A-league News

[Il Duce]

title says it all realy

http://www.a-league.com.au/default.aspx ... y&id=39625

Bridges hangs up boots

Newcastle Jets captain Michael Bridges has announced his retirement from professional football effective immediately.

The 32-year-old striker made over 200 appearances in the English Premier League, representing clubs such as Sunderland, Newcastle and Leeds.

Bridges, who joined the Jets in 2009, enjoyed a superb first year at EnergyAustralia Stadium, scoring six goals from 15 appearances and helping his side make a finals appearance the year after winning the wooden spoon.

Bridges became the club's first foreign-born skipper when he was appointed to the position at the start of 2010-11, but his campaign was hampered by an early knee injury and he never quite reached the heights of his first season with the Jets.

[FOOTY TALK]

lucas pantelis signs with the phoenix for next 2 years.

[Jim05]

lucas pantelis signs with the phoenix for next 2 years.

Good.
More dead wood gone

[Dogwatcher]

A good one to lose.
Are there any Adelaide boys left though?

[Jim05]

A good one to lose.
Are there any Adelaide boys left though?

Dont care where they cone from as long as we win

[cripple]

daniel mullen is the first one that comes to mind. maybe the returning osama malik. not much after that

[FOOTY TALK]

daniel mullen is the first one that comes to mind. maybe the returning osama malik. not much after that

barbiero???

[mickey]

Central Coast have signed former South Melbourne, Perth Glory and Socceroo midfielder Con Boutsianis as a specialist coach for the upcoming season.. Mainly in the area of ball striking especially in the deadball situation.

On the downside, i wouldn't be surprised to see a few of the CCM squad on armed robbery charges if Boutsianis offers coaching in other skills he has learnt along the way

[Il Duce]

Central Coast have signed former South Melbourne, Perth Glory and Socceroo midfielder Con Boutsianis as a specialist coach for the upcoming season.. Mainly in the area of ball striking especially in the deadball situation.

On the downside, i wouldn't be surprised to see a few of the CCM squad on armed robbery charges if Boutsianis offers coaching in other skills he has learnt along the way ;)

I'm glad someone else besides me remembers this also i believe the special skill he had was driving real fast away from the incident..i also believe he did 2-3 years for it

[mickey]

Yeah, he was the get away driver.. not too sure if he actually served time though.

The shed had lots of fun with the Ronnie Biggs chants whenever he got near the ball

[TOS_lad23]

Rangers are close to signing Roar skipper Matty Mckay, who is very keen on a move to Europe and a club playing Europa League.

Great news for him that hes getting a crack in Europe but im not so sure this is the best move for his career and technical abilities. Don't think the crash and bash of the SPL is really the place for Mckay to showcase his fine passing and dribbling skills.

On the upside it will certainly make Brisbane far weaker then last season and this can only help United's cause for their inaugural premiership.

[Wedgie]

Looks like Harry's going to be announced by the Victory soon.

[Jim05]

Brett Emmerton to be unveiled at Sydney today, great signing

[Pag]

Brett Emmerton to be unveiled at Sydney today, great signing

Better signing than Harry IMO, in much better physical shape and will produce consistently quality performances.

Kewell's body will make his time in Melbourne very stop-start.

[Il Duce]

kewell and emerton back in the a-league great news for the comp, sadly the comp needs melbourne and sydney to be competative every season

[cripple]

A-League going ahead in leaps and bounds. After the best aussie GF of any sporting code last year (yes better then the AFL draw IMO) and to get two of the highest quality aussies back, the powers that be can not afford to screw this season up. Can't wait till Dec 10 when Adelaide takes on Victory at Etihad.

[on the rails]

A few rumblings from outside Sydney and Melbourne as to how those clubs are "paying" for Emerton and Kewell? I can tell you AU very unhappy given the scrutiny they have been under from the League re concerns private ownership and in particular Rob Gerards $$$ might given them an advantage outside the cap and rules re player and improt payments? Typical Eastern State double standards!

I hope the A-League is not trying to emulate the old NBL where the League Management "turned a blind eye" to the rorting of the salary cap, overseas qualification rules etc etc with the rosters?

[Jim05]

A few rumblings from outside Sydney and Melebourne as to how those clubs are "paying" for Emerton and Kewell? I can tell you AU very unhappy given the scrutiny they have been under from the League re concerns private ownership and in particular Rob Gerards $$$ might given them an advantage outside the cap and rules re player and improt payments? Typical Eastern State double standards!

I hope the A-League is not trying to emulate the old NBL where the League Management "turned a blind eye" to the rorting of the salary cap, overseas qualification rules etc etc with the rosters?

Sorry but thats untrue.
ALL clubs have 2 marquee players - aussie and overseas, these 2 players are outside the salary cap ( which i believe every club is using 100% ) It is up to the individual clubs to find the money to buy these players. There is no stopping Adelaide United offering a $100mill contract to Wayne Rooney if someone puts up the cash. Obviously the Eastern states have more corporates willing to put their hands in their pockets.

[on the rails]

A few rumblings from outside Sydney and Melebourne as to how those clubs are "paying" for Emerton and Kewell? I can tell you AU very unhappy given the scrutiny they have been under from the League re concerns private ownership and in particular Rob Gerards $$$ might given them an advantage outside the cap and rules re player and improt payments? Typical Eastern State double standards!

I hope the A-League is not trying to emulate the old NBL where the League Management "turned a blind eye" to the rorting of the salary cap, overseas qualification rules etc etc with the rosters?

Sorry but thats untrue.
ALL clubs have 2 marquee players - aussie and overseas, these 2 players are outside the salary cap ( which i believe every club is using 100% ) It is up to the individual clubs to find the money to buy these players. There is no stopping Adelaide United offering a $100mill contract to Wayne Rooney if someone puts up the cash. Obviously the Eastern states have more corporates willing to put their hands in their pockets.

Oh sorry - my connections at AU are lying to me?

I know about the "marquee" player considerations but there is a cap for the rest of the squad and the issue is bigger than corporates putting their hands in their pockets - you don't think Gerard doesn't have $$$?.

[Jim05]

Not talking about the rest of the squad, there may well be breaches there. You mentioned Kewell and Emmerton and there deal is a differant matter and some wealthy people have obviously tipped in. If Gerrard was willing to chip in 4-5mill we could of got them too.
Interesting that Greg Griffen has backed my statement up. He basically said there are far more wealthy people in those areas who are willing to contribute.