Roar
look to Weah's cousin to give attack more grunt
November 29, 2005
Roar will trial the cousin of former world player of the year George
Weah to bolster their attack heading into the final stages of the
A-League season.
Stephen Weah, a Liberian international who's been playing in
Indonesia, and former South Melbourne stalwart Con Boutsianis have
been flown into Brisbane by Roar officials frustrated by the team's
dismal attacking record.
Queensland, held to a 2-2 away draw against Central Coast at the
weekend, have scored just 13 goals from 14 games this season despite
coach Miron Bleiberg boasting six strikers in his squad.
It's a record the seventh-placed Roar are desperate to rectify with
just seven rounds remaining before the inaugural finals series.
Weah and Boutsianis will undergo a rigorous examination by Bleiberg at
training this week. But Bleiberg said he might keep his current squad
intact rather than bring in a new face ahead of Thursday's home clash
against New Zealand.
"We haven't signed anyone yet, but I will make a decision this week on
what we will do," he said. "If none of them are suitable we will
battle on with the players we have. I have always said that I'm happy
with the current squad and I'm backing them to get the results we need
to make the finals. However, if someone comes along who can help us
perform even better, then naturally we will be interested in him."
Meanwhile, Newcastle Jets officials have examined footage of their
Friday night match against Perth Glory and say there is no evidence to
support a spitting allegation against one of their players. Perth
coach Steve McMahon made the allegation after the match that Uruguayan
fullback Mateo Corbo had spat at Glory midfielder Billy Celeski during
the Jets' 1-0 win.
On Sunday, the Glory submitted a statement to Football Federation
Australia, whose officials will analyse the match footage.
A Jets spokesman said the club had reviewed the tape again yesterday
and saw nothing to back McMahon's claims.
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