McGarry relishes becoming lucky charm

Scottish midfielder Steve McGarry has emerged as Perth Glory’s lucky charm as Ian Ferguson’s revitalised team bid to ease into the A-League top four by beating Adelaide United at Hindmarsh Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Used only from the bench in the first 12 rounds, the former St Mirren, Ross County and Motherwell man has been a first team selection over the past six rounds with Glory going unbeaten and turning its campaign around with a run of three wins and three draws.

And 32-year-old McGarry, playing in the advanced role for which he was known in his native Scotland, has been one of the catalysts of a revival which has see Glory silence the cynics who had already written its season off.

With the added incentive of playing for a new deal at nib Stadium, McGarry isn’t surprised by Glory’s rise up the ladder.

“Confidence is high, we’re looking like a team, we’re playing good football and teams are really struggling to break us down now.

“We were second bottom a few rounds back … it’s been a big turnaround and I feel we can go a long way now.”

McGarry puts Glory’s resurgence down to a formation change with Ferguson replacing a stagnant 4-4-2 with a 4-2-3-1 shape which sees McGarry playing in a far more offensive role and crafting opportunities for the likes of eight-goal Shane Smeltz and Billy Mehmet.

He is revelling in hew role, adding: “Last season I was playing a more central role but playing behind she striker suits me better in many ways. In Scotland I played for six years as a striker and it wasn’t until I moved to Ross County that I dropped a little deeper.

“I’m loving it and although I’ve only played six games this season, I’ve managed to score a couple and I’m getting chances in almost every game.

“I think now we have a system which suits the players rather than perhaps the other way round.”

McGarry buried his frustration at sitting on the sidelines as the team fumbled and stumbled earlier in the season, biding his time.

“It was tough as the team wasn’t going well and now I’m in I’ve got to make the best of it. The team is playing well and that’s benefitting me.”

He claims Glory is better placed than it has been in many years to finally fulfil its potential this season, having made the A-League finals just once.

“A lot of the elements are in place… we are in great position and while I’m not going to say we’re going to go out and beat every team we’re full of belief and we’ll take that into our game against Adelaide who have also been on the up.

“The fans were back in big numbers for our 4-1 home win over Melbourne Victory and the atmosphere around the club is great.

“They want to see a winning team and hopefully we can deliver for them.”

McGarry is philosophical over the amount of derision heaped on the team and in particular Ferguson when the results weren’t coming.

“Even when you are winning, you get stick. That’s just football,” he adds.

“No matter what happens people always have something to moan about. Football is all about opinions and everybody likes to voice theirs.

“Deep down the boss wouldn’t have enjoyed that stick but we just try and move on.

“Fergie is a passionate manager, you can see that every game. He’s desperate for the boys to do well and when it took time he got a lot of hassle from the fans and on the forums.

“But now he’s got us playing the way he wants.”