It’s hard to find many people outside of North Queensland who don’t think the Fury will be propping up the Hyundai A-League come season’s end.
And it’s reasonably understandable given the upheaval that went on at the Townsville-based club after their inaugural season in the competition.
Football Federation Australia took over the licence and business and community support ensured the embattled club would continue on this season.
Things haven’t been much better on the field with marquee star Robbie Fowler heading out the door to Perth Glory with as many as 11 new faces coming in under new boss Franz Straka.
But early indications are the Fury will be anything but the competition whipping boys with a courageous 3-3 draw away with the Glory in round one putting Sydney FC on red alert ahead of their clash with the Fury on Saturday night.
“A lot of people have written them off way to early,” Sky Blues striker Alex Brosque said.
“They showed on the weekend going to Perth, which is a very hard trip, they are very good and they can take a point away.”
“They didn’t seem overawed; they went at them and really took it to Perth and looked good going forward.”
“They are going to be a much tougher prospect up in Townsville as they always are and as summer kicks in and it gets hotter they’ll be even harder to beat.”
“Even in round one they showed they’re going to be a real force this year.”
Sydney coach Vitezslav Lavicka added: “They have a young team, but they have players which have enthusiasm and have good quality as well.”
“The conditions will be different than here in Sydney but we know it.”
“I think we are ready, physically and mentally strong enough to do well.”
Brosque said the 3-3 draw against the Melbourne Victory last weekend – in which they squandered a 2-0 lead conceding three goals in seven minutes – was a good “wake-up call” for the Hyundai A-League champions.
“It helps you realise things are not going to be easy…even at 2-0 teams have enough quality to score some goals against us,” the Sky Blues striker said.
“We’re disappointed we conceded those quick three goals but I think it’s a good lesson we needed to have in round one.”
The Fury have added incentive to knock off the Hyundai A-League champions with four members of their squad – Ufuk Talay, Chris Payne, Justin Pasfield and Adam Casey – all former Sydney players.
