@mikey07 said in A League 2024/25:
@canefan They do have a billionaire owner and a very relaxed salary cap for the first couple of years. The Phoenix’s problem is that the owners treat it like the Brighton model develop them young then once they hit the big time sell them off for profit. That money doesn’t go back into the squad hence why we’re full of journeyman.
And that's what the league has become. Playing teenagers in the hope that overseas clubs come knocking to make profit. Most of these kids who come in are nowhere near ready for the A League let alone making it at overseas clubs.
We'll use Isaac Hughes at the Nix. A talented defender who is good with ball at his feet, but he's become a regular well before his time and is being remembered more for his mistakes at this stage of his career. It's a tough place to learn on the job. Compare that with Jesse Randall at Auckland FC who has spent a lot of his time playing in the lower leagues in NZ, has been eased into the Auckland FC side since about the middle of last season in his 20s, has easily been Auckland's player of the season and look, he's signed for Dundee Utd im Scotland for next season.
I get the process of trying to build stars to sell them, but there's still a right way of doing it, instead of just throwing boys in for the sake of it. I hope for Wellington and NZs sake that Luke Brooke-Smith is looked after. He's a real talent.
@mikey07 said in A League 2024/25:
@African-Monkey There’s still the diehard regulars, but the reason the crowds are down are because we keep losing an playing boring football I wouldn’t mind if we played a more exciting game, not the slow build up at the back. With Chiefy gone will be interesting to see who comes in.
Maybe Ifill realistically?
Nice to hear about Chiefy. One of his main downfalls I feel in regards to Auckland was letting his emotions get in the way of the task at hand. When he starts trying to pick fights with them in the media, it showed that he wasn't in control of the situation and that he had let Auckland rattle them which had filter to the playing group. Leave that shit to the fans.
A change probably for the best.
@African-Monkey quite surprised the Nix don’t go after Randall he as looked pretty good even before signing with Auckland
@mikey07 said in A League 2024/25:
@African-Monkey quite surprised the Nix don’t go after Randall he as looked pretty good even before signing with Auckland
Yeah and even when he did sign for Auckland, he was out of favour for Liam Gillion.
Gillion hasn't quite made the grade whilst Randall has gone on to become one of the best attackers in the league.
And after all this, Wellington are on 5 points out of the top 6. It's a tight league.
@Donsteppa said in A League 2024/25:
Yeah, I did briefly look for a thread last night after that horrendous own goal.
For all the grief the Warriors get as a sporting franchise, after 20-odd years the Phoenix have been extremely ordinary in an Australian comp too.
That spectacular own goal did earn us a mention on Guardian Football Weekly and the Totally Football Show podcasts (including Jason Pine commentary snippet on the latter) and NZ football doesn't get many mentions - last one might be the 3 first half own goals by a Football Fern.
2 months later
Auckland FC score first in the GF, a shot through a crowd collects a deflection and sends the keeper the wrong way. Messy but they all count
One of the subs, Rogerson is a lovely crosser of the ball. Jittery moments at the back, I think Auckland need another goal. And one of the AFC players muffs a golden chance
I was having my hair cut earlier in the week, and Sakai walked in. Not a massive guy, but he was the best signing the club made, just a total professional