Contracted Players - Return of the Long Pins

Just looking at that 3 of our 5 imports are bench players at the moment, (Smith Hysegums and Totori) Ifill injured and only Sanchez playing Regular at the moment!

In contrast WSW, who in round 14 started all their 6 imports! There is only so much we can get from local players, we need to use the import slots better. 3 off contract at the end of the season, some hard calls need to be made.

players that need to go in the off season

Out of the above list the following won't be resigned in my opinion.

Lochead / Smith / Downey and Pantelis.

Not sure about Paston either to be fair, might come down to whether or not he wants to keep playing and aim for the World Cup

will be interesting to see what happens to Lochhead.. because i cant see the club not re-signing him unless he retires..

Wonder where Totori stands on NZ residency, with Youngheart, Waitak and now the Phoenix he's surely spent enough time here to be close to being a resident.

Did he school in Nelson as well?

Would definitely be close to the 5 years.
2005-2007 Youngheart Manuwatu
2007-2008 Waitakere
2008-2010 Waitakere
+ Half-ish year with the Nix.

good point. I think he's a great bench option - so if he could get kiwi residency then i would re-sign him

I don't think that's his decision to be honest. Can't see him playing another World Cup.

 

He played club football for Richmond but don't think he schooled here ..one of the only Solomon Islanders that didn't.

Lochhead should be kept, even if he's back up. We do need two left backs, so unless Rowe is coming in then I'd keep him. I'd keep Totori too and definitely get rid of Downey, Pantelis, Smith. Moss should be starting so not too bothered about keeping Paston. Would rather him than McMaster.

Quoted for posterity.

It's not as simple as simply doing your time here on work visas. You actually need to make an application for residence.

I remember hearing about a similar issue around residency about (ironically) the band 'The Phoenix Foundation.'
There is a few criteria applicants must meet including "having spent 240 days in New Zealand for each of  the past five years."

That would be applying for citizenship. But before that clock starts ticking you first need to possess residence which involves an application on it's own merits and meeting policies. If Totori hasn't made an application he would however likely be eligible. Assuming that most of the imports who come here want to do so indefinitely it is a selling point that the Phoenix should use and implement immediately for all our imports.

 ^^ Maybe they do ?

Already got this thread for off contract players, do we need another? 

Despite Totori lacking in certain aspects I think we must keep him, he is the only player we have who is different, the only player with flair and will run at defences (excluding Ifill).  We need someone with the difference and won't have the $$$ for a better one of those

Cool way to bury the poll where no one will see it.

 Copy the poll post in here as well and we'll leave the other one.

It's cool man. I can go with the flow.

Edit - original link stickied. That works.

 I'll bump it every once in a while for a couple of days but try and keep chat on it in here.

Sound good?

I'm not going to go postal or anything!

Although that would make for a fucking good podcast.

 You're about the only one that isn't.

The poll results almost exactly what I said to Jeff earlier today. Interesting.

 A clean out. Of the 35 posters not one player has got 100% (meaning everyone that voted thinks he should be re-signed).

edit: ignore. I've realised I am reading this poll wrong. Total votes are 100%. Pity its not the other way where by each player gets a percentage of the voters that picked him (i.e. if 35 voters vote and all 35 pick Sanchez then he should be 100%) as you were

Actually reading it as it stands 2/3 voters would re-sign Sanchez and Bertos. 1/3 would re-sign Lochhead, Hogg and Paston. The rest are in no mans. I'd call that a clear out Patrick.

Actually, the even spread most probably indicates that people don't want a clear out. Looks like totori is gone though,as well as Alex smith. 

Which is pretty much what Patrick said. And JV (minus Sanchez). I also tend to agree (and would keep Sanchez)

Voted on the poll from the other thread, for discussion:

I chose Dani & Leo, I would pick 1 of the 2 LBs, but I just don't know which one, if Hogg proves himself the equal of Lochy then it's him, if not then unless we can find a better replacement I guess Lochy for 1 more year (That really pains me :P)

Yeah, the poll actually works better than I expected and has a pretty clear outcome.

Right now Sanchez has the support of 35 out of 51 people who voted. Bertos has 30/51 and Hogg has 24/51. The rest are a long way back although the Hogg/Lochhead one is interesting because a lot of people will be making a straight choice between them. Perhaps the best interpretation there is that 40 out of 51 people think one of Hogg/Lochhead should be signed, with a clear preference for Hogg at this stage. If we do the poll again in a couple of months that one will sort itself out.

So there's various criteria you could use to make the cut but a simple one would be that a player needs the support of more than 50% of voters. That would mean re-signing Sanchez, Bertos and maybe one of Hogg/Lochhead (Hogghead? Logg?).

You could also make the top 3 the cut off based on the fact that the 51 voters cast 140 votes which is an average of 3 players each re-signed. Of course that gives the same result - Sanchez, Bertos and one of Hogghead.

I think we have this sorted. Ricki - the people have spoken.

Will leave the poll open for a few days anyway.

Me from the other thread

"Voted for Lochhead on the basis that I haven't seen Hogg yet, so hasn't shown that he is an improvement at this level, but read my response as 'one of the two.'  Bollocksed up because I missed clicking on Bertos apparently so he should have an extra in the final tally.  Voted Sanchez as, although I agree with JD that we need all three import slots available, I just don't think the owners have any inclination to splash the cash to get three better imports out here.  I do really hope we can get two.  If not, Herbert may as well just resign rather than cop the blame for an under resourced team that can't even play to its strength as the manager sees it."

Pretty much agree with your analysis Term.

Here's the poll link again for anyone who hasn't voted yet:

http://www.easypolls.net/poll.html?p=50f50047e4b0c833e1134c61

I actually can't believe Totori has as many votes as Lochhead. I guess there are people that cannot see what a shyte footballer he is and place no value on the import spots. What was his first thing he did when he came on again? 1 touch, 2 touch out for a throw in.

I accept he brings a point of difference in that he can run fast but we can find a better footballer that can run fast. Say, did we not just sign Ian Hogg?

Sanchez, Hogg, Lochy, Leo.

Rest can go.

Sanchez doesn't set the world on fire but has something none of our other midfielders have - the ability to, every now and again, make a good pass.

Totori isn't good enough for an import spot.

Would like to see Lochy retire gracefully paving the way for Hogg to take his place with (hopefully) a few good performances.

Funny how Hogg has more votes than Lochhead yet he's completely untested in the A-League. Shows how a lot of people see Lochhead.

Shows how much fapping there has been over Hogg from people are basing their opinions on that one AW's game where he scored a goal.

Lochhead/Hogg is the one area there could be a big change in sentiment if we do the poll again in two months.

At the moment I think Lochhead's vote simply shows people's appetite for change and he is unfortunate that in his case there is already another viable option.