Imports bolster Thunder blast

By Gavin Staindl
DANDENONG Thunder coach Stuart Munro may be unsure how well his side will perform in 2011, but one thing is for sure, it will be much stronger than this time last year.
As the Victorian Premier League side gets ready to kick off the season this week against the Melbourne Knights, the Thunder is already brimming with international signatures, a significant improvement on round one of last year.
In the beginning of last year, Munro was furious over a visa issue with his international players that meant he was refused access to five of his star imports until halfway through the season when the trade window re-opened.
Despite this issue being beyond Munro’s control, he was adamant that the mistake would not happen again this year.
As a result, he has ensured that Irishmen Steven Gray (Bohemians), Liam Kearney (Waterford United), English import Chris Taylor (Swindon) and Welshman Luke Sherbon (Aberystwyth Town, Wales) all passed their visa checkpoints in time for kick-off this weekend.
Gray, a tall and experienced defender from the League of Ireland, will slot in nicely at left back in replacement for the outgoing Aron Wilford (Bentleigh).
After a three-month stint as assistant coach of A-League franchise Perth Glory, Munro returned last week to coach Dandenong in a practice match against Chinese Super League team Hangzhou Nabel Greentown FC and was impressed with Gray’s abilities.
“He is a tall, formidable defender who can read the play fairly well,” Munro said.
Kearney and Sherbon will also be used to fill the void left by Ryan Davidson, who joins teammates Wilford and Scott Bulloch in moving to the Bentleigh Greens.
But despite losing the vast majority the side that last season finished eighth and missed out on finals by a game, Munro says his team is much better placed this year.
“Everyone is coming together and getting on very well… the team spirit is very strong, which is good,” he said.
“We have a far stronger squad of players to choose from this year which will hold us in good stead later down the track.”
Meanwhile, Springvale White Eagles have already begun their return season in the top flight, going down 4-1 to the Victorian Training Centre development outfit at White Eagles Stadium on Tuesday night.
The White Eagles slumped to a 4-0 deficit by halftime in the season-opener, before Tome Racunica netted a consolation goal in the 79th minute.
The promoted side will have a clear indication of the task ahead in the Premier League after Sunday’s clash with Bentleigh, which narrowly avoided relegation in 2010.