Englishman keen to join Jets squad

THE NEWCASTLE HERALD

By James Gardiner

NEWCASTLE Jets wannabe Joe Keenan is adamant he has the game to make an impact in the A-League.
A former wingback at Chelsea, Keenan and fellow triallist Antun Kovacic trained with the Jets for the first time at Newcastle University yesterday.

They will spend three days in Newcastle, culminating with a hit-out against Budgewoi tomorrow.

Keenan is no stranger to the A-League.

The former England under-20 representative made 12 appearances for Melbourne Victory last season.

He has a year to run on his contract in Melbourne, but is on the outer and is unlikely to return to Victoria.

"I have another year, but obviously things have not gone as well as I had hoped," he said. "I got a few injuries and a long suspension and lost my place in the team.

"Now I just want to get out and start playing. [Jets coach] Gary [van Egmond] has invited me here to train and have a look at me."

Keenan arrived in Melbourne amid much fanfare.

A natural left-footer, he spent four years at Chelsea, making two appearances in the English Premier League before loan stints at Belgian club Westerlo and Willem II in Holland.

"Without sounding conceited, my CV is pretty good," Keenan said. "This league is getting better every year. There are some good players here, but I certainly consider myself adequate to play in this league.

"I came here because I wanted a new start. It was a new league and Melbourne were an ambitious team.

"OK, it did not go as well as I'd hoped. Football is a short career. You have to turn the page and start again and hope it goes better for you."

The Jets have been searching for a natural left-sided wide man since losing Argentinian Mateo Corbo at the end of the first season.

Matt Thompson was used as a makeshift left back last season and midfielder Adam D'Apuzzo, who is a lefty, has also filled that role at times.

"I know there is a space here on the left side, it is up to me to grab it," Keenan said.

Three days is not a long time to impress.

Keenan returns to England on Saturday, possibly for good, but is confident of making a good impression.

"There are two kinds of trials and you never really know what clubs are looking for," Keenan said. "There is the one where they want you to come and shine and be outstanding. That is difficult to do when you are here for three days.

"The other is where they want to check that you are fit and that you can fit in with the players, make sure you are not a pain in the arse. Gary and his staff have probably seen me [in action for Melbourne] at the start of the season. I'm not too old, I'm only 25, so hopefully this trial will be the latter."

Central defender Kovacic also spent time at Melbourne, making two appearances as a short-term injury replacement, during the Victory's inaugural campaign and now plays for Richmond in the Victoria Premier League.

The Jets have three places to fill on their roster.

---

Article Source http://theherald.yourguide.com.au/news/local/sport/soccer/englishman-keen-to-join-jets-squad/778929.aspx

$20 million for Newcastle stadium

FOX SPORTS

NEWCASTLE'S NRL and A-League teams have received a boost with the NSW Government granting a further $20 million to redevelop and upgrade EnergyAustralia Stadium.

The three-stage development will modernised the dated stadium facilities and replace the existing western grandstand, increasing the crowd capacity from 33,000 to 40,000 by the end of 2010.

Newcastle NRL club chief executive Steve Burraston said the facelift will bring Newcastle's stadium to a world-class standard.

"This will put Newcastle on the map as a world class sporting and entertainment venue," Burraston said.

"In a time when rugby league clubs are struggling to survive the new stadium will give us an opportunity to sell better seating and corporate facilities to a larger audience and assist with our longevity.

"This puts us in the same league as the likes of the Broncos who have Suncorp Stadium or the Titans who have Skilled Stadium."

Construction has already begun on stage one of the developments, with stages two and three to continue through until the end of 2010.

---

Article Source http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,23766075-5000940,00.html

Dutchy: 'I'm Staying At Jets'

FOUR FOUR TWO

Jon Ritson

EXCLUSIVE: Gary van Egmond is flattered at being linked with opportunities elsewhere and admits success opens up new options in a fickle industry.

