118 days is an awfully long time. But with the new A-League season still that far away, Wellington Phoenix took to the training field yesterday for the first time since the end of the last campaign to begin preparations for A-League 2011/12.
In many ways, it's perhaps fortunate the season is still the best part of four months away as there's still a fair degree of player recruitment to be done. There are currently just fourteen players contracted to the club and none of the three required youth members on the roster.
The first session was certainly down on numbers. Injured All Whites Leo Bertos and Tony Lochhead weren't involved, instead jogging lightly around the running track adjacent to the training ground. Tim Brown was also absent but is due back in the next couple of days.
Mirjan Pavlovic is with the Olyroos and Chris Greenacre is in Sydney, marooned by the ash cloud which has delayed trans-Tasman air travel. With him are two triallists who'll shortly display their talents for Ricki Herbert in the hope of picking up a contract. One is a Vanuatu international and the other is former North Queensland Fury fullback Jack Hingert. Both fall into the youth category. Hingert in particular may sniff a chance with Troy Hearfield gone to the Mariners and Lochhead struggling with what might be a reasonably troublesome ongoing injury.
There are three obvious (and important) positional targets for Herbert to fill. He needs a second goalkeeper, another striker and an attacking midfielder. Of these, the latter may be the most difficult to find if history is anything to go by. Diego and Toto were complete failures during their stints in the capital and with the unfortunate departure of Marco Rojas, the unlocking of opposition defences will again be difficult. Pleasingly, Paul Ifill looked very fit and fully recovered from the injury that virtually ended his involvement last season, but Phoenix need to be more than a one-trick pony.
The squad could also do with another central defender to back up Ben Sigmund and Andrew Durante. While this pair will likely start every game when fit and available, injury and suspension are always possibilities and there're no obvious replacements at centre-back.
Sadly, it appears unlikely Nick Ward and Dylan Macallister will find themselves back at the club despite solid campaigns in 2010/11. For whatever reason they haven't been retained and while some would contend they are cast-offs from other clubs, they were good performers for Phoenix and would be welcomed back by the majority of fans.
The players obviously loved being back out on the grass. New boys Jimmy Downey and Lucas Pantelis slotted in well and were soon the subject of the good-natured banter that flows in sports teams at any level. The established players weren't exempt either - Manny Muscat in particular was ruthlessly sledged by Ifill after a couple of rusty pre-season touches and an attempted volley which hit his knee, shin and toe (in that order) before flying wide of the target.
With numbers down, and on the first day back, it was really nothing more than a kick-around to blow away the cobwebs and get the leg muscles warm again in preparation for the fitness work that lies ahead to ready the players for the rigours of professional football.
118 days may seem like a long time and for fans thirsty for football it certainly is. But time waits for no man - Ricki Herbert included - and player recruitment must continue in earnest if Phoenix are to again be competitive in what is shaping as the most competitive A-League campaign yet.
