Milicic focused on Sydney United revival

Having seen a makeshift side without the services of a number of key first team players dismantle the Blacktown City Demons in front of their own crowd, most managers would have been full of the mindless rhetoric that is oft spat out in the wake of victory.

A former Socceroo and one of the finest strikers to have recently graced the Australian domestic scene, a career that has taken Milicic to Europe has set within him inherent high standards.

And it is that characteristic that might just see him make a smooth transition from the pitch to the dugout ? though for the moment he continues in his player/coach role.

Focusing on the flaws in his side?s display, Milicic began by saying that he wished to ?teach the boys?, which bodes well for a club whose reputation has been built on the production of young talent ? indeed, of virtually entire Socceroos squads ? in recent years.

?Let?s be honest, this league is for young players to use as a stepping stone,? Milicic said. ?If you?re not here to go to go on to a higher level I?m not interested.?

And with no misconceptions of his own role, the humble Sydney United manager insists that he draws satisfaction from development rather than personal achievement.

He continued, ?I?m just happy for the boys when they win.

?They train hard, they [show a lot of] commitment, they work during the day and have to drive to Edensor Park.

?Because I?m from a professional background, I?ve tried to bring that into the change-room and they?ve responded.

?For me, in terms of playing I don?t expect too much of myself, I?m there to guide the youngsters.?

One such youngster is 24 year-old Luka Glavas, the striker who earned himself an A-League move after scoring 4 goals in the Telechoice Premier League Grand Final three years ago.

Ironically, Blacktown were the opposition that day and at the weekend the striker bagged two more goals against one of his favourite opposition to condemn them to a 3-0 defeat.

One strike was a magnificent curling effort that beat goalkeeper Michael Herbert, a glimpse of the potential that was never realised in two failed stints at the Perth Glory and Sydney FC.

With undoubted ability, Glavas is one player who will be hotly tipped to finish the league?s top-scorer this year ? though his manager has set much loftier goals for his star man.

?I?ve challenged him to be top scorer of the league,? Milicic said. ?I believe that with two new clubs coming into the league and with the way we play, he will have enough chances to attract attention, stop being a part-time player and a butcher during the day and get himself a pro contract.

?It?s up to him.

?He scored two and one was a beautiful finish but he missed some bread and butter chances; a striker of his age, I?d love to see him go home with the match ball.?

Whilst it is the more reputable Glavas who might have attracted the attention for his goal-scoring exploits at the weekend, the busy figure of Mitchell Thompson ? the brother of Socceroo and Newcastle Jets utility Matthew Thompson ? produced a man-of-the-match display with a steady stream of crosses down the left flank.

?I?ll be honest, he?s been my best player this season,? Milicic said. ?He?s another one [who can earn himself an A-League contract].

?He?s got a brother who?s playing in the A-League, who?s played for the Socceroos; why not someone give him a chance? Left footers are rare in football.

?If any A-League club was interested in a left-footer at this stage, I?d have no hesitation to recommend him.

?He does lack a little bit in height and he does concede the odd goal at the far post but what he gives me in terms of going forward, his engine and knowing when to tuck in defensively.

?He?s a good pro, he?s always the first one at training, he?s had a few bad years with injury but he?s had a good pre-season under his belt.?

A talented Sydney United squad will be keen to deliver for their prestigious club the success it deserves this season, whilst at the same time looking to develop some of their own careers in a domestic landscape with a growing number of possibilities.

?It?s easier now as a youngster to have a career overseas than it was for me in 1997,? Milicic said.

?When you said you were an Australian back then it didn?t mean much.

?When you say you?re an Australian now people remember our World Cup performance, our presence in Asia and can rattle off 30 players.

?When I was playing who did they know? Viduka and Kewell and they were still youngsters.

?Now it?s different ? that?s why I?m telling them ?Boys work hard? – because even six months could be enough to get you a deal.?

-By Chris Paraskevas