Nine seasons, five finals spots and two wooden spoons – the Wellington Phoenix’s first era in the A-League has been a pass mark. Yet now, leading into a bright new age for the club, it is time for New Zealand’s sole representative in the competition to prove its place.
Failing to compete in this weekend’s finals marks a season of disappointment for Wellington.
It is a clear regression after storming into the A-League finals amid a solid defence and vibrant attack in 2014-15. While they lost the services of top goalscorer Nathan Burns, they should never have fallen from fourth to ninth within 12 months.
A number of factors led to the uninspiring 2015-16 campaign, including injuries to key players and the obvious distractions off the field. Yet the failure to adequately replenish the squad was one major setback before a ball had been kicked.
Jeffrey Sarpong arrived with an impressive Dutch DV but without any evidence of goalscoring pedigree; expecting him to directly replace Burns was an ill-informed pre-season move from coach Ernie Merrick. Sarpong ended his stay with the Phoenix in January having failed to score in 13 games.
The injury to Roy Krishna was a blow too, the Fiji international on target to improve his threat in the box until missing more than two months of the season. Krishna left Wellington in sixth, when he returned they were ninth and never recovered.
Added to the lack of firepower up front was the astonishing collapse of defensive solidity. Wellington conceded three or more goals on ten occasions. Simply not good enough, though perhaps to be expected from an ageing back line.
The Phoenix did show glimpses of quality, including victories over Adelaide United, Western Sydney and Melbourne City. Roly Bonevacia’s form was promising too (seven goals, five assists) as was the progression of young stars such as Tom Doyle, Blake Powell (eight goals) and Dylan Fox.
But at the end of the season, Wellington had scored 34 goals, conceded 54 and notched just seven wins to secure a more than deserved ninth-place finish. It was back to where they were in 2013-14.
Next season, therefore, poses as a big test for Merrick; his fourth campaign in New Zealand.
In his favour is the secured future of the club, with the FFA handing Phoenix an immediate four-year license with two three-year options available if benchmarks in performance, crowd figures (hopefully a move to Hutt Recreation Ground is considered) and TV revenue are matched.
It is arguably the first time the current owners, Welnix Group, have been handed a chance to build the club.
Already the signs are positive. Kosta Barbarouses arrives to strengthen the wing play that crumbled apart when Burns departed, and his combination in the final third with Krishna and Michael McGlinchey must be an exciting prospect for fans.
Then there is the arrival of Gui Finkler, an incredibly gifted playmaker with the added threat of accuracy from set pieces. He will join Albert Riera and Bonevacia in a midfield that already looks the goods. The only concern is that Riera will have sole defensive duties in this trio, placing a lot of pressure on the Spaniard.
Riera’s job, however, may become easier if Merrick can get further recruitment spot on. Gone are Ben Sigmund (retired) and Manny Muscat (Melbourne City), meaning Wellington’s back line has been decimated. The experience of Andrew Durante and Glenn Moss, coupled with the youth of Louis Fenton provides a strong base, but a quality centre-back and right fullback are crucial.
As well as defensive reinforcements, it is time for Wellington to sign a marquee player, preferably an out-and-out striker who can take some of the burden off Krishna and back-up Powell. The club’s owners have to start showing ambition, and with the club’s future partially assured they finally have a reason.
To say this is a defining season for Wellington would be incorrect. To say this is the start of a defining era is more accurate. Wellington face a clutch off-season. Recruitment has to be spot on, community engagement has to be on point and their four-year plan needs to start with a finals berth. Anything less will not be acceptable.
Hog
Guest
Wouldn't rate it any better than the Hutt Rec
Midfielder
Guest
k I would also add pertaining to the Mariners we have produced Hef Buggs Jedi Tommy P Nik Musty Bernie Olly Sainsbury Ryan Simon 11 Socceroos ... showed how to run academies Developed the best training facilities in Australia.... and at the end of Hal 9 the most successful club in the laegue if measured over the laegue I also may add our owner has already told us we have to lift our game to met FFA standards ... no club is safe if the combo of ratings / crowds / sponsorships / etc Mel City also build a massive training facility ... So its just not the Nix all clubs have to met FFA requirements.
