That doesn't sound good. I haven't seen the match, mind. But if his shots went straight at the keeper, that's not encouraging. One of Leckie's main problems is he can't bloody score. If he had a bit more guile, or natural scoring instinct, he'd be a far more accomplished player.

That doesn't sound good. I haven't seen the match, mind. But if his shots went straight at the keeper, that's not encouraging. One of Leckie's main problems is he can't bloody score. If he had a bit more guile, or natural scoring instinct, he'd be a far more accomplished player.

i heard some commentary recently about leckie being a relatively recent convert to football from afl. they put the point that he is improving his finesse and this should come with more training.

reality is, leckie is not far off being world class. he just needs to tidy up his touch, this is something that gets better with experience.

His team basically bought promotion, so hopefully they dont spend money on new players all over the squad relegating him to the bench if they do go up

Not sure if mentioned but..........

Sainsbury played 90 mins as CB in 3-1 loss to league leaders PSV
Dougall played 90 mins in 2-1 win
Leckie played 90 mins in 1-0 win

i heard some commentary recently about leckie being a relatively recent convert to football from afl. they put the point that he is improving his finesse and this should come with more training.

reality is, leckie is not far off being world class. he just needs to tidy up his touch, this is something that gets better with experience.

Is Chris Brunt being employed as left back? That's just taking the piss now.

it's been like this for months...and WBA keep losing

Davidson ain't alone. Gamboa and Pocognoli are being wasted too.

thank god davidson not playing...WBA :lol: losing at home to QPR and now Leicester City...same team next week then

Brugge down 2.0 in at the break in their first game of the playoffs. Pretty sure it's a six team round robin with ten games?

ELI BABALJ (PEC ZWOLLE): "BETWEEN AUSTRALIA AND BOSNIA, MY CHOICE WAS CLEAR: THE SOCCEROOS'
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Posted: April 8th, 2015 outsider-mag 0
He was born in Bosnia, fled the war in Yugoslavia to live in Germany and Australia, played in the Netherlands and Serbia . The course of Eli Babalj is atypical. The attacker only 23 years old but has already had three clubs in Europe: Red Star Belgrade, AZ Alkmaar and today the Pec Zwolle . In ready with his latest, Eli continues to work for advancing and integrating Socceroos , his dream.


You were born in Bosnia. And yet you 've spent most of your youth in Australia. Can you tell us more about this period of your life?

Yes, I was born in Sarajevo a week before the beginning of the War of Yugoslavia and I immediately went to Germany with my parents. We lived 3 years in Essen and then we headed to Perth in 1995.

You started your career in the youth team of Perth. Then, you signed a contract with the FFA Centre of Excellence. It is a training center, but nobody really knows what it is here in Europe . Can you give us the organization?

The FFA Centre of Excellence ( Australian Institute of Sport - the old name when I was there) is like the academy Clairefontaine in France. I was selected at the age of 16 years and have lived in Melbourne for 1 year. L ' AIS is for all the best Australian athletes in all sports who prepare the Olympics or world championships. You live on site and are training full time. The program is designed for young players so we continue to go to school at the same time. The infrastructure is among the best in the world, it is a perfect place to progress and become a footballer, butalso a man because we leave "home" to go so young that we forge.

You made ​​your professional debut with Melbourne Heart ( Editor's note : since become Melbourne City) to the creation of the club. What do you remember in particular?

I signed my first professional contract at 17 and it was a club that had thus creating a unique opportunity. I was there from day one, it was really special and I started at the first official match of the team. It was a special moment. I really enjoyed my time at the club, I will follow and adore forever.

Then you took the direction of Europe and Red Star Belgrade in 2012. Why did you choose to move?

I had a few options after the end of 2012 season, but when the Red Star and particularly Robert Prosinecki 's coach at the time, approached me ... I could not refuse! I grew up supporting this club and all my family also bear was an opportunity. It was really hard to play with Red Star and score on my debut at Marakana . Fort, really.

Strange coincidence (and funny!) , your first match was against ... Bordeaux in the Europa League . Do you remember that game?

(Laughs) . Yes, I remember. It's not a very happy memory ... It was a game crazy and really believed to play Europa League after scoring in the last minute . But a few seconds later, I still do not know how, we conceded a penalty. We lost the game and we were eliminated from Europe which was a real disappointment. But Bordeaux had a great team with great players , it was nice to start against them.

A year later, you're back to your old club, Melbourne Heart . That s ' is -it happened?

