Theoklitos speaks out

[Felixfan 53]

An interesting article from Australia.

 

Norwich nightmare spurs on Theoklitos

• 40Comments and replies

4 January 2011-SBS EXCLUSIVE: Philip Micallef

Determined ... Michael Theoklitos has regained the form that earned him an overseas move in 2009 (Getty)

Brisbane Roar goalkeeper Michael Theoklitos suffered the indignity of conceding seven goals on his senior debut for Norwich City in August 2009.

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It would be the only match he ever played for the Canaries and seven months later his contract was terminated by mutual consent.

Theoklitos could have reacted negatively, sulking all the way back to Australia and cursing his rotten luck.

But the 29-year-old is made of sterner stuff and he wisely chose to take his mishap on the chin, pick up the pieces of his shattered career and start all over again.

The supremely fit goalkeeper is in sparkling form and he has kept 10 clean sheets this season, which is remarkable considering he plays for such an attacking team as Brisbane.

"Norwich was a tough period for me but luckily I have laid that episode to bed and I have shown what a capable goalkeeper I am," Theoklitos told The World Game.

"If anything, my short stay in Norwich taught me a lot as a professional player and a person. It was a lesson in life.

"It made me hungrier than ever and made me appreciate how important it is to be happy playing football in an environment you like.

"It definitely changed me. Football in Europe is very different to ours. It is very cut-throat. I got one opportunity and things didn’t go my way, a new coach came in and it got tougher.

"It was a bad experience which I will never forget but it’s just a memory now and sometimes you have to put a positive spin to a negative episode in life."

Theoklitos denied claims he angered the Canaries by failing to turn up for a match against Gillingham.

"I rolled up late for a match because I got my wires mixed up," he explained.

"It’s not that I did not turn up but I was half an hour late."

Theoklitos is enjoying a new lease of life with all-conquering Brisbane, which is hot favourite to land the premiership and championship double after beating closest rival Adelaide United 1-0 at Hindmarsh Stadium at the weekend.

"It was a great result at the weekend. Not many teams go to Hindmarsh and take all three points," Theoklitos said.

"Considering we had a few players out, we are very happy with the result."

Brisbane has an 11-point buffer over the Reds and only a dramatic reversal of form could deprive Ange Postecoglou’s troupe of entertainers of the title they so richly deserve.

In-form Theoklitos is poised to become the first player in the A-League to win three championships, having won two titles with Melbourne Victory in 2007 and 2009.

"Obviously our attack has earned a lot of praise this year because it has scored a lot of goals," he said.

"But we’ve been doing the job in defence as well. We’ve been very solid.

"The boys in front of me have been tremendous and so far we have kept 10 clean sheets.

"Especially Luke DeVere and Matty Smith. And the wingbacks Shane Stefanutto and Ivan Franjic do not just do a defensive job but start our attacks. They are so comfortable on the ball.

"We play an open brand of football so there is a risk of leaving a few holes at the back but the boys up front have been working hard to stop the opposition when our attacks break down.

"We are doing well collectively in attack and defensively. It’s all very positive."

Theoklitos said there was a feeling among the playing squad that this is their year.

"It’s 19 games undefeated now, which is a magnificent achievement considering it’s such an even competition due to the salary cap which is not designed for teams to go on a run," he said.

"We have the belief. We’ve shown our strength and character all year round."

Brisbane could wrap up the Premiers'' Plate in the next fortnight if results go its way but Theoklitos refuted suggestions the team might struggle to retain its standards in the ‘interim period’ leading up to the playoffs.

"I don’t think we’ll lose momentum if we win the premiership too early," he said.

"All year round we have spoken about performances not results. Each game we go into we want to work on things in order to get better. That’s something Ange has instilled in us.

"We are 11 points clear so we are now in a good position where we do not need to get a result in every game so we can work harder on a few things in our game to get it right for the finals.

"I’ve been fortunate enough to play for two exciting teams but I tell you the way we’re playing we could dominate the local game for the next three years. The signs are good.

"But having said that until we win some trophies we can’t say we’ve had a successful year."

 

 

 

 

[Nexus_Canary 1,016]

Part of me still can''t shake a deep amount of sympathy for Theoklitos.Only I moved to the USA for 3 years and things really did not pan out how I expected so I know what its like to follow a dream and then end up realising that the milk was infact sour.I cant help but think he must have some quality in him to be a professional ( although what I saw vs Colchester does say otherwise)There will always be a bit of a conspiracy surrounding that first game.Where was Gunn, was he mentally in the game ? Did the players revolt against him and throw the game ?*shrugs*Theo is prolly the person (other than Gunn) that came out of the whole thing the worse off.Although wires mixed ( i presume he means he did not understand the message that was given to him in regards to the game ? ) or not, he had no excuse to botch up his final chance at the club.That said, Lambert has proven to be a fine judge of player and also goal keeper, ie : Alnwick out Forster in and now Ruddy who is going from strength to strength.Was a good read though , and personally I am glad that he has his career back on track in Aus !

[Gingerpele 0]

I think he defiantly isn''t as bad as that one game indicates.... How often does a player only get one game to prove themselves?

