ESSIEN’S u-turn, Maclaren’s class, extent of Ibini’s injury, Berisha’s barb.

That’s all in the first edition of Fox Football’s A-League Confidential.

VICTORY INUNDATED AFTER ESSIEN DIDN’T WORK OUT

A-LEAGUE fans had been bracing themselves for the arrival of former Premier League midfielder Michael Essien this season, but at the last minute, his mooted move to Melbourne Victory did not eventuate.

Foxsports.com.au understands that Victory were inundated with applications from other candidates when news of Essien’s change of heart became public.

Talk around football circles pointed to the Ghana icon being extremely keen on moving to Australia for the next chapter in his career, having severed ties with Greek outfit Panathinaikos with a year left on his deal, after an injury-riddled season with the club. It has been reported that the midfielder is still to receive some of the money required to be paid out by the club.

The arrival of another marquee star would have added even further fuel to the fire on the eve of the season, and added more spice to a Melbourne rivalry with City, already packed with talking points and star players.

So what happened?

Goalscorer, Chelsea's Ghanan midfielder Michael Essien. Source: AFP

Foxsports.com.au understands that the goodwill and interest from Essien was genuine and he was eager to make Australia the next destination in his impressive career, which has included spells in the Premier League with Chelsea, Spain with Real Madrid and Italy with AC Milan.

But the tyranny of distance proved a step too far, with the 33-year-old reluctant to part from his family, with two young children at school in London, where his wife would have remained had he made the move to the A-League. Having travelled vastly through his European career, it is understood she was not keen for further globetrotting.

Fair play to the Victory for having a swing at bringing such a big name to our shores; they might have missed out on the headline act, but their midfield is not short of quality as it is.

PODCAST: We’ve got a bumper season preview for season 12 of the A-League with Adam Peacock, Simon Hill, Daniel Garb and Michael Cockerill.

BRAVO JAMIE

We hear too often about sport’s bad guys, but let’s shout out when the good guys come through.

Brisbane Roar striker Jamie Maclaren took matters into his own hands this week when he noticed a fan on Twitter complaining about not receiving his Brisbane Roar membership in time to attend the opening game of the season.

@kezzyman10 ill ask today about them. But im lead to believe if they dont come theres an ETkt that can be sorted. Dont miss the game bro 👊🏼 — Jamie Maclaren (@jamie_maclaren) October 4, 2016

Maclaren then checked in with the fan a couple of days later to see if he had received anything.

@ALeague thanks. You know this league is built on fans. Only seems right to do so 👍🏻 — Jamie Maclaren (@jamie_maclaren) October 5, 2016

The Red Baron aka @jamie_maclaren finding the back of the net at training today!⚽️👍 #FEELTHEROAR #BRIvMVC pic.twitter.com/ceH2kKQH13 — Brisbane Roar (@brisbaneroar) October 5, 2016

‘HE WOULD HAVE NEVER PLAYED AGAIN’

Bernie Ibini is back at Sydney FC on loan from Club Brugge, where he suffered a horror injury upon trying to start his European career.

It was so bad, revealed his boss Graham Arnold on Wednesday, that the flyer’s only solution was to come home.

“He had a terrible injury, one I’d probably say if he didn’t come back to Australia and didn’t work with top medical people like Andrew Clarke and (physio) Elias (Boukarim), to get back, he would have never played again,” he said.

“His ankle was that bad.

“He’s now training fully. He’s in consideration for Saturday because of what impact he can have off the bench. He’s someone we’ll be looking closely at.”

Pic of Sydney FC winger Bernie Ibini is finally back in full training. Source: News Corp Australia

The mood was bright at the Sydney launch on Wednesday, with Graham Arnold happy to rip into the Wanderers ahead of the derby, taunting them over their inexperience and their loaning of Sydney's home at ANZ.

Club insiders have told foxsports.com.au that the mood in the club is optimistic ahead of the season, with Arnie in a much more relaxed mood after last year’s disappointment.

At the season launch on Wednesday, Sebastian Ryall told foxsports.com.au: “We’ve got a good group of players who socialise off the field as well.

“I think that’s very important ... I think the culture has changed a lot. Arnie has made some improvements in the club in general - not just in football, but a disciplinary sense, it has come a long way.

“Everyone is excited, we have a lot of belief.”

Brandon O’Neill and Josh Brillante have also moved in together - no doubt the club hopes that turns into a flourishing combination on the field.

WHERE ARE ALL THE FANS?

No one knows how to add spice to a contest like Besart Berisha.

The Victory striker is heading back up to Brisbane, and in the same breath that he paid tribute to his former supporters, he also had a barb ready to go for his old club.

“When I was with Brisbane, we’d be No.1 on the table and sometimes we’d play in front of 8000 people,” he said.

“I’m like an old school football player. I’m a striker who scores goals and I like to go to the crowd to celebrate with them.

“When I scored for the Roar in Brisbane, sometimes I had to check where the supporters were. I wanted to run to them but I had to check where they were. It was a shame, to be honest.”

Read the full story here

Besart Berisha. Source: Getty Images

IT’D BE NICE TO BE YOSHI

Oh to be 10 years old and with the confidence of Yoshi!

The star of the A-League’s marketing campaign has been rubbing shoulders with some of the A-League’s heavy hitters.

Watch all 10 campaigns for the A-League season here

Does @gomvfc boss Kevin Muscat shave his head to scare the players? Yoshi wanted to know. #ALeague https://t.co/f8kY3aIlzy pic.twitter.com/jM51pJrjvb — Hyundai A-League (@ALeague) October 4, 2016

.@AdelaideUnited shot-stopper Eugene Galekovic was on hand to give Yoshi a very special gift. Could this have swayed his decision? pic.twitter.com/5XvwlCVGJu — Hyundai A-League (@ALeague) October 5, 2016

Yoshi we hope you enjoyed your time at @AllianzStadium! You've gotta have a team, you know who to choose! #SydneyIsSkyBlue pic.twitter.com/X56FNs0QYc — Sydney FC (@SydneyFC) October 5, 2016

FROM THE GRASSROOTS

Daniel McBreen played 90 minutes for Edgeware Eagles in the weekend’s National Premier League final, which they were defeated 4-1 in by Sydney United.

But on last week’s Fox Football Podcast, Adam Peacock revealed the former A-League striker was supposed to be on holidays with his family in Fiji!

Edgeware’s bosses weren’t going to hear any of that - and flew the striker over for the game and got him back to his family to finish their getaway. All in a day’s work!

Daniel McBreen of Edgeworth in the FFA Cup. Source: Getty Images

HE’S THE BOSS

We’ll end off with one from last week’s FFA Cup, where Canberra United celebrated progress past Green Gully with a late, late stoppage time penalty.

Robbie Cattanach had taken the club’s penalties while Angelo Konstantinou was on Futsalroos duty.

Fox Sports commentator Phil Moss asked Cattanach why he’d handed the duties back to the goalkeeper for the most important kick in the club’s history.

With a grin from ear to ear, he quipped: “Angelo has played here for 20 years, he’s a club sponsor and he’s on the board! He wants the penalty, he gets the penalty.”

Do you have an item or piece of gossip for A-League Confidential? Contact us @davidweiner9 or david.weiner@news.com.au