Unfortunately, the Red Star had big financial problems and could not pay the second installment of my transfer to Melbourne before the deadline decided. Melbourne had the right to call me and they did. So I returned to Australia after 6 months in Serbia .

In 2013, you are left in Europe, this time in the Netherlands, with the AZ Alkmaar . What convinced you to retry your luck?

I always wanted to return to Europe after my return "forced" in Melbourne and I had the chance to sign in AZ after they came to see me play a few times.

In 2014, Van Basten became coach of Alkmaar . What it feels like is driven by one of the best players of all time?

Van Basten was my coach for a short time, because unfortunately, he had some health problems so he became deputy to AZ . I've had some big names as' coach in my career so you learn the good and bad side of each.

There are a few months, you were loaned to PEC Zwolle . How is this happening?

Yes, I had the opportunity to join PEC Zwolle until the end of the season and it was a fantastic opportunity to play games in the first team especially after getting injured last season. Everything is going well, I hope to play more and score some goals.

You have chosen to play for Australia then you could have to play for Bosnia. Why this choice?

I played with the U17 and U20 Australia so my choice was clear.

So you played with the U17 / U20 and you have made ​​your international debut for Australia in November 2012, against South Korea. What did you feel that day?

It was a very special moment and an incredible day. I returned to the game against South Korea and I had the misfortune to take on the post and not to score the winning goal. But luckily, the ball came back to us and we scored to win 2-1, while I managed to influence the game. Not many people get to play for their national team, I am very fortunate to have made ​​my debut at age 20 .

You have not played with the Socceroos since. Why in your opinion ?

I have not played with the national team since my transfer to AZ , but if you want to play for the national team, you need to play regularly in club. I hope I can start scoring and often play for my club and then perhaps I might be recalled.

As a player, how would you describe yourself?

I'm a player who likes technology, dribble I love, I love to use combinations around the area and score goals. I am great and most people think I'm a player who plays better than with his head his feet, but it's the opposite, I prefer to have the ball on the ground and create problems for defenders.

What are your ambitions? Where would you ideally play?

I do not like to project myself. I am large, most people think I'm a player who plays better with his head than his feet, but it's the opposite, I prefer to have the ball on the ground and create problems for defenders. But if I had to choose my dream team is Manchester United. I am the Premier League since I kid. I am a supporter of the Red Devils.

Ross County midfielder not looking beyond relegation battle
6 April 2015 by Alex Martin
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Jackson Irvine is happy to see Ross County find some formJackson Irvine is happy to see Ross County find some form
Ross County’s on loan midfielder Jackson Irvine does not know where his future lies, but reckons helping the Staggies avoid relegation from the Premiership will do his own prospects no harm.

The Australian was outstanding as he helped the Staggies to a 2-1 victory against Dundee United at Tannadice on Saturday to stretch the Dingwall’s side’s unbeaten run to seven matches.

The 22-year-old’s contract with the Hoops expires in the summer and Irvine has not given up hope of establishing himself at Parkhead.

He said: “I’m out of contract at the end of the season, so that will have to be addressed.

“I have to keep focusing on my performances and, hopefully, that will be enough to make their minds up.

“Decisions will need to be made towards the end of the season. At the moment, I’m still a Celtic player and that is my priority. I wouldn’t be there if I didn’t want to break through, but, as I said, I’m getting to a certain age.

“I’m 22 now and need to start planning for my future.

“Now I have played almost 60 first-team games, I can’t be going back and sitting in a reserve-team dressing room.

“I’ll sort my future at the end of the season.”

Irvine scored the opening goal for County with a powerful header and helped force Raffaele De Vita’s winner in a superb display.

His performance was all the more impressive given he had travelled to Taiwan during the week to represent his country.

He said: “I was away last week with Australia’s under-23 team. It was fantastic. I was in Taiwan and played in two of our three qualifiers.

“I was lucky enough to captain the side against Myanmar in the last game, so we have our eye on qualifying for the next round of the under-23 Asian championships and that is in Qatar next January.

“The leading three or four teams from that go to the Olympics.

“It’s funny because the lads were having at laugh at me actually being able to stand up.

“I had 35 hours of travelling and got back on Thursday at 5pm.

“I trained on Friday afternoon and played against United on Saturday.

“I needed a seat after the match but adrenalin got me through I think and it’s now about recovery for the next game against St Johnstone on Tuesday.”

Any1 know if Troiss played ?