It is thought Football Federation Australia view the Jets boss as the perfect candidate to take over the top football role at the Australian Institute of Sport while the North Queensland FC franchise bid have said van Egmond fits the bill for them.

He told au.fourfourtwo.com: “I am aware of this and there’s no doubt success gives you options.

"It’s very flattering, no question about that. You never disregard anything. It is a fickle industry and you have to make smart choices.

“But I am very happy at the Newcastle Jets. Newcastle has been wonderful to me and my family.”

Any approach for van Egmond for either vacancy is unlikely to be well received by the Jets though as they look to defend the title they won for the first time last year.

Don Matheson, the head of the North Queensland FC franchise bid has labelled van Egmond a ‘sensational’ coach but the Jets coach will spend a couple of days this week trying to become even better.

Van Egmond is attending the FFA’s inaugural national coaching conference this week, where he will be one of the guest speakers.

Van Egmond said: “I think this coaching conference is a great idea and I’m really looking forward to it. It is a great initiative from the FFA.

“For me, it is important in two main ways. Firstly it is an opportunity to learn and to acquire new information about the game.

"Then you hope that some of the things you see and hear back up your own beliefs in what you are trying to achieve.

“It’s a good chance to meet with coaches here in Australia, from all levels of the game and to then hear the views of those guys who are from overseas.

“The game is constantly evolving and you have to adapt. It has changed so much in the last 10 years and you need to be aware of it.

“There are people attending the conference that you’d be silly not to learn from and take ideas from.

"You’ve someone like Josef Venglos who has been in the game and coached at the highest level for many years and then Jurgen Klinsmann who has won a World Cup with his country.”

Meanwhile, the Jets have confirmed they are trying to bring former Melbourne Victory youngster Kaz Patafta to the club.

---

Article source http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/76827,dutchy-im-staying-at-jets.aspx

Verbeek names squad for Iraq qualifier

ABC.NET.AU

Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek has named an experienced and largely European-based squad for Australia's World Cup qualifying match against Iraq in Brisbane next Sunday.

The 34-man squad, which contains 12 A-League players, will face the Asian champions at Lang Park on June 2, in the first of the 'super June' qualifiers.

European football stars Harry Kewell, Mark Schwarzer, Scott McDonald, Mark Bresciano and Vince Grella have been included in the squad, while the likes of Mark Viduka, Lucas Neill and Tim Cahill are unavailable for selection.

Several Olyroo players are in line to represent the senior side including Mark Milligan, Mark Bridge and Bruce Djite.

Australia:
Danny Allsopp (Melbourne Victory), Michael Beauchamp (FC Nurnberg/GER), Mark Bresciano (Palermo/ITA), Mark Bridge (Sydney FC), Jacob Burns (FC Unirea Valahorum/ROM), Nick Carle (Bristol City/ENG), David Carney (Sheffield United/ENG), Ante Covic (Newcastle Jets), Chris Coyne (Colchester United/ENG), Jason Culina (PSV Eindhoven/NED), Bruce Djite (Adelaide United), Brett Emerton (Blackburn Rovers/ENG), Adam Federici (Reading/ENG), Vincenzo Grella (Torino/ITA), Adam Griffiths (Newcastle Jets), Joel Griffiths (Newcastle Jets), James Holland (Newcastle Jets), Brett Holman (NEC Nijmegen/NED), Mile Jedinak (Central Coast Mariners), Harry Kewell (Liverpool/ENG), Scott McDonald (Celtic/SCO), Mark Milligan (Sydney FC), Jade North (Newcastle Jets), Michael Petkovic (Sivasspor/TUR), Nikita Rukavytsya (Perth Glory), Mark Schwarzer (Fulham/ENG), Matthew Spiranovic (FC Nurnberg/GER), Mile Sterjovski (Derby County/ENG), Nikolai Topor-Stanley (Perth Glory), James Troisi (Newcastle United/ENG), Carl Valeri (Grosseto/ITA), Rodrigo Vargas (Melbourne Victory), Luke Wilkshire (FC Twente/NED), Ruben Zadkovich (Derby County/ENG).

