Glory striker quits for Thai club

Updated January 04, 2013 19:34:59

Perth Glory striker Billy Mehmet is leaving for a Thailand based club.

Mehmet used social media to confirm the transfer will take place.

Glory coach Ian Ferguson says it is disappointing to lose Mehmet, but he understands why he wants to leave.

"I can't guarantee anybody any first team place and Billy wanted first team football and I can't guarantee him that, he's 28 and he wants to be playing regularly," he said.

Meanwhile, Ferguson says star striker Shane Smeltz is certain to be fit for Saturday night's match against Sydney FC.

Smeltz sat out much of Thursday's training session with a groin injury, but joined in with his teammates on Friday.

The Glory can hardly afford to be without Smeltz having just lost Mehmet, but Ferguson says the New Zealander is ready to go.

Tags: soccer, perth-6000

First posted January 04, 2013 19:34:59

View the original article here

Roar looking for striker to challenge Berisha

Updated December 26, 2012 01:56:36

New Brisbane Roar coach Mike Mulvey will target a quality striker in January's transfer window to apply pressure on misfiring A-League golden boot Besart Berisha.

Berisha has endured a rare goal drought as the defending champions have fallen to second last on the ladder.

The high-profile striker has also been criticised by former Socceroos and Roar skipper Craig Moore for failing to make an impact.

The Albania international fluffed two clear-cut chances in the 1-0 loss to Perth Glory on Friday night and Brisbane desperately needs him to rediscover the spark and touch of last season when he scored a record 21 goals from 32 A-League matches.

While Berisha's hunger and work-rate remains high, Mulvey admitted his controversial marksman was suffering due to a lack of pressure from within.

"We need two players in every position pushing each other for that position," he said.

"Besart doesn't have someone breathing down his neck saying 'I'm ready to take your place'."

"If we can get competition for places it will keep everyone on their toes and we haven't quite got that."

"If you've got someone on your coat-tails who can play in your position it naturally gives you a bit of an edge."

Mulvey on Monday revealed he was looking "far and wide" to turn around the Roar's fortunes during next month's transfer window, which opens on January 1.

While Brisbane continue to dominate possession and create a host of chances, its lack of clinical finishing has cost the defending champion side dearly.

"There's priorities across the board but we would like another striker," he said. "Someone who would come in and add that little bit of quality to the squad.

"One thing I promised the Brisbane fans is that we're not going to die wondering. We're going to look for players."

The Roar currently have room for one more player in their 23-man contracted squad but disgruntled defender Matt Jurman and midfielder Erik Paartalu are also reportedly keen for a transfer next month.

Brisbane will be without rising full-back Jack Hingert (hip) for four to six weeks, putting Jurman in line for a return to the bench away to second-placed Adelaide on Boxing Day.

The Reds are coming off a 6-1 thumping by Western Sydney.

"They'll be hurting a bit but you know what? We're hurting just as much," Mulvey said.

AAP

Tags: sport, soccer, a-league, brisbane-4000, qld, australia

First posted December 24, 2012 20:24:53

View the original article here

Jets secure ex-England striker Heskey

Updated September 19, 2012 13:56:49

Former England target man Emile Heskey is on his way to the A-League, with media reports suggesting the Newcastle Jets have signed the veteran striker.

The 34-year-old was out of contract after scoring just once in 29 games for Aston Villa last season and the Jets have reportedly signed him to a one-year deal worth $1.3 million.

The deal has an option for a further two years should Heskey fire for the Novocastrians, with the Nathan Tinkler-backed Jets signing Heskey as their marquee player.

Capped 62 times by his country, Heskey is reported to have knocked back a previous offer from the Jets but is said to have warmed to the idea of continuing his career in Australia.

The powerful attacker could make his A-League debut away at Alessandro Del Piero's Sydney FC in a blockbuster clash at the Sydney Football Stadium on October 13.

The 2007-08 A-League champions fought off competition from Spanish outfit Espanyol and English clubs Stoke, Norwich and former club Liverpool in the race for Heskey's signature.

Heskey started his career at Leicester before enjoying spells with Liverpool, Birmingham City, Wigan Athletic and most recently Aston Villa.

He dismissed plans of retirement after being released by Villa in May.

"I'm 34, I still feel I can play so I don't see why I need to retire just now," Heskey said.

"From when I started, I always said I wanted to play at the highest level wherever that might be. You always strive for that".

Tags: sport, soccer, a-league, newcastle-2300, nsw, australia

First posted September 19, 2012 10:26:14

View the original article here

Mariners swoop for striker Sutton

Updated February 02, 2012 18:35:58

A-League leader Central Coast has strengthened its title charge by agreeing to the loan signing of striker John Sutton from Scottish Premier League side Hearts.

Mariners coach Graham Arnold said on Thursday the 28-year-old Englishman would arrive in Gosford in the coming days on a four-month deal.

Sutton, the younger brother of former England striker Chris Sutton, was allowed to leave Hearts due to their financial worries but the club was reluctant to loan him to a fellow SPL club.

