally I'd say Surman is playing at the higher level. Not sure who has the higher ceiling though.
Yip. I think Surman is playing at a better level, more consistently then Bindon currently. Both have high ceilings mind.
I'd be over the moon if Argyle signed him. He looks the goods, Argyle likes kids and we need a good young CB. Like the Nix, Argyle is built around developing and selling, that was the plan for Ben, not that I can see that happening now.
I also think he's the only young kiwi in the A League and most other leagues, ready for better things.
The Championship feels a bit too high of a level for Surman to head to tbh. Triantis looked a better prospect and he barely played this season before his loan to Scotland.
I reckon Denmark would be a good stepping stone for Old but he probably needs 1 more full season in the ALM first.
Best thing for Old is to stay, he's not there yet. Last thing he needs is to be warming the bench at a good club, or playing pub football lower down. We don't want another Singh situation.
I think Old is a different prospect to Singh for a manager. He’s easier to fit into a bunch of situations and still can have an impact without the total coordination of others around him.
To get the best out of Singh he needs to be on the ball moving it around quickly with a lot of give and go. And get runs from the forwards ahead of him.
Old can get the ball, break a press and put in a cross. Or surge forward at pace with the ball. He can play as a classic winger, in a midfield or in a wide forward role. Where Singh likes to control the tempo of the game through ball movement, Old is much more a dribbler.
I also think he’s a little bit tougher than Marco or Singh.
I’d be a little less concerned if he went this season, but wouldn’t be sad to get to watch him next season.
The Championship feels a bit too high of a level for Surman to head to tbh. Triantis looked a better prospect and he barely played this season before his loan to Scotland.
I reckon Denmark would be a good stepping stone for Old but he probably needs 1 more full season in the ALM first.
Best thing for Old is to stay, he's not there yet. Last thing he needs is to be warming the bench at a good club, or playing pub football lower down. We don't want another Singh situation.
The Championship feels a bit too high of a level for Surman to head to tbh. Triantis looked a better prospect and he barely played this season before his loan to Scotland.
I reckon Denmark would be a good stepping stone for Old but he probably needs 1 more full season in the ALM first.
Best thing for Old is to stay, he's not there yet. Last thing he needs is to be warming the bench at a good club, or playing pub football lower down. We don't want another Singh situation.
pub football? Get off your high horse
Just by being at the Nix, he's at a higher level then many kiwis in Europe. I'd rate the Nix above many sides in Singh's division and easily ahead of most of Scandinavia's lower leagues.
Just because it's European doesn't mean it's good. I think a lot of Kiwis and Aussies sell the A League short.
Watch much Bundesliga 2, Marto? I don’t. But is it much different to The Championship? I doubt it
Sarpreet is too good for the Nix, but yet his struggling club Hansa Rostock that he can’t get a game for, are somehow inferior to the Phoenix!!! Some UK tinted glasses there
The top 2 leagues in Denmark aint pub football. If Old goes there (Superliga then loan to 2nd tier club or whatever) he’ll be at a decent level. Libby starting in Belgium is an example of choosing the right league to begin a young Nix player’s European career
A while back they reckoned the A league was top of league one, bottom of the Championship?
Not sure if that is still true, but looking at the way some players fill up the Scottish and Scandinavian leagues from the A league, the A league has had some strong seasons for sure.
It’s a concern there are few ex-local league players in the top flight anywhere though. Libby? And..?
The Championship feels a bit too high of a level for Surman to head to tbh. Triantis looked a better prospect and he barely played this season before his loan to Scotland.
I reckon Denmark would be a good stepping stone for Old but he probably needs 1 more full season in the ALM first.
I think you might be under selling him a little by saying it's to high of a level. He is still very young and could be seen as a player to add depth, not start perhaps.
10 clean sheets in just over 20 games is impressive.
Is the Championship to high for Bindon currently?? Because personally I'd say Surman is playing at the higher level. Not sure who has the higher ceiling though.
Yip. I think Surman is playing at a better level, more consistently then Bindon currently. Both have high ceilings mind.
I'd be over the moon if Argyle signed him. He looks the goods, Argyle likes kids and we need a good young CB. Like the Nix, Argyle is built around developing and selling, that was the plan for Ben, not that I can see that happening now.
I also think he's the only young kiwi in the A League and most other leagues, ready for better things.
Really? Interesting.
It’s difficult to say because things are better or worse, depending on the team.
