Randomly switched over to ABC in the car today and Mulvey was on.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-08-31/interview-mike-mulvey/4927040?section=sport

Quality Roar line-up to entice big crowd
WHEN Mike Mulvey last coached in Ipswich, it was with the Knights men's team in its inaugural season.

Fifteen years later, Mulvey will return to Ipswich as head coach of A-League powerhouse team, the Brisbane Roar.

He's excited about bringing the Roar to the North Ipswich Reserve for a national competition pre-season game against Melbourne Victory.

The September 14 showdown will be the biggest football match Ipswich has hosted in decades.

However, Mulvey hasn't forgotten his 1998 season at Bundamba. He coached the newly formed Knights to the finals, losing to Brisbane Lions on penalties.

"It was a great year. I really enjoyed it,'' Mulvey said.

"I actually got Coach of the Year that year, which was pleasing.

"There's some great people in Ipswich and we're still friends today.''

After finishing with the Knights, Mulvey took up an appointment with the Queensland Academy of Sport women's program before working his way up the ranks.

Preparing for a new A-League season, Mulvey is focused on having Roar ready for another finals assault.

He believes a more settled start this season - featuring important pre-season games like next Saturday's clash in Ipswich - will help the former two-time A-League champions.

"When you come in mid-season, you have to hit the ground running,'' Mulvey said of his late role last season.

"We've consolidated and we've recruited quite well.

"We've got (former Perth midfielder) Liam Miller and (Socceroos midfielder) Matt McKay in and young guy Dimitri Petratos.

"That's a good sign.''

The return of Matt McKay is a huge boost for the Roar. "He's an inaugural Brisbane Roar player, he's been with the Socceroos and playing overseas for a couple of years,'' coach Mike Mulvey said.

"He's fitted in like he's never been gone.''

Last season's fifth-placed team also includes fan favourite Besart Berisha.

"He's undisputedly the No.1 striker in the country,'' Mulvey said. "Berisha is looking very sharp at training. He scored a hat-trick the other week against Melbourne Heart.''

Mulvey was keen for his best players to be part of the Roar entourage heading to the North Ipswich Reserve on September 14.

"We expect to bring our full squad for the game against Melbourne Victory for sure,'' Mulvey said.

"That's part of the reason for bringing the game to Ipswich.

"It's a very strong football community and we have quite a number of supporters that travel up from Ipswich to watch us play.

"You couldn't get a bigger game than Melbourne Victory coming to town.''

More than 3000 fans watched the Roar play Ipswich Invitational teams in the past three games at the Reserve. That crowd figure could be doubled on Saturday week.

"It's about promoting the game and we're both in preparation phase,'' Mulvey said.

"We need to make sure that we are ready to go by the start of the season.''



Mulvey's mantra

BRISBANE Roar head coach Mike Mulvey said his team's playing style would be showcased during their Ipswich visit on September 14.

"It's very much a possession-based attacking game,'' he said.

"One thing that I'm very big on is entertainment.

"We trust the players to deliver that on the field and that's why we've attracted the kind of players that we've attracted.

"Winning with style. That's the key.''
www.qt.com.au/news/roar-in-ipswich/2009880/

Brisbane Roar beat Central Coast Mariners 2-1 with Miller and Brown scoring as well as Simon for CCM. If anyone watched the game they should be impressed with how we played style and intensity wise.

Any worrying signs you picked out, any players catch your eye?

Brisbane Roar beat Central Coast Mariners 2-1 with Miller and Brown scoring as well as Simon for CCM. If anyone watched the game they should be impressed with how we played style and intensity wise.

Any worrying signs you picked out, any players catch your eye?

I'm very happy to see Miller on the score sheet in so many pre season games. And good to see all of the guys so hungry this early. I feel we are in for a good season, I just hope we don't burn out 3/4 into the season.

One of the things that I love about Mulvey is that he's not afraid to think outside the box. Franjic RW or North at CM are both great examples.

Transfer Rumour: Roar to bring in Brisbane City's main man
Two years after he first attempted to earn a professional contract with Brisbane Roar, English striker Antonio Murray is set to be rewarded for his perseverance by securing the final import spot on Mike Mulvey's roster.

While a deal has yet to be announced, it's believed Murray's prolific goalscoring form for Brisbane City in the Queensland NPL has convinced Mulvey he is worth a punt as understudy to Besart Berisha - at this stage the only genuine no.9 in the Roar squad. Murray, 28, claimed this season's Queensland Golden Boot with 27 goals in 21 appearances for Brisbane City - who were beaten (by Olympic FC) in last weekend's grand final - and has been training with the Roar for several weeks while fulfilling his NPL commitments.

Murray, who's career began at Ipswich Town, hasn't played professionally since 2004, when he had a brief stint with Scottish side Hibernian. After several seasons in non-league football in England, he arrived in Australia in 2011 hoping to win a contract with Brisbane Roar, but his initial trial was ruined by injury.

Murray's second attempt to break into the Hyundai A-League is poised to be more successful, where he is set to fill the club's final visa spot alongside Berisha, Thomas Broich, Henrique and Liam Miller
http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/news-display/Transfer-Rumour-Roar-to-bring-in-Brisbane-Citys-main-man/74568

Would be pretty happy with this. :d

Would be pretty happy with this. :d

Surely there is some Aussie striker in the State leagues across Australia that is just as competent at sitting on the bench?

lol @ taking up a visa spot with a state player

Yea I'm not sure what you guys were expecting. We don't have much cap space left so it wasn't possible to get another Berisha. We wouldn't of been able to lure a young Aussie home like Gameiro, Mclaren or McGrath as none of them would want to sit on the bench all season behind Bes.

We've had a stack of local players trialing for us this pre-sason and Murray has been the best. What did you guys want, bring in a lesser player like Smits (who would be on the same wage as Murray) just so we can save a visa spot. In which we would have no cap space to use?

As highlighted by Mulvey and Dobson, things changed when Mckay became available. Our budget was actually a bit lower than what we are using on wages. The club had to dip in to the marketing budget to support the signing of Matty.

So i think on our limited budget, we were always only going to get a state league player.

Well then the Bakries ownership is about as useless as tits on a bull