SYDNEY MORNING HERALD
Michael Cockerill
SOCCEROOS defender Jade North has missed out on a deadline-day move to Europe, and champions Newcastle Jets face the prospect of dealing with an unhappy captain when the A-League season resumes in a fortnight.
North has made little secret of his desire to play overseas since winning the title last season, but despite being linked with several European clubs - most recently Turkish champions Galatasaray and French first-division newcomers Grenoble - it was only at the weekend that a genuine bid emerged from an unlikely source: Danish title-chasers Randers FC.
It's understood Randers, coached by Englishman Colin Todd, approached Jets management soon after Friday night's 5-0 demolition at the hands of Melbourne Victory - a woeful performance notable for an uncharacteristically mistake-riddled contribution from their skipper. North was curt when asked immediately after the match by Fox Sports whether all the transfer speculation was starting to affect his form. Over the ensuing 48 hours, Randers stepped up the chase to secure North on a loan deal for the remainder of the season, with a guarantee to pay a transfer fee before the next Danish season begins in April.
Despite North's pleas to be released, however, Jets owner Con Constantine refused to countenance a loan deal, even though North will be eligible to leave for free when his contract expires at the end of the A-League season.
Constantine instead held out for a permanent transfer with a sell-on clause, a deal believed to be worth around $700,000 to the club.
Randers insisted they couldn't fund the deal before the international transfer deadline on Sunday night (Sydney time) and instead signed another defender on loan just before the close of business - leaving North with no choice but to see out the season with the Jets.
Now in camp with the Socceroos in the Netherlands, there's little doubt North is hugely disappointed with Constantine's hard-line stance - leaving coach Gary van Egmond with the difficult task of re-motivating his skipper as the Jets try to get their title defence back on track following Friday's debacle at the Telstra Dome.
North's determination to leave also means the Jets will almost certainly need to find a new central defender for their inaugural Asian Champions League campaign, which kicks off in early March.
Meanwhile, in other deadline-day news involving Australian players, it is believed attacking midfielder Brett Holman was last night poised to make a shock move to join Socceroos teammate Vince Grella at English premiership side Blackburn Rovers (English clubs have an extra 24 hours to sign players), although he is only a couple of games into the new Dutch season with his new club, AZ Alkmaar.
Artcle Source http://www.smh.com.au/news/a-league/newcastle-say-no-to-danes-bid-for-north/2008/09/01/1220121136896.html
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Monday, September 1, 2008
Captain cranky: North misses transfer window after Jets plays hardball
THE NEWCASTLE HERALD
BY MICHAEL COCKERILL, SYDNEY MORNING HERALD
SOCCEROOS defender Jade North has missed out on a deadline-day move to Europe, and Newcastle face the prospect of dealing with an unhappy captain when the A-League season resumes in a fortnight.
North has made little secret of his desire to play overseas since winning the title last season, but despite being linked to several European clubs most recently Turkish champions Galatasaray and French first division newcomers Grenoble it was only over the weekend that a genuine bid emerged from an unlikely source Danish title-chasers Randers FC.
It is understood Randers, coached by Englishman Colin Todd, approached Jets management shortly after Friday night's 5-0 demolition at the hands of Melbourne a woeful performance notable for an uncharacteristically mistake-riddled contribution from Newcastle's skipper.
North was curt when asked immediately after the match by Fox Sports whether all the transfer speculation was starting to affect his form.
Over the ensuing 48 hours, Randers stepped up the chase to secure North on a loan deal for the remainder of the season with a guarantee to pay a transfer fee before the next Danish season starts in April.
But despite North's pleas to be released, Jets owner Con Constantine refused to countenance a loan deal, even though North will be eligible to leave for free when his contract expires at the end of the A-League season.
Constantine instead held out for a permanent transfer with a sell-on clause, a deal believed to be worth about $700,000 to the club.
Randers insisted they could not fund the deal before the international transfer deadline on Sunday night (Sydney time) and instead signed another defender on loan just before the close of business leaving North with no choice but to see out the A-League season with Newcastle.
Currently in camp with the Socceroos in the Netherlands, there is little doubt North is hugely disappointed with Constantine's hardline stance leaving coach Gary van Egmond with the difficult task of remotivating his skipper as the Jets attempt to get their title defence back on track after Friday's debacle at the Telstra Dome.
North's determination to leave also means the Jets will most likely need to find a new central defender for their inaugural Asian Champions League campaign, which kicks off in March.
