Perth Glory recruit Travis Dodd has welcomed the great expectations on his new club on the eve of the 2011/12 Hyundai A-League season.
Perth Glory recruit Travis Dodd has welcomed the great expectations on his new club on the eve of the 2011/12 Hyundai A-League season.
Dodd is one of several new faces in the Glory line-up after making the move west from Adelaide in the off-season.
“The expectation is high on the team,” Dodd said at the official season launch at the SFS on Tuesday.
“The club’s signed a lot of players and after last season I’m sure the fans expect a lot more out of the team, so in a way the pressure’s on us but it’s good to have that expectation and that pressure.”
“We know we’ve got a good squad and we’re just looking forward to getting out there and playing some football.”
The veteran of 137 appearances for the Reds says he already feels at home in his new surrounds.
“It’s been a good transition, the club and the players have made me feel really welcome so it’s been easy for me to settle in,” he said.
“My family has arrived there now and they’re all settled in schools and we’ve got a good support based there as well so it’s been good.”
The Glory finished a disappointing ninth on the ladder last season but have been arguably the most aggressive recruiters in the off-season.
Kiwi sharp-shooter Shane Smeltz, former Manchester United midfielder Liam Miller, Scottish premier league veteran Billy Mehmet and shot stopper Danny Vukovic will all join Dodd in the west.
“We’ve made a number of signings, Liam Miller who’s played at some big clubs overseas and another striker we’ve just signed Billy Mehmet, and he’s formed a great partnership with Shane Smeltz already and they played together in Turkey,” Dodd said when asked to rate his new team-mates.
“But even some of the young players, Josh Risdon who plays right full-back, Jesse Makarounas who just played in the Joeys and Adam Taggart.”
“There’s a lot of depth in the squad, a lot of competition for places so hopefully it makes for a strong competitive squad.”
However, the former Adelaide stalwart says the race for the Championship is wide open.
“I think every year it’s Melbourne Victory, Sydney FC, Central Coast – we played Central Coast in a trial game not long ago and they look really good already in pre-season,” Dodd said.
“Brisbane Roar and Adelaide have recruited well as well, so I think it’s going to be a really even league this year and hopefully you’ll see some good football out there and a nice, close finish.”
