Coach Josep Gombau has made it perfectly clear that the Reds will go into their first away game of the season with the same mentality as their opening two home matches.
On the eve of Adelaide United FC-s first away game of the Hyundai A-League 2013/14 Season, against the Central Coast Mariners in Gosford on Saturday, Coach Josep Gombau made it perfectly clear the Reds plan on going in with the same mentality as they have in their opening two encounters at home.
As the Reds finalised preparations for their mission of trying to topple last season-s champions on their own patch, Gombau emphasized there would be intentions of parking the bus or going on the defensive.
The Spaniard reiterated his plan of bringing about a change of style in the club with the aim of having the Reds peaking for a tilt at the championship next season.
“For me it is about the style. This is my first season, we want to build something in the two years that I am contracted here, and what I want is to fight for the league next season,” Gombau said.
“For me, thinking now about whether we win, draw or lose, it doesn-t matter for me, what-s important is to play the way we want to play. Of course everybody wants to win and we are going there to win, we don-t think about a draw.”
“We want to play out from the back, we want to attack, I am not thinking about drawing…and if we are winning 1-0 we will still play the same way in the 90th minute. If we lose or we draw it doesn-t matter because we are building something for the future and we know very well what we want to do.”
In a record Reds supporters would be reluctant to point out, the Mariners have won their past eight games against Adelaide, one having to go back to September 2009 since an Adelaide United team took all three points.
But when asked about the record, Gombau is unperturbed.
“It is something I found out for the first time yesterday. It-s a statistic and I hope that tomorrow we can break this and win, but the streak and the numbers of the past are not important for me, we need to concentrate on the now,” Gombau said.
“They (the Mariners) are a good team. They won the Final last season, they started this season with two draws and I-m sure tomorrow they will want to win at home…it will be difficult, but I expect an even game.”
Gombau confirmed Nigel Boogaard and Isaias would both start the game after returning from suspension, however the Reds will be without sharp shooter Jeronimo after he failed to train with the main group throughout the week due to a mild adductor injury, although the problem is only expected to keep the Argentine out for one match.
On how he would structure his side up at the pointy end of the field in Jeronimo-s absence, Gombau said he was still contemplating a number of alternatives.
“We have two options. We can play Brent (McGrath) at the top or play Cirio there and use Mabil – it-s something we need to think about and we will decide when we get there,” Gombau said.
Meanwhile, after missing most of pre season with a tendon injury to his quad, Cassio is set to resume playing as he lines up in the Reds- Youth Team on Sunday as they open their Foxtel National Youth League 2013/14 Season against the Mariners Youth Team at the Centre for Excellence in Tuggarah.
HAVE YOU POWERED THE GAME YET
Adelaide United fan Filomena Giglio cheers on the boys by…
“NEVER STOP SINGING AND SHOUTING EVEN WHEN I AM THE ONLY ONE – TO NEVER GIVE UP ON MY CLUB!”
Power the game now at www.abc.net.au/grandstand
Twitter: twitter.com/adelutd_fc (hash-tag #CCMvADL)
Adelaide United squad: 1.Eugene GALEKOVIC (GK) (c), 3.Nigel BOOGAARD, 4.Jon McKAIN, 5.Osama MALIK, 8.ISAIAS, 9.Sergio CIRIO, 13.Steven LUSTICA, 14.Cameron WATSON, 17.Awer MABIL, 18.Michael ZULLO, 19.Jake BARKER-DAISH, 20.Paul IZZO (GK), 21.Tarek ELRICH, 22.Fabio FERREIRA, 23.Jordan ELSEY, 24.Brent McGRATH
Ins: 3.Nigel BOOGAARD (returns from suspension), 8.ISAIAS (returns from suspension), 20.Paul IZZO (GK) (promoted)
Outs: 7.JERONIMO (groin – 1 week), 16.Daniel BOWLES (ankle – 7 weeks), 30.John HALL (GK) (omitted)
Unavailable: 6.CASSIO (quad – 2 weeks), 10.Marcelo CARRUSCA (adductor – 2 weeks), 11.Bruce DJITE (ankle – 3 weeks)
Central Coast Mariners squad: 1.Justin PASFIELD (GK), 3.Joshua ROSE, 4.Marcel SEIP, 5.Zachary ANDERSON, 6.Brent GRIFFITHS, 7.John HUTCHINSON (c), 8.Nick MONTGOMERY, 9.Mitchell DUKE, 10.Marcos FLORES, 11.Nick FITZGERALD, 12.Liam REDDY (GK), 13.Hayden MORTON, 14.Michael McGlinchey, 15.Storm ROUX, 16.Trent SAINSBURY, 17.Anthony CACERES, 19.Matt SIMON, 21.Mile STERJOVSKI
**Two to be omitted**
Ins: 6.Brent GRIFFITHS (promoted), 18.Michael NEILL (promoted)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 2.Daniel MCBREEN (on loan at Shanghai SIPG until October 31), 23.Adam KWASNIK (groin – 1 week)
Adelaide United vs. Central Coast Mariners – Hyundai A-League HEAD TO HEAD Record
Played 25 – 6 wins, 6 draws, 13 losses
At Bluetongue Stadium
Played 12; Adelaide United 3, Central Coast Mariners 8, Draws 1
Last time they met in the Hyundai A-League
24-Mar-2013 Week 26, Hyundai A-League 2012/13 Season at Hindmarsh Stadium
Adelaide United FC 0
Central Coast Mariners 2 (McBreen 4-, Sterjovski 90+2-)
