Was also on the outer for a bit. I remember when Anthony Hudson selected him for the All Whites despite him not even making the phoenix match day squad. Rufer was even told he was not required at one point and had to trial to remain at the club.
If you want insight into why @WgtnPhoenixFC have been so successful this season, look no further than their captain.
Alex Rufer chats about the season, his "rollercoaster" career, his surname + whether this is the best he's ever played. Audio here 👇https://t.co/92ND3IafQP
I completely forgot about the time Mitch Nicholls played for us.
Good interview from Piney.
Butters' 45 mins vs CCM in his last appearance might be the worst performance by anyone In a Nix shirt ever, including fans wearing replica Nix kits having a kick around at the park. It was so bad.
Rufs must be gutted in that his missed pen and/or being banned for 1 game cost the club its first ever silverware.
I know Aus and maybe NZ gets turned on by a end of season shootout (playoffs) but winning the League is the biggest thing for me as it is for 95+% of all other sports competitions.
Rufs must be gutted in that his missed pen and/or being banned for 1 game cost the club its first ever silverware.
I know Aus and maybe NZ gets turned on by a end of season shootout (playoffs) but winning the League is the biggest thing for me as it is for 95+% of all other sports competitions.
Missing the Pen meant nothing in the end - we would have been equal on points, but behind on number of wins.
CCM won the league a few weeks back when they beat us in Central Coast 2-1 last minute...
Rufs must be gutted in that his missed pen and/or being banned for 1 game cost the club its first ever silverware.
I know Aus and maybe NZ gets turned on by a end of season shootout (playoffs) but winning the League is the biggest thing for me as it is for 95+% of all other sports competitions.
95+% of football comps for sure you are correct. But the USA the biggest sports market in the universe, has all of it's Big 4 plus others like the MLS with playoffs/finals systems.
UK & French rugby comps have finals. The big money 20/20 cricket comps incl IPL.
I'm guessing other domestic basketball leagues (2nd biggest world sport after football?) outside the NBA have finals. UEFA Champions League with it's massive global audience obviously has finals.
Some other domestic football comps like Peru & Colombia have final series. Usually 2 legged.
The Championship has the biggest play off (is a final in reality) game to get in the Premier League.
True, but the league winners are exempt from it. Anyway, we had multiple moments that lost us the league. Brisbane being one of them. Felt at the time that that was critical, then the 2-1 loss to ccm was an absolute hammer blow.
Whats the story with Merrick telling Rufer he had no future at the club ?.
Merrick got really annoyed at Tyler wotsit when he left because he’d invested a lot of coaching in him iirc. I remember that.
Tbh too Rufer was a bit confused about his best position and his game at a point there and Matt Ridenton looked the better player. Don’t think Rufer fit at the club as a striker really. We weren’t youth focused at that point and I think all of those guys would find the pathway much clearer today.
Yeah, I saw an interview with Rufer at the time where he said he'd identified that the team had a lack of depth in the defensive midfielder role, so he was going to stop being a striker and would start being one of those.
I often think that the reputation Rufer has is because we saw him learn his craft in his new position in public with very limited game time and a couple of big injuries to contend with. There's no doubt in my mind that wihtout the injuries, or with more game time, that he would have gotten to the point he is now quite a lot quicker.
Yeah, I saw an interview with Rufer at the time where he said he'd identified that the team had a lack of depth in the defensive midfielder role, so he was going to stop being a striker and would start being one of those.
I often think that the reputation Rufer has is because we saw him learn his craft in his new position in public with very limited game time and a couple of big injuries to contend with. There's no doubt in my mind that wihtout the injuries, or with more game time, that he would have gotten to the point he is now quite a lot quicker.
Never knew that, just adds to my respect for him. Learning a whole new position in public is no mean feat.
Whats the story with Merrick telling Rufer he had no future at the club ?.
Merrick got really annoyed at Tyler wotsit when he left because he’d invested a lot of coaching in him iirc. I remember that.
Tbh too Rufer was a bit confused about his best position and his game at a point there and Matt Ridenton looked the better player. Don’t think Rufer fit at the club as a striker really. We weren’t youth focused at that point and I think all of those guys would find the pathway much clearer today.
What Mark Ridenton? One of the best things Rudan did was to send him packing.
Yeah, I saw an interview with Rufer at the time where he said he'd identified that the team had a lack of depth in the defensive midfielder role, so he was going to stop being a striker and would start being one of those.
I often think that the reputation Rufer has is because we saw him learn his craft in his new position in public with very limited game time and a couple of big injuries to contend with. There's no doubt in my mind that wihtout the injuries, or with more game time, that he would have gotten to the point he is now quite a lot quicker.
Never knew that, just adds to my respect for him. Learning a whole new position in public is no mean feat.
Also shows that he's always been fairly strategic and with good self-reflection.
I've just looked at the PFA team of the season. I noticed that Rufer is included and Kosta is not. I don't think that Rufer got an award at our awards night (you can correct me). In my view the PFA got it right. Forget goals scored, at playing his position, Alex Rufer has been the best player in the league this season. If he was a year or two younger, I'd be certain that he had a big European future.
I've just looked at the PFA team of the season. I noticed that Rufer is included and Kosta is not. I don't think that Rufer got an award at our awards night (you can correct me). In my view the PFA got it right. Forget goals scored, at playing his position, Alex Rufer has been the best player in the league this season. If he was a year or two younger, I'd be certain that he had a big European future.
Kosta was named on the subs bench for the PFA team
Dome stated in that excellent A Leagues article someone posted - the blossoming ot Rufer as one of 3 major factors for the Nix this season. The other Chief (Kiwi like in his behaviour) & a 3rd I can't remember.
But Dome made a definite point of mentioning Rufer, is a standout factor in this season's success. Know one knows the club better than David Dome, he's been there a long time.
So I'd say as well as the stuff we see on field, and in post match interviews (very impressive, calm,steely, measured, matter of fact - a real leader), Rufer is now a huge presence around the club in general.
I mean it helps when you are winning, but there is far less whining from the club now about refs, and other 'the world is against the Nix' type baggage. That stuff always bugged me. Merrick & Durante were bad with it. It's not a winning mentality. For sure the reffing has got better, and is no more Nix Out FA shark going on etc. The club are yes a more valued part of the league.
But I reckon Rufer is a driver of a no excuses type mentality, that holds everyone to high standards, whilst also embracing the young guys coming in making them feel welcome and free to express themselves. Again winning helps alot in all that.
I will forgive Beazley simply because they are two different teams. Rufer IMO should be well ahead of Lewis in the NZ set up currently, but not Stamenic.
Ball and Garbett are interesting for different reasons, one (Garbs) seems like the only guy outside Wood who actually scores and the other is our captain in Woods absence. Short of form, although he seems to have refound it recently, but is/has played at a higher level.
Rufer needs to go overseas to earn a starting spot, bu proving he is a quality player against better opposition that he currently gets in the A League.
