Holland stolen by Jets

DAILY TELEGRAPH

By David Davutovic

THIS picture reveals just how close Newcastle's James Holland came to joining the Central Coast Mariners this season.

Holland, one of the brightest prospects in Australian soccer, already had his name and No21 printed on the back of the Mariners shirt for the 2007-08 season.

In the end, the Newcastle Jets nabbed him from under their noses. And having already scored against his hometown team earlier this season, today he gets the chance to really rub some salt into the Mariners' wounds.

Holland was destined to join the Mariners, and even trained with Lawrie McKinna's team after scoring on debut for the Jets in round eight.

But the 18-year-old made an 11th-hour decision to sign with their F3 rivals, and thus far it has paid dividends.

"The Mariners wanted to sign me at the start of the season but I wanted to finish my stint at the AIS,'' Holland recalled.

"Then I had to weigh up where I was going to get more opportunity. Nothing against the Mariners, but I thought I would get more game time at Newcastle.

"Also, Newcastle play a similar system to what we did at the AIS, so I could see myself slotting in a little more easily.

"The Mariners' style has been very effective, but we play more of a passing game.''

Holland, who is studying psychology at university, conceded the finals ``had not been the best'', but he is determined to have an impact in tonight's decider.
``Yeah definitely, hopefully I can bang in a hat-trick,'' he quipped.
``I'd love the opportunity just to start, it would be an awesome experience for a young boy like me and a dream come true.''
Jets coach Gary van Egmond knows just how driven Holland is.

``He's very ambitious and driven, and he will be very disappointed if he doesn't go on to bigger and better things,'' the coach said.

Van Egmond staved off not only the Mariners but Melbourne Victory and Queensland Roar in signing the prodigious talent.
``It was a great coup for us. He was one of the best, if not the best under-20 player in the country,'' he said.
``To snatch him from our rivals down the street, especially seeing he's born and bred on the Central Coast, it was very pleasing that he chose us.''

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Article source: http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,23266303-5001023,00.html