Ricki Herbert is after at least one Europe-based striker but might want to spread the net a little wider after his side's dismal effort in front of goal in their final pre-season hitout yesterday in Tauranga before the A-League season starts.
Herbert's side might have new owners, a Wellington consortium on Friday taking over the Phoenix after Terry Serepisos sank under heavy debt, but it is goals, or lack of them, that will be giving him his most pressing headache after the Phoenix lost 2-0 to A-League finalists the Central Coast Mariners at Tauranga's Baypark Stadium.
Paul Ifill managed the only shot on goal for the Phoenix just after halftime. The side is just two weeks out from their opening A-League game against Gold Coast.
Herbert needs a quality striker to complement Ifill, Chris Greenacre and Mirjan Pavlovic and said he was close to making at least one announcement, with several contracts doing the rounds in Europe.
Ifill and Greenacre looked cumbersome yesterday, not helped by poor service from the midfield, and Herbert is looking for someone with speed rather than a big target man.
"I wouldn't over-read today [and the Phoenix's inability to trouble Mariners stopper Matthew Ryan] too much - we're after a striker but I wouldn't describe the situation as urgent," Herbert said. "There's a few feelers still out and ... I hope to have something confirmed in a couple of weeks."
A-League regulations state the Phoenix need 20 contracted players by the start of the season. They brought 17 to Tauranga, as well as former Perth Glory defender Brent Griffiths, who got the final 20 minutes yesterday in the central defence, replacing All White Ben Sigmund. One of Griffiths' first contributions was a poor pass that almost led to a goal, although Herbert remains keen.
The 21-year-old trialled unsuccessfully with Central Coast in the offseason. He said Griffiths was "a chance to sign for us" and he'd come in at a tough time. "In fairness I doubt he realised we'd have a weekend like we've just had."
Light drizzle fell for most of the 90 minutes at Baypark, with the floodlights flicked on at 3pm and the playing surface greasy.
Adriano Pellegrino had an early chance, smacking a half volley into the upright with an open goal in front of him after Josh Rose's cross found Phoenix 'keeper Mark Paston flat-footed.
But the opening goal, late in the half, was a beaut, Patrick Zwaanswijk getting in front of Andrew Durante to score from a diving header from a set piece.
The Phoenix were more attack-oriented after the break, pushing down the left through Tony Lochhead and Leo Bertos.
As Herbert emptied his bench it was Central Coast's super-sub Bernie Ibini-Isei who made the grandest impact, producing two diving saves out of Paston before doubling his side's lead when he scythed into the penalty area between Durante and Jimmy Downey and unleashed an unstoppable left-foot drive.
If Herbert is sweating on his side's poor pre-season or last Friday's abrupt change of ownership it's not registering publicly. His only line on the new ownership regime was "it's all by the by now and been covered well [by the media]", while he remains adamant his side would be stronger for the run, their first in Tauranga.