Nikolai Topor-Stanley

http://m.footballaustralia.com.au/western-sydney-wanderers-fc-news-display/Nikolai-ToporStanley-preseason-catch-up/91124/507

 

With Western Sydney Wanderers 2013/14 season done and dusted and pre-season ahead of our blockbuster new campaign already started we caught up for a chat with Red & Black defender and last season’s Grand Final captain Nikolai Topor-Stanley.

 

As one of the lucky Australian football fans who travelled to Brazil for the World Cup Topor-Stanley shared his tip to win the tournament, his standout player at the Cup and what international star he’d pick as a teammate at the Wanderers.

 

 

As well as the 29-year-old giving us insight into his special World Cup experience and thoughts on the Socceroos’ courageous performances under Ange Postecoglou.

Ahead of an exciting 2014/15 season we also grabbed his take on the Club’s blockbuster season and incredible success so far.

 

Q and A:

 

Q: You spent the off-season at the World Cup, who are you tipping to win?

 

A: My head is saying Brazil as the host nation but from watching the cup and being there I would like Argentina to win. It is time for Messi to win it, he has won everything else but it’s the one thing missing and winning the World Cup would confirm him as one of the greatest.

 

Q: Thomas Muller, James Rodriquez, Neymar and Lionel Messi are all contenders for the golden boot, if you could have one of these players as a teammate at the Western Sydney Wanderers who would you pick?

 

A: I guess I would choose Messi. To have that talent in my team would be incredible; we could almost just close our eyes give the ball to him and that would win us the game. That said the Colombian James Rodriguez has been a standout player. He has announced himself on the world scene with unbelievable goals and with freakishly good attacking talent.

 

 

Q: Can you talk us through what it was like to attend a World Cup?

 

A: It was truly incredible, something that I find very hard to put into words. I woke up every day and there was just football mad people everywhere and it didn’t stop till I went to bed. It was just good to see people from different cultures getting together to celebrate and the common denominator was football. It was very touching seeing that happen.

 

Q: Heading into the World Cup the Socceroos weren’t even tipped to contest their matches, what are your thoughts on all three of Australia’s performances.

 

A: The Socceroos definitely did themselves proud and did Australia proud. They went out with no fear, tried to play an attacking game as best they could and left everything out on the field. Obviously it was a bit disappointing that we didn’t get points at the end of any of the games but the effort was definitely there, the style of play was exciting and the Socceroos were very brave.

 

Q: You as a player you wouldn’t often experience being a fan, can you share with us what it was like to be sitting in the stand instead of being on the pitch?

 

A: It is the biggest stage of football that you can get so it was insane. Seeing so many people from different backgrounds and countries all united by football was touching. The spectacle itself was great and the atmosphere inside the stadium was electric I felt very fortunate to be there… I will remember the experience forever.

 

Q: This season for the Wanderers is probably the busiest schedule of any A-League club so far, you are carrying an injury at the moment, can you talk us through how that impacts on you as a player?

 

A: It is tough carrying an injury because you don’t want to start behind the eight. In terms of the schedule the more games the better. Playing these games means we are doing something right so I guess it is very exciting for the Club and gives us a chance to put the A-League and the Wanderers on the world map.

 

Q: Adelaide City won the NSL several times and are coached by an Australian legend in Damien Mori, share with us what sort of competition you think they will offer?

 

A: I am sure they will be more than competitive and we won’t be underestimating them or treating it lightly. I have played in the state leagues and I know there is talent there and they will be hungry to prove a point so we will have to be on our feet.

 

Q: Can you share with us what your thoughts are on the Club’s success so far?

 

A: As a player it is very rewarding especially because of the hard work we all put it. Not just the players but the coaches, the staff and of course the fans. We all work hard to put together what happens on the pitch and it is very gratifying. I want to see the game grow here with new people getting on board and people filling the stands at Parramatta stadium. What is happening at the Club brings me great satisfaction, especially because people are talking about the game and the Wanderers especially.

If he went over to the WC, he definitely didn't get surgery in the offseason for the meniscus injury he picked up! But concerning he is still carrying the injury!

Why wasn't NTS asked when he expects to be fit again?

"I damaged the medial ligament and had some bruising as well," Topor-Stanley said.

"I didn't need an operation, just treatment. I got over it well and I'm getting through the pre-season well. I haven't had much bad luck with injuries over the years - fingers crossed and touch wood."

From his most recent interview with TWG http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/article/2014/07/23/pain-defeat-still-stings-wanderers-ace-topor-stanley

 

Thanks for that. Why it took more than two months to shed light on the extent of the injury is something I struggle to understand. Oh well. As long as he is fit or getting there, that's all that matters.

 

Pre-season under Popa sounds like some refined form of doing never ending push ups in the salt mines.