---

Article Source http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/05/24/2254720.htm?section=sport

Patafta Poised For Newcastle Switch

FOUR FOUR TWO

By Jon Ritson

KAZ Patafta is poised to swap Melbourne for Newcastle after severing his ties with Portuguese giants Benfica.

The 19-year-old spent last season on loan at the Victory but struggled to earn a regular starting slot under Ernie Merrick.

Patafta has numerous admirers in the A-League though but Jets boss Gary van Egmond was maintaining a diplomatic silence when quizzed on the possibility of a move. A clear case of ‘you might think that, I couldn’t possibly comment’.

The Jets supremo said it wasn’t a subject he wished to discuss but didn’t quash the speculation flat either. The cat is already out of the bag though with the club’s chief executive having since admitted that a one-year-deal has been put to the youngster.

Patafta would certainly fit the bill in terms of providing Newcastle with an extra attacking weapon as the club looks for players to lesson the burden on Joel Griffiths.

Van Egmond was happier to talk about other potential targets, one with a Melbourne connection, and told au.fourfourtwo.com: “Antun Kovacic is someone we’d like to take a closer look at and we’ve sent a letter off to his club.”

The central defender had a very brief stint with Melbourne Victory in season one of the A-League and is now plying his trade in the Victorian Premier League. He also had a stint with the Melbourne Knights.

Several other triallists are expected at the club during the coming weeks but it is still far from clear whether Socceroo defender Ljubo Milicevic will be putting pen to paper at EnergyAustralia Stadium.

Van Egmond said: “Yes, we have made it clear we’d like Ljubo to join us here as we believe he’d be terrific addition with a lot to offer.

“We’re not sure what he intends to do at this stage. It’s obviously a decision that he has to think about and he wants to decide what’s right for him. You don’t want to look back with regrets.”

Not that the Jets will wait forever for a decision. Van Egmond said: “We can’t be in a position where we hang our hat on just one person.”

Van Egmond has already been offered and rejected the chance to talk to former Adelaide United duo Milan Susak and Bobby Petta.

---

Article Source http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/76754,patafta-poised-for-newcastle-switch.aspx

London calling for relieved Schwarzer

SYDNEY MORNING HERALD

Sebastian Hassett

SOCCEROOS goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer has ended months of speculation about his future after rejecting an offer to stay at Middlesbrough and signing a two-year deal with London Premier League club Fulham.

Destinations such as Juventus and Bayern Munich had been bandied about as it became clear Schwarzer was looking for a fresh opportunity after more than a decade on Teesside.

The move to Fulham virtually assures him of first-team football, something he'll need if he is to fulfil his oft-repeated ambition of being coach Pim Verbeek's No.1 goalkeeper should Australia qualify for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

While reluctant to talk about the move before tonight's friendly against Ghana, Schwarzer, who only flew to Australia after concluding the deal on Wednesday, said it was a relief to have put pen to paper.

"It's not an ideal situation, of course, and things don't always happen that way, but I felt that once I got so far [into negotiations] I had to sort it out sooner rather than later and not let it affect our preparation for the qualifiers," Schwarzer said yesterday.

"I said a couple of weeks ago that I always wanted to be available for this game, but you can't always foresee your future."

While most of his teammates have been in camp for the better part of a week, Schwarzer said he was more than ready for the task of holding together a very youthful Australian defence.

"It was a long trip, but I've done it before, I did it with the Qatar game coming in the day before, and I feel fine," he said. "I trained [yesterday] morning at nearly 100 per cent."

By selecting four goalkeepers in his squad, Verbeek has made it clear that while Schwarzer, 35, is his first-choice custodian for now, he's more than willing to canvass new options before the next World Cup. These include Reading's Adam Federici and Turkey-based Michael Petkovic.

However, Schwarzer is unperturbed by the competition.

