Gold Coast United Preview

Julius Ross

Ever since Gold Coast United FC was officially announced as an expansion team for the A-League’s 2009-10 season on 28 August last year, the billionaire-backed franchise from Queensland has gone from strength to strength.

Not only did the new boys on the block secure the signatures of an experienced coach and a number of high-profile players, but the side has completed an impressive pre-season which included claiming the scalp of English Premier League side Fulham in July.

As United’s first-ever A-league season kicks off, Jason Culina will be the man in focus at United on the pitch, while Miron Bleiberg and Clive Palmer and the ones to watch off it.

Culina will not only represent the blue and yellow of GC United as the marquee captain, but he will don the captain’s armband to lead the club for the their inaugural season.

In search of a “new challenge” and ready to promote our national competition, Culina’s exciting return to Australian football, after knocking back a contract extension at PSV Eindhoven, will undoubtedly please the fans as one of the Socceroos’ finest prepares to raise the standard on home soil.

Culina will be looking to use his exquisite passing ability to pick out his newly-signed striker Shane Smeltz, who has made the (wise) move away from perennial strugglers Wellington Pheonix to sign a three-year deal with Gold Coast.

Smeltz has been a prolific striker in the A-League, notching 12 goals last season to win the Golden Boot award for the HAL’s top scorer, and the German-born forward will be looking to penetrate the opposing backlines once more to help United’s title tilt this season.

Smeltz hasn’t wasted any time finding the back of the net for his newly acquired club, the New Zealand international smashing nine goals on his debut – although it was a pre-season friendly against minnows Mudgerraba S.C.

Culina, Smeltz and co. will be under the managerial command of Miron Bleiberg, who has had vast experience coaching in the Australian game, after he defected from Brisbane Roar (formerly Queensland Roar), while Paul Okon will fill the assistant manager’s position.

Although United will be a fairly unknown entity entering into their first season, their pre-season has been extremely impressive, with their final fixture against Perth Glory ending in a commanding 1-0 victory.

This result came on the back of a memorable come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Premier League side Fulham in July and a 5-0 thrashing of Hong Kong FC.

While Blieberg and his charges are not getting carried away with their impressive pre-season form, the Gold Coast’s franchise’s billionaire backer, Clive Palmer, is.

Queensland’s richest man and Gold Coast’s master spruiker has declared that his side will go through the 2009-10 season unbeaten; a bold prediction to say the least.

Only time will tell, and as United prepare to take on fellow newcomers North Queensland Fury on the opening day of the season, they should not be discounted as genuine title contenders for this season’s shield.