The new Hyundai A-League season may still be more than three months away but Sydney FC midfielder Brandon O'Neill has already fired off the first shot at the club's fiercest rivals.
The Sky Blues have caused two massive stirs in the off-season: first by snatching Kosta Barbarouses away from Big Blue enemy Melbourne Victory, and then snaring Western Sydney Wanderers discard Alexander Baumjohann.
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Matches with the Victory and the Wanderers are always full of blood and thunder, but the intensity level next season is destined to go up to a whole new level after Sydney's stunning pair of transfers.
And midfielder O’Neill - who made his Caltex Socceroos debut against Korea Republic a month ago - couldn’t resist a little dig as he returned to training with the Sky Blues on Monday.
“They’ve [Barbarouses and Baumjohann] come to the biggest club in Australia and so far they have loved every minute of it,” he told Sydney FC’s official website.
“They are both walking around with a big smile on their face and that says more than anything really.”
Feature image courtesy of Jaime Castaneda
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Georgievski happy to be home
Daniel Georgievski used to shudder when he travelled to Parramatta to play Western Sydney Wanderers as an opposition player.
But now he’s wearing the Red and Black, the new Wanderers recruit can’t wait to get onto the new Bankwest Stadium.
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Georgievski is set to make his debut for Markus Babbel’s team in the glamour friendly against Leeds United in the Wanderers’ first match at their new home ground on July 20.
"I only had a couple of games when it was ‘Wanderland’ and you know... it definitely wasn't something that we liked (as an opposition)," Georgievski said on the Wanderers’ official website.
"It was one of the hardest stadiums to come to and play in front of the crowd.
"It wasn't like a 12th man, it was a 13th man... now it's good to be on this side for the new stadium.
"It'll be a bit in your face which probably will be intimidating for everyone but we'll get used to it."
