Hey I have 64 free tickets to give away for the boxing day clash versus Newcastle. Any supporters who know of ones who want tickets I will be at the South West gate (gate 3) at about 1.00 (1 hour before the youth league kickoff) giving away the tickets. I will be in my black Adelaide United jersey. You won't miss me!

Aspiring title-contenders Perth Glory welcome a side with rather more modest goals in mind at the moment in the Brisbane Roar to Members Equity Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Dave Mitchell’s men have one win from six matches though and have been frustratingly inconsistent, unable to bring the best out of a host of high quality acquisitions on a regular basis.

Too often have the contributions of the likes of Mile Sterjovski, Andy Todd and Branko Jelic been made in separate bursts rather than concerted team efforts, though when the trio have clicked within the wider frame of a team unit the Glory have looked like potential champions.

One would imagine it to be a difficult task for Mitchell to burden the expectation brought about by such high profile arrivals and for the most part he has done an admirable job trying to gel a side largely put together during the off-season, Perth sitting in fifth.

But it is against opposition like a vulnerable Brisbane that the Glory must show a clinical edge and cement their finals place, Ange Postecoglou’s side and club in something of disarray despite an unconvincing 4-1 win over the Wellington Phoenix last round.

The sudden departure of veteran Charlie Miller from the club in midweek is a sign of the transition phase that they are in under the man who recently worked as a television pundit, though whether his rebuilding will disrupt what appears to be a tight knit dressing room remains to be seen.

FORM GUIDE

Perth Glory

Oct 24. North Queensland Fury 2-1 Perth Glory
Nov 1. Perth Glory 1-2 Melbourne Victory
Nov 8. Wellington Phoenix 1-1 Perth Glory
Nov 22. Perth Glory 2-0 Sydney FC
Nov 27. Central Coast Mariners 0-0 Perth Glory

Brisbane Roar

Oct 25. Sydney FC 2-1 Brisbane Roar
Oct 30. Brisbane Roar 1-1 Newcastle Jets
Nov 6. Adelaide United 0-2 Brisbane Roar
Nov 21. Brisbane Roar 0-1 Melbourne Victory
Nov 29. Brisbane Roar 4-1 Wellington Phoenix

TEAM NEWS

Perth Glory

In: Andrija Jukic (promoted)

Out: Nil

Unavailable: Scott Bulloch (thigh – 1 week), Brent Griffiths (hamstring – 1 week), Anthony Skorich (foot – 5 weeks)

Possible Starting XI: (4-4-2) Velaphi, Coyne, Todd, Coyne, Sekulovski, Pellegrino, Shroj, Burns, Sikora, Sterjovski, Jelic

Brisbane Roar

In: Bob Malcolm (promoted), Massimo Murdocca (promoted), Michael Zullo (promoted), Henrique (returns from suspension)

Out: Matt McKay (Hamstring injury)

Unavailable: Nil

Possible Starting XI: (4-3-3) McMaster, Packer, Devere, Moore, McCloughan, Tiatto, Oar, Murdocca, Henrique, Van Dijk, Reinaldo

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Perth Glory (Victor Sikora)

Combines a high work rate with technical skill and it’s a potent mix for the Dutchman, who has the ability to supply his teammates with the highest quality delivery. Is so often a creative force for the Glory, even from deeper positions. Has a football brain and drifts into dangerous areas.

Tommy Oar (Brisbane Roar)

Ripped apart the Wellington Phoenix last round and has the pace and willingness to shoot from range that will trouble defenders in this league across 90 minutes. At 17 years old has bundles of energy and enormous potential and has thrived in his surroundings at Brisbane.

PREDICTION

Perth will build on their recent displays of solidity and record another home win against an embattled and distracted Roar outfit.

Perth Glory 2-0 Brisbane Roar

PERTH Glory's Serbian striker Branko Jelic found himself on the outer at training on Saturday when Australia drew his homeland for the World Cup.

Ironically, Jelic is due to apply to become an Australian citizen this week.

However the Cup draw set the scene for some gentle ribbing from Glory's potential Socceroos squad members.

The 32-year-old said his heart would be with Serbia in the clash with the Socceroos that could decide Group D, but he couldn't pick a winner.

Jelic said the group, which also contains Germany and Ghana, was so difficult that everyone was capable of beating everyone.

Jelic, Glory's leading goalscorer this season with five, predicted goal difference would decide the group.

"I think every goal will be important, not every point, every goal will decide who goes through," the former German Bundesliga player said.

"Everything is possible in this group. The strongest quality of Germany is their mentality, because they fight to the last second, but I'm not sure they will finish on top."

Serbia finished without a point at the bottom of its group with Holland, Argentina and Ivory Coast four years ago, when competing as Serbia and Montenegro. The two became separate nations in 2006.

*major bump*

I started reading from page one and gave up after about page 15. :lol:

PERTH Glory is in the market for legends, with the club confirmed to meet Liverpool great Robbie Fowler and labelling Australian icon Mark Viduka a wanted man.

Glory owner Tony Sage earlier in the week told Perth radio station 6PR that Glory was holding off approaching Fowler until the club had confirmed he was out of contract with North Queensland Fury, with the threat of Football Federation Australia's strict anti-poaching regulations hanging over any talks.

But PerthNow was informed today the club was preparing to make its move and confirmed Sage would hold discussions with Fowler, who in the 2009/10 competition scored 11 goals from 25 games in Fury's debut season.

Fowler is currently in England attending coaching courses.

The approach follows a meeting between Glory coach Dave Mitchell and former North Queensland counterpart Ian Ferguson, who this week joined Glory as Mitchell's assistant.

