Wellington Phoenix Team Guide in FM2008
Average Rating: 8/10 Hits: 344 Submitted: Nov 6, 2007
Here you can find various hints and tips when it comes to managing Wellington Phoenix in Football Manager 2008. Ranging from all the basic information about the club, the history of the club, the expectations of the club in both the current season and over the coming years, an overview of the squad and players at your disposal, the best players to buy, the players you should be looking to sell, the best tactics to use, both for attack and defensive and much, much more.
Basically everything you need to know, to aid your career managing Wellington Phoenix in the Australian A-League, in FM2008.
There are a few things to note in regards to the A League that apply to all eight teams. Firstly, to keep teams from falling over financially, there is a strict salary cap imposed of $28220 per week. This excludes the clubs top earner or "marquee" player who can earn whatever you want to pay them (in the case of the Phoenix, this is Daniel on 5K a week). Secondly, there is a limit of twenty-three players per squad, with no reserves or youth squad, which means that every one of your players has to be ready to play at any time. Finally, there are further restrictions that at least two of the squad have to be goalkeepers, two of the squad have to be under 20, and only four players can be foreign nationals. These restrictions are challenging, but keep you firmly in the hunt for the title even with the weakest starting squad in the A League.
Wellington Phoenix
Nation: Australia (Home base New Zealand)
Year Founded: 2007
Status: Professional
Reputation: Continental
Chairman Status: Loves The Club
Fierce Rivals: None
Other Rivals: None
Favoured Personnel: None
Finances: OK
Value: $3.7m
Stadium: Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Capacity: 34500 All Seated
Pitch Dimensions: 102x65
Maximum Dimensions: 108x74
Training Facilities: Average
Youth Facilities: Adequate + Youth Academy
Continental Competition: None
Media Prediction: 6th
Squad Average Age: 24
Squad Personality: Determined
Club Captain: Ross Aloisi
Home Shirts: Black with yellow collar and white and yellow side trim
Away Shirts: White with black and yellow shoulder panelling
History
One of only a handful of clubs to play in a league based outside of their own country, the New Zealand based Wellington Phoenix play in the elite Australian A League, and rose from the ashes (hence the name) of the defunct New Zealand Knights once that club lost it's A League licence due to poor finances. Poorly supported, the Knights, formed to give New Zealand players greater competition in an Australian professional league, played in the first two seasons of the A League with little success, and few highlights.
When the Knights lost their licence, the league considered replacing the New Zealand based side with a team from the Australian City of Townsville, but kept faith in the plan to keep an elite pathway open for the Kiwis, and the licence was won by the "Nix", headed by a group of prominent New Zealand business men. With some good new signings and a new focus, not to mention the passionate "Yellow Fever" supporters club, in FM2008 the challenge is to turn football in New Zealand around and challenge the established Australian powerhouses for the A League Title.
Expectations
Given the A League is a fairly even competition, with only eight teams and a four team finals series, making the finals should be considered as a relatively easy accomplishment in the game. The board will be happy with that, as they only expect the club to make the finals early on. Anything above that, such a grand final or a Championship, and qualification for the Asian Champions League will be considered an excellent bonus and you will be justly rewarded and praised. On the down side, with only eighteen games in the League season, any run of poor form is exacerbated by a large amount of criticism.
The fictitious "Australian Cup" from FM2007 is now gone, so the only other trophies to compete for are the Pre Season Cup and the Asian Continental competitions. The pre season cup isn't that important to win, but it does get your players match fit for the season ahead, and is a nice bonus. The Asian Champions League is lucrative, and challenging, and a final aim might be to win that, and try and get Wellington into the World Club Championship - although such an aim will take time and something of an overhaul of the squad.
Squad Overview
There are a few things to note in regards to the A League that apply to all eight teams. Firstly, to keep teams from falling over financially, there is a strict salary cap imposed of $28220 per week. This excludes the clubs top earner or "marquee" player who can earn whatever you want to pay them (in the case of the Phoenix, this is Daniel on 5K a week). Secondly, there is a limit of twenty-three players per squad, with no reserves or youth squad, which means that every one of your players has to be ready to play at any time. Finally, there are further restrictions that at least two of the squad have to be goalkeepers, two of the squad have to be under 20, and only four players can be foreign nationals. These restrictions are challenging, but keep you firmly in the hunt for the title even with the weakest starting squad in the A League.
