WPM 2024/25 Squad Speculation, Confirmation and Mutual Termination

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Welcome back Marco! 🐦‍🔥

Marco Rojas returns to the Wellington Phoenix on a one-year deal! 🤩#COYN! 🔥

💛🖤 | https://t.co/SAVRs4aeWc pic.twitter.com/tWhkynuAgO

— Wellington Phoenix 🔥 (@WgtnPhoenixFC) July 8, 2024

Some lovely quotes from him in the article

“I recognise the importance they played in the scholarship that first got me going as a professional footballer,” he said.

“My family and I still talk about the Yellow Fever and the financial commitment they made, the ‘Retro Ricki’ car we had for the week or two in Wellington and the trip to Queenstown to play Melbourne.

“If it wasn’t for the scholarship I would have had a very different path to professional football.

“I’m very grateful for the start the Yellow Fever gave me and even though I left I hope they can still see it as a special thing that I’m coming back.”

https://wellingtonphoenix.com/news/welcome-back-marco/

WhoStoleMySock

Edit: Ugh, forget about it. Twitter sucks. Don't know how to embed links. Yay Marco!

Copy the link from twitter - it will look like this. ⬇️

https://x.com/WgtnPhoenixFC/status/1810448800928108645?t=aIqjrp-nAGZIuFkvYzkIDQ&s=19

Change x to twitter. Like so ⬇️

https://twitter.com/WgtnPhoenixFC/status/1810448800928108645?t=aIqjrp-nAGZIuFkvYzkIDQ&s=19

Copy the new link, delete the old link, and paste the newly copied link. ⬇️

Welcome back Marco! 🐦‍🔥

Marco Rojas returns to the Wellington Phoenix on a one-year deal! 🤩#COYN! 🔥

💛🖤 | https://t.co/SAVRs4aeWc pic.twitter.com/tWhkynuAgO

— Wellington Phoenix 🔥 (@WgtnPhoenixFC) July 8, 2024

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/350334810/former-wellington-phoenix-star-marco-rojas-makes-sensational-return
ugh! I'm not overly happy about it, but I'm prepared to be proven wrong. If he manages a Kosta like season then I'll change my tune.

It could mean nothing, but the fact that he's getting involved in pre-season training from this week (rather than jetting in a week or two before the first game of the season) says to me he's sincere about his second spell with us.

That, the quotes above, and the fact that he's also wearing the number 21 again makes me optimistic he's going to be absolutely humming when Round 1 comes around.

theprof

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/350334810/former-wellington-phoenix-star-marco-rojas-makes-sensational-return
ugh! I'm not overly happy about it, but I'm prepared to be proven wrong. If he manages a Kosta like season then I'll change my tune.

I am. Is he at the peak of his powers? No. But the technical ability is still there, and that technical ability is some of the best the league has ever seen. Also (and I know this has no actual value to our season), I'm a sucker for the storyline. Some parts of the fan base have pined for Marco to come back for years and it's finally happened, with Kosta as well. It's a feel good signing

theprof

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/350334810/former-wellington-phoenix-star-marco-rojas-makes-sensational-return
ugh! I'm not overly happy about it, but I'm prepared to be proven wrong. If he manages a Kosta like season then I'll change my tune.

I'm looking forward to hopefully getting to know Rojas a bit more, with him being at the Nix. Even though he's played 45 games for the AWs, I feel we don't really know him well. Like he's a bit misunderstood, with different priorities these days, and seemingly a little media shy.

I always got the feeling Melbourne was really now his home, and he didn't think much of his first spell at the Nix. But he's said some nice things in that article, and often as we mature we look back more fondly on past experiences. A touch of nostaglia even. He's far closer to the end of his career, than the start of it.

In Chief we Trust.

Italiano is backing himself to get the best out of Rojas, like he did with Kosta Barbarouses during the Phoenix’s run to the semifinals last season.

“I’m really excited because of the amount of talent Marco has,” Italiano said.

“We’re the right club for him to thrive. We’re going to give him the freedom to play and express himself.

