A-League Ins and Outs

[Norfolk & Clew]

http://www.theage.com.au/news/soccer/costa-rican-to-victory/2007/06/02/1180205589878.html

COSTA Rican international Carlos Hernandez looks set to join Melbourne Victory for a two-year period as the A-League champion's replacement for the departed Brazilian Fred.
Hernandez, 25, was part of Costa Rica's World Cup squad last year and is an attacking midfielder who plays for LD Alajuelense. He has told Costa Rican media he will join the Australian team on a two-year loan deal, with an option for a permanent transfer.
Victory officials were tight-lipped about the deal yesterday. But The Age revealed last month that a Costa Rican player was high on the club's shopping list, and officials confirmed they are talking to a Costa Rican player — as well as others in South America and Europe.
Hernandez — whose nickname is El Zorro, "the Fox" — has played for Costa Rica at youth and senior levels. He played in the Youth World Cup in Argentina and the Athens Olympic team in 2004. His reputation is as a goal-scoring midfielder with a penchant for long-range strikes.

 

[roostersgal4eva]

http://www.adelaideunited.com.au/default.aspx?s=aufc_news_item&id=18003
ADELAIDE SIGN BRAZILIAN DEFENDER
Tuesday, 5 June 2007

Adelaide United FC has announced the signing of dynamic Brazilian wing back/defender Jose de Abreu Oliveira, known as ‘Cassio’.

The 27 year old Rio de Janeiro-born, left-sided player has played for a number of leading South American clubs including CR Flamengo (Brazil), SC Internacional (Brazil), CD Atlas Guadalajara (Mexico) and Olimpia Asuncion (Paraguay).

Needing defenders to top up a squad brimming with midfield and attacking options, Adelaide United coach Aurelio Vidmar said Cassio’s inclusion adds balance to the team.

"Cassio has a strong left foot, he gets up and down the line, has good pace, puts in a good cross and is well-suited for the Hyundai A-League style of play,” Vidmar said.

“He’s an exciting type of player who will attract people to the game. We’ve been very selective in the type of player we wanted to sign and we’re looking forward to having a player of his quality here in Adelaide.”

Having scouted extensively for a left sided defender, Cassio was recommended to Vidmar by former (2001-2004) Brazilian national team coach Marcos Paqueta, who coached the defender at Flamengo.

A product of the youth system at famed CR Flamengo in Rio de Janeiro, Cassio played four seasons in the first team. During this time, he won three Carioca (Rio) Championships (1999-2001), a Copa dos Campeões and played in the 2001 Copa Mercosur final.

Cassio also played for SC Internacional in Porto Alegre, Brazil in 2002, winning a Gaúcho Championship with the club that season before joining Atlas in Mexico's first division (2003). After a short time back in Brazil, Cassio played for Paraguay’s most successful club, Olimpia Asuncion in 2004-05 before moving to Santa Cruz in the Brazilian First Division.

Cassio’s signing for Adelaide United continues the influx of Brazilian players who have played in the Hyundai A-League, and the creative flare South Americans bring to the game will give United’s squad added appeal with Cassio’s inclusion.

Adelaide United plans to announce the final places in its squad for the 2007/08 season in the next few weeks, while Cassio is due to arrive in Adelaide within the next fortnight to begin training with the squad.

The guy in the red

 

[hey shorty]

Oh thank the lord weve signed a defender. Now he is Brazilian so his defensive side might not be great but hey... hes bound to be better than what we had.

 

[Arsene Wenger]

exactly anything will be an improvement on what we had. Hopefully he is good and we didnt just get him coz he was "Brazilian." See Caludinho last year for MVFC - the guy was hopeless.

I will keenly WATCH Cassio's progress............

I had to chuk that in..

 

[Lowie01]

I will keenly WATCH Cassio's progress............

Damn you - you beat me by ten minutes.

As for Hernandez, that was reported a few days ago in Costa Rica, and I'm quite excited after reading a bit about him.

