haz Posted July 18, 2016 Report Share Posted July 18, 2016 (edited) Melbourne City sign Socceroo Neill Kilkenny from Preston North End MATT WINDLEY, Herald Sun 30 minutes ago Subscriber only SOCCEROO Neil Kilkenny is coming home to the A-League. But then again, Australia isn’t exactly home for the midfielder who has spent all but seven years of his life in England. Kilkenny has signed a two-year deal with Melbourne City and trained with his new teammates for the first time on Monday. The 30-year-old, who since 2004 has played in each of the Premier League, Championship and League One for clubs like Birmingham City, Leeds United and most recently Preston North End, said he had been seriously thinking about leaving England for a couple of years. So when City made contact “six or seven weeks ago” it came at exactly the right time. Kilkenny said he always wanted to play “abroad”. And while he has both Aussie and British passports, Kilkenny still inadvertently lumps Australia in to that category. Melbourne City signing Neil Kilkenny at Citys Bundoora headquarters today. Pic: Michael Klein “I’ve lived most of my life in England,” Kilkenny told the Herald Sun. “My partner is English, my three kids are English, so I don’t know what the future holds for us in the sense of where we’ll live after my career. “But I’ve always kept an eye on the A-League and then this opportunity came up. “I’ve always thought about going away from England, I spoke to people at the club and spoke to people about the club and everyone was very positive about what was going on, so I thought ‘why not? Let’s try something new’.” Kilkenny was born in Enfield, Middlesex, moved to Brisbane with his parents and two older brothers when he was four and then back to England when he was 11. He has only been to Melbourne once, when part of a Socceroos camp. “I think it’s been 19 years since I’ve lived here, so it’s going to be a bit of a culture shock for me and especially my family because they’ve never been to Australia,” he said. “It’s going to be an adventure, but an exciting one that we’re looking forward to.” Neil Kilkenny in action for Australia at the 2011 Asian Cup. Kilkenny feels the positivity with which A-League teams try to play will suit his style better than the route-one habits of many lower tier English sides. He is emboldened, too, by the fact that Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou isn’t afraid to pick Australian-based players for the national team. Kilkenny hasn’t played for the Socceroos since 2012, but he hasn’t given up on adding to his 14 caps. “I’ve always wanted to play for the Socceroos and I still want to play. “I still feel that I should be in the squad and obviously it’s my chance to prove it now, being more in front of the manager.” http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/football/a-league/melbourne-city-sign-socceroo-neill-kilkenny-from-preston-north-end/news-story/943f8655ff2bccdc650455ec8fbf5725 http://au.fourfourtwo.com/forums/default.aspx?g=posts&t=117213 Edited October 17, 2016 by jw1739 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shahanga Posted July 18, 2016 Report Share Posted July 18, 2016 Welcome home you dinky di true blue Aussie! (Though if the weather keeps us as it has been he'll be moving back to the UK midlands for better climes). Good signing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
haz Posted July 18, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 18, 2016 Can't see Melling getting much of a run this season. Inb4 he returns to Adelaide in January Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thisphantomfortress Posted July 18, 2016 Report Share Posted July 18, 2016 9 minutes ago, haz said: Can't see Melling getting much of a run this season. Inb4 he returns to Adelaide in January Inb4 melling has the season of his life and lame ass Brattan fucks off back to manchester but seriously you forget one thing; we ALWAYS have a massive injury list. Basically it's been "stay fit get games" case in point; Clisby, Jack 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
haz Posted July 18, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 18, 2016 6 minutes ago, thisphantomfortress said: Inb4 melling has the season of his life and lame ass Brattan fucks off back to manchester but seriously you forget one thing; we ALWAYS have a massive injury list. Basically it's been "stay fit get games" case in point; Clisby, Jack Hope he does too, Melling is the sort of player I want to come into the midfield with about 30 minutes to go and fuck shit up. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silva10 Posted July 18, 2016 Report Share Posted July 18, 2016 (edited) With this signing, I think it is safe to say Malik will probably be playing at centre half next season. I expect Kilkenny, Brattan and Caceres will be our midfield three. Edited July 18, 2016 by silva10 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tommac Posted July 18, 2016 Report Share Posted July 18, 2016 Good signing- he's a very handy player and will do well in the A-league. Still a good age, and brings a lot of experience. Interesting to see what this means for the marquee we (surely) bring in. Malik definitely in the back 4. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
haz Posted July 18, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 18, 2016 (edited) 8 minutes ago, tommac said: Good signing- he's a very handy player and will do well in the A-league. Still a good age, and brings a lot of experience. Interesting to see what this means for the marquee we (surely) bring in. Malik definitely in the back 4. Surely we will be playing only 3 at the back. Probably going back to a 3-5-2 or similar --------------------------------------Sørensen--------------------------------------------- ------------Chapman--------------VISA CB-----------------------Malik----------------- ---------------------------------------Brattan----------------------------------------------- Kamau/Fitzy-----------------Caceres/Kilkenny-------------------Brandan----------- ------------------------------VISA MARQUEE CAM-------------------------------------- -------------------Cahill-----------------------------------Fornaroli------------------------- Pretty strong looking team if other decent signings are pulled off...... Now just to sign a new coach Edited July 18, 2016 by haz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R410 Posted July 18, 2016 Report Share Posted July 18, 2016 (edited) 1 hour ago, haz said: Can't see Melling getting much of a run this season. Inb4 he returns to Adelaide in January Melling is probably going to end up playing alot of time at CB Edited July 18, 2016 by R410 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rass Posted July 18, 2016 Report Share Posted July 18, 2016 Sounds good though admittedly i don't know much about him. Get the feeling he is going to be our Valeri equivalent, which is probably a good thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
