I personally hate melbourne the most, is that a rivalry or just dislike ?
i like the idea of a seperate section for supporter threads.
Do u reckon we could get Chris Coyne back next season ?
hed be a massive coup.

Oh awesome news that Neville and Griffiths and the others have been offered first team contracts their all impressive players.
KEEP CHELSEA DAGGER.
all the younger people love it.

KEEP CHELSEA DAGGER.

Fine by me :-"
I think you'd get Coyne back but not Mile. He seems settled because of Clough.

Hey guys, who was the glory player to come to blows with harnwell after the 0-0 draw with Adelaide a few seasons back?

Glory owner Tony Sage said the club is in the advance stages of confirming a match with David Moyes's side, who could include Australia international Tim Cahill in their line-up for a friendly encounter ahead of the 2009/10 Premier League season starting in August.

However, Everton want to play two practice matches in Australia

Toffees to go for Glory on Aussie tour
Everton will play a pre-season friendly against Perth Glory if the Premier League side can organise a second match in Australia, the A-League club have announced.


Glory owner Tony Sage said the club was in the advance stages of confirming a match with the Toffees, who could include Australia international Tim Cahill in their line-up for what would be a friendly encounter ahead of the Premier League season starting in August.

However Everton want to play two practice matches in Australia, leaving the Glory relying on another game to be organised.

"We're hopeful it will (happen)," Sage said. "We met every term Everton put to us, so we've signed on to the deal, subject to them getting another game.

"We had a couple of emails today and again, the sticking point seems to be the teams on the eastern side of Australia.

"It's not financially viable for Everton to come just to Perth. They made that clear to everyone, so we're just waiting on that fixture to be set up."

NEW Perth Glory sole-owner Tony Sage says he still intends to bring an international fixture to WA, despite the State Government's lack of support.

After Sage announced co-owner Brett McKeon had walked away from the club, giving him full ownership, the mining magnate said he was endeavouring to bring either an Australia international match or English Premier League side Everton to Perth.

But Sage said it was a move that had gathered little support from the State Government, despite the match's potential to draw a large crowd.

The new sole-owner said he hoped a new board at Perth Glory would be able to swing the government's stance.

"The state government made it very clear that they don't want it. They had a chance - through Events Corp - to host an Australian game (but didn't)," Sage said.

"An Australian game hasn't been played here for a long time. The FFA wants an Australian game to be played here, Football West wants an Australian game to played here, Perth Glory wants a game here - even if it's only with the A-League stars in the Asian championships.

"But for some reason there's been a block by the state government of football."

Sage said he intended to push on with plans to bring an international match to Perth - even if initial costs came out of his own pocket.

"To the extent of the Everton game - it will be myself and one other party that will underwrite that whole amount. The government doesn't seem to be interested," Sage said.

"But we just have to keep chipping away and hopefully, with the relationships the new board members have with the government and media, we can push through that barrier and get the support.

"I'm willing to do it, because I think there'll be 20,000-30,000 people that will want to see Everton."

And Sage said had already put pen-to-paper with Everton.

"The sticking point seems to be the team on the eastern side of Australia," the owner said.

"It's not financially viable for Everton to come just to Perth. They made that clear, I made that clear, and we're just waiting for that to be set up.

"We've met every term that Everton put to us, so we've signed off on a deal, subject to them getting that other game.

"They've already had approaches (from other Australian clubs), so we've left it up to them to discuss it with those clubs."

Sage denied knowing which Australian clubs had spoken to the English side.

The deal to bring the Goodison Park outfit to Perth had hinged on the Premier League club securing a second Australian fixture on the east coast, with the A-League newcomers Gold Coast United the most likely opponents.

Tentative inquiries have also been reportedly made to Premier League and world soccer powerhouses Chelsea and Manchester United, while the Glory are also hoping to travel to Holland for a pre-season tournament before the visit of Everton.

Wow. Nice backhand to the Govt by Sage. Hopefully he triggers a positive reaction from those clowns.

Sure does pour water on claims that FFA dont want Socceroos games out west.

It really does and its so frustrating! Football is the highest participated sport in Western Australia with something like 35,000 players (maybe more?) whilst AFL only has something like 15,000. The government over here is ripping off the 35,000 players plus all the coaches and all the refs and all the plain fans who would die to see a socceroos match in Perth, even if it was all a-league players.

Think about the exposure for Perth Glory and football in general in western australia! What if we had a socceroos match and had a PGFC practise match before it. Get fans going to the a-league. What about having the A-League teams playing before all socceroos matches!

Hmm all sounds interesting. Sage has been pro-active and to underwrite the game himself, to go to such lengths, I'm glad to see, especially in this economic climate. This is a 'can do' approach and surely thanks to his initiative, more than 1 A-L club will be clamouring at Everton's door to host them. Though I'm not sure if Everton would want MORE than 2 fixtures, but I can envision say, friendlies with GCU AND QLD Roar, maybe? :o

Guys there's a 'bit of' chicken and the egg here. Sure Perth is and has always been a place all too capable, willing of hosting the Socceroos adn drawing a big crowd and especially deserved so back in the NSL days.


