Queensland Roar coach Frank Farina has refused to wield the axe at the selection table, despite his side’s winless start to the Hyundai A-League 2008/09 season.
Farina, speaking at the Roar’s last training session in Brisbane before their away match against the Perth Glory on Sunday, poured cold water on suggestions that some of his players might be under the pump.
“I don’t think that’s really the expression I would use,” Farina said.
“Competition for places is pretty big at the moment at the club and if we don’t start winning games, there will be positions we’ll look at and give other players a chance to show what they can do.”
“At this stage I’m pleased with the attitude and the manner in which we’ve been playing, we’ve just got to get that first win on the board.”
Farina’s men get their chance to do just that this Sunday when they take on an undermanned Perth side that has had a similarly modest start to the season, with just the one draw and two losses.
The Roar’s prospects were boosted with Craig Moore surviving Friday’s training session without any issues.
Farina confirmed the Queensland skipper would take his place in the Roar’s side on Sunday.
“I’ve always been pretty optimistic about him being okay for Sunday, but just in situations like this, it’s only a short turnaround before the Newcastle game (next Friday night) as well. He’s looking good and he’ll travel and play,” he said.
“I think he’ll come through without any problem.”
Moore sustained a mysterious hip injury last Friday at training and was in some doubt for the match against Perth, but Farina was not overly concerned by his captain’s latest niggle.
“He’s traveling well and this is not an injury which is going to keep him sidelined, he’ll just have to manage it,” Farina added.
“He was saying to me before, he’s had something the last three or four weeks. He just wants to be playing free.”
Moore completed the full training session and felt only a ‘little bit of stiffness’.
The Roar trained with a 4-4-2 formation and Farina confirmed this would be the set-up for the Perth match, with Dutch recruit Sergio Van Dijk and Brazilian Reinaldo to combine together up front for the first time.
Farina was looking forward to seeing how the new combination would work together.
“I think they’ll complement each other very well, they’re both big strong lads. Reinaldo is very quick as well, so he’ll be looking at getting in to deep areas. I’m hoping they’ll combine as well as I think they can.”
