no more pyramid!

WARNING: computer overload, computer overload.

anyone read this one as yet?

http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/football/a-league/european-club-influx-will-spice-up-aleague-preseason/2009/05/08/1241727604418.html

part relevants to us -
Meanwhile, Socceroos winger Mile Sterjovski has opted to reject lucrative offers from Asia to return home to the A-League, where three clubs are vying for his signature. Sterjovski, 29, has been abroad for nine years since leaving former NSL club Parramatta Power, and had spells in France, Switzerland and Turkey before moving to English Championship side Derby County last year. Although he has another year remaining in his contract with the Rams, the club has made it clear it wants to offload its higher wage-earners.

In recent weeks, Sterjovski has received offers from China, South Korea and Japanese side JEF United Chiba, but instead prefers to continue his career in Australia, not least for family reasons.

For several weeks, Perth Glory and Gold Coast United have been vying for his signature, but in the past few days a third club has reportedly entered the race. Perth are considering making Sterjovski their marquee player - but much will depend on negotiations with Uruguayan superstar Alvaro Recoba, who at this stage is the preferred choice. Talks with Recoba were expected to reach a decisive stage overnight.

Gold Coast already have a marquee player for the next three years - Socceroos midfielder Jason Culina - but have offered a deal that would have kept Sterjovski inside the salary cap by steadily increasing his wages over the next three seasons. Despite the attraction of playing alongside best mate Culina, it's believed Sterjovski is less than enthused by the offer.

Very interesting article there SausageMahoney
so the Recoba deal is close to a climax ?
and Sterj may will most likely go our way if it falls through.
either way i'd be stoked.

bak to jelic ... there was a good article in the west today .... dave mitch and lui guiliani actually met him and watched him train in their scouting trip over europe ... energie cottbuss agreed to release him so he can play for glory and he and his wife are most likely gonna move over here with their family. And it was mentioned that glory have agreed on terms with the striker ... so the deal is obviously close to getting finalised which is good news.

Also mentioned that former Millwal and Piacenza striker Daniel Severino is currently training with us, and dave mitch is gonna look at him aswell.

Yeah I'm a little suprised about Recoba ... if your going to come to Australia, and you're a big name wouldn't your agent talk to Melbourne and Sydney first (maybe he already has). I mean Perth Glory is great but if I'm Recoba's agent and I want to get the most money for my guy I'd check out over east first ...

If we signed Recoba, I would like it to be for a full-season, none of the seven-game crap...

By the way on Todd, I think he's a good buy, having some experience in defence is good but I notice he's only signed on a one-year deal which is interesting...

AFAIK the seven game stint is what you would have a "guest player" for. I don't think there's been any mention of Recoba being looked at for a guest.

If Glory can't meet Recoba's pay demands for a full season, the club would still be interested in bringing the former Inter Milan playmaker in for a guest stint.

i think what really dents our guest player stint ambitions would be that the majority of games to start the season are away games so you loose the chance of boosting attendances.

Lol, Im suprised - has everyone forgotten about Denilson? Wasn't he days away from deciding on the offer?

Homeward-bound Socceroo Jacob Burns has revealed that he received the blessing of national team coach Pim Verbeek before inking his three-year deal with ambitious Perth Glory.

A negative response from the Dutchman, a died-in-the-wool A-League skeptic, would have swayed Burns into remaining with high-riding Romanian outfit Unirea Urzicini for another season.

But, to his relief, Verbeek declared that a return to Australia for the midfielder after a 10-year European adventure – taking in Leeds United, Barnsley, Wisla Krakow and finally Unirea - would not bury Burns’ World Cup aspirations.

Verbeek has courted controversy with his criticism of the A-League - a competition he views as a far from ideal World Cup platform for his players.

But that wasn’t the message received by 31-year-old workaholic Burns, an off-the-peg stand-in for the likes of Jason Culina, Vince Grella or Carlo Valeri.

"Before any decisions were made I spoke to Pim, and various other people who have ventured back, about my intentions and he gave me his full support," insisted Burns.

"I have an option in my contract which allows me to go out on loan at the completion of my first season, either to Europe or Asia, which would keep me fit for those few months heading into the World Cup.

"That’s an important clause which Pim saw the merit in. He basically told me that he knows what I am capable of and that he will now get to see me week-in week-out.

"He said there are no guarantees, but that also applies to the players who remain in Europe. The message was that if I’m playing regularly and maintain my form and fitness, I have a good chance of going to South Africa. I don’t think I jeopardise anything by coming home.

