Recently appointed Brisbane mentor Ange Postecoglou will get his first taste of Hyundai A-League action on Sunday when the Roar take on Sydney FC, but there is nothing fresh about Postecoglou’s main challenge – the club’s ailing playing stocks.
Postecoglou officially took over the reins from Frank Farina last Friday, but this weekend will be the first time he takes charge on the sidelines.
He inherits a squad besieged by injury.
As has been the case for much of the 2009/10 Hyundai A-League season, the Roar’s depth will be thoroughly tested in the coming weeks.
Craig Moore (suspension), Massimo Murdocca (broken leg), Bob Malcolm (broken nose), Michael Zullo (groin), Liam Reddy (quad), Henrique (knee) will all be out of action, while Ivan Franjic faces a fitness test on Saturday.
Veterans Danny Tiatto and Charlie Miller were inline for a recall, but Postecoglou was not ready to risk either.
“They’re no chance, Danny tried really hard and he’s training okay, but he’s just not right and Charlie has done minimal amount of work, so both of them are out,” Postecoglou said on Friday.
Postecoglou nominated Isaka Cernak, David Dodd and Mario Karlovic as the candidates to perform Tiatto’s holding role in the middle.
Qantas Young Socceroos Mitch Nichols and Luke DeVere will start for the Roar, while Andrew Packer will return after overcoming an adductor injury.
“He (Packer) trained well this morning, he hasn’t played so he wouldn’t be able to get through 90 minutes, but certainly over the coming weeks he’ll be a handy addition for us.”
Postecoglou admitted he has not had enough time to put his own stamp on the side, but made one of his own selection policies very clear.
“I’m in no hurry to rush people back in, I’m not desperate to get them into the squad or the team, I’ll play the ones who are fit and wait for the others to get fit.”
“With players like him (Miller), if they miss football it doesn’t help at all, and it’s going to be a battle – that’s the reality of it – for Charlie to get back to any sort of kind of fitness to play.”
“I’m pretty big on players training well and then playing – and I’d rather he didn’t play until he’s ready.”
The former Qantas Young Socceroos mentor was happy with how his charges had responded to Farina’s dismissal and his ensuing appointment.
“Training has been good, the intensity has been good, it’s hard for me to say whether that’s different from other weeks because I wasn’t here.”
“Certainly I’ve been happy with the reaction of the players and the way they’ve trained this week.”
“It seems like all of that confusion has gone out of their heads now, they know that I’m in charge and the week has been normal in terms of training.”