haz Posted July 18, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 18, 2016 (edited) Quote City Signs Australian Midfielder ihttp://www.melbournecityfc.com.au/di/library/Melbourne_Heart/bb/fb/neilkilkenny_1llec0fegh958zkhi5688vrp0.png?t=-41008435 Melbourne City FC can announce it has signed Australian midfielder Neil Kilkenny on a two-year deal, adding depth to John van’t Schip’s midfield ahead of the Hyundai A-League 2016/17 Season. Most recently based in England after completing the 2015/16 Football League Championship season with Preston North End, the player underwent his medical at the City Football Academy in Manchester last week, and arrived in Melbourne on Monday to commence training with his new teammates. The 30-year-old midfielder is the Club’s eighth signing of the season; a creative player who thrives in linking defence with attack. Born in England before moving to Australia as a child – and therefore eligible to play the Socceroos – Kilkenny’s playing career began at Arsenal FC’s youth academy. Having progressed through Arsenal’s junior ranks, Kilkenny played for Birmingham City, Oldham Athletic, Leeds United, Bristol City and Preston North End, making over 300 appearances across a 12-year career in England. The midfielder also represented England’s under-18s, under-20s and the Republic of Ireland’s under-19s, before settling his international career with Australia, featuring for the Olyroos on 10 occasions and earning 14 caps for the Socceroos. image: http://images.performgroup.com/di/library/Melbourne_Heart/a1/a6/membership-banner_1cic336y1hwff1lv3qlc7asjdk.png?t=-279715108 Head Coach John van’t Schip said: “Neil has played over a decade in England so has the right qualities to help deliver experience and leadership from the centre of midfield. “We have followed Neil’s progress and believe he is the type of player who can fit into our system and execute the way we want to play.” Kilkenny said: “I have always wanted to challenge myself in the A-League and this move has come at the perfect time. “I’m excited to be playing for a team that plays a certain style of football; I’m looking forward to the challenge and the adventure and everything that surrounds this move and I can’t wait to start.” Kilkenny’s arrival follows recent signings Manny Muscat, Bruce Kamau, Daniel Arzani, Ruon Tongyik and Luke Brattan and the re-signing of Dean Bouzanis, Nick Fitzgerald and Anthony Caceres. - See more at: http://www.melbournecityfc.com.au/article/city-signs-australian-midfielder/uyf7a7lfspal15t1j4azwufu9#sthash.Ys7wG3HK.dpufRead more at http://www.melbournecityfc.com.au/article/city-signs-australian-midfielder/uyf7a7lfspal15t1j4azwufu9#aA4b1seCLlRRmlIR.99 That article was published at 4am in the morning?? Edited July 18, 2016 by haz 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strider Posted July 18, 2016 Report Share Posted July 18, 2016 4 minutes ago, haz said: That article was published at 4am in the morning?? dat intern fuck up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dylan Posted July 18, 2016 Report Share Posted July 18, 2016 Seems like Coco Joy is out. Getting closer to a cleaner kit 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
playmaker Posted July 18, 2016 Report Share Posted July 18, 2016 Good signing. It's funny how in his interview he referred to 'Michael and the other coach'. Quite refreshing that JVS might be taking a back seat with signings, tactics and strategies. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreenSeater Posted July 18, 2016 Report Share Posted July 18, 2016 50 minutes ago, haz said: Surely we will be playing only 3 at the back. Probably going back to a 3-5-2 or similar --------------------------------------Sørensen--------------------------------------------- ------------Chapman--------------VISA CB-----------------------Malik----------------- ---------------------------------------Brattan----------------------------------------------- Kamau/Fitzy-----------------Caceres/Kilkenny-------------------Brandan----------- ------------------------------VISA MARQUEE CAM-------------------------------------- -------------------Cahill-----------------------------------Fornaroli------------------------- Pretty strong looking team if other decent signings are pulled off...... Now just to sign a new coach To play three at the back you need two wing-backs. Brandan, Kamau and Fitzy are not defensive players by any means, so unless we sign a pair of wing-backs I can't see this happening. As for Kilkenny, great signing imo. A nice bit of experience in the middle. For all the talk about us signing old and injured players our squad is looking very young this year and a bit of experience will probably go a long way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris p Posted July 18, 2016 Report Share Posted July 18, 2016 15 minutes ago, Dylan said: Seems like Coco Joy is out. Getting closer to a cleaner kit Nissan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jw1739 Posted July 18, 2016 Report Share Posted July 18, 2016 A good solid signing IMO. Has played plenty of football at the right level. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony999 Posted July 18, 2016 Report Share Posted July 18, 2016 We're ganna win the league! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heart of Melbourne Posted July 18, 2016 Report Share Posted July 18, 2016 Lol at the herald scum saying Kilkenny is Mooys replacement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dylan Posted July 18, 2016 Report Share Posted July 18, 2016 Tuesday 4am the new Thursday 10am? 