【联赛宝典】2014-15赛季澳职联-惠灵顿凤凰 Wellington Phoenix

【联赛宝典】2014-15赛季澳职联-惠灵顿凤凰 Wellington Phoenix已关闭评论
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惠灵顿凤凰 Wellington Phoenix

成立年份：2007
主场名称：西太平洋球场
所属城市：惠灵顿
宿敌球会：-
教练：梅历克
Paddy Power夺冠赔率：25.00

惠灵顿凤凰上季开始由执教过香港代表队的梅历克带领，结果只能够以常规赛第９名完成球季，表现令人失望，而且今季有上季攻入10个常规赛入球的首席射手侯斯甘斯离队，同时作为球会象征的中场靴南迪斯转会，入球能力可能会大减，似乎未是时候重返季后赛行列。

凤凰留队的球员中，以上季有2个常规赛入球的前锋坚尼根宁咸最具入球能力，情况令人担心，因为凤凰未有罗致特别高质素的新前锋，今季的入球数字有可能会下降，而且离队的射手侯斯甘斯及中场靴南迪斯是阵中的星级球员，同时离队很容易会摧毁凤凰的军心。

当然，其实凤凰的部分新球员很有实力，可惜的是，中场麦坚治被外借至仙台维加泰期间，不受重用信心跌落谷底，重返澳职未知能否踢出应有水平，加上前洛达中场邦尼华斯亚主要负责防守，很难为凤凤带来突破性的战绩，或者今季会继续在联赛榜下游徘徊。

Last Season: 9th

Manager: Ernie Merrick

Preferred formation/s: 4-3-3, 4-2-3-1

IN - Roly Bonevacia (From Roda JC Kerkade), Nathan Burns (From Incheon United), Tom Doyle (From Team Wellington), Alejandro Gorrin (From Sunderland U21), Michael McGlinchey (From Central Coast Mariners)

OUT - Luke Adams (Released), Leo Bertos (Released), Carlos Hernandez (Released), Stein Huysegems (Released), Shaun Timmins (Short-term contract expiry)

Team summary: Wellington finished a disappointing second from bottom last season but it wasn't all doom and gloom for the side across the ditch. The Phoenix played some really attractive football at times but were beset by injuries to key men, namely Albert Riera and Paul Ifill (with the latter no longer at the club). This paved the way for several Kiwi youngsters to make their mark and Ernie Merrick will be looking for the likes of Tyler Boyd, Matt Ridenton, and Jason Hicks to really kick on this season. Ernie will look to play a more cultured style of play this season, hence the signing of one of the premium midfielders in the competition in Michael McGlinchey. He is joined by a plethora of young talent from all corners of the globe in addition to Aussie forward, Nathan Burns, who was at Newcastle Jets last season.

Conclusion: It's a case of out with the old and in with the new (and young) at Wellington with just 4 players aged 30 or above. Looking at the squad, there is a lot of raw, young talent there. I am particularly interested in watching Spanish duo, Albert Riera and Alex Gorrin strut their stuff in midfield. Riera was one of the league's standout midfielders in his debut season while Alex Gorrin, former Sunderland U21 captain, was apparently on the fringes of the senior Premier League squad. A lot of responsibility will fall on the shoulders of striker, Jeremy Brockie. He was extremely disappointing last season but I will give him the benefit of the doubt after an interrupted pre-season last year, following his loan spell to FC Toronto.

Predicted finish: 9th