Gold Coast United

Last week the expansion team Gold Coast United had their first training seasons for the upcoming season.  This is a look at the squad Gold Coast Untied have assembled up to this time.

Gold Coast Untied

1. GK Jess Vanstrattan.  Has spent the last 8 years in Italy, only making a handful of appearances.  Was the first Australian to play for Juventus when he played in some pre-season games for them in 2007.  Will be Gold Coast United's first choice goalkeeper.

20. GK Scott Higgins.  Has played in three different countries, in Australia with various teams, in Scotland with Falkirk making 31 appearances and with Maccabi Herzliya in Israel making 29 appearances.  The only other goalkeeper Gold Coast have signed so far.

2.  CB.  Adam Griffiths.  Is a versatile player who can also play at left and right back and a defensive role in the centre of midfield.  Has made 38 appearances for the Newcastle Jets in the last two seasons.

3.  CB.  Michael Thwaite.  Came back to Australia last season and made 16 appearances for Melbourne Victory.  Had spent the four previous seasons with clubs in Europe.  Has played 6 games for the socceroos.  Will try to display better playing form then he did in his season with Melbourne.

6.  CB.  Steve Pantelidis.  In the first four seasons of the A-league Pantelidis made 58 appearances for Melbourne which included playing in the second season's grand final.  Can also play in centre midfield.  

15.  CB.  Bas van den Brink.  Not much information can be found for the Dutch player Bas van den Brink.  The last club he played for were FC Oniworld who play in the second division of Dutch football, he made 25 appearances for them.          

16. CB. Kristian Rees.  In the four seasons of the A-league Rees has played two seasons with Adelaide United making 35 appearances and one with Wellington Phoenix making 9 appearances.     

18. CB. Daniel Piorkowski. Can also play at right back.  In the A-league Piorkowski has previously played 30 games for Melbourne (2005-08) and 7 for Newcastle (2008-09).  In between this he played two games for English club Walsall.  Is injury prone.

    

4. Mid. Zenon Caravella.  In the first A- league season played 21 games for the New Zealand Knights.  In between then and signing for Gold Coast Caravella had played 52 matches for the same Dutch club (FC Ommiworld) that centre back Bas van den Brink was signed from.

7.  Attacking Mid. Jefferson.  One of the three Brazilians Gold Coast has signed.  Played for Flamengo at youth level.  The club he played for before signing with Gold Coast was Criciuma who play in the third division of Brazilian football.         

  

8.  Defensive Midfielder. Robson.  Another one of the Brazilians.  Also played for Flamengo at youth level.  Was signed from Brazilian third division club Operario.             

        

11.  CAM. Jason Culina.  Gold Coast United's inaugural marquee player and club captain.  For the last nine seasons Culina has played in Eredivisie for various clubs making 170 appearances, with the last four seasons being at PSV Eindhoven. Is likely to play a more attacking role then he does with the national team and PSV Eindhoven. 

14.  Mid.  James Brown.  Gold Coast United is this 19 year old's first senior club.  Played at youth level with the AIS in the Victorian Premier League.  

17. RM. Matthew Osman.  Played 58 games for Central Coast in the first four A-league seasons. Came off the bench in the first season grand final which Central Coast lost to Sydney.   

21.  Mid.  Steve Fitzsimmons.  Has played for two A-league clubs previously.  In the first season he played 11 matches for the New Zealand Knights.  He also made 1 appearance for the Queensland Roar in the second season.  Before being signed by Gold Coast United he was playing in the Brisbane Premier League 1.

9.  St.  Shane Smeltez.  Since returning to the A-league for the past two seasons to play for Wellington he has arguably become the most feared striker in the league, scoring at a rate of better then a goal every other game 39 games 21 goals.  Last season Smeltez was the golden boat winner with 12 goals, Johnny Warren Medal winner for best player in the league and also won the award for having scored the best goal of the season.

10.  St.  Andrew Barisic.  Has played in the Victorian Premier League and the lower leagues of Germany.  Was playing for the Melbourne Knights before being signed by Gold Coast Untied.

12. RF.  Tahj Minniecon.  Can also play on the right wing, a very quick player.  Made 24 appearances and scored 4 goals for the roar in the last two seasons.  Will be the target for roar fans whenever the teams meet because of his move to Gold Coast Untied. 

13. St.  Milson.  The third Brazilian.  Before being signed by Gold Coast United Milson was on loan at Brazilian club Madureira who also play in the Brazilian third division.

19. St.  Joel Porter.  For the past six seasons Porter has played for English lower league club Hartlepool Untied making 162 appearances and scoring 46 goals.  Is likely to start for Gold Coast United as Shane Smeltz forward partner.

Gold Coast United still have room to sign a few more players.  They are likely to try to sign a young goalkeeper to be their third choice goalie, a left or right back and another midfielder or even another defender to finish their squad for the upcoming season.