Nix Transfer Speculation 2019-20

No way he comes back to NZ, too many reasons not to. Japanese wife I think, has been there for ages, nix only guaranteed one more year, not as much money in the a league, etc. 

My mate supports Bristol he reckons the fans will all put in to ensure he comes back

I'm still a bit disappointed that the purported details weren't a little different, such that we could have had "WAGs dog Tayls" as a headline.

I presume you mean the opposite? Got roasted by the fans after the one game he started, and not in starting eleven since.

He means they will all chip in for the airfare to send him back to NZ.

Robbie Fowler, the new coach, has just swung the axe at the Roar. Any of these we'd want to pick up for next season?

https://www.news.com.au/sport/football/fowler-take...

ROAR’S A-LEAGUE CLEAROUT BY THE NUMBERS

— 14 players released or retired: Matt McKay, Henrique, Thomas Kristensen, Luke DeVere, Brett Holman, Eric Bautheac, Eli Babalj, Joe Caletti, Charles Lokoli-Ngoy, Alex Lopez, Tobias Mikkelsen, Stefan Nigro, Ruon Tongyik, Brendan White

— 998 games worth of experience in Australian football and 128 goals

— Four ex-Socceroos: McKay, Holman, DeVere, Babalj

— Leaves club with 10 players on senior contracts.

We need some better central defenders, especially with Durante and Kopa likely gone for next season. Who is going to partner Taylor. From that bunch Nigro maybe Tongyik? But don't think either of these two are an upgrade on Fox. 

Not sure I want any defenders from a team that has this record from the season just been.

most goals conceded/game in a season
2.65 Canb.Cosmos 1996-97 (69 goals/26 games)
2.63 BRISBANE ROAR 18-19 (71/27)
2.59 CC Mariners 15-16 (70/27)
2.58 Heidelberg 93-94 (67/26)
2.50 St George 1980 (65/26), CC Mariners 18-19* (65/26)
BRI saved from alltime record by 1 goal #BRIvADL

— andrew howe (@AndyHowe_statto) April 25, 2019

De Vere is the only quality player cut by the Roar & that is cuz his knee is fubar.

Are Jets going to keep Ridenton next season? If not, I'd take him back if he would come back, a Ridenton-Rufer-Singh midfield would be interesting! 

No way, Ridenton is not good enough not even Mandi was.

He's signed for another year and the Jets have no money to pay him out of upgrade him. Had a pretty bad season though.

It's a funny one, after 17/18 season I would've taken Ridenton over Rufer. Playing every game pretty much, and was very much growing into his role in midfield, and well, Rufer was no where to be seen, barring a few appearances here and there.

Fast forward 12 months and it is 100% the other way around. I think Rufer had a very good season, an ever present, got stuck in and did the little things that didn't draw the plaudits like that of Krishna/Williams/Kurto, but his contribution was valued by the team overall. He was solid and he pretty much did what a lot of people thought he was unable to do coming into this season - hold down a first team spot, week in week out. Who honestly would've thought that when he had to trial with us for a contract after not being offered one at the end of last season?

What tips it for me, and don't get me wrong, I like Ridenton and follow his goings on over in Newcastle - is that Rufer seemed to want it more, it just felt he was hungrier. Ridenton jumped ship for longer term security in Newcastle, which is understandable. Rufer has fought tooth and nail to overcome what must have been a huge disappointment of not getting a contract, trying his luck off shore and then coming back and biting the bullet, and trialling with a club who essentially didn't want him this time last year. That takes a lot of mental strength, and I think he's proved that this season, technically I think Rufer offer's more than Ridenton too - But that's just my opinion.

As for a midfield partnership of Ridenton/Rufer/Singh. Ridenton and Rufer are too much of a likeness. Good players, but not going to pick opposition apart or scare them out of their skin. Preferably I'd like to see an import spot used for an experienced & technically adept midfield partner for Rufer. Someone who is a good reader of the game, who doubles down on their duties and gives us a bit more spark and control in that midfield area, an area that we did struggle to control at times during this season. 

I found it really difficult to like Ridenton last season. He always struck me as being a bit too full of himself for a young player who had never really achieved anything in the league, and never really liked getting stuck into the niggly stuff you need from a CM. He was also a borderline abomination going forward, with this always being the first thing that comes to mind whenever someone mentions his name.

Rufer is the opposite. He lives for the rough stuff and is, at the very least, competent with the ball at his feet. His comments this year about being willing to die for the shirt, and then backing that up with his play all season, has made him easily one of my favourite players. If he were to stay with the Nix long-term and kept up the level of play from this season, I could see him inherit the armband one day.

