WATCHING the Shane Smeltz saga unfold has been like watching an episode of a soap opera without the shocking and earth-shattering revelation. A series of Passions without someone coming back from the dead.
To see yesterday's Phoenix training session...
When it was first suggested he could be on his way out, the reception was more ‘nah, he wouldn’t, would he?’ than a definite panic, but over time the Fever have come to accept that he would be leaving, particularly when he hadn’t signed an extension by the middle of last month. We just all thought it would be to Adelaide after Bleiberg’s comments about using an import spot on a New Zealand player.
I don’t really begrudge his decision; it genuinely seems to have been made in the best interests of his family. While Wellington is a nice place in my opinion, it reportedly isn’t in Mrs Smeltz’s, and I know I would rather bring children up on the warmer and more prosperous side of the Tasman; He’ll certainly be earning more after tax, perhaps something the FFA should take into consideration when setting the salary cap.
While the Smeltz episode of the A-League soap opera has been largely predictable, a shock heartbreak or two could be waiting for Phoenix fans in the near future, with Karl Dodd and Joel Porter reportedly on the Palmer radar.
While Karl Dodd isn’t obviously as big a loss as Smeltzy, he could be sorely missed if the (quiet) rumours are true, as he is easily one of our most committed players and is surely one of the rocks of our defence.
The Porter situation is decidedly more worrying though, he was meant to be our star signing for this season, partnering Smeltz and forming the league’s most lethal strike partnership. If we lose him to GCU as well we will be missing out on an excellent replacement, and more importantly, the biggest honker in world football.
Phoenix aren’t ‘screwed’ just yet, much as I’m sure many of the club’s detractors wish we were. While I’d be thoroughly shocked if any current A-League players move to Wellington for next season, there are far more talented New Zealanders than many Australians realise, and with Lei Lei Gao likely to be on his way back to Europe (good riddance), we’ll have 4 import slots to fill, possibly with talented Pacific Islanders such as Seule Soroman.
As long as we don’t miss out on talents like Jeremy Brockie (rumoured to be signing for North Queenslad), we could easily build a competitive squad for next year.
I guess the least I can ask for is a few shocks and surprises worthy of Coronation Street as Terry, Tony, and Ricki go about recruiting for next season. Hopefully good ones from a Phoenix perspective.
To see yesterday's Phoenix training session...
