Tuesday, August 4, 2009
A-League Season 5 - Perth Glory, It Begins

The Perth Glory have made some of the best signings so far, ranging from current Socceroos to players from the top leagues of Germany and England.

Coach David Mitchell likes to whinge and moan about long flights and how expensive Perth is to live in, and likes to kick water bottles on the pitch.

However, I believe Perth has made the right choice in keeping Mitchell as he is striving to re-build Perth Glory to something like what they were before in the old NSL.

PLAYERS TO WATCH
Socceroos Mile Sterjovski (Derby) and Jacob Burns (FC Unirea Urziceni) are both full of experience at club and international level.

Serbian striker Branko Jelic (Energie Cottbus), at 32 yearS old, is nearing the veteran stage. Performances on the field is what counts and the striker has experience in Asia and Europe.

Ex -Derby defender Andy Todd will add bite to a defence that has needed it. Dutchman and former Ajax man Victor Sikora came late in the season. He will be one to watch as well.

A Football Story Prediction
Should make the finals this season after missing out every time since season one. Mile Sterjovski to be quoted numerous times throughout the season that the A-League and Championship are the same level if not better.

FAN CULTURE
During the old NSL, the shed led the way in chanting, singing and fan culture. The A-League has seen the Shed not as animated, as results have been poor. Hopefully this season will see the Shed in full voice again.

Key Signing: Mile Strejovksi is a returning Socceroos under 30 with a World Cup position at stake, watch him go!


Key Player: Tony Sage is the key player here, the Perth Glory owner managed to convince three current Socceroos and two overseas players in Branko Jelic (Germany) and Andy Todd (England) to live in Perth.

Something interesting: Only club from the old NSL

Coach Quote: “No, I’m not Scottish!”

Fact: The Glory travel the longest distance to play a football game in world football when they fly over the ditch to play Wellington.

Thought: Arguably boast one of the best line ups in the A-League can they make the finals and relive past glories(pun intended)?

Current Squad: Scott BULLOCH, Jacob BURNS, Chris COYNE, Jamie COYNE, Eugene DADI, Jimmy DOWNEY, Howard FONDYKE, Brent GRIFFITHS, Jamie HARNWELL, Branko JELIC, Andrija JUKIC, Scott NEVILLE, Adriano PELLEGRINO, Naum SEKULOVSKI, Victor SIKORA, Anthony SKORICH, Wayne SRHOJ, Mile STERJOVSKI, Andrew TODD, Tando VELAPHI (gk) and Aleks VRTESKI (gk).

Re-signed: Eugene Dadi (1 year), Adriano Pellegrino (2 years), Naum Sekulovski (2 years), Victor Sikora (1 year), Scott Bulloch (1 year), Tando Velaphi (2 years), Wayne Srhoj (1 year).

In: Jacob Burns (FC Unirea Urziceni, Romania – 3 years), Chris Coyne (Colchester United, England - 3 years), Howard Fondyke (Perth Glory NYL - 2 years), Brent Griffiths (Perth Glory NYL – 2 years), Branko Jelic (Energie Cottbus, Germany – 3 years), Andrija Jukic (Perth Glory NYL - 2 years), Scott Neville (Perth Glory NYL - 3 years), Anthony Skorich (Perth Glory NYL – 2 years) , Mile Sterjovski (Derby County, England - ), Andy Todd (Derby County, England – 1 year), Aleks Vrteski (FK Pobeda – 2 years).

Out: Jason Petkovic (retired), Nikolai Topor-Stanley (Newcastle Jets), David Tarka (released), Dino Djulbic (Rot Weiss Ahlen, Germany), Nick Rizzo (released), James Robinson (North Queensland Fury), Adrian Trinidad (released), Amaral (released), Josip Magdic (released), Nikita Rukavytsya (FC Twente, Netherlands), Hayden Doyle (Perth Glory NYL),
Hayden Foxe (released), Mark Lee (released)

Media:

Official
http://www.perthglory.com.au/
Fan Forums
http://gloryboys.net/

Fan Blogs
http://footballperth.blogspot.com/

Radio:
6PR will be broadcasting home and away games for season 5. The early part of the A-league season clashes with the AFL finals so check the website or the radio station to confirm what games are on.

Fit Todd itching to go for Glory
6th August 2009, 11:30 WST
A successful first season in the A-League could convince former English Premier League defender Andy Todd to seek an extension to his one-year Perth Glory deal.
The 34-year-old, who has shaken off a back complaint to declare himself fit for the season opener away to Adelaide United tomorrow night, told The West Australian he wished he had considered a move to Australia earlier in his career.

Todd, whose resume includes stints at Middlesbrough, Bolton Wanderers, Blackburn Rovers and Charlton Athletic, and his family have settled quickly in Perth.

“I just said to one of the boys, I should’ve come out here a bit earlier because I’m enjoying it that much,” Todd said.

