Tuesday, August 4, 2009

A-League Season 5 - Adelaide United, It Begins



Aurelio Vidmar was right when he said “with a pissant town, this club will never win anything” when referring to the Reds of Adelaide United because last season they didn’t. They lost the Asian Champions League Final and the Grand Final. Unfinished business is a great motivator and they have managed to keep all their best players. Another tilt at Asian Football after the season is over and Adelaide are good things for this season.

NEW PLAYERS TO WATCH
There are two new international players joining the Reds: former Ghanaian international Striker 32 year old Lloyd Owusu comes to Adelaide from Brighton & Hove Albion. The other is A 20 year old Korean, an attacking midfielder Shin In Sup from Kunkuk University.

Local South Australian products defender Michael Marrone, 17 year old midfielder Joseph Costa and 18 year old striker Francesco Monterosso who was the youth league top scorer with 13 goals from 19 appearances have been added to the club’s senior list.

The Adelaide United youth side were runners up to Sydney FC in the inaugural National Youth League.

A Football Story Prediction

A top two finish is not out of the question but nothing will come close to the “pissant town” comment. Expect them to have player sent off in the grand final again.

FAN CULTURE
Known by opposing fans as the “Barrellers”, or the Reds

Key Signing:
Lloyd OWUSU the former Ghanaian international was unfortunately knocked out by the swine flu as soon as he arrived in Adelaide and could miss the first month or so of the A-League season. Last year Paul Agostino was mostly injured so the Reds will need the firepower of OWUSU for the A-League and Asian champions league campaign to help out fellow striker Brazilian Cristiano.

Key Player:
Travis Dodd the Red’s captain courageous, his best assets are speed sniffing out crucial goals and is a great leader. Doesn’t like tracking back, but who does?

Coach quote: "Because of a pissant town this club will never win anything"(perhaps the greatest quote from in the A-League uttered so far)

Something interesting: Former Adelaide United FC Director of Football Michael Petrillo returned to the club to head up The Reds’ football department Petrillo was working in a similar role with new Hyundai A-League franchise North Queensland Fury for the past four months, but headed back to South Australia and rejoined United.
Was it a case of the prodigal son returning or “I’m not going down with the ship”

Fact: Two grand final losses, two send off’s, nuff said.

Thought: The Reds can be boring to watch at times but a packed Hindmarsh stadium and a mentalist coach like Aurelio Vidmar makes for an exciting experience every time the Reds play.

Current Squad: Alemao, Fabian BARBIERO, Mark BIRIGHITTI (gk), Cassio, Robert CORNTHWAITE, Joe COSTA, Cristiano, Travis DODD (c), Iain FYFE, Eugene GALEKOVIC (gk), Adam HUGHES, Scott JAMIESON, Michael MARRONE, Francesco MONTEROSSO, Daniel MULLEN, Lloyd OWUSU, Lucas PANTELIS, Paul REID, Kristian SARKIES and Inseob SHIN.

Re-signed: Daniel Mullen (2 years)

In: Joe Costa (Adelaide United NYL, 2 years), Iain Fyfe (Sydney FC – 1 year), Adam Hughes (Drogheda United, Ireland – 2 years), Inseob Shin (Kunkuk University, Korea Republic – 2 years), Michael Marrone (Adelaide United NYL – 1 year), Francesco Monterosso (Adelaide United NYL, 2 years), Lloyd Owusu (Cheltenham Town, England - 2 years).

Out: Paul Agostino (retired), Daniel Beltrame (retired), Angelo Costanzo (released), Diego (released), Isyan Erdogan (released), Sasa Ognenovski (Seongnam Ilhwa, Korea Republic), Jonas Salley (released), Jason Spagnuolo (North Queensland Fury), Michael Valkanis (retired), Robert Younis (released)

Media

Official:

http://www.adelaideunited.com.au/

Fan Forums:

http://forum.adelaidereds.com/viewforum.php?f=1

Fan Blogs:

http://pissanttown.blogspot.com/

http://spawningsalmon.blogspot.com/


Radio

107.9 Life FM will broadcast all of Adelaide United FC’s matches in the Hyundai A-League 2009/10 Season after the station confirmed its commitment as The Reds’ official radio broadcast partner.

107.9 Life FM – ‘The Home of South Australian Football’ http://www.life.on.net/



Friday, 7 August 2009
Adelaide United v Perth Glory
Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide
Local Kick-off 7.30pm
Referee: Craig Zetter

Live & exclusive broadcast on Fox Sports 1. Hyundai A-League club broadcast partner is LIFE FM, 6PR ( Perth ) 882AM. To purchase tickets visit www.venuetix.com.au

Adelaide United Squad: Adelaide United Squad: 1.Eugene GALEKOVIC (gk), 2.Robert CORNTHWAITE, 3.ALEMAO, 4.Iain FYFE, 6.CASSIO, 7.Lucas PANTELIS, 9.CRISTIANO, 10.Adam HUGHES, 11.Lloyd OWUSU, 12.Paul REID, 13.Travis DODD (c), 14.Scott JAMIESON, 15.Francesco MONTEROSSO, 16.Inseob SHIN, 17.Michael MARRONE, 23.Joe COSTA, 30.Daniel GODLEY (gk).

* 2 to be omitted

In: Daniel GODLEY (gk) (short term contract)

Unavailable: 5.Daniel MULLEN (hamstring – 3 weeks), 8.Kristian SARKIES (calf – 2 weeks), 18.Fabian BARBIERO (groin – 2 weeks), 20.Mark BIRIGHITTI (gk) (international duty)

Perth Glory Squad: 1.Tando VELAPHI (gk), 3.Jamie COYNE, 4.Andy TODD, 6.Chris COYNE, 7.Jacob BURNS (c), 8.Victor SIKORA, 9.Todd HOWARTH, 11.Branko JELIC, 12.Scott NEVILLE, 14.Eugene DADI, 15.Howard FONDYKE, 16.Adriano PELLEGRINO, 18.Brent GRIFFITHS, 19.Naum SEKULOVSKI, 20.Aleks VRTESKI (gk), 21.Mile STERJOVSKI, 23.Andrija JUKIC
* two to be omitted

Unavailable: Jimmy DOWNEY (knee – 6 weeks), Jamie HARNWELL (hamstring – 3 weeks), Wayne SRHOJ (hamstring – 1 week), Scott BULLOCH (achilles – 2 weeks), Anthony SKORICH (hip – 8 weeks)

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