"I think it's great. Obviously Pim is new in the job, and there's a lot of guys who haven't been involved before, so it's a great opportunity for them to come in and show what they can do and stake a claim," he said.

Meanwhile, striker Joel Griffiths said he was preparing to give everything in the hope of impressing the coaching staff after being repeatedly overlooked. "I'm going into the game with nothing to lose, I know we're a little bit short on strikers at the minute, and with a good performance, I could be in the camps for the next month or so," he said.

"You've got to believe in your own ability. I'm pretty confident and I'm feeling pretty good, and hopefully we can have a good result for myself and the team."

After a scintillating season with the Newcastle Jets, Griffiths has been on-loan with second division Japanese club Avispa Fukuoka since March. And he has continued his good form, despite being sent off in his last match for the club.

While he confesses the club was fractured by ill-discipline and dissent levelled against coach Pierre Littbarski, he loved the Japanese culture and lifestyle - and would like to try his luck with a different club.

"A lot of players didn't agree with the gaffer. It sort of split the team in half, and it was really hard for the foreigners when you knew some players weren't giving 100 per cent," he said.

"It wasn't a happy dressing room, there was a lot of cancerous people in the sheds and it was going through the whole team, including the staff.

"But I enjoyed Japan so much, if I could go back there, I probably would. The lifestyle is very good, my wife enjoyed it, we had a ball. I'd give it another shot with another club because I just like the way they play football and I felt I adapted."

In a curtain-raiser for tonight's game, the Australian women's team will play a friendly against Canada.

---

Article Source http://www.smh.com.au/news/football/london-calling-for-relieved-schwarzer/2008/05/22/1211183002647.html

Ljubo Still Looking For Club

FOUR FOUR TWO

Aidan Ormond

EXCLUSIVE: Former Socceroo Ljubo Milicevic is still no closer to signing with a new club two months after leaving Melbourne Victory.

A source close to the former Perth Glory and FC Thun defender told au.fourfourtwo.com that Milicevic was “lying low but considering offers both locally and from overseas clubs.”

Milicevic, 27, was recently linked with Newcastle Jets with coach Gary Van Egmond an avowed fan of the elegant libero.

An offer was made but, evidently, Milicevic is still considering it.

The attraction of the Jets would include being part of an ACL campaign, meaning he’d be one of the few Australian players to have competed in both the AFC and UEFA champions leagues.

---

Article Source http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/76608,ljubo-still-looking-for-club.aspx

FFA shows interest in Dutchy for dual roles

NEWCASTLE HERALD\

By Robert Dillon
May 21, 2008
NEWCASTLE Jets coach Gary van Egmond has been approached by Football Federation Australia officials to gauge his interest in the head coaching job at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra.

Van Egmond revealed last night that he had fielded an "informal" inquiry about the AIS position, vacated recently by Steve O'Connor, who was also coach of the Young Socceroos.

FFA officials were rumoured to have sought out van Egmond for the dual roles, but Newcastle's A-League championship-winning coach said he had not pursued the approach and had no plans to do so.

"They asked me a long, long time ago about it, but I've had no correspondence about it," van Egmond said.

"I guess they're just looking at who is available.

"My mail is they're getting someone from overseas."

Asked to elaborate on the approach, Van Egmond said: "It was a fairly informal message on my phone, but I never really responded to it.

"It was along the lines of, 'I hear that sort of job is going, are you interested?' sort of thing. That's about as much contact as I had."

He was surprised by rumours linking him to the positions and said he had no plans other than preparing the Jets for their title defence.

"I've got two more years at the Jets, and I'm very happy where we are," he said.

"I've got no plans of doing anything, other than getting the team organised."

He declined to reveal the identity of the FFA employee who approached him.

"I'd prefer not to," he said. "It was someone within the FFA, but I'd prefer not to say who that is. It was a fairly informal message on the phone. I do speak to that person reasonably regularly."

Van Egmond has been a revelation since replacing Nick Theodorakopoulos as Jets coach, guiding them to the play-offs then a premiership in his first two seasons.

