Recently appointed Adelaide United coach John Kosmina believes there are the makings of a successful Reds team despite the club enduring one of its worst seasons in history.
Recently appointed Adelaide United coach John Kosmina believes there are the makings of a successful Reds team despite the club enduring one of its worst seasons in history.
Following a dreadful 3-0 loss at home to bottom side Gold Coast United, Adelaide demoted former coach Rini Coolen to a youth development role paving the way for ex-Reds boss John Kosmina to step in.
Kosmina coached the inaugural Hyundai A-League Adelaide side and spent close to five years at the club before being asked to step down in 2007.
The 55-year-old rejoined on Sunday in the hope of revitalising the Reds who have won just two games this season and languish in ninth position – one point above last place.
Kosmina said that despite inheriting a squad criticised for looking fragmented and unorganised on the pitch at times this season, felt there was enough to suggest a winning team could be unmasked.
“I think there are the makings of a good side … provided people are aware of what their jobs are and more importantly prepared to do those jobs,” Kosmina said.
“It’s not a team – it’s a group of individuals. They have the basics of a team and have got the foundation but now they need to start operating like a team.
“That means sometime they do some dirty work to help their friend (team-mate) out and not just play how they want to play for their own benefit.”
Following his appointment on Monday, Kosmina has had minimal preparation given the short week.
Although having only three training sessions to work with the squad Kosmina said he was impressed with the immediate change in morale and spirit the players displayed this week despite suffering through a controversial week and rough patch of form that has seen the Reds winless in five consecutive matches.
“I’ve been happy with their response this week and I think the mood has lifted and gotten better each day,” Kosmina said.
“I can’t judge how they were (training) the week before but I could see they weren-t playing with a smile (against Gold Coast).
“That’s not blaming anyone, all I’m saying is that when you cop the losses that they’ve had and the way those losses have transpired, then of course you would be glum and your heads would going to be a little bit down.
“I know you go through bad spells as a player like you go through bad spells as a coach or in life … but you can’t sit there and sulk about it.
“You got to get out there and do something and I think the players have done that this week.”
Kosmina has named an extended 16-man squad to face the Sky Blues with 15-year-old sensation Teeboy Kamara selected once more following his history making debut against the Gold Coast last Friday night where he became the youngest ever player to take the field in an A-League clash.
Kamara will be joined by former Sydney FC defender Antony Golec who is set to make his Reds debut and second under Kosmina, after the ex-Brisbane Strikers coach handed the 21-year-old his A-League debut back in 2008 while the two were at Sydney.
Reigning A-League Golden Boot winner Sergio van Dijk will miss the clash after straining his hip flexor in the Reds’ loss to Gold Coast last Friday night, as Kosmina plans to wrap his star striker in wool ahead of a testing stretch of games for the Reds.
Sydney are expected to be undermanned in the midfield for Kosmina’s return with Nicky Carle out with a hamstring injury and news Socceroo Brett Emerton could be rested despite recovering from hamstring tightness after being substituted at half-time in Sydney’s 2-1 win over Newcastle last week.
Young gun Terry Antonis and veteran striker Mark Bridge will return however to bolster Sydney’s attacking ranks.
Kosmina was jovial ahead of his return to Sydney to square off against his former employers who he described as ‘cocky’.
“Sydney can be a bit cocky and maybe they think we are in a position where without Nicky Carle they can beat us anyway,” Kosmina said.
“They might well be allowed to believe because they have had some good form on the board lately but that doesn-t mean we are going to allow that to happen.
“If we don’t concede any goals then we might score some and I think our guys can do a job.”
