Etling, watching them play in person in recent years

Former Socceroo Robbie Cornthwaite has blamed his lack of game time at Western Sydney on the inconsistency that has plagued the clubs sluggish start to the A-League season.While most of the weekly line-up news has centered around controversial striker Kerem Bulut, Cornthwaites inconspicuous absence has barely caused a ripple.After starting in defence for the opening month of the campaign, Cornthwaite hasnt seen a minute of game time, but hasnt gone searching for an explanation from coach Tony Popovic.Added to an extended squad for Fridays blockbuster against Melbourne City, the 31-year-old insists he knows precisely where he needs to improve.The key for me is putting in a 90-minute performance, he told AAP.A lot of the games Ive been very good for 45 minutes and then maybe in the other 45 I wasnt as good or just made a few silly mistakes I wouldnt usually make. Its about consistency.Cornthwaite was once considered one of the best defenders in the country following a strong three seasons in Adelaide between 2008-11 and then six years in Korea and Malaysia.But he admits it has taken time for him to adjust back to domestic football.Coming back to Australia after six years, there was a lot of areas I need to work on, my fitness in particular, he said.Obviously Poppas well known for doing things differently and it took me a little while to adapt. But the 4-5 months Ive been here, Im definitely going from strength to strength.Every player wants to play but Im absolutely loving being back in the A-League, loving the training under this coaching staff. Theres absolutely no frustration from my part, he said.Im happy to go to work everyday and work with this group of people.If chosen to play against City, Cornthwaite is well aware of the dangers proposed by feared duo Bruno Fornaroli and Tim Cahill, the latter of whom he played with on the global stage.However its the Uruguayan that he considers more difficult to defend.Hes been a revelation since coming to the league. Last year he had a fantastic year and hes more than backed it up so far, Cornthwaite said.If you go tight he can turn you, if you stay off him he can drill you. Youve got to really be on your toes and aware of what hes going to do and try and limit the damage he can do. USA Soccer Gear . Brazilian national coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has confirmed that the veteran goalkeeper is set to join Toronto on loan, saying it will help him be ready for the World Cup. USA Soccer Jerseys 2019 . But Bourque, who has missed three games with a lower-body injury, wont be in the lineup when the Habs travel to Buffalo to take on the Sabres on Wednesday. https://www.cheapusasoccer.com/ .Y. -- Paul Byron and Matt Stajan scored as the Calgary Flames started a five-game road trip with a 2-1 overtime win over the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday afternoon. USA Soccer Store . Halifax beat the Saint John Sea Dogs 7-5 on the strength of two goals apiece from Nikolaj Ehlers, Matt Murphy and Brent Andrews. Jonathan Drouin also scored and had three assists while Zachary Fucale made 17 saves for the Mooseheads (16-8-0), who led 6-1 after two periods. Wholesale USA Soccer Jerseys . LOUIS -- St. GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Former Purdue quarterbacks Austin Appleby and Danny Etling will have a famous alum watching from afar Saturday.New Orleans Saints star Drew Brees will tune it to see Appleby and Etling square off when No. 21 Florida plays at 16th-ranked LSU, a game that will help decide the Southeastern Conferences Eastern Division.Ive actually been really happy for both of them, Brees said Wednesday. I had a chance to see both of them play at Purdue. By a twist of fate, they both end up at SEC schools, so, SEC, feel free to come to Purdue to find your quarterbacks. Its just been great to see those guys succeed elsewhere and obviously with two really great programs. So Ill be tuning into that one. That one will be entertaining.Its certainly a unique situation, even with transfers becoming more and more common in college football.Appleby and Etling were once teammates competing for the same job and became close friends. Both lost the starting gig in West Lafayette, Indiana, and ended up transferring to different schools in the same conference.Theyll reunite Saturday about 700 miles south in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.Who would have thought that? Etling said. Its definitely crazy, and whats one more crazy thing to add on top of our season, eh?Their journey to Saturdays game, which was rescheduled and moved to LSU because of Hurricane Matthew in October, actually started three years ago.Etling replaced Rob Henry as Purdues starting quarterback that season. Appleby supplanted Etling the following year, prompting Etling to transfer to LSU. Current Purdue starter David Blough beat out Appleby last season, sending Appleby to the bench and leaving him searching for a new place to play.Etling sat out last year under NCAA transfer rules and replaced Brandon Harris in the starting lineup after two games. Hes 5-2 as the starter.Appleby landed at Florida as a graduate transfer this past spring and has subbed for injured starter Luke Del Rio in three games, two because of a sprained knee and again last week against South Carolina because of a right shoulder injury that could sideline him for the rest of the season.dddddddddddd Appleby is 2-1.Appleby, Etling and Blough remain tight, communicating regularly in a group text. They mostly exchange pleasantries, a good luck here or a congrats there.Its been pretty cool to keep that group together, Appleby said.Although Purdue hasnt had much success in the last decade, the The Cradle of Quarterbacks has been a defining feature of the football program. Brees, Len Dawson, Gary Danielson, Jim Everett, Bob Griese, Kyle Orton and others played at Purdue.One thing about Purdue youll find is theres a lot of pride in the quarterback position, Etling said. It kind of follows you wherever you go. And with that, theres a lot of pressure put on the quarterbacks when you play there. So its a double-edged sword and its fun to be a part of that.Brees has met Appleby and Etling, watching them play in person in recent years. He also spent time with Appleby while they worked out at mechanics coach Tom Houses training facility in Los Angeles during an offseason.Brees has texted with and talked to both quarterbacks periodically.On Saturday, hell be pulling for them to play well -- for themselves and for Purdue.Hes huge for that program, Appleby said. Hes our Tim (Tebow), I guess. Hes obviously a Hall of Famer. What hes done, what he means to that university is huge in the way that hes been around and knows how important it is to be around us kids and support our program has been really, really special.The way he does it is almost more than you would expect for a guy like him.---AP Sports Writer Brett Martel in New Orleans and Baton Rouge contributed to this report.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '