Auckland FC - Once the Knights, Always the Knights

This is a terrible move for Paulsen. Why come back to a league you have just dominated?

Also Would must be gutted. He was likely to be the number 1 and chance to get his career back ok track. Now he's number 2....

I don't mind to be honest, other than I wanted to see Alex play at a higher level.

At the end of the day, it is 11 v 11 on the pitch - so just play the game. That been said, I can not wait for the derby... money on Rufer to get a red card?!

I’m just so happy that Would is not number one.

With 4 imports to sign, the side is starting to look better and clearly we will be playing out from the keeper 

Obviously the Nix management badly dropped the ball here and someone in contract negotiations then smacked it firmly into their own empty net 

AucklandPhoenix

I’m just so happy that Would is not number one.

With 4 imports to sign, the side is starting to look better and clearly we will be playing out from the keeper 

Obviously the Nix management badly dropped the ball here and someone in contract negotiations then smacked it firmly into their own empty net 

.

Doloras

At least *one* sports journo is worried about the career of the best young keeper in the country, instead of getting a Trump-lite buzz out of AFC "epicly owning" the Nix

Might genuinely be the worst part about this. Sabotaging a young NZ international and making him move sideways and for what? A manufactured rivalry they desperately wanted...

Well I guess it worked. I hate Auckland FC because so far they've only proved to be bad for NZ Football. All just to further themselves too.

Fudge them

Doloras

At least *one* sports journo is worried about the career of the best young keeper in the country, instead of getting a Trump-lite buzz out of AFC "epicly owning" the Nix

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Succinctly summed up by the man himself... Too bad it probably didn't really get the engagement he was probably after.

Piney is the only one who has actually thought about what this means for AP and his development/future. Rollo has been pretty much on the fence. Bipartisan if you will.

AucklandPhoenix

I’m just so happy that Would is not number one.

With 4 imports to sign, the side is starting to look better and clearly we will be playing out from the keeper 

Obviously the Nix management badly dropped the ball here and someone in contract negotiations then smacked it firmly into their own empty net 

Yeah, looking at this from a bipartisan lens (and assuming there wasn't some generationally awful lying going on about Paulsen's intended destination - which I'm sure some people do believe, but it's really not likely in these circumstances), the Nix really should have done better in assuring this wasn't a possibility in negotiations.  Especially when you consider that the Nix were and are in favour of removing the Caceres rule. It's Bournemouth - what did the board expect!?

I also think there's a few too many conspiracy theories flying around, when the above explaiation's easily the most likely one. Understandable to be grasping for explanations though, as this is a massive gut-punch. Still in shock myself tbh

Not happy with this move at all as it makes no sense for Paulsen's development, however the flames it's stoked have been truly epic for the rivalry. Couldn't ask for a better hook to bring neutrals into NZ footy

Foley did this to kick the building  rivalry between the two clubs to another level and to ramp up the publicity.  I'd say its worked from the reaction today....

It has very little to do about Paulsens development. 

Nix have said they don't care. 

Anyway, Auckland is just a poor man's Western United, gotta up the poaching game to be relevant.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/350372605/former-phoenix-star-alex-paulsen-set-controversial-auckland-fc

Auckland rushed to announce Paulsen on Friday morning ahead of the team’s pre-season trip to Australia, where he is expected to take the field in friendlies against Newcastle Jets, Western Sydney Wanderers and Macarthur.

The impact this is going to have on APs career is so overstated. 
* He has played only one full season as a starting player in professional team.
* At 22 years old, he is a baby in GK terms.
* He has only played in one professional environment.

The reality is this is not going to have any sort of detrimental impact on his long-term career. In fact, if he has another strong season (which he surely will), that will really push his case for a bigger role next year at Bournemouth or a bigger loan. Did anyone think Iraola was just going to fastrack him into the no.1 jersey. Being the no.3 is not going to benefit a young GKs development. It’s not like Bournemouth have world-class GKs for him to learn off either. 

Matt Ryan is the most well-known A-League GK export and he didn’t just go straight to Europe after one season. He played several seasons for CCM, got plenty of games and went over more mature and with international experience. I expect this season to benefit Paulsen. 

TonyHibbert

The impact this is going to have on APs career is so overstated. 
* He has played only one full season as a starting player in professional team.
* At 22 years old, he is a baby in GK terms.
* He has only played in one professional environment.

The reality is this is not going to have any sort of detrimental impact on his long-term career. In fact, if he has another strong season (which he surely will), that will really push his case for a bigger role next year at Bournemouth or a bigger loan. Did anyone think Iraola was just going to fastrack him into the no.1 jersey. Being the no.3 is not going to benefit a young GKs development. It’s not like Bournemouth have world-class GKs for him to learn off either. 

Matt Ryan is the most well-known A-League GK export and he didn’t just go straight to Europe after one season. He played several seasons for CCM, got plenty of games and went over more mature and with international experience. I expect this season to benefit Paulsen. 

You do make some good sense. Would still prefer he was on loan at a European club. But if we do look at it objectively, we know he is going to a club and coach that wants him, and where he will be the starting GK. A low risk loan move for him.

