Frees up funds in other areas.
WPM 2023/24 Squad Speculation, Confirmation and Mutual Termination
Frees up funds in other areas.
Personally reckon that regardless of who we sign, Paulsen should be treated as the number 1 to begin with. He’s been waiting for the spot, pushed Oli very hard and was excellent when given the opportunity.
That’s not to say Alex should be undroppable. If his form is poor the reserve keeper should definitely be given the opportunity to take his spot.
In terms of who I’d like to see us sign, there’s a few options. Marinovic would still be my first choice. He’s a known quantity, an experienced veteran at this point, has been excellent in the past and knows the club. If getting him makes financial sense then he’s definitely my pick.
If it’s not Stefan though, then there are some other options:
Michael Woud
- Needs to be released by his club in Japan but is a young, talented kiwi. Would fight Paulsen tooth and nail for a starting spot and it’s good for the future of NZ football whoever earns the number 1.
Connor Tracey
- The standout keeper in the national league. Still fairly young for a keeper at 26. Would be cheap.
Aidan Munford
- Another young kiwi at 23 years old. Was a stand out in NPL QLD and has been involved in an ALM set up. Known to the club as he trained with the nix in Wollongong.
Jordan Holmes
- The rumoured signing. Solid enough aussie ALM keeper.
Ryan Scott
- Very solid ALM reserve keeper. Not sure why Western have released him. Pulled off some heroics for Bentleigh Greens when they beat the Nix in the FFA cup.
Tom Heward-Belle
- Another solid aussie ALM keeper. Not sure why Sydney have released him. Young and good enough to be starting.
https://youtu.be/lTRjumES9HA
https://youtu.be/lTRjumES9HA
https://youtu.be/lTRjumES9HA
I think he is clearly working to a tighter budget than last year and the midfield does have me worried. I think a midfield of al-taay, Pennington and rufer will have massive issues with distribution and passing unless you bring in the likes of Da Silva or someone similar. That being said, with an import centre back (if recruited well) and that midfield we will be conceding far fewer goals than this season just gone.
I think if we do have distribution issues it won't be all that bad as long as we have a bit of excitement and speed up front. Eli Just or Rojas please Chief! 🙏
interesting that he said 'hybrid, similar to sam sutton' i'm not sure what that meant. i'm guessing not hybrid between left back and the bench, possibly hybrid between left back and left midfield?
the elliott situation is interesting. offer on the table for a long time, not signed, chiefy appointed, still not signed, so feck off then
rojas on the list, great news
a couple of local players on the radar, great stuff
https://youtu.be/lTRjumES9HA
I think he is clearly working to a tighter budget than last year and the midfield does have me worried. I think a midfield of al-taay, Pennington and rufer will have massive issues with distribution and passing unless you bring in the likes of Da Silva or someone similar. That being said, with an import centre back (if recruited well) and that midfield we will be conceding far fewer goals than this season just gone.
I think if we do have distribution issues it won't be all that bad as long as we have a bit of excitement and speed up front. Eli Just or Rojas please Chief! 🙏
Struck the nail on the head with his thoughts on the guys coming through the Academy pathway, but also talking about the National League players too. We're the only professional club (well at this stage anyway) and we need those pathways to funnel from the 'grassroots' through Northern/Central/Southern leagues and progress the game as well as show there is opportunity at the top in football in this country.
Was it Rollo in the interview who was asking about the national league players who said 'dare I say Southern League?' 😆😆
https://youtu.be/lTRjumES9HA
I think he is clearly working to a tighter budget than last year and the midfield does have me worried. I think a midfield of al-taay, Pennington and rufer will have massive issues with distribution and passing unless you bring in the likes of Da Silva or someone similar. That being said, with an import centre back (if recruited well) and that midfield we will be conceding far fewer goals than this season just gone.
I think if we do have distribution issues it won't be all that bad as long as we have a bit of excitement and speed up front. Eli Just or Rojas please Chief! 🙏
Would be nice if Rojas came back to the club that gave him his professional debut after returning to Victory a few times now but I’m sure he probably sees Melbourne as a second home now and they’ll probs be after him as they released Ikonmidis.
https://youtu.be/lTRjumES9HA
I think he is clearly working to a tighter budget than last year and the midfield does have me worried. I think a midfield of al-taay, Pennington and rufer will have massive issues with distribution and passing unless you bring in the likes of Da Silva or someone similar. That being said, with an import centre back (if recruited well) and that midfield we will be conceding far fewer goals than this season just gone.