The Phoenix starting squad has three goalkeepers, Mark Paston, Glen Moss and Jacob Spoonley. Since the first two players are New Zealand internationals and Spoonley is the U-21 incumbent, the Phoenix are well served for goalkeeping depth. However with a small squad, three goalkeepers can be seen as an indulgence. This means unfortunately that Moss is one that is most likely to be cut, with Paston a strong and brave keeper and Spoonley the long term option at just 20, and already a really good shot stopper. However, some managers may wish to cut the oldest goalkeeper (Paston is 30) and go with the Moss at 24 and Spoonley at 20. It's a judgement call, but Paston is the best keeper you have in the starting squad.
The squad instantly noticeable problem is there are no listed right backs at all in the 23 man squad. The left back position is a race between the Brazillian Daniel and the home grown Tony Lochhead. This is the easiest decision in the side, since Daniel is the clubs star man, fast and creative, and Lochhead is merely solid and dependable. If Daniel is injured, the club loses a lot, so it might be worth investing in a better back up player at Lochheads expense, although the obvious transfer need is to find a right back as soon as possible.
Lochhead can also slot in to the centre of defence, but there are better options given his technical limitations. A decent option is to play a three man central defence comprising the former Falkirk player Karl Dodd, the young New Zealander Steven Old and the Brazillian Cleberson. Cleberson is aggressive and a good tackler but limited beyond that, although his solidity keeps in the team. Old is the man to build a team around in the long term, at 21 years of age, he could be a future captain. There's a lot to like about Dodd, although like Cleberson he doesn't offer much finesse. He's physically strong though and the three players should offer you a good amount of cover. If pushed, the best two man partnership is Dodd and Old. Rounding out the central defensive options is the Australian Steven O'dor, who at just 20 is one very much for the future, with a lot of determination and work rate to offer your side.
In midfield, on the left hand side Daniel can do you a good job out of position, with the other options the Brazillian George and the young New Zealander Christian Barbarouses. As much as the advice from the coaches is to play George, Barbarouses is too good a prospect to leave languishing. He's scored 8 goals in 10 Under 21 internationals, is determined, aggressive and developing strongly. There's nothing wrong with George either, but at 29, he's diminishing despite offering your side strong creative options. It'll be a judgement call whether to loan Barbarouses for experience or play him and take the risk. George can also play on the right hand side of midfield, but the best option is the Australian international Ahmed Elrich, who is a good passer of the ball and a good goalscorer. The final option on the right is Vince Lia, who's technical limitations might see him as one to sell on to another club.
The Nix are have plenty of options in the centre of midfield, in fact, possibly too many options given no fewer than four players in a 23 man squad are attacking central midfielders, when the squad doesn't have a right back. In addition to the versatile George, the squad offers you the defensive midfielder Richard Johnson, who does you a neat and tidy job is selected without threatening to be a star, and at 33, he might also be one you look to move on. Tim Brown does a similar job, again without threatening to become a marquee name, and at 26, he's a younger option. However, it's a combination of attacking midfielders that you should be looking to employ. Ross Aloisi is a determined and physical influence on the side, although he is retiring at seasons end, so keep that in mind. The Brazillian Felipe is a good free kick specialist and a decent passer of the ball. Michael Ferrante is probably the weakest of the four on paper, but he's servicable, and rounding out the quartet is the home grown Jeremy Christie, a good athlete and a developing player at 24. With any two of this quartet, you'll get at worst a solid and hard working effort, with the occasional goal, although none of the four stand out as the must play option.
