http://www.thewest.com.au/20030926/sport/soccer/tw-sport-soccer-home-sto113443.html
Glory star raring to get ball rolling
By Len Findlay
SCOTT MILLER declared yesterday he was ready to face Melbourne Knights on Sunday as Perth Glory begins its defence of the NSL championship.
"But I 100 per cent will always tell you that," the defender said. But a completed training session suggested he told the truth and will play at Arena Joondalup.
"He's an old warrior," coach Mich d'Avray said. "He'll want to play."
Miller spent three days under intensive treatment for fluid on the knee, a result of an accidental clash against Perth SC last Sunday. Now he looks set to join a new defensive formation as the Glory starts its season a week after most of the other contenders.
The stuttering start to the season is indicative to some that this is an interim championship, a bit of a fill-in until the new board of Soccer Australia gets a much improved version on deck for 2004-2005.
Just don't tell coach d'Avray or striker Damian Mori.
"The fire is still there," Mori said. "We might have a new team but we are defending the championship and we are out to create our own bit of history."
D'Avray riles at any such suggestion. "Who knows what will happen in the future," he said. "We have a title to play for this season and that is all we are looking at. The attitude of the players is first class and I would have expected nothing else."
Mori was out of action for much of the close season, making three visits to hospital for minor operations.
"It was not the best off-season for me," the NSL record scorer said. "I like to train all the year."
Training might become a bit of a memory for the Glory in the first half of the season when the team plays nine of its first 11 matches away from home, while Perth Oval is redeveloped.
D'Avray knows the trips will be long. He also knows they are into the unknown.
"There will be weeks when we play Sunday, then Friday when we won't train at all. Other weeks it will be one day's training," he said. "We won't know how it will affect us."
Glory star raring to get ball rolling
By Len Findlay
SCOTT MILLER declared yesterday he was ready to face Melbourne Knights on Sunday as Perth Glory begins its defence of the NSL championship.
"But I 100 per cent will always tell you that," the defender said. But a completed training session suggested he told the truth and will play at Arena Joondalup.
"He's an old warrior," coach Mich d'Avray said. "He'll want to play."
Miller spent three days under intensive treatment for fluid on the knee, a result of an accidental clash against Perth SC last Sunday. Now he looks set to join a new defensive formation as the Glory starts its season a week after most of the other contenders.
The stuttering start to the season is indicative to some that this is an interim championship, a bit of a fill-in until the new board of Soccer Australia gets a much improved version on deck for 2004-2005.
Just don't tell coach d'Avray or striker Damian Mori.
"The fire is still there," Mori said. "We might have a new team but we are defending the championship and we are out to create our own bit of history."
D'Avray riles at any such suggestion. "Who knows what will happen in the future," he said. "We have a title to play for this season and that is all we are looking at. The attitude of the players is first class and I would have expected nothing else."
Mori was out of action for much of the close season, making three visits to hospital for minor operations.
"It was not the best off-season for me," the NSL record scorer said. "I like to train all the year."
Training might become a bit of a memory for the Glory in the first half of the season when the team plays nine of its first 11 matches away from home, while Perth Oval is redeveloped.
D'Avray knows the trips will be long. He also knows they are into the unknown.
"There will be weeks when we play Sunday, then Friday when we won't train at all. Other weeks it will be one day's training," he said. "We won't know how it will affect us."
