A-League All Stars Men head coach Patrick Kisnorbo has suggested an overseas friendly against a similar select team in Asia could be the next frontier for future All Stars squads.
Kisnorbo’s All Stars faced Premier League outfit Newcastle United at Marvel Stadium on Friday night and dismantled a youthful Newcastle lineup void of any big-name players.
His side cruised to an emphatic 8-0 win in a game that followed Newcastle’s Wednesday night friendly against Tottenham at the Melbourne Cricket Ground – just five days after the conclusion of the Premier League season.
The All Stars were ruthless against Newcastle, and dominated the friendly from start to finish to become the first All Stars squad to defeat a travelling European giant after previous attempts against Manchester United, Juventus and Barcelona down the years.
MATCH REPORT: 8-0! Young guns run riot as A-League All Stars Men dismantle Premier League’s Newcastle
Post-game, Kisnorbo said he understood Newcastle coach Eddie Howe’s reluctance to give his first-team squad members minutes at Marvel Stadium with the European off-season only just beginning – and suggested an idea for future All Stars squads that has never before been attempted.
“First of all, they’re coming off long seasons,” Kisnorbo said.
“You’ve got the Euros, you’ve got the Copa America, (if) you’re in (those national teams), do you want to get injured? They come for a couple of days, they’re flying, they’re not used to flying all this way.
“I think what I’d like to see is: why don’t we get a team and maybe we go somewhere, where we can play Asia’s best or something like that, for example, not getting the back end of seasons.
“Why can’t we go somewhere and play a team that’s in season, or a best of whatever country? I think that’s sort of next.”
It was a testing night for Howe and Newcastle in Melbourne, capping off a two-game friendly tour Down Under following Wednesday’s penalty shootout friendly win over Tottenham.
After his side’s 8-0 defeat, Howe took a moment to applaud the All Stars for their dominant performance – and the ruthlessness inspired by Kisnorbo to continue gunning for goals all the way to the end, exemplified by three late strikes that pushed the margin out to eight.
“I think it’s difficult to pick individuals because I was focusing on my team… but I thought there were some strong performers there,” Howe said.
“I think the mentality and effort levels from the All Stars was really impressive.
“It is easy at three or four-nil to take your foot off the gas and see out the game, but they didnt. They went harder and we paid the price for that.
“You have to commend them for how they finished the game and how they conducted themselves tonight.”
