Adelaide United’s latest signing, Vince Lia, says he is excited about becoming a Red and discussed what he hopes to offer his new team.
The 32-year-old midfielder joins the Club on a one-year contract and will provide valuable experience and versatility to the squad.
Lia has amassed over 200 appearances after spending the past 10 years with the Wellington Phoenix and a two-year stint at Melbourne Victory prior to his stay in New Zealand.
After a successful trial with the Club, Lia said he was delighted to have joined the Reds and was eager to reciprocate the faith shown in him for the upcoming season.
“It’s exciting,” Lia said. “I had a couple of months off contract and I guess the longer that goes on the more you start to doubt whether you’re going to find something.
“I’m glad that Adelaide have given me another opportunity and hopefully I can repay some of that faith.”
Lia also revealed he was hoping to provide some leadership and experience in what is currently a young Reds outfit.
“I think it’s pretty well publicised they lost a lot of their older players and it’s a very young squad,” he said.
“So I think the experience I’ve got in the league I can bring and help the young kids through with the leadership.
“We do have a couple of older guys, but a couple of them are foreigners and English is their language.
“So they’re not necessarily going to be the loudest ones on the field.
“That’s I guess where I can come in and lead from behind and just use my experience to play that important role.”
Lia also said his new objective was to now secure a starting position, though stressed he was happy to accept any role in the team.
“My first focus was to get a contract,” he explained.
“Now I’ve got three and a half months to get myself into the starting eleven.
“I guess we’ll have a look and see what position suits me best and hopefully I can get my way into the starting eleven.
“If not, I’m here to play a role and whatever that role is.”
Ahead of Adelaide’s Westfield FFA Cup clash with Newcastle Jets on Wednesday, Lia intimated the importance of trying to string together a cup run.
“It’s important because at this stage there’s not many competitive games that you can play,” he said.
“You play a few A-Leagues in friendlies but they’re not the same.
“So the more competitive games that you can get the better.
“We’re a young team with new coach and a lot of new players and it’s important we get some hard games in before Round 1 and really start to gel.”
Adelaide United host Newcastle Jets in the Round of 32 of the 2017 Westfield FFA Cup on Wednesday, 9 August at Marden Sports Complex. Kick-off is at 7.00pm ACST.
