Post by radinho on Sept 14, 2007 16:25:41 GMT 10
David Carney insists he has no regrets over swapping the bling of Sydney for the steel of industrial Sheffield – despite so far failing convince Blades boss Bryan Robson he is worthy of a place in his first team.
Before boarding a plane back to Australia for next week’s razzle-dazzle duel with Argentina at the MCG, the former Sydney FC showman re-iterated his belief that leaving the A-League behind was the best and boldest move of his career.
“Regrets? None whatsoever,” the 23-year-old said.
Carney has been ignored in four Championship outings but has been a star-turn in Carling Cup clashes against Chesterfield and the Milton Keynes Dons – both of which ended in victories for his new club.
“I have a three-year deal here and I think the boss is just nursing me through and giving me a chance to lift the level of my fitness a little.”
“I’ve already made a big impression with my team-mates, they respect and rate me – and I know it won’t be long before I break through and start showing what I can do in league games.”
“Sheffield United got me for peanuts (a meagre $A125,000) and already the fans have been saying I’m the bargain of the season.”
Carney is on a mission of vengeance against those at Everton who claimed their one-time youth team player wasn’t made of the right stuff to flourish in the upper strata of English football.
“I do have a point to prove,” he declared.
Voted man of the match in the 3-1 Carling Cup round one win over Chesterfield two weeks ago, playing as an attacking left-sided midfielder, Carney was then deployed behind the strikers in his second outing against the MK Dons, which the Blades won 3-2 after extra time.
“I know I have what it takes, and I’m willing to be patient here. It’s a long season and I think by the end of it we’ll be in the mix near the top, even though we’ve got off to a slow start (two defeats, a win and a draw).”
“I’m happy to look and learn and Bryan Robson and his assistant Brian Kidd have already helped me a lot.”
With Harry Kewell absent and born-again Socceroo Scott Chipperfield on paternity leave for the Argentina clash, Carney – along with the Central Coast’s Dean Heffernan – is one of the few genuine left sided players available to coach Graham Arnold.
A revelation as a wingback at the Asian Cup, Carney added: “Down the track myself and (the equally versatile) Scott Chipperfield could be competing for the same position. That can only be good for the national team.”
“If I’m picked against Argentina, it will be special. They’re a world power and I wasn’t going to miss the chance for anything.”
Carney very nearly did though, after suffering a dead leg and facing an inquisition from Robson on the need to fly around the world for a friendly.
“I literally begged him to let me come – and he gave in in the end,” Carney explained.
Carney claims there is no deep chasm in class between the Championship and the A-League, explaining it’s the passion off the pitch rather than the class on it that has blown him away.
“In Sheffield, we (the players) are all treated like rock stars. People live and breathe the game here – and that’s a big difference from Sydney.”
“It opens all sorts of doors. People can’t do enough for you.”
Carney is so at home in a city the postcard industry wisely overlooked, that he has bought himself an apartment and the same wheels Dwight Yorke used to drive in Sydney – a snazzy new Range Rover Sport - car of choice for the cashed up modern day footballer.
Now he just needs to get himself in to top gear. lol.
Before boarding a plane back to Australia for next week’s razzle-dazzle duel with Argentina at the MCG, the former Sydney FC showman re-iterated his belief that leaving the A-League behind was the best and boldest move of his career.
“Regrets? None whatsoever,” the 23-year-old said.
Carney has been ignored in four Championship outings but has been a star-turn in Carling Cup clashes against Chesterfield and the Milton Keynes Dons – both of which ended in victories for his new club.
“I have a three-year deal here and I think the boss is just nursing me through and giving me a chance to lift the level of my fitness a little.”
“I’ve already made a big impression with my team-mates, they respect and rate me – and I know it won’t be long before I break through and start showing what I can do in league games.”
“Sheffield United got me for peanuts (a meagre $A125,000) and already the fans have been saying I’m the bargain of the season.”
Carney is on a mission of vengeance against those at Everton who claimed their one-time youth team player wasn’t made of the right stuff to flourish in the upper strata of English football.
“I do have a point to prove,” he declared.
Voted man of the match in the 3-1 Carling Cup round one win over Chesterfield two weeks ago, playing as an attacking left-sided midfielder, Carney was then deployed behind the strikers in his second outing against the MK Dons, which the Blades won 3-2 after extra time.
“I know I have what it takes, and I’m willing to be patient here. It’s a long season and I think by the end of it we’ll be in the mix near the top, even though we’ve got off to a slow start (two defeats, a win and a draw).”
“I’m happy to look and learn and Bryan Robson and his assistant Brian Kidd have already helped me a lot.”
With Harry Kewell absent and born-again Socceroo Scott Chipperfield on paternity leave for the Argentina clash, Carney – along with the Central Coast’s Dean Heffernan – is one of the few genuine left sided players available to coach Graham Arnold.
A revelation as a wingback at the Asian Cup, Carney added: “Down the track myself and (the equally versatile) Scott Chipperfield could be competing for the same position. That can only be good for the national team.”
“If I’m picked against Argentina, it will be special. They’re a world power and I wasn’t going to miss the chance for anything.”
Carney very nearly did though, after suffering a dead leg and facing an inquisition from Robson on the need to fly around the world for a friendly.
“I literally begged him to let me come – and he gave in in the end,” Carney explained.
Carney claims there is no deep chasm in class between the Championship and the A-League, explaining it’s the passion off the pitch rather than the class on it that has blown him away.
“In Sheffield, we (the players) are all treated like rock stars. People live and breathe the game here – and that’s a big difference from Sydney.”
“It opens all sorts of doors. People can’t do enough for you.”
Carney is so at home in a city the postcard industry wisely overlooked, that he has bought himself an apartment and the same wheels Dwight Yorke used to drive in Sydney – a snazzy new Range Rover Sport - car of choice for the cashed up modern day footballer.
Now he just needs to get himself in to top gear. lol.