Where Wellington do struggle is up front, where the players are limited but hard working. Barbarouses and George can play up front in a striking role, and there are four other options. The veteran 35 year old Vaughan Coveny, Shane Smeltz, Richard Brownlie, and 17 year old Greg Draper. This is a tough call since none of the Phoenix strikers are particularly outstanding. Brownlie might just shade Smeltz and Coveny as a better goal scorer, but it might be worth at least trying Draper, and trying to build something for the future. A combination of Draper and one of George or Brownlie isn't the worst option you can go with. Whichever one of Smeltz or Brownlie you don't intend to play should probably be moved on to make room for other options, and Coveny is an interesting option at super sub since he plays OK in short bursts, and selling him on does effect the morale of the squad.
Potential Transfers
Michael Thwaite (D R C) - Wisla Krakow (Permanent - 45K)
Sanjay Singh (D R) - Youngheart (Permanent - 12K)
Darren Ah Kuoi (D R) - Team Wellington (Permanent, 40K Compensation)
Pedj Bojic (D R C/WB R) - No Club (Permanent, Free)
Mimi Saric (ST) - Popa (Permanent, 9K)
Michael Curcija - (ST) - Altona Magic (Permanent, 12K)
With the salary cap and squad restrictions, plus the poor state of the Phoenix finances, it's not going to be easy to deal in the transfer market. You'll be looking to sell before you buy, and the immediate priority is to invest in a right back. Gareth Edds, probably the best option, is marginally out of financial reach, but Thwaite is an outstanding alternative if you can get him. Beyond that, Sing and Bojic are decent but limited cheap options. It's worth having a look at the young Ah Kuoi though, even if he does cost 40K compensation, if you can't get Thwaite. There are plenty of places to look for bargain signings though such as the New Zealand youth teams and some of the stronger Australian clubs such as Altona or Adelaide City. Saric and Curcija are examples of how you can strengthen, within reason, one position without spending a fortune.
4-4-2 Formation
Paston
Daniel
Old
Dodd
Thwaite/Ah Kuoi/transferred in right back
Barbarouses
Aloisi
Felipe
Elrich
Brownlie
Draper
Summary:
The A League is the kind of league you should look to dip into for a challenge. The League is even and competitive and difficult to juggle with the restrictions imposed on squad size and salary. It's not a long term league to play, given there's really only one important domestic trophy, one league with no relegation, and only eight teams in a short season, however the Asian Champions League is a good challenge to play for and to use as a stepping stone to the World Club Championship, and there is some fun to be had waiting for famous players in the game to get older and offer them a role as your marquee player.
As for the Phoenix, their squad is a little unbalanced with no right back, too many strikers and attacking central midfielders, and they are a lot cash strapped, although there is talent to work with. The Phoenix do start behind most of the other clubs for talent, but are physical and competitive and hard working. The salary cap and the even squad size keeps everyone in the mix in any given season. With the right signings, albeit on the cheap, and an emphasis on youth, an early push for the title isn't beyond you in a league that any team can realistically expect to win in any given season.
Wellington Phoenix
Nation: Australia (Home base New Zealand)
Year Founded: 2007
Status: Professional
Reputation: Continental
Chairman Status: Loves The Club
Fierce Rivals: None
Other Rivals: None
Favoured Personnel: None
Finances: OK
Value: $3.7m
Stadium: Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Capacity: 34500 All Seated
Pitch Dimensions: 102x65
Maximum Dimensions: 108x74
Training Facilities: Average
Youth Facilities: Adequate + Youth Academy
Continental Competition: None
Media Prediction: 6th
Squad Average Age: 24
Squad Personality: Determined
Club Captain: Ross Aloisi
Home Shirts: Black with yellow collar and white and yellow side trim
Away Shirts: White with black and yellow shoulder panelling
History
One of only a handful of clubs to play in a league based outside of their own country, the New Zealand based Wellington Phoenix play in the elite Australian A League, and rose from the ashes (hence the name) of the defunct New Zealand Knights once that club lost it's A League licence due to poor finances. Poorly supported, the Knights, formed to give New Zealand players greater competition in an Australian professional league, played in the first two seasons of the A League with little success, and few highlights.
When the Knights lost their licence, the league considered replacing the New Zealand based side with a team from the Australian City of Townsville, but kept faith in the plan to keep an elite pathway open for the Kiwis, and the licence was won by the "Nix", headed by a group of prominent New Zealand business men. With some good new signings and a new focus, not to mention the passionate "Yellow Fever" supporters club, in FM2008 the challenge is to turn football in New Zealand around and challenge the established Australian powerhouses for the A League Title.
