Nix Transfer Speculation 2019-20

Le Fondre also had a solid season in the Premier League. Ball would be comparable to a Greenacre signing, a guy you'd expect honest and professional performances from, but not someone likely to knock in 15 goals a season. So if he is the guy, you'd very much hope that there'd be another import signed to play alongside him (i.e. another Ifill to his Greenacre).

It would have been better to keep Sheridan.

Perth Has Fornaroli and Keogh

Sydney has Le Fondre and Kosta

The Vuc have Ola Toivonen

WSW are in for Fraizer Campbell

Thats already four teams who have signed or are looking to sign top strikers, along with the stacked teams they arleady have (minus victory yet). I just hope we are in for a better forward than Ball, otherwise it already feels like we are making this season a lot harder for ourselves 

If we're signing Ball and looking to pair him up with a top striker than I would presume we'd be playing a narrow 4 at the back formation w/o wingers

My guess is that Ball will be the only import striker (for now) unless something big materialises.

I'm guessing we're playing 4-5-1/4-3-3

Agree that it feels like we should've just kept Sheridan if this is the level of player we can get.

I was keen on him, but I do think it's worth rolling the dice to try and get someone better.  He never quite took his chance for me

I would hope Taylor will get to wear the armband this season. 

Only one year with us, but feels like he's the experienced stalwart of the club now.

Taylor or Rufer.

Think I'd rather have Taylor over Rufer for now. Rufer's been great tho. 

Also think Rufer and Mandi with a back 3 behind were good- want to see him settle with the new tactics.

Really want us to pick up a talented CDM like Reira think that will make a massive difference in our defence which is what we were missing last year 

Despite Taylor's experience, I don't really see him as a leader.

Lead us not into temptation...

I think the big sleeper for captain is Marinovic.

a US midfielder Alex Molano and a Dutch winger Xander Houtkoop are on trial according to Rollo 

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/a-league/114078372/wellington-phoenix-open-door-for-trial-players-as-preseason-training-gets-underway

Stuff can confirm New Zealand internationals Myer Bevan, Te Atawhai Hudson-Wihongi and Tim Payne reported for training at Martin Luckie Park in Berhampore on Monday as new Phoenix coach Ufuk Talay put six trialists through their paces during the late morning session.

Joining the Kiwi trio were 20-year-old former Brisbane Roar midfielder Joe Caletti and two foreigners who would be considered imports in the A-League; ex-Dutch Eredivisie player Xander Houtkoop, a 30-year-old winger from the Netherlands, and American midfielder Alex Molano, a 27-year-old whose professional career has been spent predominantly in the United States' second-tier USL Championship.

Xander seems to have a decent record.

neither are inspiring at all - Molano not making a splash at a level where James Musa et al are doing much better, and Houtkoop a benchwarmer in the Norwegian second tier without a goal or assist.

Caletti I'm extremely keen on though

Lots of game time, almost all in the second tier of the Dutch leagues though - probably a bit underwhelming but you never know.

Yeah, can't say that they scream 'import quality' at face value. Interesting that the Dutchie is a winger.

I was a Sheridan fan and think his problem was that the coach and the rest of the team just wasn't playing for him - his job appeared to be playing for them. Its pretty hard to say he didn't take his chance as he barely got any decent field time. From what I saw when he was on the field he was a cut above most of the others running around on it (beat most challengers in 50:50s and usually distributed the ball into better places than how he received it - plus some of his runs and space-finding off the ball - lots of unfulfilled potential there). But because he didn't get hat tricks in the 15 minutes he usually got in most appearances (if he was lucky) he got labeled as non-achiever. Luckily he wasn't picked up by any other A-league team as I reckon he'd tear up the league if he got a decent gig. Anyway, now like everyone else I'm looking for what the new guys will bring. In Uffie we trust! And I am liking the support for emerging NZ players !!

Alex Molano looks to be similar style player as Rufer, represented US at age group level while playing for Dinamo Zagreb youth team which is still quietly impressive:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAf_Mihq658

Houtkoop looks handy, although this reel is two years old now and seems that pace is big part of his game, decent free kick taker and scores a screamer about the 4th goal in.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SuIEYa9MfZc

I'm kind of digging that it seems Talay is playing Moneyball a bit with these more leftfield names that were unfulfilled talents - even Davila is a gamble but with our promising kiwi boys glueing the team around them could be a really interesting result.

My only issue with Calletti is that he is TINY. He's been a decent CM when I've seen him for Brisbane though. 

.

He was very good replacing McKay when he was injured a few seasons ago, Roar just blocked his development by signing visas ahead of him. I guess his Japanese move didn't pan out. Talay would have coached him at age group levels I think.

If spending time in Dinamo Zagreb youth set-up is a mark of quality, then God help us.

Coincidentally, he ended up at Vrapce, which is a neighbourhood side in Zagreb, and very much pub football-like.

I guess its just a bit depressing when you see the other visa players being signed by a league teams. Wanderers get Schwegler and we (might) end up with Molano. Obviously Molano could turn out to be brilliant, but that CV looks like one of the worst imports ever

More the US-U20 part, but yes otherwise agreed.

Schwegler is a tidy midfielder. I would be surprised if he ends up being a dominant creative force that people might expect coming from the Bundesliga.

I don't expect him to be a playmaker, but for a league level he's odds on to be one of the best defensive midfielders the league has seen. Wanderers centre backs will notice having a Swiss wall in front of them

Maybe this is what overseas clubs think when some young Kiwi amateur comes over for a trial. Just because he's been let in the door doesn't mean he's going to sign.

I am not expecting miracles in Uffie's first season. He is trying to put together a team that will at least be competitive on the park and give the youngsters a good preparation and exposure.  This is not our last season anymore so patience is the key. We may pick up good players later in the year. 

NB. If Taylor is not the leader, as many say, then the team still needs someone to take charge on the field, and Rufer may need to step up. I can't quite see who else.

Would rather take a punt of Browne than either of those 2 tbh

Its the first week of pre-season, I doubt these are the only visas that turn up to trial before the season starts. They probably paid their own way here to have a trial like the Kiwi dude from Sweden last season.

Bevan would not pass the no COCKS policy according to most at western springs. Payne is def worth a shot now his ego has let him trial. Te Atawhai is far more a DM than CB.

Interesting they would try a 30 yr old from the Netherlands compared with Browne from ACFC who spent 3 years with top teams there or Le Alafa both of their instat form is up with Mc Cowat with less games in the ISPS. I recall Domey saying Instat was one of the metrics they use for players

Would fudgeing love Browne being given a shot

Bevan has gone nowhere since the u20 campaign four years ago... could he do a Smelt and suddenly find the right environment to Excell in? 

Happy to sign Wihongi and Payne.... we would be setting up a team that can play out which I would like.

Is Mohammed Awad still coming on trial?

So is that guy Xander Houtkoop then?

I guess he is still contracted to play with Melbourne Knights. Looks like there season runs to the end of August.

Dunno if it looks like him

Steven Taylor just followed David Ball on Instagram ?