Arnold said the 188cm former Millwall and Motherwell striker was recommended to him by ex-Socceroos and Rangers defender Craig Moore and he would help offset the recent loss of Matt Simon to Korean club Chunnam Dragons.

Arnold said there was an option for Sutton to stay beyond the loan term while the striker could also use his stint to showcase himself for other clubs.

"The exposure of giving him the opportunity to play in the A-League and also the ACL was very appealing to him," Arnold said on Thursday.

"He comes with a very good pedigree in Scotland and he is a similar player to Matty Simon, someone that can make us play different if we need to play different.

"He comes out with a record of a goal every two-and-a-half to three games in Scotland and we're looking forward to John coming out and adding not only another set of legs but quite a deal of experience for our front line."

Sutton has been something of a journeyman since beginning his football career as a youth trainee with Tottenham but enjoyed fruitful stints with St Mirren and Motherwell.

His most recent stint has been stop-start, scoring three goals in 18 outings for Hearts.

Pending travel arrangements and paperwork, Sutton could make his debut for the Mariners in next week's clash away with Melbourne Victory.

Meanwhile, Arnold said midfielder recruit Stuart Musialik was nearing a return to full fitness after an injury-plagued start to his time with the club.

The former Newcastle and Sydney FC player is yet to make his debut for the Mariners.

"He much stronger, much fitter and doing exceptionally well on the training field and I think it's only a matter of time you see Stuart on the park," Arnold said.

AAP

Tags: a-league, soccer, sport, gosford-2250, nsw, australia

First posted February 02, 2012 18:35:58

View the original article here

Mariners need striker to step forward

Updated January 05, 2012 16:22:49

Coach Graham Arnold has a clutch of options to weigh up for the Central Coast Mariners' vacant striker berth after Matt Simon's grand sign-off.

South Korea-bound Simon highlighted the size of the gap he is leaving at the A-League ladder leaders when he farewelled the club by scoring both goals in Wednesday's 2-0 win over Melbourne Victory.

But Arnold is not short of choices to replace him, starting with Sunday's away clash with Sydney FC.

Adam Kwasnik and Daniel McBreen both have lots of experience playing up front, while youth league players Mitchell Duke and Kwabena Appiah Kubi are highly regarded.

Highlighting the Mariners' depth, Arnold could also choose to play versatile Troy Hearfield up front in partnership with the electric Bernie Ibini.

The 24-year-old Hearfield, a former Wellington Phoenix and Newcastle Jets player, has mainly been used as an impact player off the bench this season.

But he has impressed with some stellar performances in recent weeks and was rewarded with his first start of the season against the Victory in his 100th A-League appearance.

"Graham Arnold has shown a lot of faith in me, and it was great to get my first start for the club," Hearfield said.

"It was fantastic for Matty Simon to go out like that. He couldn't have asked for anything more."

Hearfield and Simon struck up a promising combination when they had the opportunity to play together, assisting each other to important goals through the Mariners' current unbeaten streak.

"It's been great to play with Matty but now he is gone and, as a team, we will have to adjust,"

"Bernie is great young player and the challenge is to try and get a partnership with someone else in the team."

Hearfield believes the culture and close friendship at the Mariners has been a key factor in achieving their lofty position on the ladder.

"It's a tight-knit group and a positive environment which starts from the top," Hearfield said.

"Graham Arnold and the coaching staff know what they want from the team."

AAP

Tags: sport, soccer, a-league, gosford-2250, nsw, australia

First posted January 05, 2012 16:12:00

View the original article here

Mariners to lose striker Simon

Updated December 30, 2011 13:22:43

Central Coast Mariners striker Matt Simon will leave the A-League leaders next week for South Korea.

The 25-year-old local, who gave up his job as a plasterer to train full-time and landed an A-League contract in 2006, has signed a three-year deal with K-League club Chunnam Dragons.

"It has always been a goal of mine to play overseas and this is an opportunity for me to take the next step in my career," Simon said.

"I've had a lot of great memories at the Mariners. I've loved playing for the club and I've loved playing for the fans."

Simon will play against Gold Coast United on Saturday and Melbourne Victory on Wednesday before leaving for Gwangyang on Thursday.

Mariners coach Graham Arnold admitted Simon's presence would be missed both on and off the pitch, but believes the club has the depth to carry on up front in Simon's absence.

"I think it's a great reward for a great bloke, a great clubman and a fantastic footballer for the Mariners," Arnold said.

"Matty was coming off contract and he's received a great offer from Korea. It's a wonderful opportunity for him.

"It's the A-League, these things happen where players leave mid-term.

"But it won't be too much of a distraction because we've got a lot of depth and it opens up a great opportunity for other players to step up to the mark," he said.

ABC/AAP

Tags: sport, soccer, a-league, australia, nsw, gosford-2250

First posted December 30, 2011 12:20:49

View the original article here

Phoenix striker cops one-match ban

Updated December 13, 2011 00:03:16

Wellington Phoenix striker Mirjan Pavlovic has been handed a one-match suspension for a tackle in the dying minutes of his side's 1-0 A-League win over Perth on Saturday.

