Tarek determined to push aside emotion
FORMER fan favourite Tarek Elrich is determined to block out the emotion of his first trip back to Newcastle and concentrate on helping new club Western Sydney Wanderers get a result over the Jets in a friendly at Wanderers Oval, Broadmeadow, on Saturday.
Elrich, the Jets' most capped player with 134 games, was shown the door in acrimonious circumstances at the end of last season.
The 2007-08 championship winner was told of his release via text message just before the news was circulated on email to the media and club members.
"I played in Newcastle for seven years, so it is going to be a bit different," he said.
"I'm going to put that aside and not let the occasion get the better of me.
"We want to play a certain style. There is no way I am going to go out on my own and do something different just because it's against Newcastle.
"You don't want the emotion to get the better of you."
Elrich, 25, was one of six former Jets alongside Nikolai Topor-Stanley, Labinot Haliti and fellow title winners Adam D'Apuzzo, Ante Covic and Mark Bridge snapped up by the start-up franchise.
"It's been great," Elrich said.
"[Coach] Tony Popovic let us know exactly what he expected from day one.
"It wasn't like going to a new place where you are the new one coming in.
"Everyone coming in was new. That made it easier than going to another established club.
"Players didn't come here as a last resort.
"They left their clubs because they wanted to play for this team."
Elrich was used in a wide attacking role in the latter stage of his career in Newcastle but under Popovic has returned to his more accustomed position in defence.
"I have been playing at right back, but Poppa has given me the licence to attack," Elrich said.
"If play breaks down, he wants other boys to cover rather than me sprinting back 100 metres.
"We are playing a 4-3-3 similar to the Jets.
"But we defend in one style and attack in a different style."
Elrich is expected to be joined in the starting side on Saturday by Covic (goalkeeper), Topor-Stanley (centre back), D'Apuzzo (left back), Bridge (striker) and Haliti (striker).
"They are in the best shape I have seen them in and have never been as hungry," Elrich said of his teammates.
"The Jets started pre-season six weeks before we did, but the training down here is the toughest pre-season I have done."
Wanderers completed their overseas player quota yesterday with confirmation Italian defender Iacopo La Rocca and Dutch midfielder Youssouf Hersi had agreed to terms.
The Jets still have one visa place to fill.
Talks with an Italian striker broke down last week and they have now turned their attention to a Brazilian front man.
The Herald understands that 2007-08 golden boot winner Joel Griffiths is also back in the frame.
Griffiths, 33, is off contract at Chinese Super League team Shanghai Shenhua and, although he could earn more in China or the Middle East, he is open to a return to Newcastle.
Coach Gary van Egmond is believed to be in favour of getting Griffiths back but has not convinced management.
There was also speculation yesterday that the exposure Sydney FC had garnered with the recruitment of Italian superstar Alessando Del Piero had given Jets management cause to look again at signing a big-name marquee player.
The transfer window for most European countries closed on August 31, meaning the Jets can sign only players who are out of contract and unlikely to have played since May.
Saturday's trial kicks off at 2pm and is open only to Jets and Wanderers members.
Originally Posted by Blackmac79