Expectations
Given the A League is a fairly even competition, with only eight teams and a four team finals series, making the finals should be considered as a relatively easy accomplishment in the game. The board will be happy with that, as they only expect the club to make the finals early on. Anything above that, such a grand final or a Championship, and qualification for the Asian Champions League will be considered an excellent bonus and you will be justly rewarded and praised. On the down side, with only eighteen games in the League season, any run of poor form is exacerbated by a large amount of criticism.
The fictitious "Australian Cup" from FM2007 is now gone, so the only other trophies to compete for are the Pre Season Cup and the Asian Continental competitions. The pre season cup isn't that important to win, but it does get your players match fit for the season ahead, and is a nice bonus. The Asian Champions League is lucrative, and challenging, and a final aim might be to win that, and try and get Wellington into the World Club Championship - although such an aim will take time and something of an overhaul of the squad.
Squad Overview
There are a few things to note in regards to the A League that apply to all eight teams. Firstly, to keep teams from falling over financially, there is a strict salary cap imposed of $28220 per week. This excludes the clubs top earner or "marquee" player who can earn whatever you want to pay them (in the case of the Phoenix, this is Daniel on 5K a week). Secondly, there is a limit of twenty-three players per squad, with no reserves or youth squad, which means that every one of your players has to be ready to play at any time. Finally, there are further restrictions that at least two of the squad have to be goalkeepers, two of the squad have to be under 20, and only four players can be foreign nationals. These restrictions are challenging, but keep you firmly in the hunt for the title even with the weakest starting squad in the A League.
The Phoenix starting squad has three goalkeepers, Mark Paston, Glen Moss and Jacob Spoonley. Since the first two players are New Zealand internationals and Spoonley is the U-21 incumbent, the Phoenix are well served for goalkeeping depth. However with a small squad, three goalkeepers can be seen as an indulgence. This means unfortunately that Moss is one that is most likely to be cut, with Paston a strong and brave keeper and Spoonley the long term option at just 20, and already a really good shot stopper. However, some managers may wish to cut the oldest goalkeeper (Paston is 30) and go with the Moss at 24 and Spoonley at 20. It's a judgement call, but Paston is the best keeper you have in the starting squad.
The squad instantly noticeable problem is there are no listed right backs at all in the 23 man squad. The left back position is a race between the Brazillian Daniel and the home grown Tony Lochhead. This is the easiest decision in the side, since Daniel is the clubs star man, fast and creative, and Lochhead is merely solid and dependable. If Daniel is injured, the club loses a lot, so it might be worth investing in a better back up player at Lochheads expense, although the obvious transfer need is to find a right back as soon as possible.
Lochhead can also slot in to the centre of defence, but there are better options given his technical limitations. A decent option is to play a three man central defence comprising the former Falkirk player Karl Dodd, the young New Zealander Steven Old and the Brazillian Cleberson. Cleberson is aggressive and a good tackler but limited beyond that, although his solidity keeps in the team. Old is the man to build a team around in the long term, at 21 years of age, he could be a future captain. There's a lot to like about Dodd, although like Cleberson he doesn't offer much finesse. He's physically strong though and the three players should offer you a good amount of cover. If pushed, the best two man partnership is Dodd and Old. Rounding out the central defensive options is the Australian Steven O'dor, who at just 20 is one very much for the future, with a lot of determination and work rate to offer your side.
In midfield, on the left hand side Daniel can do you a good job out of position, with the other options the Brazillian George and the young New Zealander Christian Barbarouses. As much as the advice from the coaches is to play George, Barbarouses is too good a prospect to leave languishing. He's scored 8 goals in 10 Under 21 internationals, is determined, aggressive and developing strongly. There's nothing wrong with George either, but at 29, he's diminishing despite offering your side strong creative options. It'll be a judgement call whether to loan Barbarouses for experience or play him and take the risk. George can also play on the right hand side of midfield, but the best option is the Australian international Ahmed Elrich, who is a good passer of the ball and a good goalscorer. The final option on the right is Vince Lia, who's technical limitations might see him as one to sell on to another club.