YoungHeartHM

WhoStoleMySock

Edit: Ugh, forget about it. Twitter sucks. Don't know how to embed links. Yay Marco!

Copy the link from twitter - it will look like this. ⬇️

https://x.com/WgtnPhoenixFC/status/1810448800928108645?t=aIqjrp-nAGZIuFkvYzkIDQ&s=19

Change x to twitter. Like so ⬇️

https://twitter.com/WgtnPhoenixFC/status/1810448800928108645?t=aIqjrp-nAGZIuFkvYzkIDQ&s=19

Copy the new link, delete the old link, and paste the newly copied link. ⬇️

Welcome back Marco! 🐦‍🔥

Marco Rojas returns to the Wellington Phoenix on a one-year deal! 🤩#COYN! 🔥

💛🖤 | https://t.co/SAVRs4aeWc pic.twitter.com/tWhkynuAgO

— Wellington Phoenix 🔥 (@WgtnPhoenixFC) July 8, 2024

Testing...
https://twitter.com/WgtnPhoenixFC/status/1810448800928108645?t=GTCxd-6TJQRdsHSNjQSySw&s=19
Edit: DAMN IT.

That really is a fantastic signing, the guy is pure class

The fact he was signed when Auckland FC has just came on the scene, and I daresay is the most high profile off contract available kiwi, speaks volumes for the club that the Nix have become.

WhoStoleMySock

YoungHeartHM

WhoStoleMySock

Edit: Ugh, forget about it. Twitter sucks. Don't know how to embed links. Yay Marco!

Copy the link from twitter - it will look like this. ⬇️

https://x.com/WgtnPhoenixFC/status/1810448800928108645?t=aIqjrp-nAGZIuFkvYzkIDQ&s=19

Change x to twitter. Like so ⬇️

https://twitter.com/WgtnPhoenixFC/status/1810448800928108645?t=aIqjrp-nAGZIuFkvYzkIDQ&s=19

Copy the new link, delete the old link, and paste the newly copied link. ⬇️

Welcome back Marco! 🐦‍🔥

Marco Rojas returns to the Wellington Phoenix on a one-year deal! 🤩#COYN! 🔥

💛🖤 | https://t.co/SAVRs4aeWc pic.twitter.com/tWhkynuAgO

— Wellington Phoenix 🔥 (@WgtnPhoenixFC) July 8, 2024

Testing...
https://twitter.com/WgtnPhoenixFC/status/1810448800928108645?t=GTCxd-6TJQRdsHSNjQSySw&s=19
Edit: DAMN IT.

 Once you change it to twitter.com you have to re cut and paste and it should work

Hutcho137

WhoStoleMySock

YoungHeartHM

WhoStoleMySock

Edit: Ugh, forget about it. Twitter sucks. Don't know how to embed links. Yay Marco!

Copy the link from twitter - it will look like this. ⬇️

https://x.com/WgtnPhoenixFC/status/1810448800928108645?t=aIqjrp-nAGZIuFkvYzkIDQ&s=19

Change x to twitter. Like so ⬇️

https://twitter.com/WgtnPhoenixFC/status/1810448800928108645?t=aIqjrp-nAGZIuFkvYzkIDQ&s=19

Copy the new link, delete the old link, and paste the newly copied link. ⬇️

Welcome back Marco! 🐦‍🔥

Marco Rojas returns to the Wellington Phoenix on a one-year deal! 🤩#COYN! 🔥

💛🖤 | https://t.co/SAVRs4aeWc pic.twitter.com/tWhkynuAgO

— Wellington Phoenix 🔥 (@WgtnPhoenixFC) July 8, 2024

Testing...
https://twitter.com/WgtnPhoenixFC/status/1810448800928108645?t=GTCxd-6TJQRdsHSNjQSySw&s=19
Edit: DAMN IT.

 Once you change it to twitter.com you have to re cut and paste and it should work

Riiiight, okay that worked like a charm, thank you! Watch me forget that for the next signing 😂

Hoki mai, e tama ma, ki roto, ki roto, ...

