haha ... still do it anyway man ... will be interesting to see wat others think of our depth aswell.

Nah, I've already started another draft; going to try and give my end-of-season awards out, before the season's even started :twisted:

On a different note, guys, has anyone else realised we still haven't released an alternate strip?? Our first game is in 9 days time, for god's sake! I know we probably will hardly ever wear it, but surely it will be released soon? Anyone got any news on it?

It's out, just hasn't been publicly advertised by the club. There's some in Jim Kidd and Bobby10 already.

As for the look, it's pretty much like the away kit for us described below. Grey/silver for the main part, purple rays on the shoulders...


Edited by f1dave: 29/7/2009 03:02:46 PM

Uh... silver/grey for the most part, with purple rays on the shoulders?

Lol just saw you edited your post after I put mine up - sorry! So does it look ok in reality, cause the pic doesn't look too flash imo

[size=6]Burns aims to captain Perth to Champions League glory[/size]
[size=3]Justin Chadwick
July 29, 2009 11:09am[/size]

NEW Perth Glory skipper Jacob Burns believes the club has the ability to become a force in the A-League - and then Asia.
Burns, who takes over the skipper's armband from Jamie Coyne, said earning a maiden A-League finals berth was the Glory's first aim.

But with a squad now boasting marquee striker Mile Sterjovski, Socceroos defender Chris Coyne, Burns and former Blackburn and Derby County hardman Andy Todd, hopes are high in the Glory camp.

Burns said the club had the potential to establish themselves as a regular participant in the Asian Champions League by finishing in the top two in the A-League.

Read more...

I can't see us wearing alternate against any other team (perhaps CCM?)

You're home top will clash with Melbourne and Phoenix; maybe CCM.

Glory making finals promises
Tim Clarke
July 29, 2009 - 7:38AM
Perth Glory coach Dave Mitchell last night made an "absolute" promise to the club's fans the club will reach their first A-League finals campaign this season, as Socceroo Jacob Burns was confirmed as the new captain.

At last night's official jumper presentation, Mitchell was unashamedly bullish about the club's chances - while Burns said he was planning on leading the club to the top six, at least.

Despite Glory's first two A-League games being away - and the first two home games going head-to-head with AFL fixtures - Mitchell was adamant the Glory would play finals.

"Absolutely," Mitchell said.

"On paper the squad is very good but we have got to blend as a team, and that is what we have got to do in the next few weeks.

"We have been dealt a bit of a hard draw, two away games to start with, but we will go there and be focused, get a couple of results and come back to bumper crowds here and start the season in style."

Burns will take over the captain's armband this season from former skipper Jamie Coyne, despite having only arrived in Perth in the last two weeks, and says A-League finals and the Asian Champions League were the targets.

"It is an absolute privilege and an honour to lead such a great group of talent in the squad, happy to be back in Oz and lead Perth into the finals," Burns said.

"It is great to be back, Tony has invested some great money into some talented players and I am just looking forward to get to the finals this year and pushing for the ACL.

"We have got a great mix, and there is a great history - it is my job to get the boys firing, to be a leader on the pitch and make it to finals football."

Former Leeds United and Barnsley star Burns, recruited from Romania's Unirea Urziceni, will line-up alongside fellow internationals Mile Sterjovski and Chris Coyne.

And with Branko Jelic, formerly of Energie Cottbus in Germany, and former Premier League hardman Andy Todd, owner Tony Sage has given Mitchell no excuses if the Glory fail again.

Coyne setting high standards for Glory

30th July 2009, 11:00 WST
Chris Coyne will not be wearing the captain’s armband for Perth Glory this season but the uncompromising defender intends to lead in every other sense as he strives for A-League success at the first attempt.

Former Leeds United midfielder Jacob Burns, who has been appointed skipper, has already acknowledged the assistance he expects to get from the new senior signings, including Coyne, Mile Sterjovski and former English Premier League defender Andy Todd.

“I want to be a good captain and a leader on the pitch, someone the young lads can look up to,” Burns said. “It will make my job so much easier having these guys around with a world of experience at the top level.”

Socceroo Coyne, who was seen as one of the candidates for the job, has made clear his thoughts on leadership, claiming two weeks before the captaincy was announced: “You don’t need an armband to have an opinion.”

