I know, but I was just curious to see if anyone knew anything about it.

The shop probably isn't the highest priority right now. More like:

1. Filling the playing roster
2. Strengthening the coaching staff
3. Strengthening the backroom staff
4. Getting a marketing campaign up and running
5. Selling memberships

Think you are confusing Phoenix offices with the shop (currently both in the same building). I am not sure if a Phoenix shop is that important, it would have to be justified in terms of revenue/advertising it produces. Maybe one of the 7 investors owns some property they don't mind sticking the shop into.

Ahh ok, I'd really like it to be in an easily accesible, public place like it was for the first couple of seasons.

I think Rob said Westpac stadium offered them office space, I remember reading something along those lines

I assume the Phoenix shop would be changing location since it's currently in one of Terry's buildings (?) . Are they going to move it?

That all sounds fantastic :D Let's just hope they stay true to their word! I'll read through the rest of it later.

Live Chat With Rob

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/5680587/Live-chat-Rob-Morrison-co-owner-of-the-Wellington-Phoenix

Important points IMO


"Yes he will have the full salary cap and he is looking at a range of options in terms of player signings."

Exhibition games - "The Beckham game was clearly successful, so we will look at that possibility."

"To be clear, over the next two years, we will not play more than one regular season game per season as a "home game" away from Wellington. We understand that the Hyundai A-League plan to expand the league giving us more games per season and if that happens that will give us the flexibility to look at playing more home games away."

"clearly we need to work hard at marketing and part of our budgeting is to give the marketing people wherewithall to expand the marketing coverage."

"Our clear aim is to make sure that the Phoenix is profitable after five years and therefore has the ability to self-generate capital. If we can achieve that then the need for external funding is clearly reduced. Obviously, no promises, as experience tells us these things are never easy, but that's our aim."

Please all Kiwis check out the job I posted! :)

Well one has Premier League action, so I'm assuming one of the relegated teams from last seasons strikers. Blackpool FC's Gary Taylor-Fletcher is the first that comes to mind. I don't keep up to date too much with in and out transfers in England so I wouldn't have a decent idea xD

:o

-PB

On that note, any speculation over the three experienced overseas strikers?

We definitely need another striker. Preferable a Rojas-like guy that has epic pace and can get behind defenders. Paul Ifill is great and I think Pavlovic will have his breakout season this season, and if someone teaches Chris Greenacre the offside rule using salt and pepper shakers he'll be useful as well, but we are lacking pace/other options in case of injury.

As for midfield, hopefully Downey and Sanchez will step up. Lia needs to calm the hell down and not conceed as many fouls as he did, and what the rest of you said about Brown is similar to my thoughts on him. I think Pantelis will fit in well but I don't see him getting many assists.

im with you on this, Tim Brown...absentee midfielder. Is not a great creator of chances. does not hold the ball up and will release at first opportunity, often to rush into the box leaving the midfield empty and slow to track back..if at all. If we can get a half decent midfielder this year it might be time for Ricki to give Tim a back seat

IIRC Dan was originally called into the All Whites squad when in Mexico but due to injury didn't play.

Maybe he'll be in future plans? He's still young, and if he's good enough for MLS, then he's good enough for us.

but Ricki's only given him one chance on the pitch that was against Sydney and he looked pretty good then, very quick and skillful

Would love to have Payne in the team if the trial goes badly. As I asked earlier in the thread, what about Musa? I think he'd be worth having, especially if we don't get Bran as a cover.

well if some of his predecessors from western suburbs (Dan Keat, Craig Henderson) are anything to go by he's worth a try. It amazes me Ricki has'nt given Dan Keat a chance with the all whites he's always been an excellent midfielder and he's been drafted by LA Galaxy.

Lovemore was poor at the u20 WC and has been training with the 'Nix for a lot of the last two seasons. Ricki knows a bit about him, Clapham wasn't even player of the last season in the ASB premiership, he needs to stand out by some margin on a consistent basis however I do think he would have been more useful than Toto last season.

Tim Payne would be a good player to sign if his trial with Blackburn doesn't work out. Chettleburgh I assume is still training/trialling but buzz about him has cooled down. Bran is still in the mix, not sure about Thurtell. I would imagine we sign at most 21 players but expect the minimum before registration closes, so that means 2 youth (Bran as CB cover, and then Payne/Chettleburgh/Thurtell) and a gun striker. If we sign 21, could be an extra youth player or if we get some $ a better CB than Sigmund.

I know, Tim Brown is a good finisher he's often in the right place at the right time in the box but he's frustrating to watch because he has a distinctive habit in midfield where he just stands there and watches a loose ball when it's there to be recuperated by him, I mean he's the closest phoenix player to the loose ball and he just stands there and looks at it, it was actually a blessing he was'nt available for the all whites in the world cup because he's not really an international quality midfielder, it's something that shows up badly when you're watching the games live, he goes to sleep.

Chettleburgh? What's the opinion on him?

If Ricki had an eye for local talent he'd get Sean Lovemore in there, and I know it's flogging a dead horse but Clapham too

I see, I'm guessing you weren't too disappointed he missed the World Cup then.
To be honest, at his best I rate him higher than Lia, but I could definitely go for someone with a little more flair in that role. I'm hoping he'll be back to his best though, since even when he's playing badly Ricki won't drop him.

Honestly, I wince every time he scores as I know it will mean he keeps his name on the team sheet. Even in 09/10. I hope that Sanchez is able to produce some good football, links well with our wingers and gives options to our other midfielders.

Did you rate him at all in the 09/10 season?

I don't rate Tim. He doesn't offer much when we are in possession, he doesn't provide a passing outlet, just aims to get into the box to get at the end of crosses.

119GLORY - Westpac will always be the ground to play at in Wellington, there is nothing else that can host a professional football team (basin reserve is not an option). Atmosphere is great. And we have only been going for 4 years here, hopefully for many more.

inb4TerryMeltdown

-PB

Yes. Location is superb. Atmosphere is one of the leagues best. We're stuck with the oval, remembering Wellington is one of the leagues smalles markets there is simply no other option for a ground.

In the 09/10 season he was immense in the success of the club, scored 8 goals and did plenty of work inbetween, still managed 6 last season, but he wasn't anywhere near the standard of the one before. I sure hope he's going to be back to his best this time around, god knows we need all of them on form.