Adrian Serioux Thread

Tks to VI at Vs for headsup

Still up in the air whether Adrian Serioux has left Millwall.

www.millwallfc.premi...0367~720465,00.html?

Serioux situation

Contrary to some newspaper reports, Canadian international Adrian Serioux has not left the club to return home, but Lions boss Colin Lee admitted that he will be talking with the player who is concerned about his mother's ongoing health problems.

Colin explained: "Adrian came to see me the other night before the game and told me that he was in no fit state to be included in the squad for the QPR game because his mother had suffered a setback and that he wanted to return to Canada. Initially he was talking about going back for good and forgetting football whilst he concentrates on looking after his mother. He didn't seem quite so sure that he wanted to do that the following day, but clearly we will do whatever we can to support him in this situation, and the two week break we've got coming up may enable him to sort out what he wants to do."

---

Tks to cyris2k at Vs for headsup

GETTING SERIOUX

Canadian international impresses in debut

Feb. 9, 2006

By Michael Lewiw BigAppleSoccer.com Editor

www.bigapplesoccer.c....php?article_id=5406



Adrian Serioux certainly impressed coach Mo Johnston in his first appearance in a Metros uniform. Photo by Michael Lewis

Bradenton, Fla. -- One game or even 45 minutes certainly doesn't make a case for a player, but defensive midfielder Adrian Serioux certainly made a promising first impression in a MetroStars uniform on Wednesday morning.

Serious played the opening half of the Metros' 2-1 pre-season loss to Real Salt Lake at IMG Academy, impressing coach Mo Johnston with his overall play and ballhandling.

The Metros have lacked an experienced and physical ball winner at defensive midfield in recent years and Johnston is hopeful he has found his man in the Canadian international

"You see he was very active," he said. "He was closing people down. That was his first day. He's very athletic and he's got youth. And again, with what we have in front of us (in the salary cap), his salary is not high."

Serioux, 26, most recently played with Millwall in the English Second Division, but returned home due to personal reasons. He has made eight appearances for the Canadian National Team, his most recent cap being the scoreless tie with the U.s. on Jan. 22.

"I just felt this was a little bit closer for me to be able to go back and forth when I do have to," he said. "I like MLS. It's obviously a league that's on the rise right now."

Serioux, a discovery pick, felt his chances of making the team were "pretty good."

"My position right now and the experience I that gained being in England, hopefully I could bring to the team and just give them that extra boost they need throughout this year," he said.

Serioux already has demonstrated how flexible he can be. He joined the team here on Monday night and acquitted himself well on Wednesday.

He hadn't played in three months and was solid with the Canadian National Team vs. the U.S.

"You've got to just take in stride," he said. "Obviously, sometimes you're going to get some praise, sometimes you're going to get some negative words. We've got to stick with it. The U.S. was a very good game for me even though I was off for a couple of months. I'll take it and keep going with it."

Serioux could very well be a perfect fit for the Big Apple, whose fans in any sport can be quite demanding. But MetroStars supporters can't hold a candle when they are compared to the notorious Millwall fans, who have a reputation of getting on players any time anywhere.

"Most definitely," he said. "Millwall is known to have, I guess you can say, one of the worst crowds in the league. Its good. When they're on your side they love you. But if you're not doing too well, they're going to give you it. That's just the way English soccer is."

Signed in August, 2004, Serious didn't play much with Millwall before returning home. But he learned plenty.

"The physical aspect of the game is a lot different," he said. "The pace of the game is just a lot quicker. That's just something you've got to bring over here."

Tks to Rudi at Vs for headsup

On location: Serioux ready for MLS

By Tony Miguel / MetroStars.com

metrostars.mlsnet.co...t&fext=.jsp&team=met



MetroStars midfielder Adrian Serioux has the ability to provide long throw-ins. (MetroStars)

Known for his fierce, aggressive style of play, Adrian Serioux seems to fit right into head coach Mo Johnston's plans of getting passionate, hard-nosed players who are prepared to battle.

"Everyone has to understand their duties on the field," said the 26-year-old Serioux. "I understand that my duty is to cut down most plays, and just be on my horse all the time."

That tireless work ethic has helped him to become a mainstay on the Canadian national team. He came to the MetroStars from the English club Millwall and started out his professional career with the Toronto Lynx of the A-league.

It is always interesting to get the opinions of MLS from players who have competed overseas. Some, such as former MetroStars trialist and teammate of Serioux's Carlos Fangueiro, come to the States thinking the style of play is a lot softer and not as physical.

When asked how MLS differs from England, Serioux said, "MLS is a good league. Technically the players are better. They have better dribbling skills, and they make better runs. The physical aspect I was used to in England I tried to carry over here, but some of that physical play is not allowed here."

