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Victoria Melbourne, with Nick Ward starting, won 5-2 against the Central Coast Mariners. Melbourn Match Report and Pre-Match
Herald Sun - Merrick works on young Victory midfielder
IF FIRST impressions are lasting impressions, Melbourne Victory and Nick Ward could be headed for a partnership beyond six months.
Signed to a deal that expires after the first stage of the Asian Champions League, Ward has taken no time impressing Victory officials, who hope the former Perth Glory and Queens Park Rangers midfielder likes Melbourne enough to stay for the next A-League season.
Having played a half off the bench in the loss to Newcastle Jets, Ward played a full game in Monday night's 5-2 away win against Central Coast Mariners, convincing coach Ernie Merrick he is a player to make a difference for Victory.
Merrick rarely lets a day go by without reminding Ward that Victory wants him and needs him and the coach has noticed that Melbourne's infrastructure and facilities have made a favourable impression on the midfielder.
"We've made a great signing with Nick Ward, so now we just have to start trying to extend his contract," Merrick said yesterday.
"All we can do is try to win him over. I think he's been surprised by the set-up and the professionalism of Melbourne Victory.
"We have to try to convince him that this is the right place for him to develop as a footballer and to stay here for a season would help him do that.
"But I think enjoying his football is the best way to retain him."
There is no doubt everyone in the Victory camp would have enjoyed the win against the Mariners as Melbourne posted its best performance of the season, showing what it is capable of in full flight.
With Ward anchoring the midfield with Olyroos teammate Leigh Broxham, and wide man Adrian Caceres causing problems, Victory was able to deliver service to strikers Danny Allsopp, who scored twice, and Archie Thompson, who scored once and won the penalty converted by Kevin Muscat.
It might be considered too little too late at the end of an injury and suspension-riddled season for Victory, which still has a slim mathematical chance to make the finals with three games left.
But the signs were encouraging for the Champions League campaign that starts on March 12.
"Considering how difficult it has been putting a team together, it was good to see it all come together," Merrick said.
"We were finally getting it together and scoring goals. It was a great win and the boys were feeling good about it...." news
Sportal.com.Au "Too little, too late for Victory
The West Australia - "Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek has been urged to put aside the Melbourne Victory's disappointing A-League championship defence when it comes time to select his squad for next month's World Cup qualifier....And a selection bolter for Verbeek's first squad since his appointment last month may be Olyroos midfielder Nick Ward, who impressed in his first start for the Victory since returning to Australia following an ill-fated stint in England." The West Australia
Yeovil Express/Steve Sowden - Yeovil Town midfielder's 'worst ever year' in football
YEOVIL Town midfielder Marc Bircham will be hoping for a better 2008 after describing the past 12 months as the worst he has ever experienced as a footballer.
Bircham, who is just coming back to near first-team action following a lengthy injury lay-off which has seen him to yet make his League One debut for Yeovil since arriving at the club from QPR in the summer, said on his own personal website that it had not been the best of years for him.
"In fact, it has probably been my worst ever year in football and I haven't played a full game since January," he said.
"In a way a broken leg or knee ligaments would have been better because at least then you have a definite period when you know you'll be off.
"I've had operations and false starts and it's all been very stressful. It's like Groundhog Day and there were times when my head was all over the place.
My family, friends and the club have all been supportive and without that and my own mental toughness I'm not sure I would have made it
Yeovil Town midfielder Marc Bircham
"We were thinking of moving to Canada or the US at one point and then we had a little girl. It just wasn't the right time for a move like that."
Bircham added: "The move to Yeovil was a great one, but the frustration of not being able to play has been terrible.
"My family, friends and the club have all been supportive and without that and my own mental toughness I'm not sure I would have made it."
Bircham, who was an unused substitute on Boxing Day during the 1-0 defeat against Swindon Town at Huish Park, said: "I don't really do New Year resolutions, but I do have a wish for the New Year and that is to stay fit and able to play football. That would do me." Yeovil Express
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2008
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January
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- Snippets...Briatore Q&A...Mancienne in England U-2...
- QPR's Brilliant England Winger, Dave Thomas - Prof...
- QPR Snippets: Bradford Extremely Unhappy..Injury U...
- Two Years Ago Today: QPR's Home Loss to Leicester ...
- QPR (Supposedly) Bid £1.5m for Preston's Simon Wha...
- Hull's Manager on Walton Loan...Says For Rest of S...
- No Ricketts to QPR
- QPR's "Discarding" of Home Grown Talent: Perspecti...
- Ricketts Signing Problems
- QPR Supposedly Make Increased Offer for Nottingham...
- QPR's League Position Compared to Year Ago....Ex-Q...
- QPR's Cardiff Defeat - Further Reports and Comments
- QPR's 3-1 Loss at Cardiff - Reports and Comments
- QPR Goalkeeper Liam O'Brien Trialing With Arsenal
- Teams for QPR vs Cardiff
- Teams for QPR vs Cardiff
- Simon Walton Joins Hull: QPR Say Till End of Febru...