Happy with this signing!

He's said all the right things so far, and I think Chiefy can get the best out of him.

It wasn't so long ago a lot of us thought signing with theRoar for the remainder of last season was just so he could then go on to AFC - when in fact he's come to us instead which is a really great turn around! Until a week or so ago I never even considered he may come back to us. 

Also we know AFC and the Roar wanted him so it's even better that we were able to fend them off, potentially it says a lot about the pulling power the Nix have within the league with the great NZCIS facilities

WhoStoleMySock

YoungHeartHM

WhoStoleMySock

Edit: Ugh, forget about it. Twitter sucks. Don't know how to embed links. Yay Marco!

Copy the link from twitter - it will look like this. ⬇️

https://x.com/WgtnPhoenixFC/status/1810448800928108645?t=aIqjrp-nAGZIuFkvYzkIDQ&s=19

Change x to twitter. Like so ⬇️

https://twitter.com/WgtnPhoenixFC/status/1810448800928108645?t=aIqjrp-nAGZIuFkvYzkIDQ&s=19

Copy the new link, delete the old link, and paste the newly copied link. ⬇️

Welcome back Marco! 🐦‍🔥

Marco Rojas returns to the Wellington Phoenix on a one-year deal! 🤩#COYN! 🔥

💛🖤 | https://t.co/SAVRs4aeWc pic.twitter.com/tWhkynuAgO

— Wellington Phoenix 🔥 (@WgtnPhoenixFC) July 8, 2024

Testing...
https://twitter.com/WgtnPhoenixFC/status/1810448800928108645?t=GTCxd-6TJQRdsHSNjQSySw&s=19
Edit: DAMN IT.

It's the DAMN IT that's done me in here. 🤣🤣

Hopefully you've got it working now any way with a little bit of extra help.

Anyway, back to the football. Good recruitment that. If we can get him to do something similar to what Kosta did last term then we're on to a winner. 

Also, this is excellent recruitment for the likes of GSR. Big time role model to look up to.

Wow, what a signing. I'm so glad he has come back - what a storyline. Some people here seem to think he is disingenuous but those quotes and that write up say quite the opposite. He probably has one eye on the 2026 world cup but then again I'm sure most do so I don't really blame him for that. The Nix will definitely get him seen by the All Whites.

I will be eagerly awaiting the presser to see what he sounds like but I'm already partly sold on how good this is going to be. If we can get him fit, he is going to fly again in the A-League. We of any club have the best chance to get him fit - Kosta can attest to that with the facilities we have at our disposal.

Interesting question- can he replace Ben Old? He left as a better player than Old, now I think he’s got a bit of work to do to fill those boots…

martinb

Interesting question- can he replace Ben Old? He left as a better player than Old, now I think he’s got a bit of work to do to fill those boots…

Different sort of player (will be age 33 in November) than fast, dynamic, counter attacking Old. Rojas ain't got the legs now to play like that.

I think OVH will be the one to try replace Old. Maybe GSR if he shows that ability, but you feel he is a way off being a ALM starter.

However already you can see Chiefy saying the Nix will try play a bit different (more stylish), with Marco on board. 

coochiee

martinb

Interesting question- can he replace Ben Old? He left as a better player than Old, now I think he’s got a bit of work to do to fill those boots…

Different sort of player (will be age 33 in November) than fast, dynamic, counter attacking Old. Rojas ain't got the legs now to play like that.

I think OVH will be the one to try replace Old. Maybe GSR if he shows that ability, but you feel he is a way off being a ALM starter.

However already you can see Chiefy saying the Nix will try play a bit different (more stylish), with Marco on board. 

