Bingley fills Sydney's 19th spot

[Rex]

AAP
Former Socceroo Matthew Bingley has filled the 19th spot in Sydney FC's squad for the upcoming A-League leaving the club with the final task of signing a marquee player.

Bingley first came under the gaze of Sydney FC head coach Pierre Littbarski in 1997 while playing for Japanese club Vissel Kobe in the J-League, a competition the German World Cup-winning star helped establish.

Littbarski watched the 31-year-old in action for his NSW Premier League side Central Coast United last weekend and pursued the player, who plays both in the midfield and defence.

The signing ends a series of trials run by Littbarski to fill vacant holes and comes on the day the Football Federation Australia (FFA) required all teams to sign up non-contracted or marquee players.

Extra time is available to secure the signatures of these players.

"For me we now have a senior squad, he (Bingley) is a utility player, he can play the first half as a centre and the second as a back and in the forwards and that is what we need," Littbarski said.

"He is accepted by the squad because he was a national player and has played with many of them before."

Bingley is also a former Perth Glory player of the year.

Littbarski rated the chance of signing former Manchester United striker and Trinidad and Tobago international Dwight Yorke as the club's marquee player as "50-50".

"I have talked to the (Sydney FC) chairman (Walter Bugno) and I would like to finish it as soon as possible so I'm not 100 per cent happy but we can't push it," he said.

"We are still talking so we will see."

"He has a different offer from a different country with much more money but money is not everything, you can only eat three meals a day and Australia is a beautiful country and Sydney is a beautiful city."

Six weeks remain until the Australian Club World Championship Qualifying Tournament from May 7 to 14.

The event will decide which A-League team will represent Australia at the FIFA World Club Championship oceanic qualifiers in Tahiti in August.

Teams that qualify for Tokyo will receive $A1.27 million.

[Captain Howdy]

another good signing for sydney

[Rex]

Leaving themselves open for the Marquee signing. I guess we should find out who it's going to be in the next few weeks! :clap

Meanwhile I saw this article about Marquee players! ;)

[Rex]

Marquee, or not marquee
AAP
Melbourne Victory has one. Sydney FC and the Newcastle United Jets desperately want one.

But as for the remaining six A-League teams, a marquee player is not an option with one club writing them off as over-priced has-beens who alienate other team members.

Under Football Federation Australia (FFA) rules for the new A-League each club is allowed one stand-out marquee player outside the $1.5 million salary cap.

The sky, or the budget, is the limit when it comes to paying the player, with some predicting they could earn six times that of their teammates.

But the lure of having a big name on the squad list hasn't really taken off with Melbourne Victory the only club to make a marquee signing in Archie Thompson, a surprise omission from this month's squad to play Iraq.

Former Manchester United striker Dwight Yorke is the most high profile marquee target with Sydney FC making no apologies for wanting such a name to help it flourish in the highly competitive Sydney football market.

But after months of arm wrestling, the deal with the Trinidad and Tobago international seems far-off with coach Pierre Littbarski giving it a "50-50" chance of success.

The hunt for former Socceroo captain Paul Okon's signature continues at the Newcastle United Jets, but is looking unlikely with his Belgian club refusing to release him in time for the World Club Championship qualifiers in May.

But as for Adelaide United, the New Zealand Knights, Central Coast Mariners, Perth Glory and the Queensland Roar, the marquee option is off the table.

The Roar initially held lukewarm interest in a marquee player, but spokesman Peter Meares said coach Miron Bleiberg was bone cold on the idea.

"Miron doesn't have any faith in them, he thinks you pay too much money for a has-been," Meares said.

"At this stage he has got no intention of seeking one out. He hasn't seen anyone he would really want to get for the money. I was quite surprised but he wants to build a champion team, rather than a team of champions."

The Mariners chief executive officer Lyall Munro says a marquee signing would go against his team's philosophy and dampen team spirit.

"I can understand a Sydney crowd with their ethos and sporting psychology wanting to have a Dwight Yorke on the park but in our area I doubt whether it's going to be a point of difference at all," Munro said.

"We also didn't want to stand someone out. We just wanted a cohesive 20 and if we were to bring a Dwight Yorke for example in we would have felt that that might have been seen as some ways a comment on the rest of the players."

Perth Glory boss Jeff Dennis said his side didn't need a marquee player.

"We just don't think a marquee player is required. We believe we have got the right level of playing staff (and) we are also being a little cautious regarding the season to ensure we meet budget."

Football Federation Australia head of operations Matt Carroll wouldn't say whether he was concerned about the lack of marquee signings, saying instead it was a decision for each club.

"That's a choice by the clubs ... some of them aren't going to sign a marquee player and that's their choice," Carroll said.

The A-League kicks off on August 24.

[Captain Howdy]

theres alot of sense in not signing a marquee player, as it can cause alot of jealousy amongst the other players that arnt payed anywhere enar as much

[Rex]

Nod. Doesn't look like Yorke is coming - talks have been going on too long! :(

[Stone_Monkey]

theres alot of sense in not signing a marquee player, as it can cause alot of jealousy amongst the other players that arnt payed anywhere enar as much
Never heard the phrase marque player, but i get the jist just from reading this thread. Sounds better not to have one and build an actual team on your budget rather than out spending on a has been.

[Rex]

Well in the new A-League because they have a salary cap, the marquee player can be paid as much as they like and it doesn't add to the salary space.

So they can bring in a real superstar to entertain the crowd!! :clap ;)

[Captain Howdy]

their ment to bring in the crowds, so with a 1.5million salary cap on 19 players and then 1 player can be paid as much as ya want

[Rex]

Yes - the real problem is which players would want to play in the Australian league!

[Captain Howdy]

yeh it would be hard getting them here it would hyave to be the lifestyle that they loved more then money

[Rex]

One of the main tactics Sydney tryed/is trying to use to get Yorke to Sydney! ;)

[Captain Howdy]

well its great there, its better on the gold coast thugh, which is closer to the roar as well;)