Ex-QPR Snippets: Nick Ward's Successful Melbourne Start...Bircham's Worst-Ever Year

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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