Getting information about the playing squad, tactics, really, anything involving the 'football department' is the old blood & stone adage. For good reason. WSW aren't interested in gifting information to opposition teams, they don't want their plans found out and have opposition become involved, things like transfer leaks, or injury situations being known can negatively impact on the team.

 

Pre-season under Popa sounds like some refined form of doing never ending push ups in the salt mines.

 

Popa & Waterson have bought a new level of professionalism to the A-League in terms of fitness. I'd also suggest that Popa has bought new levels of defensive organisation (such like how the Roar bought in new levels of technical possession football and ESFC new levels of hilarity and failure).

 

Last season, Perth Glory didn't even have a strength & conditioning coach. Popa was in Europe, witnessing and being involved first hand in modern athletic conditioning techniques and has applied them to his A-League team, the results of which can be seen on the pitch in matches like the final round against Heart where our team stayed able to push and press all the way up to the penalty area, or in our runs against the Roar from Season 1, where their vaunted passing game was nullified again by our pressing and defensive organisation. It might be harsh and tough, but it's done to push the players to the edge of maximum performance.

Plus you can't really question the methods even if they hurt when the guy has gotten consistent results. It works, who is anyone - really - to question it?

3 months and no love for NTS it terms of thread

 

On the eve of the biggest game only fitting our leader gets some love!

Lead us proud tonight like a warrior Topor!

 

http://m.theage.com.au/sport/soccer/wanderers-captain-nikolai-toporstanley-can-be-acl-match-winner-20141024-11b1fz.html

Hoping to take a game ball home tonight courtesy of Topor

Alot of the praise is going to Popa and Covic today but i'd just like to say this man deserves a lot of the plaudits. Our captain was rock solid all campaign, organised, focused and showed true Western Sydney heart to lead the boys to victory in a hostile atmosphere. Was truly superb tonight and i think this photo shows just how much it means to him, what a moment it must have been.

Good on ya Topor! F*ckin champion and the captain this great club needs.
 

To play like he has after that grand final injury is ******* immense.

champion. absolute champion. hopefully one of us till he retires, and goes down as our first great captain.

champion. absolute champion. hopefully one of us till he retires, and goes down as our first great captain.

Megsy was pretty awesome too, he was our first!

Well deserved!

 

Except I hate the pairing of him and Spira. Purelh because I feel like they don't get along well. And I am basing this all on one post-game tiff.

 

Cant deny that they are our best 2 centre backs although Hamill has been brilliant in ACL.

 

Love the idea of Spira in CDM but then you gotta drop either La Rocca or Poljak... decisions decisions.

champion. absolute champion. hopefully one of us till he retires, and goes down as our first great captain.

 

Hold on  -  so you have a go at someone for picking on constructively-criticising a current player, but then slam an ex-player??

 

 

Well deserved!

Except I hate the pairing of him and Spira. Purelh because I feel like they don't get along well. And I am basing this all on one post-game tiff.

 

Cant deny that they are our best 2 centre backs although Hamill has been brilliant in ACL.

Love the idea of Spira in CDM but then you gotta drop either La Rocca or Poljak... decisions decisions.

Spira needs to plat CB in preparation for Asian Cup, preferably with NTS his national team partner for the same tournament

 

champion. absolute champion. hopefully one of us till he retires, and goes down as our first great captain.

 

Hold on  -  so you have a go at someone for picking on constructively-criticising a current player, but then slam an ex-player??

 

 

 

whoa, where did I slam an ex-player? Beauchamp was a good captain, but topor has the potential to be GREAT.

 

anyway, when the **** did I ever say I wasn't a hypocrite?

 

 

In other words, the club want a decent transfer fee from him.

In Australian football terms, selling a player that isn't young for a transfer fee is a foreign concept.

The club should get a transfer fee out of him, but then if NTS can earn at least 3X more salary out of China, then Popa (not the clubs owners) should do the right thing and let him go.

But it won't be easy, unless the Chinese club pay

At least they have the money to do so, I mean in China! As long as the club aren't asking for too much!

At least they have the money to do so, I mean in China! As long as the club aren't asking for too much!

But what club in China???

How much money does the bottom club in China pay?

 

Matt Smith was released from Brisbane because he got a better offer from Thailand.

If our league wants to be taken seriously we can't let contracted players go overseas for free.

 

At least they have the money to do so, I mean in China! As long as the club aren't asking for too much!

 

But what club in China???

How much money does the bottom club in China pay?

Matt Smith was released from Brisbane because he got a better offer from Thailand.

Matt Smith isn't a ACL champions league winner, big difference. Also have to take into account the foregin quota, the players used must be the best, no point in wasting it on a player that might not have too many years left. There was a poster on here from China and he was saying that the top 5 clubs have between $30m-$60m to spend, if that's what the top teams have to play with, you'd imagine that these lower top sides would have to have the money to compete with the top sides might have 1/2 or 1/4 of that budget.

