Brazilian gives Jets ‘point of difference’
BY JAMES GARDINER
14 Aug, 2012 04:00 AM
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TALENTED: Brazilian Bernardo Ribeiro trains with the Jets at Weston yesterday. Picture: Peter Stoop
GARY van Egmond does not expect to see the best of Brazilian Bernardo Ribeiro just yet, but the Jets coach has no doubts the pint-sized midfielder will provide ‘‘a point of difference’’ that only the elite few in the A-League possess.
Ribeiro arrived in Newcastle on Wednesday and will make his debut for the Jets off the bench against Rockdale at Ilinden Park tonight.
The Jets trained at Weston yesterday due to the wet grounds in Newcastle.
‘‘We don’t have what I would call people who have a real point of difference,’’ van Egmond said.
‘‘That is not just from a Newcastle point of view, that is an Australian point of view.
‘‘We don’t have those technically gifted players who can do something a little out of the norm.
‘‘Bernardo has that. Technically he is very good and his touch is very good.
‘‘We tend not to have too many of those players coming through the system with the Australian set-up.’’
Only 22, Ribeiro has travelled an interesting path to the A-League.
Born in Friburgo, he was spotted as a nine-year-old by Flamengo and spent a decade at the Brazilian powerhouse. He made his senior debut for the club in 2008 and scored four goals in 29 appearances before he left in 2010.
He joined Serie A club Catania but reportedly encountered work permit problems despite holding an Italian passport, which was the catalyst for a move to Albanian champions Skënderbeu.
Given his pedigree – he played four games in 2009 for the Brazilian under-23 side – the A-League would seem an unlikely destination at this point in his career.
‘‘We have done our due diligence and had a good look at him,’’ van Egmond said.
‘‘I think he had some issue with teams that he was with in Italy. He was trying to get visas and work permits to play there. It didn’t necessarily work out. He had a spell in Albania and again the coach changed, which didn’t work out for him.
‘‘Australia has become pretty popular for overseas players. It is also a gateway into Asia, especially China and Japan. The fact he was so ambitious and keen to come to Newcastle was an overriding factor.’’
Ribeiro is expected to play in a more advanced midfield role in van Egmond’s preferred 4-1-2-3 formation.
‘‘He can provide goals but he can also score,’’ the coach said. ‘‘That was also part of it, that he sees the killer ball.
‘‘Pace was also a factor. It will be nice to have someone in middle of park who can go past people.’’
Ribeiro will have a short stint off the bench tonight at Rockdale before being unveiled to the Newcastle public on Saturday against Wellington at Weston.
‘‘We will ease him into it,’’ van Egmond said. ‘‘The pace of the game might be out of it in the second half and he will get a few minutes.
‘‘He will definitely get more game time on Saturday.
‘‘It is going to take a little bit of time for him but his physical state is good.
‘‘It is more so that he needs games under his belt and more training sessions within the group, but the early signs are promising.’’
Ribeiro’s arrival leaves a proven striker as the only place to fill on the Jets roster.
The marquee position remains open, but van Egmond said if they go for a player outside the cap it is unlikely to be a ‘‘big name’’.
‘‘It doesn’t necessarily have to be a player that’s going to cost you a million dollars,’’ he said.
“Some players that we’ve been offered have been very, very high-profile players, but I suspect that they might not be at the peak of their career and you might not get exactly what you want.
“We’ve still got quite a bit of time. The first game isn’t until October 7.’’
Tonight’s hit-out against the Mark Rudan-coached Rockdale will be a chance for the fringe players.
Tiago, Josh Mitchell and Ryan Griffiths will be among those rested. Swiss defender Dominik Ritter (quadriceps) and Josh Brillante (hip flexor) were not considered.
● Fledgling A-League club Western Sydney signed their first international recruits on Monday – two Croatians at opposite ends of their careers.
Striker Dino Kresinger, 30 and with 11 seasons in Croatia to his name, and 22-year-old midfielder Mateo Poljak have joined the Wanderers.
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