Queensland coach Frank Farina has issued a stern warning to his players to step up or face the axe ahead of the Roar’s Hyundai A-League clash against the Phoenix in Wellington on Sunday.
The Roar failed to fire in front of goal last week against Adelaide and while Farina was not too concerned by his team’s performance, the ineffectiveness of his strike force left the former Socceroos coach with no other option than to drop players.
“The manner in which we’re playing at the moment is okay, but we’re just not finishing,” Farina said.
“That has been our problem, particularly at home, we’re creating chances but we’re not finishing them, so that has to change for us to start winning games.”
“If it means making changes and giving other people opportunities, that’s what we’ll do.”
“It will happen this week.”
Just who will face the chop is still a mystery, with Farina unwilling to confirm whether out of sorts striker Reinaldo, who is yet to find the back of the net this season, will start or not.
“Oh you’ll see on Sunday,” he laughed.
Dutch recruit Sergio van Dijk is in line to make a comeback from a calf injury although he could easily play up front along with Reinaldo.
Scottish playmaker Charlie Miller partnered Reinaldo last week when he pinch hit as a striker against Adelaide, but Farina suggested Miller would be back to his creative role in the middle against Wellington.
The other noted change Farina revealed was that youngster Matt Mundy will slot into the right back position in place of the injured Hyuk-Su Seo (calf).
While Farina put his players on notice, he did suggest that extensive omissions were not on the cards.
“If you’re playing terrible, you should be looking at making wholesale changes, but that hasn’t been the case,” Farina explained.
“I think we’ve been playing some good football in the first eight rounds but our biggest problem is finishing the chances that we create.”
“For that to change that means either a change in personnel or a change in confidence for players.”
Farina was hopeful that his hard-line stance would cause his charges to sit up and take notice.
“Sometimes it can serve as a bit of a wake-up call and I think that’s a good thing,” he said.
“It keeps everyone on their toes so whoever plays this weekend will know that they have to play well and hopefully score if they’re going to keep their spots.”
