Recruiting:
Ins: Reece Crowther (Queens Park Rangers, England - 1 year), Chris Greenacre (Tranmere Rovers, England - 2 years), Paul Ifill (Crystal Palace, England - 2 years), Marco Rojas (Hamilton Wanderers - 2 years), Diego Walsh (Adelaide United - 2 years)
Outs: Jeremy Christie (released), Vaughan Coveny (retired), Karl Dodd (released), Greg Draper (released), Richard Johnson (retired), Glen Moss (Melbourne Victory), Shane Smeltz (Gold Coast United).
Re-signed: Tim Brown (2 years), Manny Muscat (1 year), Mark Paston (1 year), Tony Lochhead (2 years), Michael Ferrante (1 year), Daniel Cortes (2 years). Ben Sigmund (2 years),
Analysis: The Phoenix have lost their No.1 striker and their No.1 goalkeeper in the off-season. Shane Smeltz and Glen Moss were arguably their two best players last season, so Ricki Herbert had some ground to make up. He plumped for Reece Crowther, a young keeper who spent time in England with Queens Park Rangers and Crystal Palace to support Mark Paston, journeyman English striker Chris Greenacre, who last played for Tranmere Rovers and Barbadian striker Paul Ifill, who comes from Crystal Palace. Diego is a good pick-up from Adelaide, where has played for the last three seasons. He will provide a good foil for fellow Brazilian Daniel.
Pre-Season:
Wellington won just one of seven pre-season matches and that was against local club side Western Suburbs at the start of June. The Phoenix drew 1-1 on a half-frozen pitch in Queenstown against Melbourne Victory, while their most recent outing saw them draw 0-0 in Dubbo against the Mariners. Their two-match China tour saw them score two goals in each match, yet only emerge with a draw and a loss. The fact that goalkeeper Paston has been one of their most impressive players in the pre-season perhaps gives you an idea of how their preparation has evolved.
Improvements:
Wellington boasts a very solid defence, with Andrew Durante and Jon McKain having had a season to get used to each other and Manny Muscat and Ben Sigmund coming off good seasons last year. Paston, who will no longer have Moss to compete with, is a very solid keeper, and will be crucial to marshalling the back four. The addition of Diego into a midfield which already contains Daniel and gets back Vince Lia from a knee injury, will help the Phoenix.
Concerns:
The loss of Smeltz, last year's Johnny Warren Medallist, is a massive one for the club and the ability of Ifill and Greenacre to fill the void is questionable. Journeyman strikers, with the exception of Eugene Dadi, have struggled to make an impression in the A-League, and these pair, from moderate clubs in England, will need to create chances and not just put them away. The club also lacks depth in the midfield and if Diego or Daniel get injured, then there is a serious concern over their ability to control the play and create chances.
Key player:
Andrew Durante. With Wellington less likely to threaten to goals this year after Smeltz's departure, it will need to be even tighter at the back and Andrew Durante, a Joe Marston Medallist with Newcastle, needs to spend more time on the field this season. Injuries and suspension saw him start in just 15 games, and the club missed their captain's leadership and strength in those matches. If the Phoenix are to move up the table this year, they need him fit, focussed and firing.
Up or Down?
There are serious concerns over Wellington's prospects of continuing on from last season's efforts when it threatened for the finals. Ricki Herbert is a very good coach, but he simply won’t have the cattle at his disposal with Smeltz and Moss out the door. Wellington scored just 23 goals last year with Smeltz scoring 12 of them. With less potency up forward, the pressure will be on a developing defence to stop goal going the other way. The finals will most likely be out of reach, and it will be a long-season with the prospect of a wooden spoon hanging over their heads.
Coach's Quote - Ricki Herbert
"I'm very pleased with how we are placed at this point of the (pre) season. We had a great pre-season tour of China with some pleasing results and that has given us a lot of confidence."
"I am happy with my squad. There is still a long way to go but we are getting there and I think things bode very well for the new season."
----------------------------------------------------
Check out all our 2009-10 A-League Team Previews:
Adelaide United | Brisbane Roar | Central Coast Mariners | Gold Coast United | Melbourne Victory | Newcastle Jets | North Queensland Fury | Perth Glory | Sydney FC | Wellington Phoenix