Matt Simon signs with Sydney FC

[Wombat]

I always liked the energy Simon played with, especially defending from the front by pressing defenders. It was a real contrast when he went to Korea and Bernie lacked in that area (initially anyway).
I don't know what happened to MS in Korea, but he just wasn't the same player when he came back. I wish him well as he has always given his all when playing for us but I think his recent performances with us were lack lustre Perhaps its just time for him and the club to go their separate ways

I think he had some personal issues but I think he was in the same boat as Duke....given an impossible task by a poor coach who usually played his strikers out of position and isolated.

Im sad he has left, but Heffernan looked a more natural finisher in the Coffs trial.

He is a great bloke and I hope he does well under Arnie.

 

[Rowdy]

Simon says the best is yet to come at Sydney :


With a strong pre-season under his belt for the first time in years, Sydney FC recruit Matt Simon is confident his best A-League form is still in front of him.

The all-action 29-year-old was thrown a lifeline by Sky Blues boss Graham Arnold after he was shown the door by Central Coast Mariners at the end of last season.

One of the toughest strikers to handle when at the top of his game, Simon has struggled with a number of injuries over the past few seasons. But back with ex-Mariners mentors Arnold and Andrew Clark, the twice-capped Socceroo is feeling re-invigorated.

“I’m feeling really strong and just happy to get a good pre-season under my belt,” Simon said.

“I’ve missed the last two pre-seasons and you’re always on the back foot when you miss a pre-season.

“I’m excited to be right in the thick of it this year and getting it all in my body. Putting in the hard sessions and working with Clarky again, he’s the best in the country at what he does.

“I trust him to get my body where it needs to be which is only going to benefit me heading into the season.”

Simon is one of a few attacking signings Arnold has made as the side looks to adapt to life without last season’s A-League Golden Boot Marc Janko.

Slovakian Filip Holosko is the Sky Blues’ new marquee, while Milos Ninkovic and Andrew Hoole also add flair and speed.

They join the experienced Shane Smeltz and skipper Alex Brosque to ensure last season’s beaten grand finalists will again pack a punch in attack.

“The players we have in this team are unbelievable,” Simon said.

“Every player in the squad I believe is capable of being in the first XI. To have the likes of Ninkovic, Holosko, (Mickael) Tavares, Brosquey, (Milos) Dimitrijevic, it’s amazing.

“It’s one of the biggest reasons I was so excited to come to the club. Players like Smeltzy and Brosquey in my position, especially, are two of the best finishers that the league has seen.

“You can see the class in training. Smeltzy’s finishing is unbelievable, I’m really enjoying watching him and trying to pick up little things off him.”

Simon is still commuting to Sydney from the Coast for training as he and his wife Angelique continue to look for a place to live closer to the harbour city.

Married for almost two years and with a one-year old daughter, things couldn’t be better for the former Chunnam (now called Jeonnam) Dragons striker.

“People tell you how hard it is when you have a baby and how busy things get but it’s all changed for the better,” he said.

“I’m really enjoying my time at home, happy at football as well so it’s all good. I’m in a happy place at the moment. I’m just loving the environment at the club.”

Sydney FC confirm A-League squad numbers for 2015/16

After spending six seasons with the Mariners from 2006-12, Simon moved to Korea and missed out on the club’s drought-breaking championship success the following season.

Asked if that has fuelled his desire to grab that elusive title with Sydney FC this season he added: “We’ve got a great chance in this team to be able to go all the way and that’s what we want to do at Sydney. Everyone expects us to win games and the players want to do that.

“It’s definitely one of our goals, it’s why we play, we want to win games and win trophies. Hopefully we can do that this year and I think we can.”

 

[Luca Brasi]

His original pay expectation to re-sign was probably unrealistic for CCM and he was considered an injury liability, the owner saw him as an example of the piss poor signings under Moss (even though he returned under Arnold). Matty is a proven A League goal scorer and we have taken a big risk in gambling on Heffernan for the sake of about $15k in wages. I hope Heff and Matty both do well this season (except when he plays against us).

 

[dibo]

A bit of a battle between finance and sentiment. The 15k extra might have ruled out taking on an extra player.

 

[Luca Brasi]

I am a sentimental bloke but I still think there is a basis for concern given their comparative records v cost.
Do you think our cap position is that dire that we have already spent close to the minimum spend of $2.29m for this season with the squad of 21 assembled to date?

 

[dibo]

Is the $15k difference the difference between Simon's negotiating position at CCM and Heffernan's contract or Simon's contract at SFC and Heffernan's contract?

I'm guessing it's the latter, and that Simon was holding out for a fair bit more at CCM (perhaps tugging a heartstring to see if it was attached to a pursestring) but once that negotiation failed he took a lesser offer at SFC.

 

[Luca Brasi]

Fair enough, do you have a view on the cap position?

 

[dibo]

Our position relative to the cap or the FFA and clubs vs the PFA argument?

No idea on the first and I'd be surprised if a $100k bump to the cap was as much a problem as the 5% bump of the floor from 85% to 90%, but there's a bit going on beneath the surface I think.

I reckon there's a bit of a proxy battle going on to do with the next TV deal - FFA is offering 30% of whatever the bump is - I'd be surprised if the PFA were asking for anything short of 50%.

The near-term stuff is positioning over the real battle.

 

[Gratis]

This is hard.

With a fast, fit team Matty could have been a real weapon for us.
On the other hand he could also have sent a few over the crossbar - with a fast fit team finesse around the box will be what we really need and we may have better already in O'Donovan and Heffernan.

We all love Matty - few are more emblematic of the Mariners spirit, he's been a Mariners hero for so long and he's a local boy through and through. It almost certainly was a money issue and he would have both wanted, and I'm sure was on, way more than $15k more than Heff who I'm sure got a minimum contract or close to it.

It was a case of potential goals per dollar and I just don't think it added up for the club. Also Walmsley knew what he wanted to do with the team and I don't think Matty fits where he was going and certainly not for the bigger dollars.

p.s. I hope Matty does well just not in any games against us

 

[Luca Brasi]

My question about the cap was more about how the budget is managed, relative worth of players, squad balance, contract lengths, experience/quality v youth/development, previous managers decisions affecting spend, realistic recruitment options.
Are we that close to the 90% floor spend with 21 players that it is unlikely any more can be expected?

 

[sydmariner]

http://live.shwidget.com/streaming/...otball-australia-hyundai-a-league-164006.html (Mat Simon is on the bench )

 

[sydmariner]

Mat Simon is about to come on for Shane Smeltz

 

[VicMariner]

On late to harass tired defenders, probably the best way to play him imo.

 

[sydmariner]

Imo arnie needs to play him for the full 90 next week

 

[nebakke]

Imo arnie needs to play him for the full 90 next week

Much as I love Matty wouldn't the only real reason to do that, be to rile us up?... Should be sure to give him a standing ovation when/if he goes on

 

[sydmariner]

bring on next week!!!!!!

 

[Big Al]

He changed the game imo

 

[Wombat]

Saw him at a CC restaurant mid week with his family and he looked fit. I wish he was still with us and hope he cracks the starting 11 for bling soon.

 

[sydmariner]

He changed the game imo

& nearly scored a good header

 

[MagpieMariner]

I have to say baby blue doesn't suit him one little bit.