Agree with you that Rojas is not really like for like with Old, not even sure if OVH is. OVH looks like a target man type striker being played on the wing when he gets a chance, I reckon he'd be better served as the central man. Will be interesting to see how Chief uses the assets he's left with. Assuming Kraev stays he could well end up being the focal point of our attack build up play.

martinb

Interesting question- can he replace Ben Old? He left as a better player than Old, now I think he’s got a bit of work to do to fill those boots…

For me, he’s the perfect replacement for Pennington.

martinb

Interesting question- can he replace Ben Old? He left as a better player than Old, now I think he’s got a bit of work to do to fill those boots…

Think he'll be less busy with the ball compared to Old but will hopefully use his experience to be in the right spot and be more clinical than Old. So probably a bigger impact with goals and assists but less of an impact in general play.

Chief said that Rojas is an attacking player and will be part of the front, also that the formation will change to suit Rojas's strengths.

Also, we've got an offer in front of Kraev and will expect an answer in the next couple of weeks.

Gill said that we're better positioned than most clubs and are comfortable with our off season and that even with players sold we have more stability than normal. Also said a number of players out there are chasing contracts that no longer exist and have to accept lower wages for the new reality of the league (wonder if what we've got in front of Kraev is lower which is why he's taking his time)

wilbaker

martinb

Interesting question- can he replace Ben Old? He left as a better player than Old, now I think he’s got a bit of work to do to fill those boots…

Think he'll be less busy with the ball compared to Old but will hopefully use his experience to be in the right spot and be more clinical than Old. So probably a bigger impact with goals and assists but less of an impact in general play.

To get the most out of Marco, you'd want him on the ball as much as possible. While he doesn't have Old's explosive turn of pace, we've all seen how can use his feet to get out of a tight situation effectively, Marco's also got a better pass and he's definitely not slow. Probably going to be a much greater threat on goal as well, based on his previous stints in the A-League.

Friar Tuck

martinb

Interesting question- can he replace Ben Old? He left as a better player than Old, now I think he’s got a bit of work to do to fill those boots…

For me, he’s the perfect replacement for Pennington.

Disagree.

I see him as more of a like for like after the Lasogga deal fell through.

Smeltz4PM

Friar Tuck

martinb

Interesting question- can he replace Ben Old? He left as a better player than Old, now I think he’s got a bit of work to do to fill those boots…

For me, he’s the perfect replacement for Pennington.

Disagree.

I see him as more of a like for like after the Lasogga deal fell through.

God with all the cash for these transfers we've got we'd be mad not to go all in on Lasogga now.

Smeltz4PM

Friar Tuck

martinb

Interesting question- can he replace Ben Old? He left as a better player than Old, now I think he’s got a bit of work to do to fill those boots…

For me, he’s the perfect replacement for Pennington.

Disagree.

I see him as more of a like for like after the Lasogga deal fell through.

I prefer Sery Elie de Campos if we’re looking at the top end of the pitch

djtim3000

wilbaker

martinb

Interesting question- can he replace Ben Old? He left as a better player than Old, now I think he’s got a bit of work to do to fill those boots…

Think he'll be less busy with the ball compared to Old but will hopefully use his experience to be in the right spot and be more clinical than Old. So probably a bigger impact with goals and assists but less of an impact in general play.

To get the most out of Marco, you'd want him on the ball as much as possible. While he doesn't have Old's explosive turn of pace, we've all seen how can use his feet to get out of a tight situation effectively, Marco's also got a better pass and he's definitely not slow. Probably going to be a much greater threat on goal as well, based on his previous stints in the A-League.

Yeah, Chief said Old was played as a winger and would run at players from wide, whearas Rojas is a player who you want to get on the ball in better locations.

martinb

Interesting question- can he replace Ben Old? He left as a better player than Old, now I think he’s got a bit of work to do to fill those boots…

Chief says he will be in one of the front 3 attacking positions

Wellington Phoenix head coach Giancarlo ‘Chiefy’ Italiano says the 2023-24 semi-finalists will be changing formation next season.