Serioux is the newest piece in an already deep MetroStars midfield that includes Amado Guevara, Chris Henderson, Mark Lisi, Elie Ikangu, Peter Canero, Blake Camp and Eddie Gaven. Preseason will surely be intense with so many players vying for a starting role. Mo Johnston has said that he wants to have several options at each position to help drive the competitive fires in the players.

Another trademark of Serioux's game is his ability to make long throw-ins, which sometimes travel upwards of 45 yards. He has even been known to set up goals on thrown-ins from the half way line.

"Theres no explanation to it," said Serioux of his throw-ins. "It's one of those things that I just came across when I started throwing the ball further and further."

Serioux has not been to New York yet because he flew directly to Florida from his hometown of Toronto, Canada. However Serioux feels that living in Canada's largest city, as well as living in England will help him easily adjust to life in New York.

Serioux's Canadian national team experience also helped his journey to the MetroStars. His stock rose significantly during an international friendly against the United States in which he was able to successfully mark Landon Donovan to keep the game a scoreless tie.

"It's excellent to play for your country he said. Every player would dream to put on the shirt of their country. I feel gifted to have that opportunity."

He vividly remembers a tournament in Africa he won playing with team Canada.

"There was about 40-50,000 people in the stadium in a country where we were unknown. But they were all holding Canadian flags, and really accepting us."

When asked how best he can help the MetroStars on the field, Serioux said, "I can bring leadership to control the middle of the field. Just keeping people on their toes by talking to them, and leading by example."

Two more to be added to MetroStars

Serioux, Ikangu signed with club, awaiting visa approval

By Dylan Butler / MLSnet.com Staff

www.mlsnet.com/MLS/n...y=news_mls&fext=.jsp



Defensive midfielder Adrian Serioux will help add depth for the MetroStars. (Tony Quinn/MLS/WireImage.com)

E. RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The MetroStars search for a defensive midfield replacement for Michael Bradley has come to an end with the signing of Canadian international Adrian Serioux and French teenager Elie Ikangu. The two have come to contract terms with the MetroStars and an official announcement is pending visa approval.

Terms of the contracts were not disclosed but Serioux will be fill the fourth and final senior international slot on the Metros roster while Ikangu would fill the second of five junior international slots. They will provide cover in the midfield now that Bradley is with Heerenveen of the Dutch Eredivisie.

Serioux, 26, most recently played for Millwall of the English Championship (second tier) but returned home for personal reasons. He has made eight appearances for Canada and his most recent cap came in a scoreless draw against the U.S. on Jan. 22.

Serioux is currently with the Canadian national team, which is preparing for an international friendly against Austria in Vienna on Wednesday. He is not expected to play, having suffered a broken toe in training last week.

"I wouldn't say really good," Metros coach Mo Johnston said when asked about Serioux's preseason thus far. "I'd say he did enough to make us sign him. With his height and experience, it helps us in that midfield area. He's strong, is passing more to Amado [Guevara] and Youri [Djorkaeff] and will sit in that pocket and get tackles in. That's what we want from Adrian."

Ikangu, 19, has played with Newcastle's Charles N'Zogbia at French side Le Havre and was compared to Chelsea's Claude Makelele by Johnston after the club's foreigner tryout camp at the Giants Stadium practice bubble in January.

But Ikangu is not quite as strong as Makelele and that's the reason he didn't stick with English Second Division side Darlington or English Premiership side Middlesbrough, where he was on trial in January.

Johnston said signing Serioux gives him flexibility when it comes to the type of formation to use.

"It's very important because I now have a situation, if we add these two or three players, which we're very close in getting, then I can play 4-3-3, 4-4-2, 3-5-2.

"I'm comfortable in every position," Johnston said. "And that's even coming off our bench."

Dylan Butler is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.

Edit: Metros sign Serioux

www.northjersey.com/...ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk2

After impressing teammates and observers with his offensive ability and defensive strength, Canadian midfielder Adrian Serioux finally came to terms with the MetroStars on a four-year contract worth approximately $120,000 per year. Serioux is awaiting a work permit for the deal to become finalized. He will count as a senior international once he joins the roster.

A national team player currently with Canada as it prepares for a friendly against Austria on Wednesday, Serioux is expected to step right in and man one of the two defensive midfield slots available in Mo Johnston's 3-5-2 formation. His ability to deliver hard tackles, cover ground, defend and maintain possession make him the perfect complement to Amado Guevara and Mark Lisi, who appears to have played his way into the other starting defensive midfield role.

Johnston revealed that Serioux has been training with a broken toe, but team officials insisted the 26-year old would be ready for the season opener on April 2 at D.C. United.