I see them as playing the same role, just differently. Ridenton is more of an A-rod player - a good passer, someone who sees space. While Rufer more of a Lia - engine room, always moving, tracking and tackling. I think if he could refine his DM positioning, then the two of them would be an awesome combo for the AWs

Looking at transfermarkt, it has these notable Kiwi's coming off contract this year:

Smith - Dec 2019
Rojas - Dec 2019 (contract option)
Barbarouses - May 2019
Marinovic - Jun 2019
M Boxall - Dec 2019
Wynne - Dec 2019
Tuiloma - Dec 2019 (contract option)
Collier - Dec 2019
Musa - Nov 2019
Brotherton - Nov 2019
Blake - May 2019
Kirwan - Jun 2019 (contract option)
Dyer - Dec 2019
J Ingham - May 2019
den Heijer - Jun 2019 (contract option)
Zwetsloot - Jun 2019
Crocombe - Jun 2019
Stanger - May 2019

Yep should keep Sheridan as Williams & Krishna will both go. Keep Mandi. Kurto is gone. Let Kopa go. Definitely need an import defensive midfielder that can make major impact in the big games, another import/marquee striker, keeper, central defender, right back cover.

Would be great if Burgess stays, but sounds like he's off to WU. So need another creative there.

Smith would be a good signing if he could get his head right. From the snippets I've seen of his MLS stint, he's hardly covered himself in glory. Other than that, Gleeson/Marinovic, Rojas (if we lose Williams, Krishna or Burgess), and someone to play RB deputy to Fenton please

Smith wouldn't be a good signing. Bad performer on the field and bad influence off it in the mls.

A few months ago I would have said Adam Mitchell for at least a trial. But see he can't even get a start of late in the TW backline.

Though know he has often been injured since he signed with Tee Dubs.

“Bring back Boxall”

Dare I say "bring back Doyle", now that Golec is leaving?

I guess Doyle can cover Cacace at LWB if needs be - someone like Boxall could also cover RWB - we really missed that this season.

Boxall would be good.

Smith comes across as a Twit, but has plenty of experience at a high level and at 29 is still at a good age. Would be a better signing than a 37 year old Durante.

I would keep Kopa and Sheridan, but let Mandi go. He just goes missing too much and doesn't always seem to be giving a 100%. We really need a quality player there to help us transition and keep the ball.

Gothard will know more than us but could Stefan Marinovic come back to sit on the bench? Or is he still well ahead of Sail? I thought Marinovic was one of our best All Whites when our national team used to play but he has lost a lot of confidence in the last year while Sail keeps improving.

I just don't see Marinovic as looking to come back to NZ. I just think he'll want to persevere in Europe, and trial with clubs there over the Euro summer.

I personally think Gleeson is a more likely candidate to consider the Nix. Provided he's fit.

Rojas never really fired with us? He was excellent in his break out season with us, as a teenager playing in Ricki's system which barely suited him. That's what got him an import slot at the Victory.

I mean, he's only one of the best players to ever play in the league, so yeah, why would we want him...

If Kosta leaves, I'd think MV would be confident in bringing him back

I'm not sure I'd rate him that highly. He certainly was never as good for us as he was for Victory.

2009–2011	Wellington Phoenix 20 apps 2 goals
2011–2013	Melbourne Victory 48 apps 15 goals

2016–2017	Melbourne Victory 23 apps 12 goals

Those numbers are really deceiving though. A good chunk of those 20 games were cameos off the bench before we woke up to what he could really do for us. Would be a bit like taking Sarpreet's stats before this season

Also we were rubbish at the time. When he moved to MVC and played in a decent team he set the league on fire.

Well, obviously he wasn't as successful for us, he was only a teenager while here in a side that had Paul Ifill. Even so he was a huge difference maker from the bench. He would then go on to win the Johnny Warren medal before he was even 22, spent three average to unsuccessful years in Europe, and came back to the A-league and was pretty much again one of, if not the, best player in the league that season. 

Some very short memories here.

It's actually more the opposite, we were in the middle of our best run ever, and Ifill was one of the best players in the league, so Marco's chances were more limited because of that. Even so, like I said, he was still a pretty important contributor, especially off the bench.

He made a good enough impression to be signed to one of the top teams in the comp as a foreigner, we also offered him the youth marquee spot.

Williams and Krishna both hinting on social media that they're staying...

Even as a teenager off the bench, the delivery on free kicks and crosses that he provided was unreal. No one in that squad could do what he could do with a ball from wide, not even Ifill. The bend and whip he could get on the ball was outrageous 

So pretty much he was the "Matt Ridenton" of his generation

Can you tell me more?