‘Nix will “evolve” their system to play to Marco Rojas’ strengths. https://t.co/Efiru3aHtG pic.twitter.com/Uc6ZaknRdi

— Sacha Pisani (@Sachk0) July 9, 2024

Pleased with this signing. I don’t know much of him, but I know a lot of you rate him highly and he always came up in the off season as the one people wanted to return “home”.  Kudos to the club pulling this one off. Now for Kraev to confirm he’s signed a new 3 year deal please.

Loved to see Chief perk up and a bit of a mischievous smile there when the derby was mentioned. 

It’s a Kiwi derby, but also a Sydney coach derby and you feel he’s really keen to get ascendancy.

WanderingSheep

Pleased with this signing. I don’t know much of him, but I know a lot of you rate him highly and he always came up in the off season as the one people wanted to return “home”.  Kudos to the club pulling this one off. Now for Kraev to confirm he’s signed a new 3 year deal please.

Victory fans think of him as one of their all time greats, I remember when he left last time they were arguing about whether he was the greatest marquee they'd ever had. One of the reasons he left last time because they needed to free up the marquee spot for Nani, a decision quite a few Victory fans were unhappy about (and, in hindsight, rightly so).

Being a Johny Warren award winner, he's also one of the A-League greats. Surprising he's never won the toilet seat.

Well done to whoever picked the picture to accompany the news item of Rockarse returning.

Just watched the presser and I'm absolutely bloody stoked. Marco comes across as a humble, humorous, matured and above else, genuine. He seemed like such a normal guy and a great figure to have in such a young dressing room. Every player says they're glad to be at whatever club they're at, but it really felt honest coming from him. Considering how we generally felt towards him and Kosta for years, this could be a special season

Chief mentioned a slight formation change is in the works. He models his style off of De Zerbi who employs a 4231.

With our current squad (hoping Kraev stays), that could look like this:

IMG_7080.jpeg 464.12 KB

Potentially goes some way to solve our attacking problems too by adding an additional player in the front third.

Personally I’d like to see an import left winger, preferably left footed. I’d also like another striking option, alongside reinforcements at CM and CB.

What Jazzy Jeff said. So impressed with Marco's enthusiasm, humility, all quietly spoken, but with a genuine smile. Love it! 

Did I mishear or was it more or less said in the press conference that there was going to be more attacking signings?

imanixsupporter

Did I mishear or was it more or less said in the press conference that there was going to be more attacking signings?

Yeah Chief said one or two more

imanixsupporter

Did I mishear or was it more or less said in the press conference that there was going to be more attacking signings?

Not really. They sort of implied there might be one or two but money is tight right now across the league. I think their main concern is finding a replacement for Paulsen - they seem much more keen to talk about that. 

Provided Kraev re signs I think we'll be lucky to see more than 1 large signing amongst the forwards. That will likely be someone who is an out and out goal scorer. The remaining signings up front will be academy or from the national league I reckon. 

I wouldn't get excited about too many more signings, after all the club mainly wants to promote from within now.

"We still have one or two recruitment opportunities for other attackers to complement Marco as well as Kosta and Bally and Oskar..." - Chiefy 

Seems like the intention is to sign more attackers and not just stick with what we have got. But then again, one of those recruitment opportunities might just be the re-signing of Kraev (fingers crossed). I'd like to see an out and out 9 to replace Zawada myself, even if he almost certainly won't be as good. 

Kraev might be one of them

imanixsupporter

"We still have one or two recruitment opportunities for other attackers to complement Marco as well as Kosta and Bally and Oskar..." - Chiefy 

Seems like the intention is to sign more attackers and not just stick with what we have got. But then again, one of those recruitment opportunities might just be the re-signing of Kraev (fingers crossed). I'd like to see an out and out 9 to replace Zawada myself, even if he almost certainly won't be as good. 

A few days ago was a strong rumour on 22 yr old Swede/Kiwi, Oscar Faulds from Napier City Rovers. Leading goal scorer in the Central League. Previously mostly 3rd tier in Sweden. 

If Kraev re-signs I wouldn't expect much more in the way of big spending. Though as Welnix have done in recent seasons with Sandoval, and Salas coming in after the season has started - can always be a wait & review period.