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.”
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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.