The Nix are have plenty of options in the centre of midfield, in fact, possibly too many options given no fewer than four players in a 23 man squad are attacking central midfielders, when the squad doesn't have a right back. In addition to the versatile George, the squad offers you the defensive midfielder Richard Johnson, who does you a neat and tidy job is selected without threatening to be a star, and at 33, he might also be one you look to move on. Tim Brown does a similar job, again without threatening to become a marquee name, and at 26, he's a younger option. However, it's a combination of attacking midfielders that you should be looking to employ. Ross Aloisi is a determined and physical influence on the side, although he is retiring at seasons end, so keep that in mind. The Brazillian Felipe is a good free kick specialist and a decent passer of the ball. Michael Ferrante is probably the weakest of the four on paper, but he's servicable, and rounding out the quartet is the home grown Jeremy Christie, a good athlete and a developing player at 24. With any two of this quartet, you'll get at worst a solid and hard working effort, with the occasional goal, although none of the four stand out as the must play option.
Where Wellington do struggle is up front, where the players are limited but hard working. Barbarouses and George can play up front in a striking role, and there are four other options. The veteran 35 year old Vaughan Coveny, Shane Smeltz, Richard Brownlie, and 17 year old Greg Draper. This is a tough call since none of the Phoenix strikers are particularly outstanding. Brownlie might just shade Smeltz and Coveny as a better goal scorer, but it might be worth at least trying Draper, and trying to build something for the future. A combination of Draper and one of George or Brownlie isn't the worst option you can go with. Whichever one of Smeltz or Brownlie you don't intend to play should probably be moved on to make room for other options, and Coveny is an interesting option at super sub since he plays OK in short bursts, and selling him on does effect the morale of the squad.
Potential Transfers
Michael Thwaite (D R C) - Wisla Krakow (Permanent - 45K)
Sanjay Singh (D R) - Youngheart (Permanent - 12K)
Darren Ah Kuoi (D R) - Team Wellington (Permanent, 40K Compensation)
Pedj Bojic (D R C/WB R) - No Club (Permanent, Free)
Mimi Saric (ST) - Popa (Permanent, 9K)
Michael Curcija - (ST) - Altona Magic (Permanent, 12K)
With the salary cap and squad restrictions, plus the poor state of the Phoenix finances, it's not going to be easy to deal in the transfer market. You'll be looking to sell before you buy, and the immediate priority is to invest in a right back. Gareth Edds, probably the best option, is marginally out of financial reach, but Thwaite is an outstanding alternative if you can get him. Beyond that, Sing and Bojic are decent but limited cheap options. It's worth having a look at the young Ah Kuoi though, even if he does cost 40K compensation, if you can't get Thwaite. There are plenty of places to look for bargain signings though such as the New Zealand youth teams and some of the stronger Australian clubs such as Altona or Adelaide City. Saric and Curcija are examples of how you can strengthen, within reason, one position without spending a fortune.
4-4-2 Formation
Paston
Daniel
Old
Dodd
Thwaite/Ah Kuoi/transferred in right back
Barbarouses
Aloisi
Felipe
Elrich
Brownlie
Draper
Summary:
The A League is the kind of league you should look to dip into for a challenge. The League is even and competitive and difficult to juggle with the restrictions imposed on squad size and salary. It's not a long term league to play, given there's really only one important domestic trophy, one league with no relegation, and only eight teams in a short season, however the Asian Champions League is a good challenge to play for and to use as a stepping stone to the World Club Championship, and there is some fun to be had waiting for famous players in the game to get older and offer them a role as your marquee player.
As for the Phoenix, their squad is a little unbalanced with no right back, too many strikers and attacking central midfielders, and they are a lot cash strapped, although there is talent to work with. The Phoenix do start behind most of the other clubs for talent, but are physical and competitive and hard working. The salary cap and the even squad size keeps everyone in the mix in any given season. With the right signings, albeit on the cheap, and an emphasis on youth, an early push for the title isn't beyond you in a league that any team can realistically expect to win in any given season.
