Has been postponed/heard on Wednesday night
Has been postponed/heard on Wednesday night
still waiting for Ali to stop the hissy fitOriginally Posted by belchardo
They're waiting for the season to be over so it doesn't affect WSW's chances of winning the comp.
Boo-urns retires and Dodd released from Perth
Still no word?
good riddance
decision next week apparently.
I guess that means we will look to sign them both....
So we could have signed Petratos instead of Gibbs?
Smeltz, Crespo, Petratos, Griff (last season), ffs.Football agent Tony Rallis remembers pitching Dimitri Petratos to several A-League clubs, only to hear the same answer over and again.
“I spoke to Newcastle, Perth and Wellington about him. They all agreed he had talent but none of them were really that interested,” he said. “Let’s be honest, they had a perception he was a bad apple.”
The lingering stain on Petratos’ character came from a training-ground bust up with Sydney FC goalkeeping coach Zeljko Kalac in December 2012. Having just turned 20, and frustrated by his stalling progress at Sydney, Petratos gave the former Socceroo a mouthful. There would only be one winner in that battle.
Never before had the shy, introverted lad caused trouble but it created enough friction for the club and player to part company.
He went to Malaysia for six months, playing for Kelantan FA, a fair step down from the A-League. When he sought a return, however, he was considered damaged goods.
Rallis had been in contact with the player and his family for years but only socially. Taking him on as a client meant cold calls to reluctant coaches, until Brisbane Roar coach Mike Mulvey picked up the phone.
“Mike was the only one who took me at my word that what happened at Sydney was out of character,” he said. “At the end of the call, he said 'I hear what you’re saying, now let me do my own research'. I was confident because Mike is like [Central Coast manager] Phil Moss, Ange Postecoglou and Graham Arnold. They’re the best judges of character. They see the man, not just the player.”
His impact at the Roar this season has shocked those who had already made up their minds. Petratos has forced his way into the first team, scoring five goals in 23 games, and setting up countless more.
His revenge against Sydney FC was spectacular: a hat-trick at Allianz Stadium in front of his friends and family as Brisbane won 5-2.
On Saturday at Parramatta Stadium – a short drive from the unit he recently purchased for his family – Petratos will shoulder the attacking burden for the Roar given Besart Berisha’s suspension.
“I never doubted he had the talent. He can play right, left, striker or attacking midfield. He’s got two feet, a great shot and he works his backside off,” Rallis said. “We’re talking about the next Robbie Kruse here.”
Mulvey said the youngster’s application won him the initial contract and has seen him rise from fringe member to key player.
“The first thing is that we did our due diligence. Then we asked him on a trial period and he was willing to come,” he said on Friday. “From the moment he walked in the door, he was a credit to himself and his family. He acted like a professional that wanted to seize the opportunity, which he’s done with both hands.”
Even the coach was surprised by how the season unfolded for the forward.
“If you’d have picked that he’d be a critical player for us, so close to the finals, given the squad we have, you’d have been drawing a fairly long bow,” Mulvey said. “But it seems the more we play him, the better he gets. He’s lifting every week.”
Mulvey said there was plenty more to come, too, given the raw talent on offer.
“When he first arrived, he’d take 20 touches of the ball and then pass. It was a too much. We’ve limited that and he’s thinking quicker,” he said. “He’s listening to our advice, he’s fitting in and there’s no question he’s found a happy place in Brisbane.”
It is a little known fact that Petratos was offered a trial at a Dutch Eredivisie side in the middle of this season. The player and his agent knocked it back.
“His contract isn’t worth that much but, right now, Brisbane is where he needs to be so there’s no point in him thinking about leaving already,” Rallis said. “That’s why he’s signed a new deal. He’s not only got Mike as coach but has mentors in Jade North, Matt Smith and Shane Stefanutto. They have created a brilliant culture. He’s in the right place.”
http://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/d...404-zqqxp.html
Nah guys, Robbie knows what he's doing.
He is an expert in running a club into the ground remember.
Middleby Gone
Lawrie Out
Don't know about running it into the ground, more like has already ran it into the ground.
Sell the team with a financial future to keep the NRL team that's been a financial disaster for over 26 years. Well played.
Given the interest around for a few of our contracted players I don't think Tinks would be in any hurry to sell the Jets just yet.
Although, you'd be foolish to accept anything from that rag of a newspaper as gospel.
gonna happen. sooner the better
Wouldn't want Petratos anyway, looks like a knob.
smells like a knob
...and does like a knob.
Then again what is wrong with selling a business that has links to Asia in which you can buy and sell personnel and be close to rich resources of the earth.
We have been saved.
From The Herald
If they're serious about pursuing a potential coach, should they not be going to him?Darren Stewart ruled out of Jets coaching job
By JAMES GARDINER April 8, 2014, 10:45 p.m.
DARREN Stewart is out of contention for the head coaching job at the Jets after chief executive Robbie Middleby confirmed that the Newcastle-born former Socceroo had turned down an offer of an interview.
Stewart was on a shortlist of potential candidates for the position which includes interim coach Clayton Zane.
A Singaporean newspaper The New Paper, yesterday reported that Stewart, who is in his first season at Singapore club Woodlands Wellington, had knocked back a deal to return to his home-town club worth ‘‘ten times’’ his current wage.
Middleby said Stewart had been approached but rejected claims that the former Newcastle Breakers defender had been offered the position.
‘‘We gave Darren Stewart the opportunity to come over and be interviewed,’’ Middleby said.
‘‘He is one of a number of candidates that we had identified.
‘‘Darren didn’t come over for that interview because of his current contract situation in Singapore.
‘‘There was no offer of a job and no talk about money. Just an opportunity to come over to be interviewed.’’
The Jets provided the Newcastle Herald with what they say is proof that Stewart was approached for an interview, as opposed to a solid job offer.
The Herald reported in November that the 47-year-old, who has been based in South East Asia for the 15years as a player and coach, had been sounded out by the Jets as speculation mounted over the future of then coach Gary van Egmond.
Van Egmond was sacked in January. Clayton Zane was appointed in a caretaker role and had been considered the leading candidate for the full-time position.
The Jets host Adelaide in a season-defining final-round game at Hunter Stadium on Friday night.
They sit seventh, three points adrift of Sydney FC.
To make the six they need to beat the Reds and have Perth defeat Sydney at Allianz Stadium on Sunday and also turnaround the Sky Blues’ three-goal advantage in goal difference.
Middleby conceded that the timing of the Stewart newspaper report was not ideal but said Zane was comfortable with the situation.
‘‘We have contacted a number of potential candidates,’’ Middleby said.
‘‘Clayton is comfortable with the way it is being handled.
‘‘We will sit down at the end of the season and conduct a review of every aspect of the club – staff, players the whole lot.
‘‘Clayton is still very much in contention and regardless of the outcome he will be at the club.’’
Middleby said there was no time frame on making an appointment.
‘‘We need to get the right person. That is why we are going through a lengthy process,’’ he said.
‘‘That is not saying we haven’t got the right person but we need to interview everyone to make sure.’’
In the article which carried the headline ‘‘STEWART REJECTS A-LEAGUE JOB’’ Stewart was quoted as saying it was a ‘‘tough decision’’ to knock back the offer.
‘‘I went away for a couple of days and realised walking out on a commitment is not me.
‘‘I’ve never put money before a contract.’’
Stewart took the reins at Woodlands in January after being let go by Balestier Khalsa, despite leading them to the S League Cup.
Woodlands suffered their first loss of the season on Thursday, going down 1-0 to Warriors in round six of the S-League.
OK
stewart is probably a fair bit cheaper than Okon or someone like that
Posting Permissions