I think if we do have distribution issues it won't be all that bad as long as we have a bit of excitement and speed up front. Eli Just or Rojas please Chief! 🙏
Other guys mentioned like Pijnaker, Adams and Rogerson will only be available halfway through the season, and that's relying on them leaving/not being re-signed at clubs where all three are essential players.
Longer contracted players I've seen mentioned are Mata (Dec 2024) and McCowatt (June 2024), so unobtainable. That's assuming the Phoenix wouldn't try any transfer fee.
Also, please "no" to Woud.
Personally reckon that regardless of who we sign, Paulsen should be treated as the number 1 to begin with. He’s been waiting for the spot, pushed Oli very hard and was excellent when given the opportunity.
That’s not to say Alex should be undroppable. If his form is poor the reserve keeper should definitely be given the opportunity to take his spot.
In terms of who I’d like to see us sign, there’s a few options. Marinovic would still be my first choice. He’s a known quantity, an experienced veteran at this point, has been excellent in the past and knows the club. If getting him makes financial sense then he’s definitely my pick.
If it’s not Stefan though, then there are some other options:
Michael Woud
- Needs to be released by his club in Japan but is a young, talented kiwi. Would fight Paulsen tooth and nail for a starting spot and it’s good for the future of NZ football whoever earns the number 1.
Connor Tracey
- The standout keeper in the national league. Still fairly young for a keeper at 26. Would be cheap.
Aidan Munford
- Another young kiwi at 23 years old. Was a stand out in NPL QLD and has been involved in an ALM set up. Known to the club as he trained with the nix in Wollongong.
Jordan Holmes
- The rumoured signing. Solid enough aussie ALM keeper.
Ryan Scott
- Very solid ALM reserve keeper. Not sure why Western have released him. Pulled off some heroics for Bentleigh Greens when they beat the Nix in the FFA cup.
Tom Heward-Belle
- Another solid aussie ALM keeper. Not sure why Sydney have released him. Young and good enough to be starting.
https://youtu.be/lTRjumES9HA
Yes like that comment at the end that is looking at a couple of NL players. If it is to be a bit of a rebuild/tighter budget next season (notwithstanding 4 visa players returning), I think the fans are prepared to be a bit more patient if some Weenix kids and National League players are given an opportunity.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTRjumES9HA
Covid border restrictions and 2.5 seasons based in Aussie made it hard, but Uffy didn't seems to show a lot of interest in domestic Kiwis outside Weenix. Oli Whyte & maybe Myer Bevan early on offered trials??
Very early days, but Cheify certainly seems a more relaxed character than the sometimes surly Uffy.
The criteria I've considered are: Must be off contract in 2023, must be left footed (to compliment Wootton/for ease of searching), can't be valued too highly, and must fulfil most or all of the following: Explosiveness/Speed, Headering ability, 1 on 1 ability, and Leadership.
Here's the list:
Dave Bulthuis (Netherlands)
Age: 32 - Height: 192cm - Current Club: Suwon Bluewings (K-League 1)
- Not super quick but reasonable pacy for his height and age.
- Great headering and 1 on 1 ability
- Solid leadership, sometimes captain
- Issues: May be too good to leave Korea yet, contract expires in December
Erik Pieters (Netherlands)
Age: 34 - Height: 183cm - Current Club: West Brom (Championship)
- Average pace (played LB until recently)
- Excellent headering despite his height
- Great 1 on 1 ability and excellent leadership
- 200+ games in the EPL
- Coming off a very good season for West Brom, he wasn't expected to play much but became a stalwart under Corberan
- Surplus to requirements now as WBA look to reduce their wage bill
- Issues: Old, a little short, probably expensive
Clark Robertson (Scotland)
Age: 29 - Height: 188cm - Current Club: Portsmouth (League 1)
- Average pace/explosiveness
- Excellent headering, decent 1 on 1
- Excellent leadership, Pompey captain
- Has just been confirmed released by Portsmouth
- Issues: Probably expensive, in demand by League 1 and 2 clubs
Marco Bürki (Switzerland)
Age: 29 - Height: 185cm - Current Club: FC Thun (Swiss 2nd Tier)
- Decent pace/explosiveness
- Excellent headering, decent 1 on 1
- Excellent leadership, Thun captain
- Was nearly signed by Norwich and Nottingham Forest in 2019
- Issues: Club has a 1 year extension option
Robin Jansson (Sweden)
Age: 31 - Height: 187cm - Current Club: Orlando City (MLS)
- Average pace/explosiveness
- Decent headering, excellent 1 on 1
- Great leadership, sometimes Orlando captain
- Experience in Sweden and the MLS, highly rated by Orlando fans
- Issues: May be too good, December contract expiry
Timothee Kolodziejczak (France)
Age: 31 - Height: 183cm - Current Club: Schalke 04 (Bundesliga)
- Average pace/explosiveness
- Excellent headering despite height, great 1 on 1
- Good leadership, 188 games Ligue 1, 52 La Liga
- Has had a poor last two seasons - bad at Saint Etienne and unused by Schalke
- Issues: Probably expensive, feel like he could be a bit of a Lacroix
Nermin Zolotic (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
Age: 29 - Height: 189cm - Current Club: Casa Pia (Liga Portugal)
- Average to decent pace/explosiveness
- Excellent headering, decent 1 on 1
- Decent leadership
- In career best form after helping Casa Pia get promoted
- Casa Pia have a wealth of contracted CBs
- Issues: Would he leave Portugal/Europe? Leadership skills potentially unproven
Eneko Satrústegui (Spain)
Age: 32 - Height: 187cm - Current Club: Racing Santander (LaLiga 2)
- Excellent pace/explosiveness
- Average headering, decent 1 on 1
- Decent leadership, somewhat unproven?