 

 

At least they have the money to do so, I mean in China! As long as the club aren't asking for too much!

But what club in China???

How much money does the bottom club in China pay?

Matt Smith was released from Brisbane because he got a better offer from Thailand.

Matt Smith isn't a ACL champions league winner, big difference. Also have to take into account the foregin quota, the players used must be the best, no point in wasting it on a player that might not have too many years left. There was a poster on here from China and he was saying that the top 5 clubs have between $30m-$60m to spend, if that's what the top teams have to play with, you'd imagine that these lower top sides would have to have the money to compete with the top sides might have 1/2 or 1/4 of that budget.

 

Fair enough, I just hope that the recent issues, haven't turned him off the club and he is just taking whatever offer is front of him

Smith might also have a release clause that Topor may not have.

Generally the older players get the less likely they are to have any release clause.

Smith is 32, Topor Stanley is 29 lol

Hence "in general".

 

At least they have the money to do so, I mean in China! As long as the club aren't asking for too much!

But what club in China???

 

 

 

If the rumours from late Nov are correct, the team is Shanghai Shenhua. News linking NTS with Shenhua first appeared in Oct, and re-surfaced in Nov. Looks like he will be their +1, replacing their current Korean CB signed only earlier this year in Jan.

 

 

At least they have the money to do so, I mean in China! As long as the club aren't asking for too much!

But what club in China???

 

 

 

If the rumours from late Nov are correct, the team is Shanghai Shenhua. News linking NTS with Shenhua first appeared in Oct, and re-surfaced in Nov. Looks like he will be their +1, replacing their current Korean CB signed only earlier this year in Jan.

 

I've heard of them before, fairly sure that they played the smurfs in ACL.

Also it's in a major city in China that is probably a little bit more western then that most of Chinese cities as well.

If our league wants to be taken seriously we can't let contracted players go overseas for free.

This exactly.

 

And to me the captain of the ACL Champs, current NT rep and apart from the lay off post Aleague grand final hardly ever is injured.

Add that up and say his last 2 years have clearly been career best - well that has be to a decent fee. Range of 500 to 800K i'd be putting on his head, even for someone at 29 I'd say we shouldn't roll over for a weak fee.

 

If our league wants to be taken seriously we can't let contracted players go overseas for free.

This exactly.

 

And to me the captain of the ACL Champs, current NT rep and apart from the lay off post Aleague grand final hardly ever is injured.

Add that up and say his last 2 years have clearly been career best - well that has be to a decent fee. Range of 500 to 800K i'd be putting on his head, even for someone at 29 I'd say we shouldn't roll over for a weak fee.

 

 

Usually AFC foreigner may got a annual Salary between 500k to 2m USD, Cho Byung-kuk's salary is 1.6m USD per year in Shanghai Shenhua.

 

 total player salary for CSL clubs in 2014 season

 

Guangzhou Evergrande 46.944 million USD

Shandong Luneng Taishan 46.618 m

Beijing Guo'an 34.067 m

Shanghai Greenland Shenhua 30.97 m

Jiangsu Sainty 22.82 m

Changchun Yatai 22.494 m

Guangzhou R&F 20.212 m

Tianjin Teda 11.736 m

Hangzhou Greentown 11.247 m

Henan Jianye 10.269 m

Dalian Aerbin 7.987 m

Guizhou Renhe 7.009 m

Shanghai SIPG 6.194 m

Shanghai Shenxin 5.216 m

Liaoning Whowin 3.423 m

Harbin Yiteng 3.423 m

 

GE,Beijing,Shandong,Guangzhou R&F, Shanghai Greenland Shenhua are the richest clubs in CSL, Shanghai SIPG is also rich in China as SIPG had took fully control of the club and started to invest big money in transfer market

Edited December 13, 2014 by greenlion

Thanks for your insights greenlion on China, great having inside knowledge and a contributor who has good working knowledge

 

The club that are interested in Nicholai Topor Stanley are Shanghai Shenhua. They were reportedly looking to replace the Korea defender with NTS during the CSL off season. Looking at the wage budget and being the richest club in China, looks like they've money to spend to make it happen!!

 

Seeing as NTS would be earning 200-350k here, it is no surprise that he wants the move to go through so he can earn a decent wage. The salary cap here in Australia, really limits the earning potential of Australian players but at the same time but at the same time is the main reason why we have an equal/fair league where it is difficult for teams to create a successful winning side while keeping them together. Of course you can be successful but you've got to be able to adapt and have 1/3 of your squad leave during every year or so, always looking for bargains to bolster your squad.