[Nexus_Canary 1,016]

"If anything, my short stay in Norwich taught me a lot as a professional player and a person. It was a lesson in life."Thats one of the reasons I feel that he was a fall guy. Reading that hints towards a number of things in his personality. Perhaps he''s not the most professional of people or maybe a bit of an underhand person ?!If someone learns a life lesson from it then you can bet that there was a whole lot more to it than just " Your crap" adios.

[Canary_on_the Trent 0]

Fair play to him for not being bitter about the whole episode and bad-mouthing the club now he''s back in Oz. I wasn''t at the game so my opinion is probably different to many but the guy has shown in Australia he is obviously decent keeper, it doesn''t matter the standard, to keep that many clean sheets and to have such a good reputation down there shows he isn''t as bad as that 1 game made out.

He''s been made to be the fall guy but he was never given an other chance like others, its obviously such a cut-throat position so thats understandable but I do feel for him.

[Block Y Seat 176 80]

John Ruddy has at times found it hard to adapt to fitting into a new side, and he has been brought up in the English way. Coming from Oz with smaller grounds and crowds and lower expectations and pressures it must have been a real culture shock for Theo.

He''s in the best place.

HRH

[Block Y Seat 176 80]

Lets not forget he was signed by an ex goalkeeper and you wonder how much an influence Ian Crook had in the move with his Oz links .

HRH

[banburygreen 0]

Interesting article and I''m glad that he''s happy and got his professional life back however that said it also tells me that there is a  lack of quality in the aussie leagues and any decent australian footballer like Cahill do not play in their domestic league.

I''m sorry but to me he will always be Theo who.... he had his chance but its not as if he we had been beaten and he played a blinder but 7-1 at home!!! what does he really expect.

Yes I am aware that others who played in that match got an opportunity to put right later but he is in a specialist position and as others have said I trust Lambert and his opinion completely.

 

[Yelloow Since 72 54]

I''m also glad that things are working out for him. He never really had a chance here. I can remember the City fans wanting rid of Forster after his mistake in the Leeds game last year. His real problem was that he didn''t fit the Lambert mindset and probably never would have done.

I wish him well in Brisbane!

[Tim Allman 1]

[quote user="haisbrohacker"]Lets not forget he was signed by an ex goalkeeper and you wonder how much an influence Ian Crook had in the move with his Oz links . HRH[/quote]

 

Crooky had zero influence in Theo''s signing.

 

[7rew 0]

While this made me think about that day,which is painful, I am amazed by how ruthless we have been with the team that started that day.

Theo was the third starting player that day to leave and Tudor Jones and Gill have played 21 further times between them (mostly as subs).

[Block Y Seat 176 80]

[quote user="Tim Allman"]

[quote user="haisbrohacker"]Lets not forget he was signed by an ex goalkeeper and you wonder how much an influence Ian Crook had in the move with his Oz links . HRH[/quote]

 

Crooky had zero influence in Theo''s signing.

 

[/quote]

I find it hard to believe that Theo didn''t speak with Crook regarding a move to Norwich due to his Oz links and the fact he was already at the club he was being linked with.

http://norwichcity.myfootballwriter.com/2009/07/08/theoklitos-signs-in-as-city-no1-as-gunn-snaps-up-the-greek-ace-from-down-under/

All''s well that ends well.

HRH

[grantroederdisaster 0]

The blokes a legend and the " I saw Theoklitos play" boast will be used by the thousands of Canary fans who were there that day for many years to come!

 

He had more than one chance cause he played in quite a few reserve games and looked poor in them as well, so its unfair to say he only got one chance. Oh yes and he missed the bus one day!

 

All in all it didn''t work out for the guy!

 

Which team lost their opening game of the season 7-1 at home then went on to win the Division by 9 clear points, question has surely got to make it onto a question of sport in a few years time?

[Syteanric 1]

the quality of the aussie league is woeful!  a friend of mine spent 18 months over there and watched the odd game, he said it is conference level at best... Theo was well out of his depth.blackpool didnt keep him and we took a punt on him... theres playing badly and losing 7-1 then theres not being good enough... 5 of the goals that day were his fault (Watch the video again) and i can remember when the 4th went in he kept looking accross to the dug out and shrugging.Any one with even a small knowledge of the game could see that Theo should have been taken off in the first half. he wasnt good enough. he was given a chance to impress in the reserves and lost his place to a couple of Teenagers.the final chance came in that Gillingham game where he might even have got a start... i dont think he got his wires crossed. none of the other squad were late that day and i Trust Lambert.... Theo was an emabressment and has returned to a level that befits him. i wish him well in Australia but as said above the likes of Cahill, Chipperfield et al all play in Europe...

[Pyro Pete 1,889]

He should start a self-help group with Simon Tracey.

 

[Bill 1,788]

"beating closest rival Adelaide United 1-0"

surely, winning nought for one

[BobbyLo 0]

A part of this artile referred to Brisbane wrapping up the Premiership and the Championship! Plus, they have named their trophy the "Premier Plate".Stuff like this really does give you a clue just how daft that league is![;)]

[Lambert is King 0]

Sorry if this has been mentioned in here somewhere already but just saw the other thread that shows Theo as being the goalkeeper to not conceed for the longest time in Australian football history

 

www.brisbanetimes.com.au/sport/roar-keeper-sets-record-20100914-15a4d.html

Fair play to him, I cant think of many people that would have had the balls to play pro football again in whatever league