Signings battle begins

The debate is already in full swing as to who is the better signing between Brett Emerton and Harry Kewell but regardless of all the talk Sydney FC are confident they have the “right man” to take the club to the next level.

The debate is already in full swing as to who is the better signing between Brett Emerton and Harry Kewell but regardless of all the talk Sydney FC are confident they have the “right man” to take the club to the next level.

The Sky Blues completed an amazing week for the Hyundai A-League on Thursday by luring Socceroo midfielder Emerton home from English Premier League club Blackburn despite having a year to run on his contract.

The Emerton deal comes just five days after Sydney’s bitter rivals Melbourne Victory captured the prize signature of Kewell.

The signings will not only add further spice to meetings between the two clubs this season but also spark debate as to which club has picked up the better recruit.

While Sydney officials were reluctant to compare the two players, they are adamant in Emerton they have the perfect person to help them achieve their goals both on and off the field.

“They have different attributes and are different people but (Emerton) is the right person for us at this point in our evolution,” Sydney chief executive Dirk Melton said.

“In any business it’s about getting the right person at the right time.”

“It’s not necessarily about the name it’s a combination of trust and it being a function of character and competence.”

“You can have a name that’s competent and might not have the character you want.”
“In Brett we have both.”

“It’s as much about his character and what he brings to the team from a cultural perspective than just his name.”

“The culture we’re trying to build in this club, he will be a significant player in that and a wonderful role model for the juniors coming through.”

As luck would have it the Hyundai A-League season will kick off with Kewell’s Victory scheduled to host Sydney FC and Emerton at Etihad Stadium on Saturday, October 8.

But with both players expected to be involved with the Socceroos for their World Cup qualifier against Oman in Sydney just three days later, there is a push to move the match forward a couple of days to ensure the star dup will be involved.

While the FFA is still weighing up the decision, Melton said he was hopeful it could happen to allow the league to have their Hollywood moment for the start of the 2011/12 season.

“To launch the season earlier than expected with both Brett and Harry playing for these respective teams is kind of like a Hollywood moment and I don’t think your best scriptwriter could have envisaged this was going to happen,” he said.

“One would imagine that it would come about.”

Emerton is expected to arrive back in Australia on Monday to prepare for the Socceroos’ World Cup qualifier against Thailand in Brisbane on Friday week.

His first appearance for Sydney is likely to be in the club’s pre-season friendly against Perth on September 24 at Kogarah Jubilee Oval.