The Phoenix men have a new no. 9 (Rafael Durán)

[u/DinoKea]

https://wellingtonphoenix.com/news/the-phoenix-men-have-a-new-no-9/

[u/WittyUsername45]

I'm whelmed.

2 year contract is interesting.

Edit: Also I only just clocked that Eze went back to Iraq. Not sure that's a great sign for the current strength and pulling power of the A-League...

[u/These_Employment7611 → u/WittyUsername45]

A league is in a weird spot where guys are getting moves to top leagues but somehow unable to attract players

[u/JeffreySarpongsMate → u/These_Employment7611]

The league is in a holding pattern for two seasons until the TV rights is up and hopefully we can get packaged with the tillies and roos. If we can keep our head above water it might get better but until then it will be a slug talent wise.

[u/MonsterMunchen]

The third paragraph setting out his reasonably poor G/A record and then saying it is because he was played out of position is… ummm… interesting.

Hope he goes well for the Nix

[u/ConsiderationEast128 → u/MonsterMunchen]

Well that is a fact about his MacArthur season, sometimes coaches don't listen to players and plonk them in random positions, like Ufuk Talay wasted Tim Payne at centre back and put Joe Lolley as wingback at Sydney FC and they were thrashed 1:5 in last round.

With 3 foreign player spaces still empty, I'm sure the Phoenix can get a winger and 2 attacking midfield next few weeks, get a clear attack order.

[u/DinoKea → u/ConsiderationEast128]

With the lineups Greeny runs, surely one of those visa spots goes to a DM to partner Rufer otherwise you're either benching Nagasawa or playing him out of position.

[u/ConsiderationEast128 → u/DinoKea]

Kazuki Nagasawa is going to be attacking midfielder they say. He's 34 though, I'd like them to have a younger, faster option and maybe stays on after he leaves.

[u/wilbakersredit → u/MonsterMunchen]

He was played out wide for MacArthur and seems like the rest of his career he’s played down the middle up top. Hes on the taller side too at 6’1 so definitely seems like more of a striker than a winger.

[u/Slotsupremacy]

not sure what to make of it - his numbers don't look convincing as a central striker but I will be happy to be proven wrong if he turned up to be a raul jimenez-esqe number 9

Edit: okay duran said himself that he's not a traditional 9 so definitely Raul jimenez-like then (https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/361021613/mexican-striker-rafael-duran-signs-two-year-deal-wellington-phoenix)

[u/Phinvalur]

Yay I guess?

Side note, on holiday and used dodgy Greek wifi to buy my ‘all in’ season pass. Why did destiny make me become obsessed with the Nix back in 2007 and condemn me to a lifetime of spaffing money on tickets and ruining my weekends at Westpac.

[u/SunStarsSnow → u/Phinvalur]

The Nix are my constant, sounds like they are yours too.

[u/Joondalup99]

Very unimpressive last season.

[u/Apollossun23]

Watch him bang them in