Scottish journeyman Charlie Miller isn’t one to bear any grudges. After a difference of opinions with new Brisbane Roar coach Ange Postecoglou, one door closed and then a new one quickly opened for the veteran with his move to Gold Coast United.
Taking out last season’s Foreign Player of the Year award playing for Brisbane, Miller’s departure certainly raised a few eyebrows, with the 33-year old choosing to leave the club after Postecoglou couldn’t guarantee him a place in his plans for next season.
“I wanted to leave, I didn’t feel that things were going in my direction and I wanted out, I spoke to him (Postecoglou) face to face and it was better for me,” Miller said.
“He (Postecoglou) has got his own ideas as a coach, and I’ve played under many coaches who have their own ideas, but that’s life. Football is football.”
“We’re all big boys, we have to get on with it, sometimes we don’t always agree with certain people,” an amicable Miller contended.
Miller is already shaping up as a late coup for Gold Coast, whose recent erratic form after a whirlwind start to the season had many at the club wondering why the star-studded line-up was faltering.
But if his last two performances against Newcastle and Perth are anything to go by, Miller appears to be just the right ingredient United coach Miron Bleiberg needs, as the club searches for success in its first season in the Hyundai A-league.
A creative playmaker who doesn’t mind a joke, Miller wasn’t without a home for long, as Gold Coast swooped to sign the former Rangers star just before Round 18, the Scot repaying the club’s faith almost instantly by scoring in his home debut against Perth Glory.
“It was great (to score against Perth) I was very happy, but obviously the result is the most important thing … I loved it, I enjoyed the game, and it was good for Shane Smeltz to give me an assist for once instead of scoring all the time,” Miller joked.
With high hopes on the agenda for Gold Coast this season, Miller also said that the possibility of making the grand final was a major factor in joining the club.
“Hopefully we can make the Grand Final, I want to do that and I want to be part of a club that’s going in the right direction, if I keep doing okay then hopefully we can sit down and work out a new contract.”
“They’ve (Gold Coast) been exciting all season, they had some very good signings and for the first year they have started as a new club, they have done very well … they were headed in the right direction anyway so I was very impressed.”
Having been given a free role roaming behind top scorer Smeltz and Joel Porter, Miller has settled in well and is relishing the chance to score and create goals with one of the most dangerous attacks in the Hyundai A-league.
“They’re all good lads and good players. They’ll (Smeltz and Porter) help me score goals and I’ll be doing my best to help them score goals,” Miller said.
“Hopefully I can have an impact again this week, that’s what I’m here for, Miron (Bleiberg) brought me here to create or score and I’ve been very fortunate to have two assists and a goal all ready.”
This Saturday night’s derby match against Brisbane will see Miller come up against former Roar team-mates and best friend of 17 years Craig Moore, yet the Glaswegian-born defender believes he has no extra motivation except getting a win.
“I’ve got nothing to prove, but I want to win, I had a great time at the Roar but I don’t have to prove anything to anyone,” Miller said.
“I’ve played against him (Moore) before when he was at Rangers and I was at Dundee United, but we’re both professional enough to know that it’s about getting the win for our teams.”
“I’m looking forward to it very much, it’s a very important game for both sides, but obviously because I was at the Roar it adds more spice, but it’s just another three points.”
