Decision on signing Thompson looms
‘It’s about making sure that we keep improving. We can’t play a couple of games of A-league standard and say that’s it.’
FOOTBALL
ERNIE MERRICK will make a call on Matt Thompson’s Phoenix future this week, with the coach saying the A-League’s most capped player had done everything in his power to win a contract.
The 31-year-old off-contract midfielder played the first 40 minutes of Saturday’s 1-0 preseason win over the Newcastle Jets in Weston, and also had a cameo in Wednesday’s 2-1 loss to the Western Sydney Wanderers.
‘‘He was terrific, Matt Thompson, and I’m amazed he hasn’t been snapped up already,’’ said Merrick after the team returned to Wellington yesterday.
‘‘He’s a great person, a great leader and he couldn’t have done much more. He played good football, even though he’s not at full fitness. I’ll make a decision within a week.’’
The decision may come down to money.
While Merrick was impressed
Ernie Merrick by Thompson, who was released by Melbourne Heart in April, he wants to leave himself enough room in the budget to sign another couple of young Kiwi players and potentially another import.
He continues to be pleasantly surprised with the rapid progression of triallists Hamish Watson, Justin Gulley, Tobias Bertsch, Joel Stevens and Matthew Ridenton.
‘‘I’m very keen to promote a couple of those boys. If they continue to perform the way they are and keep getting better, I want to have the option to be able to sign them. So it’s [the Thompson decision] a budgetary thing as well and it’s about the balance of the team.’’
Merrick said he was actively looking for a potential fifth import but shot down a report linking the club with Central Coast Mariners midfielder Adriano Pellegrino.
Ben Sigmund scored the eighthminute winner against the Jets, heading home a Carlos Hernandez corner. The Phoenix also hit the woodwork twice and generally gave Merrick reason for encouragement ahead of the season opener on October 13.
‘‘A win is always good because it’s about making sure the players know what it takes to hang on,’’ Merrick said.
‘‘We let it slip against the Wanderers but this time Michael Boxall and Luke Adams never gave anything up at all, it was a huge improvement from those two.
‘‘It’s really about making sure that we keep improving. We can’t play a couple of games of A-League standard and say that’s it. It will be three steps forward and then a big step back. I have to anticipate there’s going to be errors and mistakes as the boys come to grips with the way we want to play.’’
The Phoenix return to Australia to play Sydney FC on September 7, before rounding out the pre-season campaign against a Central League selection (September 14), New Zealand A (September 22) and Auckland City (September 28).
‘‘They’ve demonstrated they’re progressing,’’ Merrick said.
‘‘Especially knowing there’s nine players 20 years or under in the current squad. The standard has been raised and some of the youngsters like Hamish Watson have just improved incredibly. Louis Fenton has nailed that right back role and Justin Gulley showed he can play at right back as well as the middle of midfield.’’
Costa Rican import Kenny Cunningham and striker Jeremy Brockie will join the squad soon.