Coyne, who was captain at his previous clubs Colchester United and Luton Town, said only total commitment from every player could lead the club out of the doldrums.

“I just think if someone isn’t giving 110 per cent to the cause they shouldn’t be part of our dressing room because we need to get that winning mentality,” Coyne said.

“There’s nothing better than sitting in the dressing room with your mates after a game when you’ve just beaten someone and you look at each other and you know you’ve given 110 per cent to get there.”

Burns, who first played for Glory coach Dave Mitchell at Sydney United more than 12 years ago, said he was honoured to have been appointed captain.

“It’s an absolute privilege and honour to lead such a great club with a great history, great support, and to be a leader of such a great group of guys,” he said.

Awesome statement from mitch.
its the kind of stuff to inspire.

Former Perth striker Rukavytsya makes CL debut for FC Twente
30.07.09 | Andrew Slevison
Former Perth Glory striker Nikita Rukavytsya last night made his Champions League debut for FC Twente.

The Dutch club held Portuguese giants Sporting Lisbon to a 0-0 draw at the Estadio Jose Alvalade in the first leg of their third round qualifying match.

22-year old Rukavytsya came on in the 61st minute to replace Costa Rican Bryan Ruiz Gonzalez.

Bookies don't see much Glory at Perth
Tim Clarke
July 30, 2009 - 7:33AM
Despite their off-season Socceroo splurge, and coach Dave Mitchell making an absolute promise to take his Perth Glory to their first A-League finals, bookmakers are ranking the club rank outsiders to win the title - and not even a certainty to crack the top six.

In a bid to reclaim Glory's place amongst Australia's elite soccer clubs, owner Tony Sage has spent more than $1 million in wages to bring Mile Sterjovski, Jacob Burns and Chris Coyne, as well as Premier League veteran Andy Todd.

But the recruitment has failed to convince TAB Sportsbet, who have posted Perth Glory at a friendly $13 to win the A-League title, and only on the seventh line of betting in their market on the top six.

Melbourne Victory have been installed as favourites to take out the minor premiership, with Glory even further out at $17 to top the table after the home and away rounds.

And none of Glory's big signings feature near the top of the favourites in the goal scoring stakes, with Melbourne's Archie Thompson and Gold Coast recruit Shane Smeltz fancied to be the A-League's premier hitman.

Glory's Eugene Dadi was charged at $13.00 to be the league's top scorer, with Sterjovski at a healthy $15.

For the pessimistic Glory, they can also have a flutter at $6.50 that the club will finish with the wooden spoon for the year

I had someone yesterday who stated that the Glory will not make the finals because they haven't got any decent new players.

Hahahah this is a daring, daring move dave... :P

http://www.tribalfootball.com/former-perth-striker-rukavytsya-makes-cl-debut-fc-twente-260139

Thats good news. Can't wait to see him in the world cup and think, "he played for my team, thats where he cracked the big time."

http://www.tribalfootball.com/former-perth-striker-rukavytsya-makes-cl-debut-fc-twente-260139

Thats good news. Can't wait to see him in the world cup and think, "he played for my team, that was his launching pad."

Fixed for accuracy :)

Former players predict finals drought will end

1st August 2009, 10:00 WST

Two of Perth Glory’s most popular former players have joined the growing throng of pundits tipping the WA club to end its A-League finals drought this season.

Strikers Bobby Despotovski and Damian Mori, who led Glory to National Soccer League titles in 2003 and 2004, have been impressed with the quality recruits brought in by coach Dave Mitchell and expect fans to be lapping up finals soccer at the end of the home-and-away campaign.

A top-six finish will be enough to earn a finals place in this season’s expanded 10-team competition but Despotovski, who scored 113 goals in 241 Glory games, and Mori (84 goals in 129 games) believe Perth can climb into fourth position.

“They’ve spent a hell of a lot of money for the signings, which is good,” Despotovski said. “This is the first time for a long time that people are actually looking forward to the start of the season. There is a lot more buzz about it in town.”

Mori was also impressed with the calibre of the new signings.

“They’ve signed a lot of quality players and if it blends well they’d have to be in the top four,” Mori said.

Coach Dave Mitchell took a patient approach to recruitment and it paid off handsomely when he landed Socceroos trio Mile Sterjovski, Chris Coyne and Jacob Burns, former English Premier League defender Andy Todd and ex-German top flight striker Branko Jelic.