And as a NZ football fan, I do want our players going out on loan to clubs where they will play. Maybe over the next few months leading up to the January 2025 window, Foley Group will have time to find a possible European club for another loan move. Unlikely but possible.

Buffon II

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The derbies are going to be incredible.

So really he never left. 

That must have been why Bournemouth were not at all worried about him playing in the Nations Cup and France thus missing a whole preseason. He was never going to play for them. It also explains the garbage fee we received.

My favourite part is remembering all the Nix fans saying Paulsen needs one more season in the A League, for the benefit of his development. Very altruistic. 

And now he has that, it's all wah-wah-wah. 

Reminds me of a Seinfeld opening monologue, something about we're not cheering or booing the player, we're reacting to the clothes they have on. After all, we're all hypocrites when it comes to football!

Pour one out for Michael Woud's career. Jeepers. Gonna be staring down the barrel of a 4th or 5th season in a row without getting onto the pitch.

Huge oversight from Wellington Phoenix top office. they should have put clause in that AP couldn't be loaned to Auckland. was pretty obvious what was going to go down. muppet show

The biggest thing that sucks for me, I want to see Auckland get smashed, especially against the Nix, but I hold no bad blood for AP and want him to go from strength to strength and be a big name for the All Whites.

So I don't want to see him have an Oli and have a terrible game against anyone, but also, I want th Nix to smash Auckland by 10.

Argh!!!! Internal conflict!!!!!

Auckland are showing the phoenix up big time the moment, in terms of marketing. 

Elemenop

Auckland are showing the phoenix up big time the moment, in terms of marketing. 

They kind of have to. The Nix are already well known. Lots of Nix shirts worn by kids around the country.

Elemenop

Auckland are showing the phoenix up big time the moment, in terms of marketing. 

That's always gonna happen when:

a) you're the brand new shiny team
b) you have absolute shark loads of cash to spend

League-wide austerity doesn't particularly apply to them or City the same way it does for the other, ya know... proper clubs

Jazzy Jeff

Elemenop

Auckland are showing the phoenix up big time the moment, in terms of marketing. 

That's always gonna happen when:

a) you're the brand new shiny team
b) you have absolute shark loads of cash to spend

League-wide austerity doesn't particularly apply to them or City the same way it does for the other, ya know... proper clubs

I've seen more behind the scenes stuff from auckland than I've ever seen from Wellington and they haven't even played a real game. 

Just calling it out. I've thought for years that the phoenix need to improve their marketing and social media engagement. 

Elemenop

Jazzy Jeff

Elemenop

Auckland are showing the phoenix up big time the moment, in terms of marketing. 

That's always gonna happen when:

a) you're the brand new shiny team
b) you have absolute shark loads of cash to spend

League-wide austerity doesn't particularly apply to them or City the same way it does for the other, ya know... proper clubs

I've seen more behind the scenes stuff from auckland than I've ever seen from Wellington and they haven't even played a real game. 

Just calling it out. I've thought for years that the phoenix need to improve their marketing and social media engagement. 

Fair point, social media doesn't exactly cost an arm and a leg like other marketing so I definitely agree about that. Nix should definitely do better in that regard

They know that Aucklanders are shark at supporting their football teams, so they have to give it a good go.

Nix’s socials are fine

I wonder if Becker is still helping out City too. This’ll help them no end as well. He fronted this.

So looking at Domey's statement and watching the press conference, the Nix's only issue is that AFC jumped the gun by announcing AP's signing while it is currently not possible, and the proposed changes to the rules need to be ratified before it is. And to be fair to the Nix, this is the only reasonable complaint. 

It does come across rather arrogant for AFC to have done this, either that or they are trying to pressure Football Australia into deciding it in their favour by making it a horse has already bolted situation.

Regardless, I wouldn't be happy if my club was doing things in this manner. Could they instead have announced the prospective signing subject to the necessary official processes, saying that they were hopeful of them being ratified, and said that AP would be training and playing friendlies in the meantime? This would also be far less embarrassing for them should FA reject the proposed changes. 

Elemenop

Jazzy Jeff

Elemenop

Auckland are showing the phoenix up big time the moment, in terms of marketing. 

That's always gonna happen when:

a) you're the brand new shiny team
b) you have absolute shark loads of cash to spend

League-wide austerity doesn't particularly apply to them or City the same way it does for the other, ya know... proper clubs

I've seen more behind the scenes stuff from auckland than I've ever seen from Wellington and they haven't even played a real game. 

Just calling it out. I've thought for years that the phoenix need to improve their marketing and social media engagement. 

Yes absolutely agree. We could do far more

martinb

Nix’s socials are fine

they don't go a day not posting. Training and behind the scenes, highlights from previous seasons, who am I quizzes, news and interviews etc.

I happened to listen to Newstalk ZB on the evening of the day the AP loan was announced, and they had an interview with AP, so I parked to listen to it.  I have never heard anyone sound so stiff and uncomfortable as AP did in that interview.  Gave mostly blank answers without trying to get any "value" from the interview in terms of exposure.  
My own thinking is that he did not think when signing for Bournemouth that this is what would come out of it.  My thinking is also that the owners knew exactly what they were doing, and if the loan to Auckland was not legally possible, they would not have bought Paulsen.  So yeah, also a bit of an egg on the face of the Nix for thinking Paulsen was bought on merit, and we are now serious suppliers of talent to EPL.