"You don’t become an average player overnight. I think the Socceroos coaching staff appreciates my style of football and I think form and fitness will be the telling factor for me."

Burns, who played Champions League with Leeds, has been a consistent performer and proved his worth to the national team with a memorable performance as a last-minute replacement for Culina in the 1-0 win against Uzbekistan in Tashkent.

He’s made two appearances off the bench since then, but his industry and endeavour has convinced Verbeek to keep calling him up after more years in the cold than he cares to remember during the reign of Frank Farina.

With just eight caps since his debut in 2000, Burns has been just a flicker on the Socceroos radar but with South Africa so close his light is shining like never before.

"I think I have something to offer the national team. There is a lot of competition for places in my position but I think Pim sees something in me he likes and I’m just happy to be pushing for a place at the World Cup," he said.

"What’s been kept me in Europe for so long was South Africa and the World Cup dream but now seems the right time to come home."

Though he has a few kilometres on the clock, Burns’ motor still has plenty of torque and he has spent a lot less time in the body shop than some of his contemporaries.

"I didn’t want to come back with no legs, I’m still at a good age and I can help some of the young players coming through," he added.

"You see the likes of Paolo Maldini playing into his late thirties, and I think I’ve still got plenty left in the tank," he added.

Burns is also looking forward to reacquainting with Glory coach Dave Mitchell, with whom he spent his formative football years at Sydney United and then Parramatta Power in the NSL.

"We’ve had success in the past. We have a good relationship and hopefully it will be a good fit. The move came out of the blue a bit and it was too good to knock back.

"I’ve achieved a fair bit in a decade in Europe. I’ve played in the Premiership, the Champions League and three UEFA Cups.

"It looks like Unirea will be in the Champions League next season, or at the very least the UEFA Cup, and I’ve had a good year there. It’s a challenging place to be at times, but it’s a good team and I certainly could have stayed.

"But I’m really looking forward to coming home. Perth are going places and I’m relishing being a part of that."

Burns will join his Socceroos teammates in Dubai on June 1 – five days before their next World Cup qualifier against Qatar in Doha.

Perth Glory coach Dave Mitchell has confirmed that Energue Cottbus striker Branko Jelic will join Perth Glory next season.

The 32 year old striker won the Golden Boot award in the 2005 Super League for Beijin Guoan scoring 21 goals before joining Bundesliga club Cottbus.

Jelic scored 2 goals in a 2-0 win over Bayern Munich in 2008:

even more interesting is this.
angain off the myspace.
so not very credible.
but good news none the less.

Todd ideal tough guy for Glory

11th May 2009, 6:00 WST

Perth Glory coach David Mitchell has played down concerns over nononsense English defender Andy Todd’s turbulent past, claiming the Derby County centre half is just what the A-League club needs for the new campaign.

Todd, 34, will arrive in Perth tomorrow and will spend a week here to assess the merits of making a move to the A-League. He will have a medical before signing a one-year deal.

A tough tackler on the field, the former English Premier League defender has had a controversial career, including a 1999 training ground incident with then Bolton boss Phil Brown and an altercation with Charlton teammate Dean Kiely two years later.

But Mitchell, who watched Todd in a 3-2 loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers last month, said he had received favourable reports from a number of sources.

“I’ve spoken to quite a few people and they’ve all given him glowing references as a player and a person,” Mitchell said yesterday.

Mitchell also rejected suggestions the former Blackburn and Bolton defender’s aggressive approach might not be suited to the Australian league.

Brisbane Roar coach Frank Farina has argued his former Manchester City and Leicester hard man Danny Tiatto gets a raw deal because of his reputation.

“I don’t think he’s that sort of player,” Mitchell said of Todd. “He’s a clever player. He’s a good passer of the ball and he reads the game well.

“He’s a tough nut and no-nonsense but he’s not a dirty player.

“He’s tough and he plays by the rules and he’s exactly what we need.”

Glory leaked 44 goals last season as they slumped to second-from-bottom and Mitchell believes Todd can help stem the tide.

“We need someone who will defend, organise at the back and be really competitive,” Mitchell said.

“This is all subject to him passing a medical and signing for us because he hasn’t signed yet.”

Glory have strengthened their midfield with the signing of fringe Socceroo Jacob Burns, while the club is also close to securing Germany-based striker Branko Jelic.

Mitchell is continuing to look for a marquee signing, as well as a possible guest player for the new season, which kicks off on August 7 away to Adelaide United.

pretty gay they choose myspace to spread all their news. it appeals to the under 18 market generally. the lets talk football interview was great though. i tip my hat to the presenters its a terrific show.