New Zealand Knights

The Age

Saturday August 20, 2005

PLAYER COMMENTS BY BEN COONAN

new zealand knightswww.knightsfc.com

North Harbour Stadium, Albany, Auckland

Tel: (+64) 9 414 3671

Home ground: North Harbour Stadium

Coach: John Adshead

DANNY MILOSEVIC

Age 27

Position Goalkeeper

Previous club Leeds United

An Olyroo at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games before disappearing off the radar after a fruitless four years with Leeds United. Returns to regular soccer with the Knights and will be in top form.

DARREN BAZELEY

Age 32

Position Defender

Previous club Walsall

Former English youth international who looks set to make the right fullback position his own in Auckland. Has experience in his homeland with Wolverhampton Wanderers, Walsall and Watford.

RONNIE BULL

Age 24

Position: Defender

Previous club Grimsby Town

Former English Football League 2 left wingback with Grimsby Town, before making the trek to New Zealand. Likes to get forward and has netted his share of goals in the UK.

JOHN TAMBOURAS

Age 26

Position Defender

Previous club Football Kingz

Formerly of the Knights' NSL representation the Football Kingz, Australian-born Tambouras looks a solid signing. With experience in Greece also, Tambouras is most likely to feature alongside Hay.

DANNY HAY

Age 30

Position Defender

Previous club Football Kingz

Uncompromising centre half and New Zealand international with experience abroad with Leeds United and Walsall. Returns to his homeland to spearhead the new New Zealand football dynasty.

NEIL EMBLEN

Age 34

Position Midfielder

Previous club Millwall

Tall midfielder from England with loads of experience from stints at Millwall, Walsall and Norwich City. Looms likely to be the primary creative outlet for the Knights.

STEVE FITZSIMMONS

Age 28

Position Midfielder

Previous club Brisbane Strikers

Brisbane-born midfielder who opened the Knights' goal-scoring account against Sydney in the pre-season Cup with a sweet right-footed strike. Very consistent in the old NSL and is sure to figure in John Adshead's starting plans.

BEN COLLETT

Age 20

Position Midfielder

Previous club Manchester United

Youth team player with Manchester United and rated highly by Knights coach John Adshead. Won the FA Youth Cup with the Red Devils.

SIMON YEO

Age 31

Position Striker

Previous club Lincoln City

The attacking linchpin of the Knights, having come to North Harbour Stadium on the back of a highly successful season with English Football League 2 side Lincoln City, where he topped the league goal-scoring charts.

SEAN DEVINE

Age 32

Position Striker

Previous club Exeter City

Tenacious English striker whose infamy came in the last English season where he put a goal past Manchester United in the FA Cup, only to have it disallowed. Should partner fellow Englishman Simon Yeo up front.

ZENON CARAVELLA

Age 22

Position Midfielder

Previous club Sydney Olympic

One of the Knights better signings from across the Tasman. In Sydney Olympic's otherwise disappointing 2003-04 NSL campaign, Caravella was a bright spark. Hard-working midfielder.

COLE TINKLER

Age 19

Position Defender

Previous club Waikato FC

One of two local youngsters in the Knights' line-up, having completed a successful season with New Zealand Football Championship runner-up Waikato FC. Is looking to prove himself at this level.

JEREMY BROCKIE

Age 17

Position Striker

Previous club Canterbury United

Signed simultaneously with Tinkler from the New Zealand Football Championship, where he starred up front for mid-table side Canterbury United. Again, unproven at this level.

JOSH MAGUIRE

Age 24

Position Midfielder

Previous club Blacktown City

Has played in Romania with Steaua Bucharest, and John Adshead has high hopes the Australian-born middle man will be able to inspire the Knights. Recovering from injury and has had only limited time on the training pitch.

JOSHUA ROSE

Age 23

Position Striker

Previous club Brisbane Strikers

One of the unheralded finds of the Brisbane Strikers final NSL season in 2003-04. Filled the Strikers' attacking needs effortlessly despite a lack of big-time experience.

NOAH HICKEY

Age 27

Position Striker

Previous club Football Kingz

New Zealand international and one of the All Whites' better-performed players in recent years. Very quick and extremely hard-working front man who has become the face of the Knights in the New Zealand media.

FRANK VAN EIJS

Age 33

Position Defender

Previous club LG Hanoi

Cosmopolitan Dutch defender with experience in Belgium, Scotland, Germany and Vietnam.

A tough tackling man marker.

XIAOBIN ZHANG

Age 20

Position Midfielder

Previous club Stockport County

Chinese youth international who has toiled in England's lower leagues with Stockport County since he was 16. An attacking midfielder with a nose for goal and one of the Knights most impressive during their pre-season.

NAOKI IMAYA

Age 24

Position Midfielder

Previous club Blacktown City

Has experience abroad with Swiss side Neuchatel Xamax. Returned to Australia to play in the NSW Premier League with Blacktown. Typically menacing Japanese midfielder with high work rate.

GLEN MOSS

Age 22

Position Goalkeeper

Previous club

Sydney Olympic

Commanding shot stopper who struggled for first team performances with Sydney Olympic in the final NSL season. Called up to the All Whites against Australia in May after strong performances for New Zealand's youth sides.

© 2005 The Age

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