The 22-year-old was shown a straight red card by referee Ryan Shepheard for his rash challenge from behind on Steve Pantelidis deep into injury time.

The match review panel (MRP) found Pavlovic guilty of serious foul play, with the club having until midday on Tuesday to appeal the sanction.

In the round's other incident to attract attention from the MRP, Gold Coast United midfielder Jonas Salley was found to have a case to answer after his foul on Sydney FC's Dimitri Petratos in the scoreless draw at Skilled Park.

Gold Coast has until midday on Tuesday to contest the decision.

AAP

Tags: sport, soccer, a-league, new-zealand

First posted December 13, 2011 00:03:16

View the original article here

Arsenal seals deal for striker Gervinho

Updated July 12, 2011 06:47:00

Arsenal has recruited Lille's 24-year-old Ivory Coast forward Gervinho as it bids to boost its firepower this season and end a trophy drought stretching back to 2005.

"He is an official Arsenal player. Gervinho has joined training today at London Colney (in England)," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger told a news conference during the club's preseason trip to Malaysia.

The arrival of Gervinho, who scored 28 goals in 67 games for Ligue 1 champions Lille over the last two seasons, comes amid speculation that top midfielders Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas could leave despite Wenger sounding confident that both would stay put.

Asked whether he expected Fabregas to stay, Wenger said: "Yes. As simple as that.

"I have never spoken about what has happened behind closed doors but Cesc loves the club.

"We know the Barcelona story goes on for years now and we have to close that. Now we focus on the new season, hopefully with Cesc Fabregas.

"There is always speculation when a player has one year to go on his contract that he might leave the club but Samir Nasri is very happy at the club and committed to stay at the club," added the Frenchman.

"I hope he will sign a new contract but I am not the only one to decide that."

British media reported that Gervinho, who generally operated on the right of a front three for last season's surprise French double winners, had cost 12 million pounds.

Gervinho, whose full name is Gervais Yao Kouassi, moved to Belgium League side Beveren when he was 17 before heading to France where he played for Le Mans and then on to Lille two years ago.

He has represented his country at both the Olympics and last year's World Cup.

Forward Niklas Bendtner and goalkeeper Manuel Almunia have both been linked with moves away from Arsenal in the media.

Meanwhile, Arsenal rivals Tottenham Hotspur has signed former teenager Cristian Ceballos from Barcelona.

Tottenham also sold injury-plagued former England defender Jonathan Woodgate to Stoke on a one-year, free transfer deal.

-Reuters

Tags: sport, football, english-premier-league, ivory-coast, united-kingdom, england

First posted July 12, 2011 06:12:00

View the original article here

Hammers striker 'racially abused'

Posted May 18, 2011 06:15:00

West Ham striker Demba Ba claimed Tuesday he'd been racially abused by a fan after police were called to the club's end of season dinner at a luxury London hotel.

Ba said the trouble at the Grosvenor House Hotel on Monday started when he was subjected to racist comments from an unhappy fan the day after the London club's relegation from the English Premier League was confirmed.

There had been reports tempers frayed when Senegal striker Ba, on loan from German club Hoffenheim, refused to sign an autograph.

However, Ba insisted he did sign and that both he and West Ham team-mate Danny Gabbidon had been subjected to racist abuse.

"It was a crazy situation," Ba told Talk Sport Radio on Tuesday. "This guy came to me when we were sitting at the table. There were two players per table and Manuel da Costa was with me.

"This guy came and asked for an autograph so I gave him his autograph. Then he asked me nicely how I was feeling so I just said I was tired from the game yesterday and that it was a tough game. And then he just replied 'Oh, we're tired watching you play every weekend'.

"I was surprised and told da Costa what the guy had said. Then the guy all of a sudden started screaming at me like crazy. I tried to calm him down but he didn't want to.

"He kept on screaming, then some players came and pushed me out of there. They just told me to walk away and tried to calm this guy but he didn't want to calm down and started smashing some tables and glasses.

"When he (the supporter) talked to me I didn't understand everything that he said but the people next to me said he was saying racist things and stuff.

"When Gabbidon heard these words he came and tried to talk to him but this guy didn't want to listen and started insulting Gabbidon as well."

Earlier, West Ham co-owner David Sullivan said the events had been "blown out of all proportion".

Sullivan, speaking to Sky Sports, added: "It was one individual who had too much to drink, sadly a problem in British society.

"A player was racially abused by the same drunken supporter, which is not acceptable. Sadly one drunken supporter let the club down."

Police confirmed they were called to "reports of a disturbance" at the hotel.

"Officers attended. There were no offences alleged and no arrests," a spokesman said.

According to a report in the Sun, West Ham's players had been ordered to turn up at the event, attended by about 200 people, including corporate sponsors, in a bid to help raise money for the club's youth academy.

West Ham is looking for a new manager after sacking Avram Grant on Sunday following the 3-2 defeat at Wigan which sealed its relegation.

Former England head coach Steve McClaren has ruled himself out of the running to fill the managerial vacancy.

- AFP

Tags: sport, football, english-premier-league, united-kingdom, england

View the original article here