Their late arrival, however, has proved troublesome with Todd, eager to ramp up his pre-season, suffering a back problem and equally as enthusiastic Burns straining a hamstring just weeks into pre-season training.

Hamstring injuries have also dogged Wayne Srhoj, who could miss the start of the season, and Jamie Harnwell, who will be sidelined for the first three games, at least.

However, not everyone is convinced Glory have the depth to seriously challenge for an A-League title, with Gold Coast United boss Miron Bleiberg chief among the doubters.

Mitchell, though, already had the nucleus of a strong squad — Harnwell, Srhoj, Jamie Coyne, Victor Sikora, Eugene Dadi, Naum Sekulovski and Adriano Pellegrino have bags of experience — while young defender Scott Neville and exciting midfielder Andrija Jukic have shown no signs of being overawed on the big stage.

Glory have lost last season’s equal top scorer Nikita Rukavytsya, who this week made his Champions League debut for his Dutch club FC Twente against Sporting Lisbon.

But Dadi, who also scored 10 goals last season, is on board for another season, while Sterjovski and Jelic add more attacking options.

Defensively, the combination of Chris Coyne, signed from Colchester United, and ex-Blackburn centrehalf Todd, should provide a sterling barrier.

Though the presence of three Socceroos is an indication of the quality in the squad, it could also work against Glory, with the club’s captain Burns, Chris Coyne and Sterjovski all desperate to win a place in Pim Verbeek’s World Cup squad next year.

Football Federation Australia this week released a program of seven Socceroos matches to be played during the A-League season, which could rob Glory of their international trio for important club games.

The West Australian understands the three will not be called up for the August 12 friendly away to the Republic of Ireland, which is wedged between Glory’s first two games away to Adelaide United and Wellington Phoenix.

But matches against Korea (September 5), Netherlands (October 10), Oman (October 14 and November 14), Kuwait (January 6, 2010) and Indonesia (March 3) could cause headaches for Mitchell. The Glory coach has flagged requesting the postponement of some matches if key players are called up.

JONATHAN COOK

Australian soccer's bully boys look to regain swagger

PERTH Glory, the former bully boys of the old National Soccer League, may finally be getting their swagger back.

Four years after the A-League creation flourished around the country, but went backwards in Perth, Glory owner Tony Sage's money and vision and deputy chairman Lui Giuliani's business acumen has proved a winning combination.

Their recruiting raid that netted three Socceroos probably surpassed the expectations of even the most optimistic fan.

While proof can only come on the pitch, there is a growing feeling that the A-League's problem child is regaining the strut it had when it dominated the dying days of the NSL.

The A-League's salary-cap structure makes dominance by any team for an extended period difficult.

And Glory's winter spending spree has prompted queries about how Perth has managed to fit its bolstered squad under the cap.

While Glory's on-field additions have received most attention, the additional resources pumped into off-field areas may prove equally as important.

Strength and conditioning coach Peter Cklamovski, physiotherapist Chris Hutchinson, team manager Ante Kovacevic and goalkeeping coach Frank Juric are in new full-time roles.

An increased travel budget means Glory will fly two days ahead of matches rather than one, and the team plans to stay on the road between consecutive away fixtures several times.

Glory's only away win last season - 4-1 over Sydney FC when John Aloisi went into meltdown - came after the squad spent the week in Sydney.

However, Football Federation Australia has done the WA outfit no favours, and the club is rightly annoyed.

Glory has received 13 home games and 14 away when the split was due to be in its favour this season.

Its first two games are road trips, to Adelaide on Friday night and then Wellington the next Sunday.

When Glory unveils its star signings in front of a home crowd in Round 3, it clashes with an AFL fixture at Subiaco Oval.

In an even more idiotic piece of fixturing, the next Friday night Glory hosts Melbourne Victory at the same time as Ben Cousins' first match against West Coast at Subiaco.

Despite the travel, Adelaide, Wellington and Newcastle is as good an early-season draw as you could hope for and early points are a must.

Glory's weakest link last season was a defence that conceded a league-high 44 goals.

There is a whole new look about the back four this season and new additions Chris Coyne and Andy Todd will form David Mitchell's preferred central pairing at the back.

If both can stay fit, they could forge a reputation as the class defensive double-act of the competition.