But the Glory of the A-League have, even this season for most part, had a lacklustre start and this includes or is reflected in the crowds, which are not what they once were. I know, in some ways, that's neither here nor there in terms of NT games. And certainly if that were the case then Sydney would host hardly any Socceroos fixtures as Sydney FCs crowds are soo poor, per capita, aswell.


But as we know, it's always been an up hill struggle for Socceroos games here and every little bit counts.

I think by the club making the first move, by actively seeking to hold a big event match like this and by drawing that 30-35,000+ crowd (We'd need Subi for the match then, for sure, if that were the case?), it will help demonstrate to all parties that Perth is more than up for hosting these big draw fixtures. So 'should' instill more confidence, belief, in the powers that need persuading, especially the State Govt. As we can say, 'look we hosted Everton here and drew such and such crowd, handled the event well' aka There's your proof, any more doubts?!



BTW Nick Ward's contract with Victory is apparently up at the end of this season and he will no longer be eligible to be Junior Marquee.

It would be nice to see the Perth boy return home. He would compliment our existing squad well, as he's more your attacking midfield kind of player, so could link up with Sikora and co well. So sign him up Glory.

With Glory he might 'stand out' more too, so he could get noticed more by Verbeek for the Asian Cup fixtures. He's played at all levels, including Olyroos, so more Socceroos caps should be around the corner. And having an emerging Socceroo would add more prestige to the squad, as that can be an all too rare thing over here.

Edited by gloryperth: 19/2/2009 08:43:23 PM

A weeks a long time in football
I go away for just a little while expecting to see cobwebs in the news ticker and out comes about a billion big glory headlines.

Firstly to the best news I’m delighted to hear that Sikora has decided to stay on. I only got to see a handful of his matches at the season end but he quickly managed to endear himself to the Glory faithful and yours truly. Maybe a little premature but I heard many fans asking for his promotion to a leadership role as he looked so sure out on the field while showing 100% commitment to chasing down loose balls. With a full preseason under his belt with the club I’m sure we have a lot more to see from him.

Secondly it was a surprise to hear that Eugene Dadi had popped back into town. He had came back to complete his Australian residency papers as he looks to end his career in Perth. It shows real dedication from the big man and his obvious fondness for the city of Perth. It makes me wonder what we could have achieved if we had managed to snag him a season earlier as Mitchell unsuccessfully attempted. Oh well we have him for at least one more around the block and there’s no doubting he still has the petrol in the tank to preform. By the way does anyone know how his doing at Vaduz? I’ve attempted to read their official site but I can translate what its saying, I’m sure his been giving a fair chance considering their table position.

Part owner Brett McKeon stepped aside and the club is now fully owned by Tony Sage. I can’t help but think this is a good sign as there now will only be one mans opinion that matters. Through the press Sage has said all the right things and after last seasons vast improvement in recruiting I can’t help but want to believe in him and his vision. He has often said since the seasons end about securing a Socceroo as a marquee player. If that actually happens well who knows but its good to know the mans intentions. Sage is still pumping out the Everton friendly possibilities confirming that talks have taken place and all that remains is an East Coast team to arrange a game also. Everton are unwilling to come out to play one game only which is fair enough. If any game does go ahead I hope MES gets picked up over Subiaco for onlookers standpoint. I’ve never enjoyed watching our game played on the round field.

Australia 'need Culina more than Verbeek'
BILLIONAIRE Gold Coast United owner Clive Palmer says there is no way Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek would penalise Jason Culina for returning to Australia next season, claiming the national team "needs Jason more than it needs Pim".

Verbeek this week repeated his view that Culina might be jeopardising his World Cup place by leaving Europe to play in the A-League - comments which have also upset North Queensland Fury and Perth Glory, who are in the final stages of negotiating with other European-based Socceroos. But while those deals are pending, Culina's move from PSV Eindhoven has already been completed and Palmer has no doubts his marquee star will be playing for both club and country leading into next year's World Cup.

"If Pim doesn't want Jason, he only has to tell us," Palmer said. "But that's not going to happen. It's a ridiculous argument. The team needs Jason more than it needs Pim if you ask me. You pick the team based on skill and ability, don't you?

"Pim hasn't had a chance to see the A-League with Jason in it. It's a credit to the A-League that Jason wants to come back to play in it. And I can totally understand why he wants to leave Holland to do it. In fact from what I hear there's a lot of unhappy players in Europe who would love to be playing in Australia, so why shouldn't they have that right?

