Smiths robotic coaches....good luckQuote:
Originally Posted by Pico
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Smiths robotic coaches....good luckQuote:
Originally Posted by Pico
Bridges getting some love from Dillon, scandal eruption in 3...2...1...Quote:
Comeback may be a bridge too far
By COMMENT by ROBERT DILLON
Dec. 28, 2012, 10:30 p.m.
http://cdn.fairfaxregional.com.au/pr...2185972519.jpg
CLASS: Michael Bridges, left.
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MICHAEL Bridges has fought back from adversity so many times that by now it must be second nature to roll with the punches.
After bursting on the scene as a teenager with his home-town club, Sunderland, the lanky striker was regarded as one of the brightest young prospects in the English game, only for injuries to ruin what should have been the best years of his career.
Each time he dusted himself off and resumed, often in a new locale, his love for the game apparently undiminished. A lesser man might have conceded it was just not meant to be.
Now Bridges finds himself at what could well prove to be his last problematic juncture as a professional footballer.
This time his obstacle is not injury but lack of opportunity.
When Jets coach Gary van Egmond announced his 17-man touring party for the road trip to Melbourne, there was news for Bridges that has become all too familiar - his services were not required.
This season the 34-year-old has played only 45 minutes off the bench in five games, in stints of 12, seven, five, eight and 13 minutes. On one occasion he sat on the bench for the whole game as an unused sub.
For an impatient rookie, such treatment would be disappointing. For a veteran hoping - but fast running out of time - to leave a lasting impression in his twilight years, it must be heart-breaking. He no doubt believes he still has something to offer, and plenty of good judges feel the same.
Before a ball was kicked in this campaign, he said there were still a few miles left in his often-repaired pins.
"I've always been fit as a fiddle, but I'm in as good a shape as I ever have been," he said at the time. "When I came back from England for pre-season I went straight into the Cooper Test [to measure endurance] and this 34-year-old beat all the young boys."
Even in his cameo stints, in games that have usually been won or lost before he sets foot on the pitch, his creativity and class have been obvious.
But it seems whatever role van Egmond had planned for Bridges was scrapped after the Jets signed Emile Heskey, a former England junior teammate.
Van Egmond clearly likes to surround Heskey with the likes of Ryan Griffiths, James Brown, Adam Taggart, James Virgili and Craig Goodwin.
The question of whether Heskey and Bridges could operate effectively in tandem is hard to answer, simply because they have hardly been sighted together.
Only twice have they been on the same pitch in Newcastle's colours: eight minutes against Wellington in round seven, and 13 minutes against Central Coast in round 10. Both times the Jets were 2-0 down and chasing the game.
Unless van Egmond is saving Bridges for the business end of the season, it would appear his best chance of meaningful playing time is if Heskey is injured, or rested.
This is not to stay that the coach is wasting a potentially valuable resource.
Van Egmond wants his team to play a certain way and perhaps one veteran up front is all he can tolerate.
Right or wrong, he deserves respect for reminding us yet again that he pays little heed to reputations when picking his team. It is not a popularity contest.
By the same token, Bridges has handled this situation like the senior professional he is.
While he tweeted this week that he was "gutted" about his non-selection and heading out to the golf course to "take some frustration out on the balls", Bridges has never once shown signs of spitting the dummy.
Unlike Robbie Fowler, who once petulantly refused to play for North Queensland after being named on the bench, Bridges obviously subscribes to the mantra that no individual is bigger than the team.
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And unlike Kasey Wehrman, ostracised last season for indiscreet comments about van Egmond's tactics, Bridges has been wise enough not to challenge the boss's authority.
What Bridges no doubt desires more than anything is a chance to contribute to the team. A decent chance to show whether he's still got it.
He came out of a brief retirement 18 months ago because he felt he had unfinished business.
It would be a shame if that was still the case when the full-time whistle eventually blows.
http://www.theherald.com.au/story/12...oo-far/?cs=306
I don't normally agree with Dillon but on this, seems very fitting to me.Quote:
SPORTING DECLARATION: Time to take a stand
By ROBERT DILLON
Dec. 28, 2012, 10:30 p.m.
http://cdn.fairfaxregional.com.au/pr...4a32a33e76.jpg
Craig Johnston paved the way for other Australian players in the top English league.
IT struck Sporting Declaration as I made my way out of Hunter Stadium last week after the Newcastle Jets’ 2-1 win against Sydney FC.
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It is about time that western grandstand, which has been open for 18 months, was given a name.
What jogged my usually sieve-like memory was the talismanic appearance of Craig Johnston in Newcastle’s dressing room before kick-off.
Johnston spoke to the Jets for about 15 minutes and in the words of club chairman Ray Baartz: ‘‘You could have heard a pin drop in there.
‘‘The players were in awe of him.’’
That is hardly surprising, given the magnitude of Johnston’s achievements.
Johnston never played for the Socceroos but nonetheless rates as Australia’s finest footballer of the modern era, if not of all time.
During eight seasons with Liverpool, he played in 190 first-team games and won five first-division championships, two League Cups, the European Cup and scored a famous goal in the 3-1 FA Cup final triumph against Everton in 1986.
No Australian player has been more decorated.
Nobody was a more inspiring role model for young Aussie kids who dreamed of one day playing at the highest level.
Remember that during Johnston’s halcyon days, he was the only Australian playing in England’s top league.