- Played exclusively as a LB this season
- Issues: Not an outright CB
James Lawrence (Wales)
Age: 30 - Height: 188cm - Current Club: FC Nürnberg (2. Bundesliga)
- Poor pace (returned from a massive knee injury)
- Decent headering, excellent 1 on 1
- Excellent leadership
- Playing about 50% of available mins at the moment
- Issues: Is he still decent after surgery? Unclear if his contract actually expires in 2023
Kevin Wimmer (Austria)
Age: 30 - Height: 187cm - Current Club: Rapid Wien (Austrian BuLi)
- Poor pace/explosiveness
- Decent headering
- Excellent 1 on 1 and leadership
- Decent German Bundesliga and Premier League experience (54 & 32 games respectively)
- Issues: Would likely be expensive, not very quick
Danny Wilson (Scotland)
Age: 31 - Height: 187cm - Current Club: Colorado Rapids (MLS)
- Poor pace/explosiveness
- Excellent headering, decent 1 on 1
- Excellent leadership
- Neil Emblen kiwi connection
- Issues: Probably a bit expensive, slow, December contract expiry
Ted van de Pavert (Netherlands)
Age: 31 - Height: 194cm - Current Club: Roda JC (Eerste Divisie)
- Poor pace/explosiveness
- Decent headering, decent 1 on 1
- Very good leadership
- Seems to be on the outer at Roda (~25% available mins played)
- 200+ games Dutch 2nd tier, 102 games Eredivisie
- Issues: Slow, perhaps not as dominant as others
Marcin Flis (Poland)
Age: 29 - Height: 185cm - Current Club: Stal Mielec (Ekstraklasa)
- Excellent pace/explosiveness
- Decent headering and 1 on 1
- Average leadership
- Loves a shot from the edge of the box
- Recent former teammate of Zawada (10 games together for Stal)
- Literally the CB version of Zawada (just look at the guy)
- Really wants to play overseas, had to pull out of a move to China last year when his wife became pregnant
- Issues: Potentially unproven having only ever played in Poland, questions about his leadership skills without doing more research.
If you have a look on Transfermarkt, there's many, many more available players, especially if you allow right footed players too. It's almost impossible to say who the club will go for, but it was fun to pull together a list and conduct a brief analysis. If I could pick anyone from the list, I'd probably go for Marco Bürki, although Erik Pieters is probably the closest Taylor replacement.
Maybe Marcin Flis is the best choice though, we all want a team of Zawadas after all.
He's not a RB.
And the answer to that, is not RB. I like him but Christ, even our defensive-minded players shark their pants when up against a guy like Craig Goodwin. Imagine what war crimes he would do down a wing marked by JHS
Wellington Phoenix fans; All Whites fullback and under-23 player of the year Callan Elliot on air with me shortly to explain why he and the club couldn't reach agreement on a contract extension and therefore why he's leaving.@NewstalkZB pic.twitter.com/wxQmljwDab
— Jason Pine (@pineynz) May 13, 2023
Callan basically said him and the club couldn't agree on the buyout clause and the 'Nix pulled their offer the day before the departures were announced. Also said he didn't sleep for four nights after the Adelaide game. Definitely sounded a bit unsure as to who his next club will be.
