How Long ‘Til The New Season Starts?

Well, friend, the Wellington Phoenix’s A-League season begins at Westpac Stadium against the Newcastle Jets on Sunday 21 October.

Isn’t That Rather Soon?

Yes. Yes it is. Less than three weeks away.

So… How Many Players Are Signed Up Then?

Less than three weeks out from the beginning of the new season and the Welly Nix currently have sixteen registered players. Same as they had in early August when Alex Rufer was announced as having re-signed with the club. Same as they had when they were knocked out of the FFA Cup by Bentleigh Greens shortly after.

The A-League rules state that there must be at least 20 players on a roster, with a maximum of 23 dudes (excluding guest players, designated players and mature age rookies – while academy players can represent the senior team without counting towards that total too). That means a minimum of four new signings must be completed before the first game, four players who will have probably missed out on most/all of the preseason work to date (although there are a few trialists still in the mix). Within that squad there must be three U20 locals and as it stands only Sarpreet Singh and Liberato Cacace fill that purpose which means one’ll be a young’un. There is also one more international spot available, though that could expand to two depending on when Roy Krishna can be registered as a local lad.

Speaking Of, What’s Up With Roy Krishna’s Citizenship Thing?

Yeah so quick recap, the Nix are hoping to get the paperwork through for Roy Krishna to get his NZ citizenship as soon as possible because the sooner that happens , the sooner he can be registered as a local player. Which will clear up an extra import spot. The application’s been filed and all that but it’s currently in the hands of The System so perhaps don’t hold your breath. Doubt it’ll be done before the start of the season so the word is that they may even leave a squad spot empty (one of the seven they still have vacant) and come back for another import in January when the next transfer window opens. It’ll happen… but maybe not in the next couple weeks.

Remind Me Of That Current Squad Again…

GK – Filip Kurto, Ollie Sail

DEF – Steven Taylor, Andrew Durante, Ryan Lowry, Dylan Fox, Libby Cacace, Tom Doyle, Louis Fenton

MID – Mitch Nichols, Michal Kopczynski, Alex Rufer, Sarpreet Singh

FOR – Roy Krishna, David Williams, Nathan Burns

What’s Taking So Bloody Long?

Mark Rudan didn’t take this job to get pissed around. He’s a first time gaffer at this level and wants to make a good impression and in order to achieve that he’s cutting as few corners as possible. He wants maximum knowledge of players before signing them, which means extended trials which a lot of guys aren’t comfortable in doing. But those that do are sacrificing for the club, which puts them in better light for a manager who is almost as focussed on the mental side of things as he is the physical side. Rudan’s players need to buy into the cause. They need a chip on their shoulder. They need to be trustworthy and dedicated and honest and hard-working. It’s a lot to ask and that’s probably why he’s struggling to lock down a full squad of them.

It’s definitely a concern that we’re still waiting for 20% of the team to be confirmed this close out from the first game. Rudan’s not been too complimentary about the quality of the NZ Premiership which hasn’t helped, in fact it’s been something of a self-fulfilling prophecy for him. He doesn’t rate the idea of signing amateurs, so he feels he needs to see much more of them than others but being amateurs it’s a lot harder to just up and move to Wellington for a month, presumably from their own pocket, and play their best footy. So he doesn’t sign them and can easily say: well, they didn’t want it enough. He was full of praise for the example of Joe Harris who flew himself back from Sweden for a punt at the Nix… except he didn’t sign him either.

Couple that with the fact that a lot of kiwi players are jaded on the opportunities offered by the Wellington Phoenix after years of inadequacy on the field and limited opportunities for young kiwis there and it’s a conundrum. Remember that a lot of the young guys we’re talking about have been teammates of the likes of Matt Ridenton, Logan Rogerson and James McGarry in national teams and beyond and none of that trio left with maximum regard for their time at the Nix.

As for Australians, like, there are nine other A-League clubs out there that they can sign for without having to move to another country. Some such as Mitch Nichols and David Williams have bought into the Mark Rudan Revolution and that’s sweet as. Plenty more wouldn’t have been buggered. That’s more or less what’s up with that but, yeah, with less than three weeks to go Rudy might have to start taking on a few more risks on his side of negotiations because this could be a shambles if he doesn’t move quickly.

Okay Then, Who’s Gone From Last Season?

Quite a few of them jokers, actually. Mark Rudan wasn’t much of a fan of any of last year’s imports so the whole lot of them are gone (minus Krishna, obvs). No surprises there. Most of them woulda gone of their own accord anyway after that experience, Marco Rossi and Andrija Kaludjerovic had already made new plans. Goran Paracki and Matija Ljujic soon followed.

The troubled goal-keeping stocks got a reshuffle. Tando Velaphi was a mid-season addition but he didn’t last. Lewis Italiano had a shot at being the number one for a bit but lost it and he’s left to, hilariously, be Glen Moss’ back-up again, this time at the Newcastle Jets. Also Keegan Smith is still with the club but he’s gone back to being a youth player so as to give him more opportunities to play, which is a bit more of a priority for a teenaged keeper.

