Sail Rumoured To Join Perth Glory Next Season
Wellington Phoenix goalkeeper Oli Sail has been the subject of speculation today, following rumours of the 27-year-old signing for Perth Glory ahead of the 2023/24 season.
Sail, who’s started in every game for the Nix this season, has been linked to the West Australian outfit following a report from a well-respected Twitter account, Aussie Scout.
The account stated that it believed that Sail had signed with the Glory for next season and that one of the current goalkeepers at the club, Liam Reddy, is “on the outer at Perth” and is understood to be “free to leave, with a previously mooted coaching role now unlikely”.
The New Zealand international has been impressive over the last few seasons for the Wellington Phoenix and this signing, should it happen, would be a massive coup for the Perth Glory.
Last season, Sail was touted as one of the best goalkeepers in the competition, as it was frequent for the keeper to pull off highly impressive reflex saves each game.
For instance, in last season’s 3–0 win away to the Brisbane Roar, Sail made a remarkable 11 saves during the game and was expected to concede 4.03 goals, and the fact he conceded none was an incredible effort on his part.
This season, while Sail hasn’t reached the heights of last season, he’s still been a reliable custodian in goal for the Nix.
So far, Sail has boasted a Save Rate percentage of 70.65% and 0.057 goals prevented per 90. This has placed him in around the average to above-average range of goalkeepers in the competition.
As a comparison, Cameron Cook’s Save Rate percentage this season has been 58.97%. As for goals prevented per 90, that number is unfortunately -0.251.
Liam Reddy, who started the season in goal for the Glory, didn’t exactly have better numbers, as his Save Rate percentage was 60.53% and in terms of goals prevented per 90, it was -0.291.
Sail would be a very good signing for this Glory side, as the prospect of the Kiwi international being in goal along with having solid centre-backs like Mark Beevers, Darryl Lachman and Jordan Elsey in front of him, Glory should be conceding less goals next season.
There aren’t too many cons to signing the 27-year-old, albeit he is capable of the odd mistake here and there.
But, I feel that the positives would massively outweigh the negatives and if Sail is to join the Glory, then Ruben Zadkovich’s side will look a lot more promising next season.