“Obviously, depending on how I do and if the club likes me, I’d like to think I could stay for another year after this one.

“The players have impressed me. They’ve got a great attitude and the thing that has impressed me most is we all try to play in the correct manner, which is very pleasing.”

The no-nonsense defender said his back problem was improving every day and he expected to be fighting fit for tomorrow’s clash at Hindmarsh Stadium.

“It’s the worst thing when you come to a new club and get a little niggle, but it’s part and parcel of football. You’re going to get that and you have to deal with it,” Todd said.

A competitive and combative centre-half, who will line up alongside the equally uncompromising Socceroos defender Chris Coyne, was desperate to play his first game.

“You can’t beat that feeling of being on the way to the first game of the season, getting out for a warm-up and then starting the season,” he said.

“You want to get out there and play and get a result so that you can hopefully keep your place. And if we get a decent result on Friday, it gives us a bit of confidence (for the season).”

Jamie Harnwell (hamstring), Wayne Srhoj (hamstring) Scott Bulloch (Achilles), Jimmy Downey (knee) and Anthony Skorich (hip) have all been ruled out of tomorrow’s match, forcing coach Dave Mitchell to mull over his options.

The club confirmed yesterday that Downey faced six weeks on the sidelines after aggravating an old injury.

Mitchell is hoping Scott Neville will overcome a minor foot injury to take his place at right back.

Neville trained yesterday before travelling with the team to Adelaide.

Meanwhile, Glory’s November 22 match against Sydney FC will be moved from Subiaco Oval to ME Bank Stadium, formerly Members Equity Stadium.

The match had been scheduled for Subiaco Oval because ME Bank Stadium was likely to be unavailable.

Glory have since learnt the ground can be used.

Adelaide United will officially unveil key defensive signing Mark Rudan today as the hard man so urgently needed since the loss of Sasa Ognenovski to Asia.

Rudan captained Sydney FC to the inaugural A-League championship in 2006 before playing in Japan and Lichtenstein.

The 33-year-old will resume a defensive partnership with fellow former Sydney stopper Iain Fyfe in the heart of the Adelaide defence.

Glory squad for tomorrow: Tando Velaphi, Scott Neville, Andy Todd, Chris Coyne, Naum Sekulovski, Jamie Coyne, Jacob Burns, Victor Sikora, Adriano Pellegrino, Eugene Dadi, Mile Sterjovski, Todd Howarth, Branko Jelic, Howard Fondyke, Andrija Jukic, Aleks Vrteski.

JONATHAN COOK

The more things change the more they stay the same.

As a glory fan, it was deja vu for me last night. You know what I mean.
- the long ball, can't string more than 2 passes together.
- Game decided on penalty
- Losing first game to Adelaide U
- Losing key player to injury on first game.
- Everyone was not comfortable on the ball.
- Feel like throwing my new IQ controller at the TV.

Mitch knew Adelaide will play 4/5/1 and close down the midfield. You would think they would be prepared for that.
Dadi was horible, first touch was bad and can't hold the ball at all. I don't remember him to be this bad last year.
Neville was good going forward but it always ends in a dead end.
Naum was a joke
Sterj wasn't in the game. No service from anyone.

On the plus side, Jelic looks really good. We really should start him with Sterj. I really hope they win the next game. We can't afford another slow start.

I laugh at the Adelaide supporters who reckon the Glory boys in Adelaide didn't make any noise at all

We were louder and outchanted their homeend FFS...

Thats good to hear.
but jesus this penalty really does beg a question doesn't it?
we had around 4 or 5 ridiculous penalty descisions last year.
does it really need to continue through this year as well?

Well I couldn't hear their home end from where we were but on TV they sounded much louder - mainly because they had a mic in front of their home-end. There was no mic behind the goals on our end.... Anyway by the second half we were quiet mainly because of the score and some of the louder shed boys going missing...

Stop, just stop. You're making yourself and the rest of us Glory fans look like idiots by complaining about the decision.

Maybe it was a penalty, maybe it wasn't- but it's a moot point because the first penalty shout in about the second or third minute was a penalty...

If the ref let us off both times there would have been a riot; and justifiably so.

So i'm sure we've all seen the article in the west now.
Amaral back on a guest move.
i think its good personally.
He was always a class above when he played.
he just needs to stay injury free.

I haven't heard of that. What's your source?

That would be the west ie The West Australian newspaper.

Amaral would be a plus, the more techincally gifted players the better. Great at receiving/playing the ball on the deck and thus provides another outlet for defense, particularly Todd who always looks for the midfield unlike the other 3. Unfortunately for him, JCoyne would give it away half the time and Burns was always quickly shut down.

With Pelle and Sikora struggling early to beat their man, we need an extra midfielder who can dribble and keep the ball moving quickly to cut through the defensive teams.

Just hope he can stay fit

Here's a video I found the other day!! :D

[youtube]8GM2s_FJqRA[/youtube]