---

Article Source http://theherald.yourguide.com.au/news/local/sport/afl/ffa-shows-interest-in-dutchy-for-dual-roles/773677.aspx

Jetting into town

PORT MACQUARIE NEWS

By Janine Graham

AUSTRALIA'S two most recent A-League champions – Newcastle Jets and Melbourne Victory – will go head-to-head in Port Macquarie in August.
The clubs will contest a pre-season match at Port Macquarie's Regional Sports Stadium on Saturday, August 2.

The date confirms the reigning champions' commitment to the Hastings, Jets' membership and ticketing manager Nev Bajzath told the Port News.

It will be the third time the Jets have visited Port Macquarie. In 2006 the Newcastle team faced off against A-League counterparts the Queensland Roar and last year Perth Glory ventured across the country.

"We've got a close relationship with Port Macquarie," Bajzath said.

"More and more people from the Mid-North Coast are coming to our home matches. What was once carloads has turned into coachloads."

---

Article Source http://portmacquarie.yourguide.com.au/news/local/sport/soccer/jetting-into-town/773800.aspx

North's Shop Window To Shine

FOUR FOUR TWO

By Jon Ritson

SOCCEROO defender Jade North accepts he has a massive opportunity to secure his dream overseas move in the next month.

Speaking after training at Parramatta Stadium this morning he said: "You never know in football but I really enjoyed it in China and hopefully it can continue."

The Newcastle Jets captain made a terrific impression during the Socceroos' recent draw in China and the pressure is now on to build on that display.

North's versatility is a major plus for coach Pim Verbeek and the 26-year-old is able to play as part of a back three or back four.

Not that he is taking selection for granted. Speaking after Socceroo training at Parramatta Stadium this morning he said: "Any time you play with the national team it's a massive opportunity, a shop window.

"You just have to play well, hold your position and hope someone out there can see your performance.

"I'm 26 now and if I was to try and go overseas it would have to be very soon. but I'll just have to wait and see.

"But at the moment I'm a Jets player and I'll do everything I can for them."

Verbeek is clearly a North fan and North admits the coach's praise and encouragement has filled him with added belief.

He said: "He's seen a lot of my games here in the A-League and I've been involved in a lot of the (Socceroo) camps and I've got the confidence now to perform well. You know what your job is with him.

"I can play anywhere across the back which is good for me. We played a back three against China and a back four for most of the season with the Jets. Either or, it doesn't bother me."

The next four weeks are packed with football but North won't hear talk of needing a breather.

He said: "I don't want a break i just want to continue playing. I just want to play as much football as I can."

I am a Newcastle player at the moment but my ambitions are to try and head overseas. But at the moment I'm a Jets player and I'll do everything I can for them."

---

Article Source http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/76427,norths-shop-window-to-shine.aspx