I was shocked by how poor some of the transition attacking was at times from the glimpses of Argyle I saw. But I guess the forwards want that spectacular goal that might take them to the Prem. And it seemed like the players were stronger. And perhaps the ceiling of players across the squad was higher and more even for technique. Not a salary capped league, and it also means a lot to the local fans. It’s not below the radar as it is here.
As well I guess the in squad politics seem more intense. You don’t want to help any potential replacements get a leg up and cliques of players can go back to academies when they were 6 or 7…players can also think they’re hot sh@&¥ in a way the a league will never let you think!
Very nice statements from Zawada in the press events today.
Says the last two years are the best years of his life, says the club is the best club he's ever played for and he loves Wellington, New Zealand, and the A-League. He also calls out the Yellow Fever and says he has a "special feeling" to the fans.
Doesn't seem to have closed the door on staying either.
Very nice statements from Zawada in the press events today.
Says the last two years are the best years of his life, says the club is the best club he's ever played for and he loves Wellington, New Zealand, and the A-League. He also calls out the Yellow Fever and says he has a "special feeling" to the fans.
Doesn't seem to have closed the door on staying either.
As glad as I am, of course he can’t. He’s been injured most of the season. Doesn’t mean I don’t hope he, Kraev and kosta all stay.
All three are great players but I would be surprised if we can accommodate all three, and even if one or two of them then maybe one more season. Kraev and Zawada will ultimately return to Europe, either sooner or later, even if both have reasons to enjoy their stay apart from anything related to football. As for Kosta - I wish him injury-free longevity, lasting enjoyment of the game, and many happy seasons at The Nix to come. But he is also way older than Zawada or Kraev which is particularly tough on players like him where pace and skill are linked.
All three are great players but I would be surprised if we can accommodate all three, and even if one or two of them then maybe one more season. Kraev and Zawada will ultimately return to Europe, either sooner or later, even if both have reasons to enjoy their stay apart from anything related to football. As for Kosta - I wish him injury-free longevity, lasting enjoyment of the game, and many happy seasons at The Nix to come. But he is also way older than Zawada or Kraev which is particularly tough on players like him where pace and skill are linked.
Agree, but to be fair to Kosta, he's still lightening quick for his age. Doesn't seem to have lost much, if any, of his pace.
Chief made a jab at next years budget, saying some of the fans were offering to play during the photo and he might have to take them up on it.
He's talked about the budget next season a couple of times which is a little ominous. There's a lot of talk about the TV deal collapsing so I'd assume a lot of teams are in the same boat. But, if we don't win it this year then it might be a little lean for us (and the other non-big money teams).
Pennington, Kosta, Kraev & Zawada are the only players of note out of contract. I think it would be foolish for us to expect to re-sign more than one of the 3 forwards.
Everybody else is contracted. Some youngsters may be sold if big fee offers come in. But with the TV rights money per club reportedly being cut in half, the club may be forced to try and negotiate pay cuts for some contracted players, who may get a mutual termination as a result to seek better fortunes elsewhere. Napier Phoenix
Forgetting who’s contract expires etc, where do we think the team needs any new additions to improve on what we have and achieved this year?
We should be looking for a sponsor to re-sign the strikers. Are we likely to be selling Old and Surman too?
If they are legal to work in England, my hunch is that Paulsen, Surman, and Old are going. I say that with regret. They're all amazing and I want them to stay. But they're all Championship level and they're young. Maybe Sutton as well.
You could say that Paulsen, Surman and Old have the potential to be Championship quality but they're not there yet. Though it is very realistic that clubs could offer fees that the Nix wouldn't want to turn down this off-season.
Sutton on the other hand probably needs a decent injury free season before clubs want to offer a fee for him.
You could say that Paulsen, Surman and Old have the potential to be Championship quality but they're not there yet. Though it is very realistic that clubs could offer fees that the Nix wouldn't want to turn down this off-season.
Sutton on the other hand probably needs a decent injury free season before clubs want to offer a fee for him.
Pennington could easily be offered good money by another A League club (same as Lewis was). He is not a visa player. That is not the same as with Zawada or Kraev.
Despite his talent and his score card, I am not sure Zawada would attract the same "sign here" offer from ALM as Kraev might. And Kraev plus new family could be tempted to remain in this part of the world for whanau support.
Think we've got to focus on keeping our young guns in the squad for next season, Old, Surman etc are a must to make sure they are locked in - I know they are on contract but we cant afford to lose them just yet, especially with the budget restraints that are likely to restrict who we keep. Ideally Salas can be signed on a full time contract, Kraev too, I'm less worried about Zawada, his injuries are a concern and we are not gonna be able to afford him Kraev and Kosta.
