EXCLUSIVE: Sydney FC new boy Mark Bridge has confessed to Newcastle Jets complacency but the striker hopes a school reunion will help take his game to a new level.
To see the three new signings in Sydney kits...
The Olyroo forward may have left the Hunter as a grand final hero but he won’t remember the 2007/8 campaign as his finest hour – leaving aside ‘that’ goal at the SFS less than a fortnight ago.
The 22-year-old told au.fourfourtwo.com: “Hopefully that goal against the Mariners is the beginning of the Mark Bridge story and that I go on to play in bigger games and take my career further.
“I feel I wasn’t moving forward as a player at Newcastle. I started to get a bit complacent and I think that showed in my season which didn’t bring many goals.
"I only really enjoyed the best spell going into the finals. I couldn’t get into a rhythm and then you’re away with the Olyroos quite a bit.”
John Kosmina believes he has signed a player who has barely scratched the surface of what he can achieve in his career and Bridge is happy to learn from Kossie and a certain member of his crew.
The youngster is looking forward to playing with marquee man John Aloisi but it is the prospect of lining up with another member of the forward line that has him licking his lips just as much.
He said: “Kossie’s comment about scratching the surface of what I can achieve is a massive compliment. It’s about coming here, playing under pressure and taking my game to a new level.
“I’m looking forward to playing with Alex Brosque. He and I both went to Westfields Sports High School. He’s two years older than me.
"He was in the senior team as I was coming into it. Just watching him back then, he was always a good player, someone I’ve always looked up to and a massive talent. His career just keeps getting bigger and better and I’m sure he’ll go further.
“So with Alex already here and Johnny (Aloisi) signing I’m looking to learn a lot off these two guys. I think they can both really help me.”
Bridge’s move to Sydney had been talked about for months rather than weeks but the player says those who had long talked of a ‘done deal’ were way off the mark.
He said: “It was all hearsay. I didn’t sign my contract until Monday morning. All those people who thought I’d signed were wrong.”
To see the three new signings in Sydney kits...
The Olyroo forward may have left the Hunter as a grand final hero but he won’t remember the 2007/8 campaign as his finest hour – leaving aside ‘that’ goal at the SFS less than a fortnight ago.
The 22-year-old told au.fourfourtwo.com: “Hopefully that goal against the Mariners is the beginning of the Mark Bridge story and that I go on to play in bigger games and take my career further.
“I feel I wasn’t moving forward as a player at Newcastle. I started to get a bit complacent and I think that showed in my season which didn’t bring many goals.
"I only really enjoyed the best spell going into the finals. I couldn’t get into a rhythm and then you’re away with the Olyroos quite a bit.”
John Kosmina believes he has signed a player who has barely scratched the surface of what he can achieve in his career and Bridge is happy to learn from Kossie and a certain member of his crew.
The youngster is looking forward to playing with marquee man John Aloisi but it is the prospect of lining up with another member of the forward line that has him licking his lips just as much.
He said: “Kossie’s comment about scratching the surface of what I can achieve is a massive compliment. It’s about coming here, playing under pressure and taking my game to a new level.
“I’m looking forward to playing with Alex Brosque. He and I both went to Westfields Sports High School. He’s two years older than me.
"He was in the senior team as I was coming into it. Just watching him back then, he was always a good player, someone I’ve always looked up to and a massive talent. His career just keeps getting bigger and better and I’m sure he’ll go further.
“So with Alex already here and Johnny (Aloisi) signing I’m looking to learn a lot off these two guys. I think they can both really help me.”
Bridge’s move to Sydney had been talked about for months rather than weeks but the player says those who had long talked of a ‘done deal’ were way off the mark.
He said: “It was all hearsay. I didn’t sign my contract until Monday morning. All those people who thought I’d signed were wrong.”
To see the three new signings in Sydney kits...
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