Maturing North targets Europe

THE WORLD GAME

Abroad... North is desperate to make the move overseas (Getty Images)
With the endorsements of Socceroos captains - past and present - ringing in his ears, Jade North is gearing up to become the latest Australian to join the overseas exodus.
Singled out by Lucas Neill and Craig Moore as the national team's man of the moment after his commanding performance in the goalless draw against China in March, the Newcastle Jets skipper told TWG of his plans to broaden his horizons.
It is now - or never - for the centre-back who excelled alongside skipper Neill and Nurnberg's Michael Beauchamp in a three-man defence in Kunming.
Taree-born North, a talisman for indigenous kids looking to break into the game, turned 26 back in January and with a year to go on his Jets deal is growing impatient to prove himself on foreign fields.
West Ham's Neill and Queensland Roar's Moore both believe he's equipped to survive in Europe's shark pond - and so does his one-time Socceroos room-mate Tim Cahill.
Now North is beginning to share their belief.
''I think I need to go sooner rather than later,'' he said from Townsville where his is fine-tuning his fitness with the Olyroos for May 23's clash with Ghana in Sydney.
''It's good when your fellow players give you recognition - it gives you extra confidence. I've got passport issues in going overseas but the plan would be to maybe go somewhere like Belgium or Holland first and use that as a springboard.''
''The transfer window doesn't close until August and if I can do well for the Socceroos in the meantime, then who knows.''
''Now that I've cemented myself into the national team set-up maybe there's a club out there who will pay a transfer fee for me.''
''I want to test myself outside Australia and playing more matches for the Socceroos can only speed up the process.''
Until now, North was been typecast as little more than a stop-gap option during his 17 cap Socceroos career.
But he's been in all coach Pim Verbeek's squads and training camps and was one of just two A-League starters against China.
''I've always been knocking on the door but now that there have been a few retirements at the back I think things have opened up,'' he added.
''We have lots of great midfield players but at the back is where there are gaps that need to be filled.''
''This is my first real chance to get a crack at a regular starting slot and I'm aiming to take it.''
North dreams of becoming Australia's answer to Italian hard-man Fabio Cannavaro - the first defender to ever win FIFA's world player of the year award.
''Like me he's not that tall, he's somebody I'd love to try and emulate. He's the best defender I've ever seen. I admire his strength, aggression and the way he uses the ball.''
Despite yet another post-season Jets exodus - Mark Bridge, Stuart Musialik and Andrew Durante - North is convinced the champions will be competitive yet again.
But the former Brisbane Strikers, Sydney Olympic and Perth Glory man, who is just as comfortable at right-back, concedes it's been frustrating watching key players leave.
''It's a matter of re-grouping again,'' he said. ''We did it last season when we lost the likes of Nicky Carle, Paul Okon, Milton Rodriguez and Vaughan Coveny. We seem to manage to keep doing, and we will again.”
''When you win a grand final, you want to build on teams but that hasn't been the case. Maybe we could have kept the team together but Newcastle takes a tough stance on certain players - and we just have to move on together.''
''We have great players for the future in Adam D'Apuzzo, James Holland and Tarek Elrich, so it's not all bad. Every year is a tough year at the Jets - and this will be no different.''

---

Article Source: http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/maturing-north-targets-europe-111361

Jets reject youth marquee salary

DAILY TELEGRAPH

By John Taylor
May 04, 2008 12:00am
A-LEAGUE champions Newcastle Jets are one club who won't be offering $150,000 a year to their best under-23 player under marquee status.

In a bid to stop the hottest young talent leaving the country, Football Federation Australia will allow clubs to have a maximum $150,000 salary for one under-23 player exempt from the league's $1.9 million salary cap.

Olyrooos Nathan Burns, Mark Bridge, Bruce Djite and Stuart Musialik have all indicated a desire to play in foreign leagues after the Beijing Olympics.

FFA chief Ben Buckley believes it is a very important initiative taken by the federation.

"It's one we consulted the clubs on and the Players' Association, that in partnership with them we could use this mechanism to try to retain players who may be enticed to go overseas on slightly larger financial incentives,'' Buckley said.

"If the clubs use it wisely, we think it has the real ability to retain some of the players who can do with an additional one, two or three years in the A-League before they may want to go overseas.''

However, Jets chief John Tsatsimas said his club did not agree.

"It runs the risk of alienating players, which leads to disharmony,'' Tsatsimas said.

"We don't have Bridge or Musialik any more but we've still got Tarek Elrich, Adam D'Apuzzo and James Holland (Olyroos).

"I just think if the player is good enough and wants to go, you are not going to stop him.''

Newcastle also don't use the $450,000 allowed for additional service agreements.

"That's the owner (Con Constantine's) decision. It all leads to inflating costs, and where does it end?'' Tsatsimas said.

Opening-round draw (August 15-17): Newcastle v Central Coast (Friday), Sydney FC v Melbourne (Saturday), Wellington v Queensland, Adelaide v Perth (Sunday)

---

Article Source: http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,23641338-5006068,00.html