www.stuff.co.nz | Merrick showed last year with Burns, and previously with Robbie Kruse at the Melbourne Victory, that he is capable of turning a winger with the right attributes into a deadly striker
but he said another key part of the profile was making sure any potential new recruit meets their “no dickheads policy.”
Article courtesy of www.stuff.co.nz.
Ernie Merrick may have been asking for some advice on things to see and do during a brief holiday in Nelson but the number one item on his to-do-list remains finding a gun goal-scorer.
The Wellington Phoenix coach is currently spending some time in Jeremy Brockie’s hometown – a part of the world he had never visited – and Merrick admits he is still no closer to replacing Socceroos forward and Johnny Warren Medal winner Nathan Burns even though the start of the next A-League season is just 10 weeks away.
“We do need to sign a key striker but I’m afraid we’re no closer to that. Everybody in the world wants a goalscoring striker so if you target a player that’s got a good record, there’s a chance you can’t afford him,” Merrick said.
Replacing star striker Nathan Burns remains the top transfer priority for Wellington Phoenix coach Ernie Merrick.
Burns was a revelation under Merrick last season, scoring 13 goals in 24 games and named the A-League’s best player from the 2014-15 season. But with their star man sold to FC Tokyo during the offseason, the most crucial piece of their transfer dealings will be finding a replacement goal scorer to spark their attack.