Gyruss
Guest
I think Wellington have no place in the HAL. Watch the broadcast and tell me that listening to Andrew Dewhurst and Fred DeJong is an enjoyable experience. Its biased and nauseating, at best. What net benefit do they bring to Australian Football? Well some may argue there are five Australians on their books, I stand to be corrected. An Australian club would have much more than that. The survival of New Zealand football depends on Wellington. Sorry, but that isn't the problem of Australian Football. FFA has a enough problems focussing on the development of football in Australia (which is what they SHOULD be doing!) FNZ don't care, they are happy for the FFA , the HAL and Welnix to do the heavy lifting. Forget The Phoenix, forget football in New Zealand and focus on Australia
Kaks
Roar Guru
See, we can be civil with each other! haha
Lionheart
Guest
Horto, I always sit behind the goals, south end which is opposite end to the Den, near away supporters. I like it there, good view of the good goals, but tonight I see the two bays next to me are given over to MV away fans. Normally away fans get shoved another bay along, but we are being very generous to you guys tonight. No flares, they're gone, lock them up forever up here. I'm nervous, big game, looking forward to it. Leave in about half an hour.
Horto Magiko
Roar Rookie
You sound nervous lionheart haha I'm out on a limb saying we will win but I genuinely feel that Berisha is going to conjure his finest work tonight. And take a look at MVs "ins" this week! Well pumped! MON!
Horto Magiko
Roar Rookie
Brilliant post. Couldn't have said it better if I tried mate.
Horto Magiko
Roar Rookie
"the HAL raises over $50m a year of which the FFA takes $15m and keeps it for itself. If the HAL kept all the money it wouldn’t need to rely on the FFA to prop up failing clubs." Interesting.
Horto Magiko
Roar Rookie
You're right midfielder. FFA have done a much better job than I give them credit for. And true, we are both fighting the same war. There's some inertia.. Things that can be corrected overnight..it baffles me., Like transfers to name one.. Or significant change to marquee rules.. Allow some of the clubs to flex their muscles a bit more.. (At least the bunnings chairs are a thing of the past!!!) You're right, we are fledging league, with an admin that's in previously uncharted territory..they've made some rookie mistakes and yeh we should always call them out.. The self criticism will make us stronger. But where we sit now, champs of Asia, 3 domestic cups on offer.. We're doing pretty damn fine. But in terms of the bigger stuff, Im realistic albiet impatient.. (And you're an accountant and far more measured in your approach than I am).... Like mattq says I've given up on pro/rel for now and would like to see the discussion fully turn to (expanding to min of 12 teams and then) our national 2nd div..although not right now haha. I'm too pumped for tonight's clash!
Waz
Guest
Fuss, the HAL raises over $50m a year of which the FFA takes $15m and keeps it for itself. If the HAL kept all the money it wouldn't need to rely on the FFA to prop up failing clubs. So the FFA can't be complacent - it's performance has been very poor for a couple of years (at least) and it's made too many big mistakes. Fortunately there does seem to be signs of better collaboration under Lowy Jnr but the FFA need to improve or club owners will walk away again and again and again ...!
Waz
Guest
Any team in Australia benefits Australian football in some way. A team in Australia averaging 5,000 is better for Australian football than a team in NZ with 10,000 - it develops the game over here and not over there (youth players, awareness, media etc). You put another team in Sydney and you'll have 9 more big derby crowds, same in Melbourne. So why wouldn't we put South Melbourne up, or the Knights, or Wolves? Nine of your explanations would go down well with them, finish this sentence "the reason Wellington us on the league and you're not us because ........." I can't finish it! Its not good enough for people from NZ justifying their place in an Australian league by saying "all other Australian sides aren't good enough" when several of them clearly have aspirations to join the HAL. If anyone in NZ is seriously behind the Nix it's not obvious. Welnex Group aside who do seem impressive. Sorry but this is not even a debate. I hope Nix prove me wrong but I just don't see it. The growth of Australian football lies in its membership of the AFC not in kiwi experiments.
Lionheart
Guest
Yes, and they did not support north Queensland Fury. Why? Shame on them, but I am over it and have moved on now.
Lionheart
Guest
it's a bit like the best Brisbane club in Melbourne Horto. Both you two are competing strongly for it. Now now, you know I'm only joking. What's wrong with a little joke every now and then, to relieve the stress and strain before tonight's game.
