Great news today with Sydney F.C. announcing the signing of Brett Emerton on a three year deal. Ok, Ok… I will serve myself a hepling of humble pie after my inept criticism of Sydney F.C in my previous blog. Although as you will soon notice this pie isn’t as full of that sugary humility as you’d think…
To think I will be able to drive 15 minutes up the road to watch one of the Australian greats train. Brett Emerton is one of the greatest Sooceroo’s ever. In recent times the argument has raged over who our greatest Socceroo is, with the only candidates often being the late John Warren, Harold Kewell, Timothy Cahill and Mark Viduka. All no doubt are great but I would like to add one name to that list, Brett Emerton.
He has almost led the blueprint career for any young aspiring footballer. Turning down offers from overseas as a youngster to first learn his trade in the NSL, national team (both senior and Olympic) he took the sensible route that many feel some Australian players aren’t making these days (eg. Nathan Burns, James Troisi, Nathan Coe, Dean Bouzanis).
Eventually at a more mature age he signed for a first class overseas football team in Feyenoord. At Feyenoord he made his name as a right back in the same team as Ebi Smolarek, Jon Dahl Tommason, Robin van Persie and Dennis Rommedahl. Feyenoord even made the UEFA Cup Final, with Emo missing the final thanks to a yellow card count through the tournament. I remember Emo in one game in his Feyenoord days taking on taking on Real Madrid. He dispossessed Roberto Carlos before dribbling around Luis Figo. He looked a real talent and we thought we were guaranteed a World Cup appearance surely with Kewell on the left, Emo on the right and big Dukes smacking the ball in from the centre. Of course Uruguay stopped us that time…
As time went on Emo began to apparently interest Everton, Tottenham, Manchester United and Blackburn. In a way I suppose it was a pity he signed for Rovers, but at the time they were still a big club. It wasn’t that long ago that they had won the title. In fact, a similar time to that of Arsenal and its last Premier League trophy… And despite their incredible recent turmoil I bet not many would criticise Brett Holman if he joined Arsenal. Comparable I guess…
Emerton played in the Premier League for many years, helping the constantly misfiring club stave off relegation on a number of times. In fact last year I am 100% behind the opinion an Emo-less Blackburn would have been relegated. I am so surprised Blackburn have let him go. What are they thinking?! Letting the same player who played so well against United in the final throes of last season go for nothing? Nuts surely? Well, it’s not the strangest decision they have made recently…
Emerton will be an outstanding player for Sydney. He will be better on the field than Kewell would have been. Arguably he is still at the peak of his playing powers. He shows little sign of slowing, and his decision to return before his body became broken should be applauded by all.
This latest step in his career is typical of his blueprint career, actually giving back to the country and community in which he was raised and has been so supportive of him for so long. Neill should be embarrassed rather than taking from it, giving nothing back. Next time Neill sees Emerton, he should be forced to walk on his knees and avert his eyes from Emerton whenever he is in his presence.
Ok, so have I now paid my dues? Can I possibly be so bold as to point out a couple of faults in this signing? Even if my opinion of the signing in general is a HD, A+, two thumbs up? It doesn’t change the fact that Kewell is more marketable for the greater Sydney public. There aren’t many Sydney-siders who haven’t heard of Kewell. There are more who haven’t heard of Emerton. That is the fact of the matter. If Sydney are hoping to enlist more new supporters to their cause, Kewell would have been the signing for them. Having said that, Emerton will probably bring back many of the supporters who have become bored of a club where Terry McFlynn is the supposed Captain Fantastic.
Well done Sydney. You have outdone yourself and surprised many a bitter and disappointed supporter.
Chris Scarcella
Gregory Calacouris
Pat McAuley
Skye McTavish
Tori Foschini
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have you thought that one of the reasons Blackburn released Brett Emerton to Sydney with no transfer fee and a year left on his contract was out of respect to the service and loyalty Brett Emerton has given the club for something like 8 years?
Your getting a little bit carried away there. The reason we have let him go is the club have brought in better younger players.. Rochina, Formica, Petrovic, Vucevic along with Gibson from Manchester United muted to be on his way. The likelihood is he would have been a bench player for the remaining 6 months. As someone who has watched him week in week out for the last 5 or 6 years, he is a decent right back, for me his better position. As a right midfielder where he normally plays he is reasonably dependable but far from a world beater. His greatest weakness is he is a confidence player and when things go wrong he disappears. I would say though he is a loyal player who always gives 100% which is commendable and rare these days and we wish him well in Australia.
From a quality perspective he is not in the same ball park as the likes of the likes of Kewell, Viduka and Cahill at their peak ( Cahill in particular is still a great player) .
As for it being shame he signed for Blackburn you will find they have flirted twice with relegation in the last few years, but have also finished in the top 8 far more often – both Totenham and Everton have been in similar positions over the same time period at least as often – They have also made the semi finals of the two major cup competitions 4 years in a row under Mark Hughes and once under allardyce, almost broke the top 4 in 2008, but for a few bad results in the last 4 or 5 games of the season.
Good Look Brett. Enjoy the sunshine – you deserve it – Lets hope you are made captain on Saturday against Everton so we can give you a good send off.
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