"People perform at their best when they're in an environment they can thrive in. Jason has just bought himself a house up here, it's a done deal and he'll be here for the next three years. He's going to be happy playing for a winning team, with the best coach in Australia. He's also going to enjoy being in a team which goes out there to score some goals."

Meanwhile, as Perth Glory chase the signatures of Mile Sterjovski and Chris Coyne, club owner Tony Sage has joined the chorus of complaints, saying Verbeek's comments are "not helping matters".

The Glory are competing with Gold Coast for Sterjovski's signature and it's understood the Socceroos winger - currently out-of-favour with English Championship side Derby County - is close to making a decision. Coyne, a defender, is playing in English third-tier football with Colchester United and during the recent Socceroos match in Japan held talks with Glory coach David Mitchell about returning to his home town to play alongside his younger brother, Jamie, the Glory captain.

Sage, who assumed total control of Perth early this week after buying out partner Brett McKeon, said: "I'm surprised, very surprised, he's [Verbeek] making those comments, I find them incredible actually and you can quote me on that. I've met Pim six or seven times, and behind the scenes he's been very helpful to Perth Glory and supportive generally of the A-League, so I'm not sure where he's coming from.

"Look at Craig Moore, he's playing in the A-League, and he's a regular for Australia. It can be done."

Sage believes Verbeek's comments could impact on current negotiations, although he didn't name Coyne and Sterjovski.

"We're in the middle of talks with two or three players about coming back, they're in the prime of their careers, and if they do come home they definitely want to keep playing for Australia," he said. "So this definitely makes our job harder, it doesn't help matters at all.

"Saying what he has, it's a slap in the face for the A-League."

Gold Coast coach Miron Bleiberg remains confused by Verbeek's stance, saying: "I don't understand his logic, he's creating barriers, and we don't need that.

"It's important for the league that we get first-level Australian players back. The person they will most listen to is the national coach, and he's telling them not to come back. I think the A-League is better than he thinks. I just spent a month in Holland [at FC Utrecht] and what I saw was nothing special, there was nothing much different to what we do in the A-League."

■ Australia's next Asian Cup opponents, Kuwait, arrive in Auckland today for a nine-day training camp, which will include training games against New Zealand national league sides Auckland City and Waitakere United. The Socceroos host Kuwait at Canberra Stadium on March 5, with Verbeek expected to announce his squad - likely to be dominated by A-League players - next week.

Hi - am new to this forum but thought the following may be of some interest to PG fans.

A football blog in Indonesia has reported that Adrian Trinidad arrived in Jakarta a couple of days back and it looks like he might be returning to his former club there, Persiba.

Everton could be joining Tim Cahill in Australia
Feb 21 2009 by Dominic King, Liverpool Echo

TIM CAHILL regularly makes globetrotting trips halfway around the planet to represent his country. But if negotiations, which are currently underway, prove successful, he could be joined Down Under by his team-mates next summer – with the Blues in talks about a coast to coast Australian excursion.

Preliminary negotiations about a trip to the west coast of Australia were revealed here last weekend.

But there are also talks underway about a potential trip to the other side of that continent, too.

Everton officials have suggested that a pre-season friendly against Perth Glory at the Members Equity Stadium could be possible if they could find a commitment from another club on the West coast.

But according to reports Down Under, it is understood the Blues want to play another match on the other side of the continent, too, with Victorian reports suggesting Melbourne Victory are trying to claim the second match of the Toffees' tour.

Sydney FC, however, who have not hosted a marquee friendly match since David Beckham's Los Angeles Galaxy came to town in November 2007 – are busily working on a plan to bring Everton to what could be a full house at the Sydney Football Stadium.

“We've been discussing this with the club for the last three weeks, so we're a real possibility, too,'' Sydney FC chief executive Stefan Kamasz told the Sydney Morning Herald. “We'll be holding more discussions with the club's representatives, and hopefully we'll be able to come up with an answer by the end of the week.

“We were approached by about half a dozen individuals, and to prevent any further confusion, we went directly to the club to find out what's happening. We understand the club have appointed an agent and we expect to be talking to him in a few days.

“If we're hosting Everton, Tim Cahill's an incredibly important part of this, but I hope if they're going to play there they can win the FA Cup,'' Kamasz said.

“To have a team like Everton, particularly if they're FA Cup holders and they've got Tim and their other star players there, it'd be wonderful.

“Given the direction the club wants to go in following the change in shareholding (the club will formally change ownership to Russian businessman David Traktovenko) the idea of us hosting a major English Premier League side would be consistent with what we're trying to do.”

I also thought that Indonesia can't have imports now, or is that Malaysia?

That's Malaysia.

The Indonesia coach has said he won't pick "Indonesian heritage" players such as Sergio Van Dijk, but imports are certainly welcome in their league teams.

If I get any more info about whether Trinidad has actually started playing for Persiba (or any other team in Indonesia) , I'll post it here.