Kaks
Roar Guru
"Currently Melbourne City offer the league nothing. They have crowds the same size as Phoenix despite being in a city more than TEN times larger" So in that case, the Nix provide the league nothing.. No one cares about the proportion of the population turning out to the game, We only care about the number of people turning out to the games.
Kaks
Roar Guru
The one thing you seem to miss is that we are doing NZ a favour, not vice versa. You say that Wellington isnt doing too bad in comparison to its market size and population etc. but that is not good enough. The FFA lose money on the Nix, they dont make money. The Nix need to justify their inclusion where CCM, NJ and Melbourne City have no reason to do so as they provide benefits to Australian football. They are Australian teams providing professional football for Australian players and entertaining Australian people. The Nix should just be doing well and meeting the minimum standards, they need to be proving that they deserve the license and that letting them go would be a mistake - which currently, it wouldnt be if they were not part of the A-league. None of what you said that the Nix provide cant happen with clubs from Geelong or Wollongong or Canberra, the only difference is the 4million POTENTIAL viewers that NZ, where in all honesty probably a very minute fraction probably even care about the game. Again, we are doing the Nix a favour. We lose money on the Nix. The Nix provide nothing for Australian football.
Lionheart
Guest
I didn't realise Smeltz played for the Nix. I know he's a gold Coast boy, not sure that he's ever really lived in NZ, and has played at several clubs. Kosta had to get out of Wellingtom to make his name, remember he was overlooked for the WC, and made his name at Brisbane under Ange. Rojas I really liked, and I believe he was uncovered by a group outside the Phoenix, though he was picked up by the Nix and played his best football for MY, where's the lad now? Is he another who didn't make good overseas. I'm not sure the list goes on though. Some of those current players have still to prove themselves, and I hope they come good for you next year. I would like to see the Phoenix successful, so good luck.
mattq
Roar Rookie
Horto is more for a div two before pro/rel
Davybhoy
Roar Rookie
mattq I don't seem to be able to directly reply to your last comment ... Sure there are half a dozen cities in Australia with much bigger populations than Wellington. At present Hyundai's advertising is exposed to 27 million people who may or may not notice it. Take Wellington out and add 1, 2, 3 Australian teams and that advertising is seen by only 23 million. So Hyundai are getting an extra 20% for their dollar, right? You are obviously not a marketer but the recognition is not just tv ads. It is newspaper radio internet etc that refers to the Hyundai A league. It is on shirts that fans wear around the town etc etc. That is the exposure Hyundai would miss out on. This is just a tangent to the real issue anyway.
Midfielder
Guest
H We both have the interest of Football at heart ... you believe that can best be achieved essentially if I read your posts correctly by introducing P & R and giving the power to run the A-League to the clubs... Whereas I think we are in an evolution were sometime over the next 5 to 6 years the clubs will be running the A-League and in maybe 15 years plus Football will have grown to the point that a proper discussion can take place on P & R... today it send us broke... Meaning the management of FFA is not for either P & R or handing power to the clubs at this stage thus you see lots of faults with FFA.... whereas I see a very young competition trying to break out of a 40 million against 400 million dollar revenue deal and over 100 years of media support ... thus I see FFA role in two ways to grow the game but also except it would be very easy to stuff up look at Basketball if you want a case study in Australia... am I happy with everything no but I am happy with the general direction...
Midfielder
Guest
Danny You just proved my point ... its a sense of injustice ... or its wrong we be held to account ... The only reason you are in the A-League is because Frank Lowy promised as long as possible I will keep a NZ side in the A-League .... why ... because .... NZF let us join Asia.. I know in NZ you think FFA simply have to snap their figures and the AFC jumps ... but the truth is we are a very new player in the AFC and still go to meeting cap in hand with many Middle Eastern Nations wanting us out... So FFA have to argue you case to an AFC who does not want you their and we have to threaten to bring FIFA in if they say no... The truth the Nix in there current position are a very hard sell to AFC... But lets ignore the AFC and say FIFA in the end may save the day ... crowds, ratings and general Football coverage in NZ has hardly improved in 11 seasons. Talk to the people of Canberra and the Gong who had sides in the NSL for over 30 years ... Its about time you got that chip off your shoulder and agreed to carry your weight.