Soccer: Herbert at odds with bookies' tip

Ricki Herbert says this year's Phoenix squad is the best he has had his hands on - or will be once he signs two more strikers.

With only three weeks before the new A-League season kicks off, Wellington are still searching for two strikers to bring their squad up to 20.

So far, it's been a fairly uninspiring recruitment campaign, especially as they have lost their two best players from the past two seasons in Shane Smeltz and Glen Moss. They have added striker Chris Greenacre, creative midfielder Diego, back-up goalkeeper Reece Crowther and 17-year-old midfielder Marco Rojas.

Smeltz, in particular, is a massive loss and last season's A-League player of the year scored 21 of Wellington's 48 goals over two seasons.

It's part of the reason why bookmakers on both sides of the Tasman have listed the Phoenix as favourites for the wooden spoon. This is particularly revealing given two new sides have been added to the league - Gold Coast and North Queensland - and new sides often struggle in their first year.

"This side is very good," Herbert says of his charges. "There are a number of players who have had a couple of seasons now and know what it's all about. We have solidity and understanding and once we strengthen our attack... I'm very excited."

That's the crux. Wellington's chances seemingly hinge on the two remaining pieces to the puzzle. They have trialled a number of strikers this year, including Lithuania speedster Nerijus Astrauskas, Dutchman Eddy Putter and NZFC duo Roy Krishna and Luis Corrales. They have now taken Brazilian Anderson De Jesus Ramos, simply known as Anderson Potty, on trial for their two-match pre-season trip to China.

Potty is said to be a tall, 29-year-old striker from Sao Paulo, who most recently has played for Sport Ancash in Peru and Al Hazm in Saudi Arabia.

The Phoenix were also offered, like most A-League clubs, former Spain, Deportivo La Coru a and West Ham striker Diego Trist n and former Spain and Liverpool frontman Fernando Morientes, as well as 2001 World Player of the Year Luis Figo for a guest stint. But none were seriously considered because of the small fortune they would need to fork out to bring them to Wellington.

Goals have already been a problem in pre-season, with the Phoenix scoring just one in two pre-season games before last night's friendly with Tianjin.