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shahanga Posted July 18, 2016 Report Share Posted July 18, 2016 6 minutes ago, Dylan said: Tuesday 4am the new Thursday 10am? @Tesla on the payroll now? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deviant Posted July 18, 2016 Report Share Posted July 18, 2016 23 minutes ago, Tony999 said: We're ganna win the league! I've heard this ever season since inception. Never gets old. lol 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murfy1 Posted July 19, 2016 Report Share Posted July 19, 2016 Great pedigree, quality style of play, good age. Top signing. I look forward to seeing Kilkenny play. I agree about Malik. He'll play in defence for sure. In the midfield we now have excellent depth: Brattan Kilkenny (Melling) (Retre) Caceres (Arzani) and if we signed a marquee no 10, that would give us the best midfield in the league for sure. But regardless right now it's a really exciting midfield with a lot of technical quality spread across all of our midfielders. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattyh001 Posted July 19, 2016 Report Share Posted July 19, 2016 Think this will be a good signing, although I've read a few things where some have questioned his defensive output. From what I can tell, his 13 league games last season was more down to falling out of favor than injury based. Makes me wonder what's happening with Retre as opposed to Melling. Retre has always seemed the more inconsistent of the pair Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
n i k o Posted July 19, 2016 Report Share Posted July 19, 2016 From what I've seen of him there's a number of qualities to like: he will be our new dead ball specialist has good vision in picking a pass which allows him to look to play forward at any chance he gets likes to play to a fast tempo, but equally when he holds possession its usually with a useful forward run seems to be willing to take on a shot given time on the ball has some decent evasion skills to open up options for himself Not sure about his defensive work rate. Most of the videos are of him in attacking possession however overall happy with this signing. Has a very good pedigree of clubs so his experience will be great to have in the center of the pitch among our Aussie midfielders. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dylan Posted July 19, 2016 Report Share Posted July 19, 2016 looks like a maths teacher 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JC22 Posted July 19, 2016 Report Share Posted July 19, 2016 Fair goal at 1:20. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loriente Posted July 19, 2016 Report Share Posted July 19, 2016 I must admit, I don't follow the lower leagues of England so I haven't seen much of this guy. Only a couple of cameos for the Socceroos a few years back (Asian Cup '11?). Certainly looks like he can pick a pass. Hope he can have a similar impact to Engelaar, we've really missed a slightly deeper creative midfielder. Paartalu, Melling, Malik aren't really known for their passing - the opposite, really. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dylan Posted July 19, 2016 Report Share Posted July 19, 2016 Can he play LB? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
n i k o Posted July 19, 2016 Report Share Posted July 19, 2016 What are you looking forward to most this season? "Simple. Its to win. I'm a winner. The club wants to win. I want to win. Hopefully all the players want to win and the fans want to win. So its all about winning for me." 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dylan Posted July 19, 2016 Report Share Posted July 19, 2016 2 minutes ago, n i k o said: What are you looking forward to most this season? "Simple. Its to win. I'm a winner. The club wants to win. I want to win. Hopefully all the players want to win and the fans want to win. So its all about winning for me." Im more of a fan who prefers to win when we win and lose when we lose 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
n i k o Posted July 19, 2016 Report Share Posted July 19, 2016 4 minutes ago, Dylan said: Im more of a fan who prefers to win when we win and lose when we lose Ah yes, never forget your roots 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony999 Posted July 19, 2016 Report Share Posted July 19, 2016 38 minutes ago, Dylan said: Im more of a fan who prefers to win when we win and lose when we lose Well I prefer if we win we win, if we lose we lose attitude. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffplz Posted July 19, 2016 Report Share Posted July 19, 2016 Glimpses of new merch and kit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jozzy Posted July 19, 2016 Report Share Posted July 19, 2016 Very happy with this signing, our midfield is now complete! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loriente Posted July 19, 2016 Report Share Posted July 19, 2016 21 minutes ago, jeffplz said: Glimpses of new merch and kit Jeez, he looks and speaks like a bit of a pussy. Hopefully he gets a bit of the ole white line fever! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jovan Posted July 19, 2016 Report Share Posted July 19, 2016 1 hour ago, loriente said: Jeez, he looks and speaks like a bit of a pussy. Hopefully he gets a bit of the ole white line fever! Mooy x2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JC22 Posted July 19, 2016 Report Share Posted July 19, 2016 Just watched the interview - I could be reading too much in to it here, but I think he might like winning. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hakz7 Posted July 19, 2016 Report Share Posted July 19, 2016 2 hours ago, jeffplz said: Glimpses of new merch and kit Where? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffplz Posted July 19, 2016 Report Share Posted July 19, 2016 8 minutes ago, hakz7 said: Where? That kit has a Nissan sponsor on it. I doubt they'd update last season's kit with the new sponsor just to hide the new kit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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