When Brisbane Roar were dominating the Hyundai A-League by winning three titles in four seasons, they did it playing a distinct brand of possession-based attacking football.
And playmaker Stefan Mauk has revealed that’s one of the main goals of new boss Robbie Fowler.
The Roar are a month into their pre-season training campaign under Fowler, with Mauk impressed by the intensity and philosophy the new boss has brought to the squad.
“He’s been really good, he’s an experienced player and I think that’s come into his coaching methods now,” Mauk said.
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“You don’t play at the top level unless you know a lot about the game, and with him being the coach, he can relay that information onto us.
“He wants us to get back to being the Brisbane Roar of past seasons – a side that’s extremely competitive and a good ball possession team.
“Brisbane’s always a hard place to come. That means utilising the heat, keeping the ball and making the other teams run.”
Phoenix aiming to put horror FFA Cup record right
Success has been hard to come by in the FFA Cup for Wellington Phoenix but new goalkeeper Stefan Marinovic says the club is determined to put that right in 2019.
The Kiwi outfit have only ever won one match in the FFA Cup in the last five years of the competition, coming back in 2015 against Central Coast Mariners.
But Phoenix are targeting a Cup run this year as they look to get as many competitive games as possible under new boss Ufuk Talay.
They open their Round of 32 campaign against Queensland NPL side Brisbane Strikers at Perry Park next Wednesday, August 7.
“I’m looking forward to winning that. I don’t think we want to be in pre-season for more months without any competitive games,” he said.
“First and foremost we’ve got to win that game and I think everybody is on the same page with that,” All Whites and Phoenix gloveman Marinovic said.
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“We have to be up for it because they are mid-season and we are coming into our first competitive game but I’m really looking forward to the boys going out there and performing.
“We have our own personal expectations and we want to win that 100%. However, they are in the middle of the season coming to the end of it so what they may perceivably lack in quality, they make up for it in togetherness and team bonding.
“So we’re on the back foot from that edge, but hopefully our quality will play out in the end.”
MEDIA | 🗣️''Gaffer is putting in some of his ideas and the way he wants to play so that we're all on the same page by that first competitive game.'' – #Nix Stefan Marinovic on preparations heading towards the @FFACup.
📺 Full video 👉 https://t.co/nsSusZR1Em#StandUpWithYourNix pic.twitter.com/MqM64naFA6
— Wellington Phoenix 🔥 (@WgtnPhoenixFC) July 29, 2019
Kurz makes impression on Victory keeper
It’s only early in the pre-season but gloveman Matt Acton has seen an immediate impact made by new Melbourne Victory boss Marco Kurz.
The German coach was appointed as the new Victory mentor last month, taking over from the vastly successful Kevin Muscat.
And Acton said Kurz has immediately put his stamp on the club.
“Pre-season has been really good so far, the new manager has brought new ideas and new structures so we have been working really hard on that,” the 27-year-old keeper said.
“Obviously the training is tough this time of year but the boys are really enjoying working hard and building to what we want to be a strong year ahead.
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“Personally, I like the way the manager has approached the job in the first few weeks and I only have positive impressions so far. I think the boys are really buying into his methods and thoughts.”
It was a big off-season for the Acton family, with Matt and Shannon welcoming the arrival of their second daughter, Bloom.
