Post by kevrenor on Sept 3, 2006 13:55:24 GMT 10
Roaring success
Rob Black
September 03, 2006 12:00am
Article from: The Sunday Mail (Qld)
QUEENSLAND Roar coach Miron Bleiberg said he would make changes for Saturday night's match-up with finals specialists Central Coast Mariners despite another stirring win on Friday night.
The Roar beat the Newcastle Jets 3-2 in Newcastle, with striker Simon Lynch netting the decider in the last five minutes, but Bleiberg was not completely happy with his team's performance.
"It was a courageous effort, brave, strong team effort, whatever you want to call it, but in terms of football it was not very good," Bleiberg said.
"Our midfield did not have a very good game, (Korean star) Hyuk Su-Seo had one of his worst performances and even (Socceroo) Matt McKay had a quiet game.
"They are not machines and in 20 or so matches you are allowed a bad performance. But we may have to make some change."
German midfielder Marcus Wedau is suffering from a mystery hamstring complaint that Roar medical staff cannot identify and may not be fit to make the trip to Gosford after a tentative start against Perth Glory in the first round.
Bleiberg said striker Ante Milicic had been acting as a playmaker, setting up goals, despite not scoring himself and a reshuffle may be an option for Saturday night.
The Mariners made last season's grand final, won the pre-season and again were beaten finalists in this season's pre-season cup final, going down in a penalty shootout to Adelaide United.
The Mariners take on the Glory in Perth today after going down to Sydney in the grand final replay in round one.
Bleiberg said at the start of the A-League season proper pre-season form meant little and if anything could be a hindrance to teams as they begin the regular season.
"In the Olympics you don't want to peak too early and I think sometimes pre-season finals can be a bit of a problem for teams. Maybe they use a bit of emotional energy before the real season starts," Bleiberg said.
"I said after the pre-season that both the Mariners and Adelaide would swap their pre-season final for three points in the first round."
The Roar is top of the table and has two home games in a row after Saturday's trip to Gosford.
It hosts the NZ Knights then Adelaide and the opportunity to grab more vital early points and establish a strong position in the first round.
Bleiberg said he was hopeful medical staff could sort out Wedau's mystery injury soon or he may have to seek a short-term replacement for his supposed playmaker.
Bleiberg said Chinese international Yuning Zhang was regaining fitness.
He was hopeful the star recruit would be available in the next couple of weeks.
Newcastle travels to Adelaide on Friday night, with the Mariners-Roar match at Bluetongue Central Coast Stadium the only Saturday game.
A LATE goal by Malik Buari gave the NZ Knights their first A-League win (1-0) on home soil over Adelaide United in Auckland yesterday.
Midfielder Buari evaded a defender at the corner of the penalty box in the 88th minute and his perfectly-placed kick curled into the top right-hand corner of the net.
Goalkeeper Robert Bajic had no chance and the goal ended nearly 90 minutes of frustration for 4100 fans at North Harbour Stadium in a game dominated by the Knights.
The shock loss for Adelaide at the hands of last year's woodenspooners is its second straight defeat after winning the pre-season competition.
The Reds rarely threatened the NZ goal.
Rob Black
September 03, 2006 12:00am
Article from: The Sunday Mail (Qld)
QUEENSLAND Roar coach Miron Bleiberg said he would make changes for Saturday night's match-up with finals specialists Central Coast Mariners despite another stirring win on Friday night.
The Roar beat the Newcastle Jets 3-2 in Newcastle, with striker Simon Lynch netting the decider in the last five minutes, but Bleiberg was not completely happy with his team's performance.
"It was a courageous effort, brave, strong team effort, whatever you want to call it, but in terms of football it was not very good," Bleiberg said.
"Our midfield did not have a very good game, (Korean star) Hyuk Su-Seo had one of his worst performances and even (Socceroo) Matt McKay had a quiet game.
"They are not machines and in 20 or so matches you are allowed a bad performance. But we may have to make some change."
German midfielder Marcus Wedau is suffering from a mystery hamstring complaint that Roar medical staff cannot identify and may not be fit to make the trip to Gosford after a tentative start against Perth Glory in the first round.
Bleiberg said striker Ante Milicic had been acting as a playmaker, setting up goals, despite not scoring himself and a reshuffle may be an option for Saturday night.
The Mariners made last season's grand final, won the pre-season and again were beaten finalists in this season's pre-season cup final, going down in a penalty shootout to Adelaide United.
The Mariners take on the Glory in Perth today after going down to Sydney in the grand final replay in round one.
Bleiberg said at the start of the A-League season proper pre-season form meant little and if anything could be a hindrance to teams as they begin the regular season.
"In the Olympics you don't want to peak too early and I think sometimes pre-season finals can be a bit of a problem for teams. Maybe they use a bit of emotional energy before the real season starts," Bleiberg said.
"I said after the pre-season that both the Mariners and Adelaide would swap their pre-season final for three points in the first round."
The Roar is top of the table and has two home games in a row after Saturday's trip to Gosford.
It hosts the NZ Knights then Adelaide and the opportunity to grab more vital early points and establish a strong position in the first round.
Bleiberg said he was hopeful medical staff could sort out Wedau's mystery injury soon or he may have to seek a short-term replacement for his supposed playmaker.
Bleiberg said Chinese international Yuning Zhang was regaining fitness.
He was hopeful the star recruit would be available in the next couple of weeks.
Newcastle travels to Adelaide on Friday night, with the Mariners-Roar match at Bluetongue Central Coast Stadium the only Saturday game.
A LATE goal by Malik Buari gave the NZ Knights their first A-League win (1-0) on home soil over Adelaide United in Auckland yesterday.
Midfielder Buari evaded a defender at the corner of the penalty box in the 88th minute and his perfectly-placed kick curled into the top right-hand corner of the net.
Goalkeeper Robert Bajic had no chance and the goal ended nearly 90 minutes of frustration for 4100 fans at North Harbour Stadium in a game dominated by the Knights.
The shock loss for Adelaide at the hands of last year's woodenspooners is its second straight defeat after winning the pre-season competition.
The Reds rarely threatened the NZ goal.