BY MICHAEL COCKERILL, SYDNEY MORNING HERALD
SOCCEROOS defender Jade North has missed out on a deadline-day move to Europe, and Newcastle face the prospect of dealing with an unhappy captain when the A-League season resumes in a fortnight.
North has made little secret of his desire to play overseas since winning the title last season, but despite being linked to several European clubs most recently Turkish champions Galatasaray and French first division newcomers Grenoble it was only over the weekend that a genuine bid emerged from an unlikely source Danish title-chasers Randers FC.
It is understood Randers, coached by Englishman Colin Todd, approached Jets management shortly after Friday night's 5-0 demolition at the hands of Melbourne a woeful performance notable for an uncharacteristically mistake-riddled contribution from Newcastle's skipper.
North was curt when asked immediately after the match by Fox Sports whether all the transfer speculation was starting to affect his form.
Over the ensuing 48 hours, Randers stepped up the chase to secure North on a loan deal for the remainder of the season with a guarantee to pay a transfer fee before the next Danish season starts in April.
But despite North's pleas to be released, Jets owner Con Constantine refused to countenance a loan deal, even though North will be eligible to leave for free when his contract expires at the end of the A-League season.
Constantine instead held out for a permanent transfer with a sell-on clause, a deal believed to be worth about $700,000 to the club.
Randers insisted they could not fund the deal before the international transfer deadline on Sunday night (Sydney time) and instead signed another defender on loan just before the close of business leaving North with no choice but to see out the A-League season with Newcastle.
Currently in camp with the Socceroos in the Netherlands, there is little doubt North is hugely disappointed with Constantine's hardline stance leaving coach Gary van Egmond with the difficult task of remotivating his skipper as the Jets attempt to get their title defence back on track after Friday's debacle at the Telstra Dome.
North's determination to leave also means the Jets will most likely need to find a new central defender for their inaugural Asian Champions League campaign, which kicks off in March.
Damaged Jets in line of fire: Reputations mean zilch to irate coach
THE NEWCASTLE HERALD
BY JOSH LEESON
JETS coach Gary van Egmond said the reputations of his players had been tarnished and changes were imminent in the aftermath of last Friday's 5-0 hiding against Melbourne.
The loss equalled the Jets' previous worst A-League defeat, to Queensland Roar at EnergyAustralia Stadium in 2006.
"Realistically, the only one who has their reputation intact is [Ben] Kantarovski, and so once that goes, all positions are up for grabs," van Egmond said.
"Over the next two weeks we're going to be looking at which players deserve the opportunity to be playing against Sydney.
"You can't lose 5-0 and not look to see if there's going to be any changes. Obviously there's a real problem there."
The Jets are winless after three rounds following draws with Central Coast (1-1) and Perth (3-3) in the opening two rounds.
Last season the Jets conceded 26 goals in 26 games.
This season's average of three goals per game is a worrying statistic for van Egmond.
"If you concede nine goals in three games, there's obviously major concerns on the defensive side of things, because you won't achieve anything by conceding that number of goals," he said.
The A-League takes a break this weekend ahead of the Socceroos' World Cup qualifier against Uzbekistan and plenty of work will need to be done during the recess if Newcastle are to beat title favourites Sydney FC in the next match at home on September 13.
"I think what the problem on Friday was we just let ourselves down with discipline," van Egmond said.
"That's with everything, not just general play, but on set-pieces. Against sides like Melbourne you can't do that, and if you do, you get punished."
The Victory scored in the 40th minute through Carlos Hernandez after the Jets had dominated for most of the first half.
Archie Thompson and Danny Allsopp ran riot in the second half to destroy Newcastle.
Van Egmond blamed off-field contract drama for disrupting the concentration of his side.
Jets skipper and central defender Jade North has been at the centre of contract talk over the past month and speculation about him transferring to a European club.
Since returning to the Jets from the Olympics in round two, the Socceroos star has been far from his best.
"What we need to do is not worry about anything outside of what we can't control," van Egmond said. "Obviously there's been a few issues here, there and everywhere.
"The deadline is gone now in regards to transferring, and Jade has got to accept his lot of where he is, as far as his football is concerned.
"He has to realise how he got to the stage of being in the [starting] eleven with the Socceroos, by working hard and doing the right things with the Jets to give himself the opportunity."
