KEY POINTS:
Wellington Phoenix may have risen from the ashes of the New Zealand Knights, but the A-League soccer's newcomers have vowed to follow their own path.
As the new kids on the block, the Phoenix have got a lot to prove before they will be taken seriously by the Australian clubs - not least because of the Knights' woeful showing both on and off their field in the competition's first two years.
The Knights were dumped by Football Federation Australia when their owners' licence was revoked in December last year amid low crowd numbers, financial troubles and back-to-back wooden spoons.
While the Knights were based in Auckland, Wellington have set-up their home in New Zealand's capital, and attracted a crowd of about 6000 to a recent pre-season match against Sydney FC - which the Phoenix won 3-0.
After a promising pre-season, coach Ricki Herbert is upbeat about the new team's chances this year.
"I think the early signs have been very encouraging," Herbert said.
"We have got the formation of a new club that only evolved about three months ago.
"It is a little bit of `watch this space' at this stage, but there is a nice feeling around and it has been well supported in Wellington and the early signs are looking encouraging."
Former Adelaide United skipper Ross Aloisi will lead the Phoenix in their first year after the club coaxed him out of retirement.
Herbert said he expected good things from the Aloisi, who led the Reds to the grand final against champions Melbourne Victory last season.
"Ross (Aloisi) has been great ... he has a tonne of experience, is hard on the sleeve and was a player that I wanted to sign early and I did," Herbert said.
"He brings a wealth of experience, he has been at grand finals, and he knows what it takes.
"He understands the A-League, the structure, the travelling, the coaching. He gets a tick in most of those boxes."
The team are also excited about midfielder Daniel Lins Cortes, one of four Brazilian signings.
Cortes has played for Brazilian club Flamengo, as well as in Europe.
"Daniel (Lins Cortes) was the first Brazilian we signed. He has been here a lot longer than the other Brazilians," Herbert said.
"He has been playing extremely well, and I think he can be and should be one of the more prolific players in the league."
The club is also expecting good things from All Whites striker Shane Smeltz, who scored a memorable double against Wales in the All Whites 2-2 draw last May.
With a good start the key to boosting support in their homeland, Wellington know how important a strong first season will be to their long-term success.
"At the end of the day hope is not a word we want to use. We need to make it a good season," Herbert said.
"Irrespective of where that will be, we need to get a foothold in the league somewhere and have some respectability throughout Australia that there is a competitive team coming from these shores, and we have all been given that responsibility to make it happen and it is important that we do."
WELLINGTON PHOENIX
Coach: Ricki Herbert
Captain: Ross Aloisi
Last year's finish: New team in A-League
Marquee player: Daniel Lins Cortes. Technically gifted Brazilian midfielder who can use his pace and touch to both set up goals and score himself.
One to watch: Shane Smeltz. Two-goal hero in New Zealand's recent 2-2 draw against Wales. A fast, physical striker considered a big talent for the future.
Ins (last club in brackets): Ross Aloisi (Adelaide United), Costa Barbarouses (Team Wellington/Wellington Olympic, NZ), Tim Brown (Newcastle Jets), Royce Brownlie (Chester City on loan from Swindon Town, England), Felipe De Souza Campos (Hajduk Split, Croatia), Jeremy Christie (Perth Glory), Daniel Lins Cortes (Guarani, Brazil), Vaughan Coveny (Newcastle Jets), Karl Dodd (Falkirk, Scotland), Michael Ferrante (Melbourne Victory), Richard Johnson (New Zealand Knights), Vince Lia (Melbourne Victory), Tony Lochhead (New England Revolution, USA), Glen Moss, Steven O'Dor (New Zealand Knights), Steven Old (Newcastle Jets), Mark Paston (NZ Knights), Shane Smeltz (Halifax Town), George (Sport Club, Brazil), Cleberson (Cabofriense, Brazil), Jacob Spoonley (East Coast Bays).
Outs: New team.
Best lineup: Mark Paston, Karl Dodd, Cleberson, Tony Lochhead, Jeremy Christie, Vince Lia, Tim Brown, Ross Aloisi, Daniel, Shane Smeltz, Vaughan Coveny.
Comment: New Zealand national coach Ricki Herbert has hand-picked a team built on the foundations of tough players, All Whites national representatives and South American flair. Despite an all-new playing, coaching and organisational structure, the feeling within the club is one of optimism and the established A-League clubs will not be underestimating the threat the club will pose this season.
- NZPA