[youtube]VfpPlLm6XOA[/youtube]

[youtube]EBaEKIHFUZY&NR=1[/youtube]

 

[beaver fever]

Hernandez's club has confirmed he has signed for melbourne.

http://www.alajuelense.com/

Carlos goes. Honduran would arrive

Alajuela. The striker alajuelense Carlos Hernández would be leaving the next season al soccer of Australia, after arriving at an agreement the League and the team Melbourne F.C. of that country. On the other hand, the board of directors with big hands analyzes the arrival of a Honduran defender. The names of Mario Pious, Maynor Figueroa and Mario Berríos sound hardly for the next season

 

[ErnieSigley]

See Caludinho last year for MVFC - the guy was hopeless.

Yes he only scored against Adelaide United and everyone does that.
I didn't see enough of him but he was very weak and not suited the physical game in Australia.

 

[beaver fever]

Hernandez's club has confirmed he has signed for melbourne.

http://www.alajuelense.com/

Carlos goes. Honduran would arrive

Alajuela. The striker alajuelense Carlos Hernández would be leaving the next season al soccer of Australia, after arriving at an agreement the League and the team Melbourne F.C. of that country. On the other hand, the board of directors with big hands analyzes the arrival of a Honduran defender. The names of Mario Pious, Maynor Figueroa and Mario Berríos sound hardly for the next season

Found out the website is not the official club website

 

[Arsene Wenger]

Yes he only scored against Adelaide United and everyone does that.
I didn't see enough of him but he was very weak and not suited the physical game in Australia.

ha ha - il pay that - yeah he looked very timid and just not up to it

 

[ErnieSigley]

Hernandez — whose nickname is El ...hope to heard more of the GOOAAAALLLLL calls.

 

[jefffff34]

I will keenly WATCH Cassio's progress............

Let's hope Vidmar has made a CALCULATED gamble on your club's behalf!

 

[Norfolk & Clew]

Let's hope Vidmar has made a CALCULATED gamble on your club's behalf!

Someon just always has to go to far don't they Hoggy?

 

[Still Crowing]

Its OK, if he doesnt work, we'll just FOB him off on some other club.



.......I'll get my hat and coat shall I?

 

[Rocca Flys High]

Mmmmmm, the Victory is rolling along nicely, good to see Hernandez not downed by the pay, playing soccer just for it! I hope it goes through!

 

[FrangaRoo]

I hope to heard more of the GOOAAAALLLLL calls.

How friggin good.

 

[Lowie01]

Forget the Hoff - the Heff is back.

CENTRAL Coast Mariners have received a major boost ahead of their third A-League campaign, with season-one sensation Dean Heffernan signing on until 2010.

Heffernan has returned home after a year with German Bundesliga side FC Nurnberg, who signed the dynamic wingback on loan for the 2006-07 season following his outstanding debut year with the Mariners.

Heffernan was restricted to non-competitive appearances for FC Nurnberg's first team because of injury and the form of Argentine left back Javier Pinola.

Ultimately, the incentive of Australian selection through regular visibility in the A-League and the attraction of the Central Coast lifestyle were the deciding factors in the 27-year-old's return, despite receiving offers from England, Germany and Norway.

"We've made no secret of our desire to see Dean return to the Central Coast and it is with much delight that we are able to confirm today that one of the real crowd favourites at Bluetongue Central Coast Stadium will be wearing Mariners colours until 2010," Mariners executive chairman Lyall Gorman said.

"As soon as we were ruled out of contention for a finals series place in 2006-2007, the coaching staff and I identified some areas in personnel that required attention and I strongly believe that we've ticked all the boxes.

"We've attracted a proven striker to the club in Sasho Petrovski, an electrifying attacker in Greg Owens, one of Australia's real emerging talents in Mile Jedinak and now welcomed back arguably the most exciting left back in two editions of the Hyundai A-League - Dean Heffernan."

Heffernan netted eight goals in 31 games for the Mariners in season one.

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,21865001-23215,00.html

 

[hey shorty]

Great signing for the Mariners. Another class defender coming to the A League, or coming back in this case. Pity he didnt come to United but good to see him back none the less.