Mainland FC

I happened to listen to Newstalk ZB on the evening of the day the AP loan was announced, and they had an interview with AP, so I parked to listen to it.  I have never heard anyone sound so stiff and uncomfortable as AP did in that interview.  Gave mostly blank answers without trying to get any "value" from the interview in terms of exposure.  
My own thinking is that he did not think when signing for Bournemouth that this is what would come out of it.  My thinking is also that the owners knew exactly what they were doing, and if the loan to Auckland was not legally possible, they would not have bought Paulsen.  So yeah, also a bit of an egg on the face of the Nix for thinking Paulsen was bought on merit, and we are now serious suppliers of talent to EPL.

 the only reason I don't reckon this was the main plan from the owners is they paid an absolute fudge tonne of money for Paulsen.  I don't think you would pay that much to put a player in the A League.

There is also the scenario that he is not near the 1st team at the Cherries, but they want him playing for his development. They looked at their 'feeder' clubs Lorient, Hibs & Auckland FC. They decided the latter was the best fit. Hopefully it's only a 1 season deal and he's in Europe somewhere in 2025.

Agree as someone posted above they should have said he's training & playing friendlies with AFC, subject to the FA agreeing to amend the Caceres Clause. Bit arrogant to say someone is signed to your club for the ALM season, when the rules currently don't allow it. But of course revealing him as a signing like they have with the bill boards is great PR, and stirs up the rivalry.

Hibs would have been the perfect fit and test for him imo. They should already know he can do it in the a league, this is a waste of his time. There is no way they (foley gimps) didn’t know what they were doing and it certainly wasn’t a fudge load of money for a euro club. Yes Auckland doesnt get to keep him at the end of the season, but they’ve got the safest pair of hands in their debut season. They’ve played a blinder here and it as absolutely sharke. There are no positives here from a nix perspective. Nor an AP one imo.

WanderingSheep

Hibs would have been the perfect fit and test for him imo. They should already know he can do it in the a league, this is a waste of his time. There is no way they (foley gimps) didn’t know what they were doing and it certainly wasn’t a fudge load of money for a euro club. Yes Auckland doesnt get to keep him at the end of the season, but they’ve got the safest pair of hands in their debut season. They’ve played a blinder here and it as absolutely sharke. There are no positives here from a nix perspective. Nor an AP one imo.

Hibs are a bit of a sharkshow at the moment and look like they will struggle this season. Which means a lot of pressure on a young goalie who’s just moved to Europe for the first time. 

Foley has already spoken out against the other owners and Paulsen would be quick to cop criticism given he is  a Bournemouth loanee.  

As I’ve said before, experience is key for a GK at his age. There’s no guarantee he’d start at Lorient or Hibs. Physically the Scottish league is tough. Another full season as well as some All White games and he’ll be a much mature player and person by May 2025. 

Bullion

martinb

Nix’s socials are fine

they don't go a day not posting. Training and behind the scenes, highlights from previous seasons, who am I quizzes, news and interviews etc.

I must be too old. This instagram?

In the Bournemouth forum, they are chatting a little about this. While I am loathe to believe forum members 😂😘an interesting angle is that Foley doesn’t have as much sway at those clubs ownership wise, so those clubs may not be the best fit. Both clubs at the moment are a little messy politically and playing wise. 

So yep being Foley,s guy may not be the best move just now at those clubs

AucklandPhoenix

In the Bournemouth forum, they are chatting a little about this. While I am loathe to believe forum members 😂😘an interesting angle is that Foley doesn’t have as much sway at those clubs ownership wise, so those clubs may not be the best fit. Both clubs at the moment are a little messy politically and playing wise. 

So yep being Foley,s guy may not be the best move just now at those clubs

I've heard similar things, particularly about Hibs. Sounds incredibly fractured, so make of that what you will, prospective AFC fans

Think the difference is that Foley is a minority shareholder however 

They love him at Bournemouth, though, I believe?

imanixsupporter

So looking at Domey's statement and watching the press conference, the Nix's only issue is that AFC jumped the gun by announcing AP's signing while it is currently not possible, and the proposed changes to the rules need to be ratified before it is. And to be fair to the Nix, this is the only reasonable complaint. 

It does come across rather arrogant for AFC to have done this, either that or they are trying to pressure Football Australia into deciding it in their favour by making it a horse has already bolted situation.

Regardless, I wouldn't be happy if my club was doing things in this manner. Could they instead have announced the prospective signing subject to the necessary official processes, saying that they were hopeful of them being ratified, and said that AP would be training and playing friendlies in the meantime? This would also be far less embarrassing for them should FA reject the proposed changes. 

The Auckland FC facebook groups are VERY happy about this, because it "owns the Nix". You wouldn't believe how much of their support is simply about "owning the Nix". They're actually practicing a club song which includes the words "put out the Nix's fire". I think this is the Knitting Circle mentality coming back to life.