Gold Coast United coach Miron Bleiberg spent New Year’s Eve in a celebratory mood after watching his side battle to a goalless draw away to Hyundai A-League leaders Central Coast.
Gold Coast United coach Miron Bleiberg spent New Year’s Eve in a celebratory mood after watching his side battle to a goalless draw away to Hyundai A-League leaders Central Coast.
Bleiberg made no apologies for Gold Coast’s defensive approach, pointing to the fact that all the odds were against the undermanned visitors pre-game.
Gold Coast remain bottom with this result but a credible point against a side that had won its past six matches and a fourth-straight clean sheet gave Bleiberg plenty to smile about as United continued their recent resurgence after an awful start.
“We were in a very peculiar situation with five points from the first round of nine games,” he said.
“It’s a new year so we can talk about resolutions. We decided to change and you don’t rebuild from the penthouse, you rebuild from the foundations and that’s what we did. That’s four games we haven’t conceded a goal.”
“It was first against last today with first playing at home after six wins. Last also came without four key players (Glen Moss, Paul Beekmans, Dylan Macallister and Kristian Rees). And we played a lot of kids, if you look at our bench we had no players over 19.”
Gold Coast employed a back five and a four-man midfield as they sought to limit the Mariners’ attacking potential and the plan largely worked, with young stand-in goalkeeper Jerrad Tyson largely untested. Bleiberg said he is happy to sacrifice some of his side’s attacking verve if it means they remain as hard to beat as they have become since switching their focus in recent weeks.
“Tactically we stood up well. I don’t think the Mariners had too many clear chances. I think we’re going in the right direction.”
“We look forward to Newcastle. If you go four games without conceding a goal you go into a game full of confidence. We’re afraid of noone. We have eight points now in the second round which is probably first, second or third on the ladder.”
Despite the fact they are rooted to the foot of the ladder at the half-way mark of the season, Bleiberg is predicting a far stronger showing in 2012 given his largely new squad is starting to jell.
“It takes time. We dismantled a successful squad to focus on youth and I need to learn about the new players and they need to learn about me.
“Arnie (Mariners coach Graham Arnold) has it much easier because he has the same squad. Tennis players don’t measure things in sets, they take it point by point and that’s what we’re doing.”
The charismatic coach spared a thought for Central Coast striker Matt Simon, who struggled to make an impact in front of a large hometown crowd ahead of his newly announced move to the K-League Chunnam Dragons.
“Even Matt Simon looked second rate against our defence. Hopefully he will do better in Korea.”
