Soccer: Waitakere coach signs up good mix for new season

Incoming Waitakere United coach Neil Emblen has come up with what promises to be a well-balanced and promising squad for next season.

The four players listed as "imports" add intrigue and should more than adequately cover the gaps left by retirements and transferals.

Emblen, who intends to take a player-coach role - "but only if I and my co-coaches feel it is the right thing to do" - will miss the first two games because of a carry-over suspension which rules him out of the O-League fixtures against AS Magenta in Noumea on October 17 and AS Manu Ura (Tahiti) on November 7.

"Because of that, I decided we needed some cover and experience in central defence, especially now that Danny Hay and Jonathan Perry have retired," said Emblen.

"I am more than happy that Graham Pearce has returned after his season with Waikato. He will be a contender along with Jason Rowley, Tim Myers and Ash Solly to play at the back."

Emblen is also more than happy to have Aaron Scott back to play at right fullback.

"He is a great lad and his commitment is unquestionable in that he drives up from Hamilton for training. It is a long trip to Fred Taylor Park but he never complains."

At left back Emblen is likely to opt for either Craig Wylie or newcomer Keegan Linderboom, which would allow Neil Sykes to move into midfield where United are a little thin given Chris Bale's move to Team Wellington and Paul Seaman's ongoing injury woes.

United have other midfield options, including former Wellington Phoenix and All Whites utility Jeremy Christie and Jake Butler who will captain the side.

Adding even more interest is Englishman Martin Bullock, a veteran of more than 500 games in the UK, including a spell at then-premiership club Barnsley.

The small 34-year-old has already impressed Emblen and promises to add to the battle for the starting spots in midfield.

It is up front Emblen is looking for his players to really shine.

Roy Krishna and Solomon Islands international Benji Totori return as does All White Allan Pearce while Daniel Kopricvic has moved across town to rivals Auckland City.

In keeping with the international flavour, Emblen has signed Brazilian Dimas Da Silva, 22, South African Ryan De Vries, 18, former All White Brent Fisher and schoolboy star Dakota Lucas from Kevin Fallon's all-conquering Mt Albert Grammar 1st XI.

Also missing from last season's squad are John Chisholm, Jeff Campbell, Hone Fowler, Jacob Mathews and goalkeeper Richard Gillespie who is teaching in Napier and will play for Hawkes Bay.

In Danny Robinson and former Otago United player Liam Little, Emblen is confident he has more than adequate goalkeeping cover.

Waitakere's first NZFC game is at home, at Fred Taylor Park, to Canterbury United on November 1.

WAITAKERE SQUAD

Danny Robinson, Jason Rowley, Aaron Scott, Tim Myers, Ash Solley, Graham Pearce, Martin Bullock, Brent Fisher, Benjamin Totori, Allan Pearce, Neil Sykes, Roy Krishna, Dimas Da Silva, Jeremy Christie, Craig Wylie, Neil Emblen, Jake Butler, Zane Sole, Dakota Lucas, Ryan De Vries, Keegan Linderboom, Liam Little, Jack Hobson McVeigh, Luke Adams, Tom Edwards, Jason Hicks, Dan Jones, Jason Mann, Jordan Vale, Tim Pilkington.