Discussions with Ferguson and a recent report that two-times A-League champion Sydney FC was prepared to pounce on Fowler, confirmed the Fury marquee player had become available.

It is believed North Queensland surrendered Fowler after the languishing club, which had to be rescued by a financial intervention from the FFA, could no longer meet Fowlers suspected wage of about $750,000 a season.

Glory also confirmed the club would welcome former Socceroos captain Viduka with open arms and was willing to make the international veteran an offer.

The confirmation comes after Sage touted Perth as a perfect fit for Viduka who would not have to worry about being hounded by media or public in the western city.

The unlisted Viduka is yet to decide if he will play on or end his career but has reportedly expressed interest in joining a Melbourne A-League side.

Glory believed it had a chance of luring the forward after good friend and Perth captain Jacob Burns said the Melbourne-born player was considering his options.

I didn't even know this existed LOL

Come on glory get a win today and keep us in the 6 :)

Thoughts on Billy Mehmet and what it means for our squad?

Will we be rolling a 3-4-3?

Doubtful. Fergie's plan was to go the 4-2-3-1, which is what we've been training with all year. But since Mehmet's arrived on the scene (possibly because Ferguson saw we couldnt seem to score with just 1 striker) we have also dabbled in a diamond 4-4-2.


My gut feel is the latter is what we will use when Mehmet plays.

As long as players can switch systems it will be fine.

But I think the average A-league player will just get confused and it will end up being a dog's breakfast.

Doesn't help if you can't understand what the coaches are saying to you ;)

Billy's shot at Glory
Friday, 23 September 2011
by Paul Barbieri, Sportal

It may be something of a long shot calling Perth Glory's Billy Mehmet an 'old warrior' at the ripe old age of 27, but the former Scottish Premier League striker has been signed by a football club since the age of eight, so he seems a perfect candidate to open our Old Warrior series featuring veterans in the Hyundai A-League.

Mehmet may have only just arrived in Western Australia as the very latest addition to Ian Ferguson's squad, but the forward has enjoyed a long and successful career from the time he pulled on the boots as a child for West Ham to making a name for himself as a dangerous striker with Dunfermline Athletic and St Mirren in the SPL.

Born in London, Mehmet's background is Irish, Turkish Cypriot and English and he's represented the Republic of Ireland at Under-21 level.

But after a frustrating last few years in Turkey with Genclerbirligi - where he met Glory team-mate Shane Smeltz - and Samsunspor, Mehmet is hoping to find some consistency in his football with a Perth Glory side determined to atone for last season's disappointments.

"I was obviously playing with Shane Smeltz in Turkey and at the end of last season I left Turkey because out there, the way the football was and the way the club's treat foreigners and that, it was just something I wanted to get out of," Mehmet explained.

"Obviously it was good for money and it was good financially but for playing ways it wasn't exactly what I wanted."

"At the end of the season I wanted to cancel my contract but the club took an extra month to get it sorted, so after that I got in touch with Smeltzy and I said to Smeltzy, I wanted to try overseas and I wanted to try Australia and give it a crack."

"I then went to Wellington Phoenix for a week but when I went there, I sort of got injured and I played in a formation which ... was a 4-5-1 and it was like me dropping onto their deepest midfielder, which doesn't really suit my style of play."

"After that, Ian Ferguson got in touch with me and he wanted me to come down to Perth Glory to just sign straight away, so it was a little bit confusing but obviously I'm just happy it's all sorted now and I'm looking forward to it."

With Ferguson completely overhauling Perth's squad during his first pre-season in charge of the team, Mehmet is one of a number of new arrivals.

Although it's sometimes difficult coming into an established team and making a mark, Mehmet believes the fact Perth have so many newcomers has meant everyone is in the same boat, getting used to a new coach, new system and new city.

"I'm enjoying it and the boys are brand new and everyone's been so welcoming so it's made it easier," he said.

"Obviously we've all got to be on the same sort of wavelength, we know what we've got to do and obviously it's a new start for all of us, so hopefully we can do better than the team did last year."

"But I love everything about Australia, I love it so far and I have a one-year deal and I'm just going to work hard and hopefully prove that I'm worthy of a new contract when it comes to the time. But at the moment, I'm just concentrating on trying to get a start and trying to get into the team."

And, those trivia buffs out there wanting to know who the youngest person is to score a first-team goal for West Ham can look no further, for it's Mehmet himself who scored as a 14-year-old for the Hammers.

Mehmet actually spent 11 years with the East London club and was captain of their academy before transferring to Dunfermline at 19 in 2003. Although he started at a very young age, Mehmet felt it helped him become the person he is today.

"When I first joined West Ham, when I went into training, you obviously learn a little bit earlier than what you might in other countries. There's extra things they make you do when you go home and they keep a good eye on you. They come in and they always test you and stuff to make sure you're at the level they want you to be at. Obviously what age you're at determines what level you're at, so they don't push you too hard, but they want you to get to a certain level as quick as you can."

"You have to grow up quicker. Obviously most boys' dream in England is to be a footballer and when you get a chance at a young age you've just got to take it. There's times when your pals are going out and they're having a drink and doing whatever and you've got to sacrifice that and have an early night 'cause you've got your football match the next day."

"But at the end of the day, if you do all that and you give yourself the best opportunity then, you get a head start in life. Then, when you go home and see your friends and you've got a football (career) and they're maybe not doing anything, it just goes to show it was worth it."

How good does our away kit look? Too bad the same can't be said for our home kit :/

I like both of them, but the away kit is sick...