He was the trailblazing pioneer who proved it could be done.
The hero who gave the likes of Mark Bosnich, Harry Kewell, Mark Viduka and Tim Cahill a pathway they could follow.
And of course, he is one of our own.
A proud, parochial Novocastrian who grew up in Lake Macquarie before flying to England as a teenager to try his luck with the Middlesbrough youth team.
Johnston could easily have come home after a couple of weeks, such was the culture shock.
At one point Middlesbrough manager Jack Charlton told him: ‘‘As for you, you kangaroo, you can f - - - off right now. You’re the worst player I’ve seen in my life.’’
But through sheer hard work and determination Johnston became a first-team regular at Boro, before transferring to Liverpool, who at the time were the most dominant and glamorous club in England.
Johnston often joked that he was ‘‘the worst player in the world’s best team’’ but in 2006 a poll of 110,000 Liverpool fans voted him No.59 on a list of the club’s all-time top 100.
And the midfield workhorse never forgot where he came from.
As he told this columnist in an interview two years ago, being able to play for Newcastle KB United in his younger days was as big a thrill as any of his achievements at Anfield.
‘‘To me, that was as important as winning championships or the FA Cup or the European Cup,’’ Johnston said of his spell with his home town club.
‘‘I played for Liverpool but I am not from Liverpool – there is a big difference.
‘‘To be able to come back from England and represent Newcastle, my home town, and play alongside people like Joe Senkalski and [Col] ‘‘Bunny’’ Curran, who I idolised, in front of 15,000 or 20,000 at the old International Sports Centre, as it was known back then, was a very humbling and personal experience ...
‘‘Of all the things I was lucky enough to achieve, in my lifetime, playing for KB was definitely up there in the top five.’’
There could be no more fitting accolade than for this home-grown sporting legend to have the Craig Johnston Stand named in his honour.
The state government wasted no time in christening the Andrew Johns Stand after the rugby league immortal was forced to retire in 2007.
The process was fast-tracked in a matter of days.
Johnston lives in the United States these days but has been back in town for more than a month now, since his father, Colin, passed away.
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I understand he has not yet returned to the US, so if the powers-that-be are quick, they might be able to catch him and bestow upon him an honour that is long overdue.
Newcastle’s home game against Adelaide on January 5 would be the ideal opportunity.
The Craig Johnston Stand. It’s the least we can do.
http://www.theherald.com.au/story/12...-stand/?cs=306
I've heard a rumour from someone previously connected to the club about why Bridges isn't playing, the article doesn't touch on it. If its true, its not injury holding him back. I can't validate the rumour, so I won't stick it up, but it is very interesting if true.
I firmly believe that Bridges has a lot to offer the team, as does Ribeiro. If the team consistently played as they did last night, sure it would be hard to slot them in, but the team isn't consistently playing like they did last night.
just say it
Honestly, we have Heskey, Taggart and probably R Griff ahead of him in that position. I don't see what the controversy is.Quote:
Originally Posted by sammydog
How can anyone even consider naming a stand after Craig Johnston ? He doesn't even use recreational drugs.
As I said, if the team was playing like it did last night, I don't know where you would slot bridges in. But the fact is, we haven't been playing like we did last night.Quote:
Originally Posted by militiamon
So who would you drop to make room for Bridges to start?
Heskey?
Griff?
And you don't think Taggart should be given the chance before him?
Genuine questions, not having a go, I'm just curious because there's a lot of people like you who keep saying he should be brought in, but I'm not seeing how or where.
Forget Heskey, Griff and Taggart. Bridgey is not even up to Bradbury's level these days.
He was a great player but the game has come a long way and he's been left behind.
Truth be told, Taggart hasn't really impressed me yet. Yes he scored against Taipei, but so what? He hasn't done anything yet at HAL level to impress me. Would love to see Bridgey on the bench.Quote:
Originally Posted by militiamon
Ive been impressed with him so farQuote:
Originally Posted by Thomas477
set up virgilli with what should have been a goal. gotto remember he has only really been given 10 minutes a game to do something and in his regular spot.
would love him to be given a shot as striker alongside heskey
Rogic 3 match ban
I'm not sure with Bridges, would like to see him given more game time just to see if he can make a difference but then I cast my mind back to last season where he was used as a "super-sub" for much of the season...coming on with 20-30 to go when we needed a goal. Was he effective? To be honest I thought that he had some good touches and neat passes but when you compare him to what Petrovski done in his role as a "super-sub" under Branko, Bridges lets face, was largely in-effective last season.
Was Bridgey signed just in case we need a " Super Prepper " ?
He could go alright at the back. At least he'd know where to run/walk.Quote:
Originally Posted by sammydog
Bridges has more ability in his little toe than half the Jets in the first team - fact.
His little toe must be broken thenQuote:
Originally Posted by Jetmaster
No doubting that technically and ability-wise he is probably second to none but his supporters are forgetting his "end product"...i.e his actual effectiveness, does he score goals, create goals, cause a real nuisance for defences. On last years performances, more no than yes.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jetmaster
You are forgetting that last year we didn't have the cattle to support and this year we have guys with good engines. You cannot tell what he is like in 45 mins all season. It's just another kasey of GVE not wanting to experiment or adapt to the change in personnel we have.Quote:
Originally Posted by stopper2