NEW SIGNINGS - HOW COME WE DON'T HAVE THIS STORY?

NEW SIGNINGS - HOW COME WE DON'T HAVE THIS STORY?

Soccer: Phoenix rising, with some more help from Melbourne
Email this storyPrint this story 5:00AM Saturday May 05, 2007
By Terry Maddaford 

Glen Moss is among Ricki Herbert's signings. Photo / Kenny Rodger
The Melbourne connection with the Wellington Phoenix continues to grow - Australian under-23 internationals Vince Lia and Steven O'Dor are now members of coach Ricki Herbert's squad.

They join Michael Ferrante, named earlier in the week, as three Melbourne players making the switch.

Also confirmed yesterday, taking the squad to 10, were All Whites Glen Moss and Steven Old.

Announcing his new signings, Herbert said he was looking forward to again working with the players.

Only Lia is joining him for the first time.

"He is a quality player who I expect will add something in his customary wide-right midfield role," Herbert said.

"He was released by Melbourne Victory, and sees the Phoenix as giving him the opportunity of more game time."

Born in Shepparton, Lia began his senior career at South Melbourne, making his debut when he was 16 and playing alongside recently retired All Whites striker Vaughan Coveny in the old National Soccer League.

He was then signed by Victory. After 17 appearances in two seasons, the club and Lia agreed it would be beneficial for him to move on.

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Advertisement"Last season I only played six or seven times, said Lia, 22, from Melbourne yesterday. "This opportunity came along and after considering it for a couple of days I decided to take it up.

"It's a big call for me. It's the first time I have moved away from Melbourne, but it's another journey and the chance to improve my football.

"I see the Phoenix as an exciting prospect and am looking forward to moving over."

Before he makes his move, Lia, who played for Australia under-20s in 2003 and captained them in 2005, has an important date with Iran in an Asian group Olympic qualifier in Adelaide on May 16.

Lia and Ferrante lived around the corner from each other and car-pooled on training days at Melbourne Victory, and O'Dor spent time with Lia in the Australian under-23s.

O'Dor, 20, answered an SOS from Herbert for the ill-fated game against the Victory last season for which the New Zealand Knights were left floundering following the break-up of the club.

"Steven did well and I also played him against Sydney and Central Coast andthen brought him over for the last gameagainst Perth in which he again didvery well," said Herbert.

Herbert has decided not to include O'Dor as one of the three under-20 players he must name, preferring to give that opportunity to New Zealanders.

Wellington-based Costa Barbarouses was named as the sixth player in the squad, and his national under-20 teammates are still being considered.

Players such as Cole Peverley, Jeremy Brockie and perhaps defender Jack Pelter and Phil Edgington and others are being looked at.

Moss, 24, joins his All Whites teammate Mark Paston as the team's second goalkeeper after nine outings for the Knights and earlier playing at Sydney Olympic in the NSL.

Old, 21, returns to New Zealand after 10 appearances for Newcastle Jets last season. He has led New Zealand at under-17, under-20 and under-23 level and made his All Whites debut against Australia in 2004.

Yesterday's five signings - all under 25 years - bring the average age of the squad down in line with Herbert's thinking of eventually having his initial 20 or 21 players (of the allowable 23) with an average age of around or under 26 years.

 

I wonder what time "yesterday" these signings were announced? The first i heard about it was at 7 this morning.

^^Admin still asleep from a hard nite out I guess.

True - appreciate that but you have to wonder when this was released - Saturday morning?

  some pretty good signings though   , nice to wake up to more exciting news about the nix 

I see, signed yesterday. Press release this morning.

I was asleep / listening to you on Kiwi Fm Proak/ on the radio myself. Press realease on front page now

The release was embargoed till 6am anyway

It was in the paper this morning.

Good additional signings.  Lia is probably not a first-line striker but is a good back up with 20+ games for the Victory.  Moss and Paston will havea ding-dong battle for the keepers' spot.

They would have given the signings story to papers (or at least the Dom) in advance so it could make this morning's run. TV unlikely to be interested in second round of signings, so they let the paper's have first crack at it.

It was put out at midnight with a 6am embargo, but I'm sure fellow journo's like to give each other a bit of a heads up now and then, cos I would have thought the press run would be closed by midnight.

Anyway, Hard News - what do you think? - particularly of the ozzies. I'm not sure I'm gonna get such a good vibe off you about these ones

I dont know too much about Lia, any good? Old is rubbish. Moss is a good signing and O'Dor is quality

yeah i know ya weren't.

good signings for the nix, some very promising players in the fold, hopefully ricki can complement these guys with some older heads - more aloisi like players.
Old is not rubbish - give the guy a break, he has been set up to lose lately after playing buggar all in the tail end of the jets season, then sent off to south america to mark up against some quality strikers alongside some not so quality defenders. Hes got the game to be the best defender this country has ever produced - great signings ricki !!!

second behind nelsen on 2nd thought....

I agree with the macc, old did look poor last year but he does have the goods, Ricki's not an idiot.

Moss is a strange signing, it's a bit like Spurs going out and buying Robert Green and Ben Foster to keep Robinson company. I'd've gone for Spoonley myself.

once again 'not melbourne starting quality' players arive.

im waiting patiently for the osuth american signings to come in.

perhaps he's going for a youth feel for the team which he can mold especially if they stick around or possibly get a good fee if they get transfered etc

turned 21 last month - was a ripper of a party to