- Ex-QPR John Hollins Appointed Manager of Weymouth
- The Changing Face of QPR
- Ricketts Reportedly Passes QPR Medical, Will be Si...
- Cardiff Preview "Moneybags Queens Park Rangers" Match
- And Yet Another QPR Departure: Dominic Shimmin
- Bradford and QPR Agree Fee for Jamaican Goalkeeper...
- Yet Another QPR Player Departs: Marc Nygaard
- "On This Day" Flashbacks...Arsenal Crush QPR...QPR...
- QPR Snippets: Parrett in England U-17 Squad...Curt...
- "Rangers Find Star in the Park" - QPR's Angelo Bal...
- Snippets: QPR Reportedly Bid for Kris Commons...Ro...
- No QPR in Football League Awards Shortlists
- Looking at QPR (and Newcastle's) Chances of Succes...
- Ex-QPR's Richard Pacquette Profiled
- Ex-QPR Ugo Ukah Update: Demotion Penalty Imposed o...
- Released QPR Winger Kieron St. Aimie Joins Barnet
- "To Do a QPR:" A New Expression in the Offing?.......
- QPR's Former Defender Ian Gillard Profiled and Int...
- QPR Supposedly Want Aston VIlla Goalkeeper, Thomas...
- Departures and Non-Arrivals including Nardiello to...
- Ainsworth and Bignot Proving Their Character...Ste...
- Two Italy-Experienced Managers: QPR's De Canio and...
- Alleged QPR Transfer Target Happy For Now
- Snippets: Barker Injury Update...Paying to Play at...
- QPR vs Chelsea Land Battle?
- Flashback One Year: QPR Luton Cup Exit...China Fri...
- Di Vaio to QPR This Week?
- Spurs Goalie Radek Cerny Prepared to Join QPR
- Fitz Hall Happy to Have Joined QPR
- Snippet re Di Vaio...Injury Update...Kanyuka on Le...
- QPR's Rowan Vine Makes Championship "Team of The W...
- Agent Claims QPR Want to Sign Two Spurs Players......
- Released QPR Defender Pat Kanyuka Joins Swindon
- QPR's Hall on Manager De Canio: "He's definitely t...
- QPR Interest in Genoa's Marco Di Vaio?
- QPR's "First Tentative Steps Towards World Dominat...
- Where Are They Now? Eddie Kelly, Rachid Harkouk, D...
- De Canio Warmly Profiled...Barnsley Victory: Furth...
- QPR' Win Against Barnsley: 11 Points From Playoffs...
- Teams for Today's QPR vs Barnsley Game...QPR's Ame...
- Good Short Preview For the New QPR
- Sebastian Rusculleda Claims Collapsed QPR Transfer...
- John Spencer's Barnsley Hatrick....Barnsley on QPR...
- Marcus Bignot Speaks About QPR and Millwall....Dag...
- Barnsley Preview QPR
- QPR's Vastly Changed Playing Squad
- QPR Plot to Rule The World
- QPR Release Two "Home Growns"
- QPR Have Another Defender: Hull's Delaney Signing ...
- QPR's New De Facto CEO Ali Russell Profiled and Pr...
- From Hotly-Pursued to Not-Wanted: Shabbaz Baidoo ...
- Snippets: Watch Return?....Ex-QPRs: Richard Pacque...
- Delaney Signing Day? - QPR Supposedly Beating off ...
- "Bid to Play at Loftus Road"
- Briatore's QPR Spending Plans
- Snippets: Mick Harford Luton's Manager, Warren Nei...
- QPR Transfers Continue: Bidding for Hull's Delaney...
- Ainsworth on Briatore's Renault Factory Tour and D...
- QPR Officially Announce Appointment of Ali Russell...
- Remembering Mick Leach
- Guide to QPR Websites - Updated
- Bignot Officially Joins Millwall
- Another QPR Player Linking Up With Yeovil?
- QPR's Briatore:- De Canio Remaining in Charge at QPR
- Goalie Stefan Postma Allowed to Join QPR
- Next: QPR vs Barnsley
- Steve Slade Back in Action
- Gordon Jago: Profiled and Interviewed
- Snippets: Leeds' Jermaine Beckford - QPR Lost out
- Hearts' Ali Russell Officially at QPR
- Nick Ward Revived
- Bignot Leaves QPR...But Has Not Yet Signed for Ano...
- QPR Trying Again for Spurs' Wayne Routledge
- Bignot Reportedly Signing for Millwall
- Ex-QPR: Adam Miller Makes Team of the Week...Mille...
- QPR's Mahon: Promotion Comes From More Than Just M...
- De Canio Explains Process QPR Signs Players
- Ian Holloway's Final QPR Victory
- Additional Reports of QPR's Loss to Sheffield United
- Ex-QPR Update - John Spencer Turns Down Chicago He...
- QPR vs Sheffield United - Further Reports and Comm...
- QPR Manager De Canio on His Way Out?
- QPR Lose to Sheffield United - Reports and Comments
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