A-League Update

18 Yards Out takes a look at all the A-League action and movement from the last week

Adelaide United

Adelaide United look set to announce the signing of former Sydney Olympic and Sydney FC midfielder Iain Ramsey. It is believed the player will be offered a one year deal with the Reds.

Meanwhile Rini Coolen has moved to hose down speculation that Eugene Galekovic could on his way out of Hindmarsh for a move to Europe. Fox Sports reports that Galekovic believes a European move would enhance his chances of winning a Socceroo’s' berth at next year's AFC Asian Cup and to keep him in contention for the 2014 World Cup.

The A-Leagues goalkeeper of the year is said to be worth $1.5 million on the European transfer marker, however it is believed that Adelaide would unlikely would receive such a figure with reports suggesting Galekovic has a much more modest release price written into his current Adelaide contract

Brisbane Roar

Brisbane last week moved to increase their attacking weaponry for the upcoming A-League season, signing Costa Rican striker Jean Carlo Solorzano on loan from Costa Rican club LD Alajuelense.

Solorzano was apart of Costa Rica’s under 17 & under 20 world cup squads that competed in Peru in 2005 & Canada in 2007 respectively. Solorzano was Alajuelense’s leading scorer in the recently completed Costa Rican season, scoring 12 goals in 25 games.

It is expected Solorzano will make his debut against Branko Culina's Newcastle Jets in Port Macquarie this weekend.

Liam McCormick will join the Queensland Roar’s youth set up after winning this years Football Superstar. The 17 year old from Labrador QLD is the third winner of Fox 8’s reality TV show.

Central Coast Mariners

The Central Coast Mariners this week announced the signing of former Juventus and Gold Coast Utd goalkeeper Jess Vanstrattan.

The one time Terrigal Soccer Club junior had a seven year stint in Italy before returning to Australia for Gold Coast’s inaugural season in the A-League. The move will re-united Vanstrattan with Graeme Arnold who he played under at Northern Spirit in 1999

Goals from strikers Matt Simon and Adam Kwasnik helped the Central Coast Mariners to a come-from-behind 2-all draw against Sydney FC at the Sydney Showground last Saturday night.


Gold Coast United

Gold Coast United moved swiftly to replace the out going Jess Vanstrattan, by signing for Wellington and Melbourne Victory goalkeeper Glenn Moss. Moss moves to Gold Coast after an indifferent season between the posts for Melbourne Victory last season. Moss recently went to the World Cup in South Africa with the All-Whites

Adding to their keeper stocks, Gold Coast have also signed their National Youth Team goalkeeper Jerrard Tyson . Hobart born Tyson is considered by many at the club as one of Australia’s brightest young goalkeepers. This is Tyson’s first professional contract

GCU have also added promising attacking midfielder Ben Halloran to their squad. Halloran was recently called into the Young Socceroo’s squad that is set to compete in the upcoming Asean Football Federation (AFF) U-19 Youth Championship 2010, in Ho Chi Minh City.

Meanwhile Shane Smeltz has decided China is not for him and his family and is staying with Gold Coast. Shane Smeltz's move to China had been short-lived, returning to Australia only five days after arriving in Jinan to sign for Chinese Super League club Shandong Luneng.

The All Whites striker has reneged on a switch to Chinese Super League club Shandong Luneng.

A Gold Coast newspaper report states Smeltz has decided after just five days in China that it would be impossible for his wife and two children to settle in Jinan, a sprawling metropolis 400 kilometres south of Beijing.Smeltz's International Transfer Clearance form was never dispatched by United, so he is free to rejoin Gold Coast United.

As the new campaign’s opening day draws ever closer, Gold Coast United play their final official pre-season match this Sunday afternoon (25 July) against North Queensland Fury at Carrara Stadium.

Melbourne Heart

Melbourne Heart will play a friendly match with the Loddon Mallee Lighting on Thursday 22 July at Epsom Huntly Recreation Reserve.

Melbourne Victory

Melbourne Victory and All White goalkeeper Glenn Moss this week agreed terms to replace the out going Jess Vanstrattan at Gold Coast United.

