Melbourne Heart’s Eli Babalj has admitted he is unhappy with both the form of his team and himself ahead of Saturday’s clash with the Jets.
Melbourne Heart’s Eli Babalj has admitted he is unhappy with both the form of his team and himself ahead of Saturday’s clash with the Jets.
When Heart destroyed Sydney 4-0 in their final match of 2011, the Red and Whites sat second on the Hyundai A-League ladder and were just two points behind league-leaders Central Coast Mariners.
But since then, John van ‘t Schip’s team has failed to win in seven games and is now fifth, 13 points behind the Mariners.
“2011 was good, 2012 has been disappointing because we haven’t won yet,” Babalj said.
“So we need to fix that and win on Saturday against Newcastle, which is a big game, sitting sixth and fifth.”
One of Heart’s major problems has been a lack of goals, having scored just five in the seven-game winless streak, and Babalj knows he needs to take his fair share of the blame.
The 19-year-old has gone over 430 minutes of football without scoring, having last hit the back of the net against Adelaide United on January 4.
“I’m not happy with the tally I’ve got so far but I guess I’ll just have to work on it and hopefully the chances come and I take them as they come,” Babalj said.
“Look, if I can score my goals and help the team to the playoffs, that’s even better, but the team finishing in the playoffs is priority number one.”
Heart will be overtaken on the ladder by Newcastle if they lose at Hunter Stadium on Saturday and Babalj is wary of the Jets, who have won their last two games.
He has also been impressed by how Newcastle are playing under Gary van Egmond, a coach the young striker knows very well.
“Yeah he’s been a good coach for me, one of the best that I’ve had so far in my career,” Babalj explained.
“He helped me a lot at the AIS and I think I’ve got a good relationship with him but that’s going to be put to the side when we play on Saturday.”
“So hopefully I can score one against him but hey, he’s doing well at Newcastle at the moment.”
“They’re playing the game he really wants to implement there.”