my take of cheify's description was that he expected elliott to want it a bit more with perhaps a bit of boss/worker ego thrown in the mix, which is probably quite normal in a sports environment
my take of cheify's description was that he expected elliott to want it a bit more with perhaps a bit of boss/worker ego thrown in the mix, which is probably quite normal in a sports environment
I agree, surely in the best interest of both parties to agree on the buyout clause, no?
my take of cheify's description was that he expected elliott to want it a bit more with perhaps a bit of boss/worker ego thrown in the mix, which is probably quite normal in a sports environment
I agree, surely in the best interest of both parties to agree on the buyout clause, no?
i would have thought so. besides, transfer fees are not that common at this level, especially for defensive players. how many transfer fees have we collected over the years? i do understand the phoenix wanting to implement this strategy, but the hit rate is low.
we have jettisoned a good player for something that was probably not going to happen
And the answer to that, is not RB. I like him but Christ, even our defensive-minded players shark their pants when up against a guy like Craig Goodwin. Imagine what war crimes he would do down a wing marked by JHS
Wellington Phoenix fans; All Whites fullback and under-23 player of the year Callan Elliot on air with me shortly to explain why he and the club couldn't reach agreement on a contract extension and therefore why he's leaving.@NewstalkZB pic.twitter.com/wxQmljwDab
— Jason Pine (@pineynz) May 13, 2023
Callan basically said him and the club couldn't agree on the buyout clause and the 'Nix pulled their offer the day before the departures were announced. Also said he didn't sleep for four nights after the Adelaide game. Definitely sounded a bit unsure as to who his next club will be.
Kinda dumb from us to price out the buy out clause unless he wanted a ridiculous low number but I feel we were probs wanting 750k-1m and maybe he was after 400-500k? But even with a low buyout clause that could entice clubs to use it and with a sell on clause you could still end making a decent amount? Instead he’s leaving on a free so we get nothing and don’t get to have him for another season. Really makes no sense tbh
Wellington Phoenix fans; All Whites fullback and under-23 player of the year Callan Elliot on air with me shortly to explain why he and the club couldn't reach agreement on a contract extension and therefore why he's leaving.@NewstalkZB pic.twitter.com/wxQmljwDab
— Jason Pine (@pineynz) May 13, 2023
Callan basically said him and the club couldn't agree on the buyout clause and the 'Nix pulled their offer the day before the departures were announced. Also said he didn't sleep for four nights after the Adelaide game. Definitely sounded a bit unsure as to who his next club will be.
Kinda dumb from us to price out the buy out clause unless he wanted a ridiculous low number but I feel we were probs wanting 750k-1m and maybe he was after 400-500k? But even with a low buyout clause that could entice clubs to use it and with a sell on clause you could still end making a decent amount? Instead he’s leaving on a free so we get nothing and don’t get to have him for another season. Really makes no sense tbh
See how the narrative changes based on the numbers we make up?
aside from player valuation, any release clause allows players to disrupt squad planning with a sudden departure and like a poster above said, potentially for one club to swoop, mark up, and on sell.
i'm glad the phoenix are not in the release clause business. players talk, eliott may have been after a peice of what some other players had and the club have stood their ground. cheify seemed defiant. i quite like that.
Wellington Phoenix fans; All Whites fullback and under-23 player of the year Callan Elliot on air with me shortly to explain why he and the club couldn't reach agreement on a contract extension and therefore why he's leaving.@NewstalkZB pic.twitter.com/wxQmljwDab
— Jason Pine (@pineynz) May 13, 2023
Callan basically said him and the club couldn't agree on the buyout clause and the 'Nix pulled their offer the day before the departures were announced. Also said he didn't sleep for four nights after the Adelaide game. Definitely sounded a bit unsure as to who his next club will be.
Kinda dumb from us to price out the buy out clause unless he wanted a ridiculous low number but I feel we were probs wanting 750k-1m and maybe he was after 400-500k? But even with a low buyout clause that could entice clubs to use it and with a sell on clause you could still end making a decent amount? Instead he’s leaving on a free so we get nothing and don’t get to have him for another season. Really makes no sense tbh
See how the narrative changes based on the numbers we make up?
I see your point but it’s not really a good one because you can safely assume any player would try negotiate a buy out that low, it would just be insulting to the club. Even with a buyout that low they’d probs add at least 20% sell on clause with it so even selling Elliot for 20k with a sell on is a much better deal than letting him go for free. It’s just poor business from the club unless they weren’t really that arsed about keeping him next season