The Jets also have goalkeeper Ante Covic, striker Joel Griffiths and defender Adam Griffiths coming off contract at the end of the season.
"We need people who are coming off contract to have an outcome, be that with us or someone else," van Egmond said.
"It doesn't really matter, the important part is an outcome, because clearly they can't deal with the fact of not being signed [by the Jets] or with anyone else and not knowing their future."
One player whose future with the Jets is certain is Danish recruit Jesper Hakansson.
Hakansson is signed with Newcastle for two seasons and made his debut on Friday after missing two games with a calf tear.
The attacking midfielder played 68 minutes before being replaced by Jason Hoffman.
Van Egmond said it was a mixed debut.
"I thought he tried really hard, but at the end of the day he got a little lost in regards to the shape and what's expected of him," he said.
"You've got to give him the benefit of the doubt, he hasn't played for several weeks and his effort was good, but obviously we're going to expect more from him.
Article Source http://www.theherald.com.au/news/local/sport/soccer/damaged-jets-in-line-of-fire-reputations-mean-zilch-to-irate-coach/1259872.aspx
BY JOSH LEESON
JETS coach Gary van Egmond said the reputations of his players had been tarnished and changes were imminent in the aftermath of last Friday's 5-0 hiding against Melbourne.
The loss equalled the Jets' previous worst A-League defeat, to Queensland Roar at EnergyAustralia Stadium in 2006.
"Realistically, the only one who has their reputation intact is [Ben] Kantarovski, and so once that goes, all positions are up for grabs," van Egmond said.
"Over the next two weeks we're going to be looking at which players deserve the opportunity to be playing against Sydney.
"You can't lose 5-0 and not look to see if there's going to be any changes. Obviously there's a real problem there."
The Jets are winless after three rounds following draws with Central Coast (1-1) and Perth (3-3) in the opening two rounds.
Last season the Jets conceded 26 goals in 26 games.
This season's average of three goals per game is a worrying statistic for van Egmond.
"If you concede nine goals in three games, there's obviously major concerns on the defensive side of things, because you won't achieve anything by conceding that number of goals," he said.
The A-League takes a break this weekend ahead of the Socceroos' World Cup qualifier against Uzbekistan and plenty of work will need to be done during the recess if Newcastle are to beat title favourites Sydney FC in the next match at home on September 13.
"I think what the problem on Friday was we just let ourselves down with discipline," van Egmond said.
"That's with everything, not just general play, but on set-pieces. Against sides like Melbourne you can't do that, and if you do, you get punished."
The Victory scored in the 40th minute through Carlos Hernandez after the Jets had dominated for most of the first half.
Archie Thompson and Danny Allsopp ran riot in the second half to destroy Newcastle.
Van Egmond blamed off-field contract drama for disrupting the concentration of his side.
Jets skipper and central defender Jade North has been at the centre of contract talk over the past month and speculation about him transferring to a European club.
Since returning to the Jets from the Olympics in round two, the Socceroos star has been far from his best.
"What we need to do is not worry about anything outside of what we can't control," van Egmond said. "Obviously there's been a few issues here, there and everywhere.
"The deadline is gone now in regards to transferring, and Jade has got to accept his lot of where he is, as far as his football is concerned.
"He has to realise how he got to the stage of being in the [starting] eleven with the Socceroos, by working hard and doing the right things with the Jets to give himself the opportunity."
The Jets also have goalkeeper Ante Covic, striker Joel Griffiths and defender Adam Griffiths coming off contract at the end of the season.
"We need people who are coming off contract to have an outcome, be that with us or someone else," van Egmond said.
"It doesn't really matter, the important part is an outcome, because clearly they can't deal with the fact of not being signed [by the Jets] or with anyone else and not knowing their future."
One player whose future with the Jets is certain is Danish recruit Jesper Hakansson.
Hakansson is signed with Newcastle for two seasons and made his debut on Friday after missing two games with a calf tear.
The attacking midfielder played 68 minutes before being replaced by Jason Hoffman.
Van Egmond said it was a mixed debut.
"I thought he tried really hard, but at the end of the day he got a little lost in regards to the shape and what's expected of him," he said.
"You've got to give him the benefit of the doubt, he hasn't played for several weeks and his effort was good, but obviously we're going to expect more from him.
Article Source http://www.theherald.com.au/news/local/sport/soccer/damaged-jets-in-line-of-fire-reputations-mean-zilch-to-irate-coach/1259872.aspx
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