The Great 2016/17 Coaching Saga

Speculation. Recomendations. Pros and cons. Who's your pick for our next coach.

Bazeley. No.

mark Rudan

posted in other thread on Monday.

Not sure someone who failed to get Team Wellington's job should get the Phoenix gig. 

Looking at the candidates are all pretty underwealming compared to last time round, I want Ernie back. 

Out of the names thrown about I think Ramon.

If you look only at the timing then it's probably down to Ramon and Greenacre. 

Bear with me because this is a bit of a conspiracy theory.

1. Ernie stepped down and said he wanted to do it now so that his replacement would get a run of home games. No one could ever accuse Ernie of being stupid, he knows very well that it could take months to find a replacement unless the club already had someone in mind. 

2. The club has said they hope to sign someone before xmas which is a very tight timeline for finding someone in any position let alone one so specialised, they are at the very least going to have a favored candidate that they know is available.

So if they do have someone in mind who can drop everything and join the club within a few weeks why not have them here ASAP? 

The answer is because that person is either in Japan or that person is already here and are just getting a run to make sure the faith that the club has in them is well founded. I.e. either Ramon or Greenie. Of course it could be anyone in the NZ game, but if Ernie made his intentions clear at Victory then the club has probably been active for the last few weeks looking at their options.

I'd like to see it be Ramon if only to demonstrate to others [here and abroad] that its not a footballing dead end for a coach and it would also keep a very good coach in NZ as he goes to the next level.

That's a hard pass from me thanks.

I'm pretty sure I read that they want to appoint someone by Christmas, but they may not be available to join until later in the season or next season.  I don't think they are limiting themselves to someone that can start on Jan 1.

The total list of candidates I have seen mentioned are

Ramon

Emblen

Bazeley

Hudson

Farina

Rudan

Tranni

Aloisi

Angell

Greenacre

Buckingham

Greenacre and Buckingham

Plus 5 Asian candidates that are unknown in this country and most likely wont get a consideration

Some rule themselves out and others are dreaming.

I reckon there are 2 only on that list that have a realistic shot without knowing what Welnix are looking for and whom they are prepared to talk to - Tranni and Ramon.

Feel free to copy and paste and add to it.

I would not assume that just because the name has appeared on here or in the media that the person is under consideration.

Yeah, Morisson has already effectively ruled out Rudan (saying he'd never heard of him well after the speculation was strong). I also can't see Ross abandoning his brother. Mulvey was also mentioned in the media, as was Bleiberg (but I think that was only on here).

Which makes Ernies comments about letting his replacement have a run of home games so odd.

I would like Trani and get Ramon as his assistant to help him get some experience on how different the A League operates instead of other leagues and the world club championships.

Can't see Ramon taking an Assistant manager role.

Yeah, you'd think he would have done so already if that was on the cards. Although he has been happy to be a technical advisor for a number of national teams.

Only just saw this thread after posting the Bazeley rumour in the old coaching thread.

Anyway, I agree with Ryan's assessment - Greenacre or Ramon. I'd prefer Ramon but it wouldn't surprise me to see Greenacre given until the end of the season to prove he's up to it - basically an extended trial.

I know a lot of people say Ramon needs his imports but I think his record with them actually shows he's a good spotter of talent, and even with ACFC's financial advantage over the other local franchises his record is still pretty impressive, including getting results in foreign conditions against better sides on more than one occasion. If he hasn't done enough to justify a shot at an A League job yet I don't know what more he could do. Greenacre on the other hand has no real experience as a first team manager and hasn't had a noticeable positive impact since he's been assistant. He's a a club legend but that shouldn't be enough to get the job IMO.

whoever's cheapest

Arthur Papas

Stu Jacobs. Title winning Central League coach. Past connection with Phoenix. Runs an academy so some experience with player development.

Even with a bigger budget we're still talking degrees of amateur/semi pro. It's not like he's playing Mesi or anything. The players he's got are going to be sharper than the other players in the comp but still limited and the impressive thing is that he builds systems and gets limited players to play in that system.

I doubt Welnix would consider 3/4 of that list but this thread is not about the Welnix now is it. Its about people like you and me with our own opinions and who we would choose. I just thought it easier to put together a list of all the names mentioned.

Ah, no, I think it is a fair measure actually in terms of lack of exposure.  

If Ramon - according to some voices here - "would need to do step up to perform well as a coach at A-League level" , whereas he has actually performed credibly with ACFC over a few years now, then surely someone rejected by TW would be a much longer shot IMHO.

Who?

Not sure if this is on another thread but if Ramon came in how do you think he'd change the playing style?

One thing I have noticed, and will be very interested to see tonight if they can pull it off, is ACFC mix it up more in transition and are a lot more direct than they were two years ago. Personally I think this shows Ramon is a good coach as he has obviously made these adjustments.

I really liked the playing style of the Nix in the Burns era and the game this year v Sydney, but Ernie to me seemed reluctant to change the playing style even when other teams parked the bus and squeezed the central areas. 

I'd have no issues with Ramon.

Bazely - I haven't actually seen a style of play from his teams. As someone wrote today what he preached and what the u20's played were very different. He just was lucky he had Tuiloma and Myanmar in my opinion. 

Emblen, OTOH, obviously does implement a style and seems astute. Again while he lacks a bit of recent first team experience Id be happy as he has a great football brain and seems motivated. 

Angell, the legendary goal scorer at QPR.  Oh thats right, he didn't in 13 games.

I know it won't happen, but what's Ryan Nelsen doing nowadays? Last I heard from him he was sacked as manager of Toronto FC. 

Player agent

(If you know it won't happen then why mention?)

I hope welnix were watching the game last night, Auckland are organised, well drilled, and can move the ball around the park despite being thoroughly outclassed man to man. With them you have the confidence that there isn't going to be some stupid brainfade that will cost the game.

If we are being realistic, I think we can probably rule out any NZ club based coaches other than Ramon. He’s in a set up that is closest to a professional environment, has experience playing against better opposition, and seems to have good connection back into Spain for recruitment.

Seems few NZ based coaches seem to have day in day out exposure to a team for 9 months a year. Can’t think of any other SS Prem (or lower) coach that boasts that exposure/experience at a senior level. 

I'd give shortest odds to Ramon at the moment.

he stacks up well against many of the names on the list

News and Smithy, with James Dean and Frankie Mac to coach the yoof