Then add on top of that the losses of academy grads Matt Ridenton, Logan Rogerson and James McGarry – Ridenton to the Jets and the other two to Europe – and Mike McGlinchey’s return to the Central Coast Mariners and that’s half a squad gone missing. Oh and Adam Parkhouse had his contract mutually terminated as well. That’s an even dozen folks. A few of them didn’t play much but that’s a lot to overcome, especially after similar overhauls a year ago.

Bloody Hell. So What’s The First XI Gonna Look Like Then?

That’s a tricky one as there are potentially a couple starters that aren’t even signed yet. There’s no obvious candidate at right-back and we’re at least one midfielder short – plus another striker wouldn’t go astray. The XI against Bentleigh Greens lined up in a sort of 4-2-2-2 shape. Two strikers with a couple attacking mids and then two holding mids. That can easily be adapted to 4-2-3-1 with more width or 4-3-3 for a bit more in the centre of the park but we’re probably not going to get five at the back, which is perfectly fine.

Filip Kurto is the number one keeper. Andrew Durante and Steven Taylor will form an extremely experienced (if also very slow) centre-back partnership. Tom Doyle or Libby Cacace at left back. Possibly Jacob Tratt on the right (if he signs). Kopczynski in the middle alongside… somebody else. Then, dunno, let’s say Sarpreet Singh and Mitch Nichols with Roy Krishna and Nathan Burns - same as in that Cup game. It’ll all be subject to performances so there’s no way to know at this stage. That’s a bit of an indication, though.

What About Mark Rudan, What Kind of Footy Can We Expect?

Fair question. The answer is clear in a lot of his quotes. He’s not a boss that feels tied to expressive, creative footy. He’ll get his team to do whatever it takes to win and at this stage that’s probably what they need, somebody to hold players accountable and drive that culture of success back into the club. As a former defender, you already know the backline will be his first focus. It won’t necessarily be defensive football but it will be structured football. He even said after the anaemic attacking efforts of the FFA Cup defeat that they hadn’t gotten around to practising their attacking moves yet so hopefully there’s been time in the preceding month or so to get some of that in. Either way, that’s a pretty flavoursome taste of his priorities.

Fans always want to see free-flowing footy but remember that the Nix conceded 55 goals last season, the most in the league and the Nix’s worst ever total over a season. When you’re leaking two every game it doesn’t even matter what you do on attack because the mistakes at the back are taking you out of the contest before you even get there.

So Can We Expect A Playoff Game This Season?

Mate, don’t go expecting anything with the Welly Nix. Mark Rudan talks a good game but this is some massive overhaul and he’d better coach as well as he talks just to get this lot away from the wooden spoon. Every other A-League team has made equal or better signings, meaning that alone won’t get the Nix in contention. Right now there’s hope and that’s a blessing. But the objective view of it still has the team struggling, if we’re totally honest. Luckily predictions mean nothing.

About That Licence Now…?

Yes! Here’s some actual good news. There’s been crazy drama over the ditch this week with FFA Chairman Steven Lowy deciding to bow out at the end of the month, choosing against standing for re-election in protest against the FFA voting in favour of constitutional changes - after some FIFA intimidation. The global governing body had snapped the Aussies for their sloppy dealings and have been leaning on them for change for ages now. There’s still A-League expansion expected but, with an independent A-League likely within six months, there’s also reason to believe again.

Put simply, it was hard to imagine the old boys voting to extend the Phoenix’s existence. However most of the clubs were perfectly happy with them, not willing to destabilise the competition any further. Now those clubs and fingers crossed also the Nix will get a much bigger say in things. Also, the metrics thing is gone. No more singling out the Phoenix for inane licence requirements while every other club is judged normally. Happy days indeed.

Jeez, That’ll Do. What About New Signings, Any Word On That Front?

Ah, sort of. Rumours and trials more than anything. There was talk about a massive marquee signing with Michael Essien and Obafemi Martins both contacted but, inexplicably, the two of them both rejected those advances. Expect the Nix to keep peeking around those corners but doubtful that they’ll be able to draw in anyone of that marquee level to Wellington.

There was a fella called Mandi from Spain trialling according to reports, a former Real Madrid reserve who’s coming off a serious Achilles injury. Jacob Tratt and Callan Elliot are still involved. Yoo Byung-Soo has been around too but not sure if he’s still in the picture or not – it’s hard because they’re over in Oz playing closed-door friendlies at the moment. God forbid anyone see them in preseason, after all. Andre De Jong was rumoured to be getting a second chance at a trial but sounds like he’s back at Eastern Suburbs ahead of the new Premiership season instead, unfortunately (well, unfortunate for the Nix but outstanding for Suburbs). Four more players needed though. Something had better happen soon.

Is That All For Now?

Yeah pretty much.

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