By Ian McCullough
October 27th 2009 @ 1:24am
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How Ifill came to light Phoenix’s rise
Few eyebrows were raised when Wellington Phoenix secured the services of Paul Ifill just before the start of the A-League season.
With all of the pre-season talk focused on Gold Coast United’s big-name signings and the arrival of Robbie Fowler at North Queensland, Ifill’s low-key move from English Championship club Crystal Palace slipped under the radar.
But after Sunday’s virtuoso display against the Gold Coast, setting up three goals and scoring one of his own in the Phoenix’s record-equalling 6-0 win, Ifill demonstrated his qualities in emphatic style.
The 30-year-old started his career with Millwall, coming through the ranks at the New Den with Socceroos stars Tim Cahill and Lucas Neill and was a key player in one of strongest teams in the Lions’ history.
But after reaching the FA Cup final in 2004, before a first-ever foray into the UEFA Cup, the Lions began to sell off their prized assets with Ifill following Cahill out of the door with a STG800,000 ($A1.41 million) switch to Sheffield United.
But while Cahill’s career went through the roof at Everton, Ifill experienced mixed fortunes at the Blades, winning promotion from the Championship in 2005 before making a swift return from the English Premier League after just one season.
A STG850,000 ($A1.5 million) to Palace followed in 2007.
But after a series of injuries, loss of form and a breakdown in his relationship with manager Neil Warnock, the Barbados international was set to quit the game after being transfer-listed by the cash-strapped Eagles at the end of last season.
It was a chance conversation with Palace teammate, former Newcastle Jets midfielder Nick Carle, that led him to the A-League and the Brighton-born winger said the switch has rekindled his love for the game.
“Nicky said some good things about the league and put me in touch with an agent out here and so far it has gone really well and I am enjoying it,” Ifill told AAP.
“There were a couple of teams in the A-League interested, but the package on offer from Wellington was the best one and I am delighted with how things have worked out so far.
“I was finding it quite boring in England. At Palace we were an OK side but if I had stayed there for another season it would have been another season of mid-table obscurity.
“I wasn’t going to get the chance to play in the Premiership again and I just wanted to try something different.”
Ifill believes the style of football adopted by the Phoenix is more suited to his talents and has been pleasantly surprised by the quality of the A-League.
“It helps that there is not promotion or relegation here, in England it is so results-orientated that teams will just and kick-and-rush to get into the Premiership.
“We try and play the right style of football and sometimes it doesn’t always work, but I would rather than just lumping it up front.”
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Anthony Begbie said | October 27th 2009 @ 1:55pm | Report comment
i remember noticing Ifill when watching a few matches in Milwall’s run to the FA cup final. Along with Timmy he was the better peformer for them. I thought at the start of this season Ifill could be one of the better signings but had doubts about why a players with his skill would choose to leave England. Definately Pheonix’s gain and you can really sense Wellington has a squad which could really challenge this season (i would argue 9/10 teams are still capable). What i’ve really noticed this season is that Tim Brown has continued to improve and is becoming a class midfielder at this level.
cab711 said | October 29th 2009 @ 7:56pm | Report comment
Agreed, Brown is really blossoming well. Bertos is having a great season and looks lively and Daniel looks keen to keep a 1st team spot. With Caceras in support the have a very deadly attacking midfield. Weakness for me has been Green Acre and I mean that in a good way. He plays great, nice touch, passing and decent holding but the finishing hasnt been there. Sometimes Its almost as if the Nix have no attacking line at all.