Moss made 14 appearances for Melbourne Victory during the Hyundai A-League 2009/10 season, as well as representing the club in its AFC Asian Champions League campaign earlier in the year.

Melbourne Victory's 2-1 friendly game victory over Dandenong Thunder on Tuesday night saw Billy Celeski continue his long return from a serious knee injury. Celeski popped up to provided the late winner with an 89th minute strike

Newcastle Jets

Former Leicester City and North Queensland goalkeeper Paul Henderson, has signed a short-term contract to cover Neil Young who is on track to resume training in six weeks time. Young had suffered complications from surgery to fix a broken nose earlier this year after a clash with Gold Coast striker Shane Smeltz

The Jets currently hold a 100% pre-season record with their latest victory coming against a Sydney United select assembled as a farwell game for former Socceroo’s Zeljko Kalac. Goals to Jeremy Brokie and Ali Abbas saw Newcastle record a 2-0 victory at Edensor Park.

This win followed on from a 3-1 win over of an NBN Select XI side in the Hunter and a 2-1 victory against A-League debutants Melbourne Heart. The Jets next assignment comes in Port Macquarie this weekend as the take on Brisbane Roar. The Jets also have a trial planned against NSW Premier League club Rockdale City on Wednesday July 28.

North Queensland Fury

Rumours are abound that the North Queensland Fury is due to announce an international striker this week. Kenyan international Francis Ouma seems to have missed out on a contract despite impressive form during the Fury’s pre-season, which included a double against the Razorbacks

North Queensland players have recently been full of praise for new Czech Franz Straka. Straka’s North Queensland continued their pre-season preparations with a 4-1 victory over Papua New Guinea football club Hekari FC

North Queensland next assignment is against Adelaide United at Townsville’s Brolga Park on Friday 30th July.

The Adelaide match will be the Fury’s final pre-season fixture ahead of the new Hyundai A-League season, but before then, the squad will travel to Cararra for a “friendly” against last year’s rivals, Gold Coast United on Sunday 25th July at 3pm.

Perth Glory

Perth Glory may have been missing marquee man Robbie Fowler, but that did not hamper their pre-season preparations with the Glory recording a 2-1 victory over Football West Premier League outfit, Armadale FC

Armadale FC took the lead 19 minutes into the match thru Jason Goodwin, however second half goals from Branko Jelic and Jamie Harnwell handed Perth Glory the victory
Perth Glory had returned only four days from a camp in China.

Jamie Coyne and Adriano Pellegrino both started the match for Perth Glory after returning from overseas trials during the week.

Sydney FC

Sydney FC’s search for a new striker continues, with the club admitting this week they had assessed around 80 different forwards, but insist they are waiting on the right player and will not be rushed. Sydney FC coach has stated he hopes for the position to be filled before the start of the season.

"Time has passed quickly and we need him,'' Lavicka said. ''But we're working hard for that. We will bring in a player to trial and hope to sign him after that.''

Vice-Chairman stated: We're looking for more of a physical presence up front; a striker who can hold the ball up.''

Sydney FC yesterday announced the signing of versatile former J3 midfielder Hiro Moriyasu, and has since announced striker Alex Brosque has signed a new three year deal at the club

Wellington Phoenix

After a quite build up due to coach Ricki Herbert’s commitments to the All-Whites World Cup adventure, things have really come alive this week over in Wellington. The Phoenix take on Argentinean giants Boca Juniors at Westpac Stadium in Wellington on Friday, July 23.

Englishman Chris Shuker and Argentinean playmaker Roberto Carlos Cornejo are expected to make their debut’s for Wellington as they try to convince Ricki Herbert they are worthy of an A-League contract.

Herbert hopes Cornejo is able to fill a creative midfield role

Englishman Chris Shuker will touch down in Wellington today and be thrown in the deep end against Boca Juniors tomorrow as the Wellington Phoenix continue their quest for attacking depth ahead of the A-League season. Herbert also wants to sign former Newcastle Jets skipper Jade North as a central defender but admits his chances are "touch and go".

Reports this week also linked American born MK Dons player Jemal Johnson with Wellington.

All Whites midfielder Simon Elliot is also said to be open to discussions with the Phoenix.