 

[Pantsless]

From NZ Herald:

All Whites striker Shane Smeltz flies into Wellington today to join the Wellington Phoenix on a two-year contract. Smeltz, 25, will team with New Zealand's greatest goalscorer Vaughan Coveny and experienced Australian Royce Brownlie as the three strikers signed so far by coach Ricki Herbert.

Fresh from his two-goal haul in the All Whites' memorable 2-2 draw with Wales late last month, Smeltz becomes the ninth New Zealander - including six who played in Wrexham - to sign with the club.

Herbert has now signed 18 of his 23 players. He expects to add another striker, one (almost certainly a South American) who will give him some width, along with another two defenders including a fullback. He must also name another two under-20 players to join Costa Barbarouses as his three under-age players.

 

[Lowie01]

Zorro is ours!

http://www.melbournevictory.com.au/default.aspx?s=mvfc_newsdisplay&id=18059

Melbourne Victory today announced one of the most significant player acquisitions in the short history of the club, with 25-year-old Costa Rican international, Carlos Hernandez signing a two-year loan deal from Costa Rican giant LD Alajuelense.

The highly regarded attacking midfielder, nicknamed Zorro (The Fox), fills the gap in the roster left by Fred’s departure to D.C. United after Version 2 of the Hyundai A-League.

Victory Football Operations Manager Gary Cole said that Hernandez was the icing on the cake of a very successful off-season recruitment drive.

“Hernandez is a current international in the prime of his career, and still with enormous potential and a fantastic future ahead of him,” Cole said.

“He was blown away by the Hyundai A-League 2007 Grand Final, both in terms of the playing standard, but more importantly, the size and quality of the crowd,” Cole added. “He sees Melbourne Victory as an outstanding opportunity to progress his career to the next level.”

“We’ve strengthened our full back positions with Joseph Keenan and Matthew Kemp and gained a defensive star by the name of Ljubo Milicevic. With the addition of Carlos, we believe our starting lineup has improved on last season.

“And the inclusion of our three Under 20 players Mitchell Langerak, Evan Berger and Leigh Broxham to the squad shows that we are determined to build for the future, as well as for the season ahead.”

Victory Coach Ernie Merrick was understandably delighted with the signing, who represented Costa Rica at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany and the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.

“At just 25, Carlos is still an up and coming player, but already he’s achieved so much in his career,” Merrick said.

“In just 17 appearances for the Costa Rican national side, he’s scored six goals, which is a fantastic return from a midfielder in international football. He scored twice in a World Cup qualifier against the United States to send Costa Rica to Germany last year, so what we’re dealing with here is a player of enormous pedigree who is still yet to reach his prime.

“For Carlos to choose Melbourne Victory over a number of established clubs in Europe is quite a feather in the cap of the Hyundai A-League.”

Hernandez is expected to arrive in Melbourne in three weeks and should join the squad in time for the commencement of the 2007 Pre-Season Cup which begins on July 15 in Launceston against archrivals Adelaide United.

 

[Norfolk & Clew]

^^ Now Adelaide will be happy with 6-0 defeats the way we are going!

 

[moistie]

Mmmmmm, the Victory is rolling along nicely, good to see Hernandez not downed by the pay, playing soccer just for it! I hope it goes through!

I think the lure of playing Asian Champions League football is a massive draw. It gives him huge exposure to not only the Asian, but the European leagues. If he performs on the big stage then serious $$$ is coming his way with a bigger club.

 

[Norfolk & Clew]

I think the lure of playing Asian Champions League football is a massive draw. It gives him huge exposure to not only the Asian, but the European leagues. If he performs on the big stage then serious $$$ is coming his way with a bigger club.

And unfortunately because he is only on loan if he does sell for a decent transfer fee, we'd get zilch of it!

That is when Australian soccer will take off, when overseas clubs are willing to fork out cash for you players who are contracted and our clubs are willing to say no to letting them go on loan

 

[Ray Nolan]

Australian U20 Captain Shaun Ontong and the AIS player & local boy Matthew Mullen have signed for Adelaide United.

 

[Arsene Wenger]

indeed - read that today ^^^

http://www.adelaideunited.com.au/default.aspx?s=aufc_news_item&id=18067

 

[Gets!]

Happy with those signings!