A more assertive Adelaide United FC will look to force the issue as it attempts to topple the previously undefeated Wellington Phoenix at Hindmarsh Stadium tomorrow afternoon according to Coach John Kosmina.
A more assertive Adelaide United FC will look to force the issue as it attempts to topple the previously undefeated Wellington Phoenix at Hindmarsh Stadium tomorrow afternoon according to Coach John Kosmina.
Disappointed with the Reds- level of competiveness against Melbourne Victory last Friday night, Kosmina has not hidden the fact that the plan is to take it right up to the Phoenix, who are the only team without a loss after the opening three rounds of the season.
“I think we need to be a little bit more aggressive and we discussed that after the Melbourne game last week,” Kosmina said.
“We-re at home, we should be aggressive, and that-s not trying to bash anybody up, you-ve got to be competitive which is probably a better word, or assertive.”
The clearest indication of the Reds- attacking state of mind for Saturday-s 5pm kick-off is the reinstatement of striker Sergio van Dijk into the starting line-up to complement Argentinean Jeronimo Neumann.
Defender Iain Fyfe is another to be recalled against the Phoenix for his first start of the season at the expense of the rested Nigel Boogaard, while Marcelo Carrusca is also expected to be promoted from the bench to make his run on debut as Kosmina delves into his arsenal to try and force the issue at home against the travelling Phoenix, who have proved a difficult side to crack.
“Looking at the type of team that Wellington is, and this gets back to what we-ve discussed in the past few weeks about the versatility and the options that we have in the group in terms of how we can go about our business, we need strike power, and we need physical strike power,” Kosmina said.
“They (Wellington) played ok against Brisbane last week and had them on the ropes for awhile, and they make it difficult…they-re well organised, they-re disciplined, they-re good competitors and they can play football, so they-ve got a mix of everything and are a tough team to play against.”
On returning from Melbourne following another unsuccessful attempt to win at Etihad Stadium, Kosmina also reinforced the importance of again turning Hindmarsh Stadium an intimidating place that opposition teams fear to visit, and he urged Reds supporters to come out in their droves to help make it happen.
“Melbourne (Victory) is a tough team to play at Etihad Stadium…and Hindmarsh needs to be like that as well,” Kosmina said.
“It needs to be our fortress and we need people to come and make that 12th man that used to be talked about so often in years gone by.”
A further reason for a big crowd at the club-s second home game of the season is to celebrate and acknowledge Cassio-s 100 Hyundai A-League appearances, a milestone he will achieve when he takes the field against Wellington.
While the Reds hardly need any added motivation to secure the three points, Kosmina believes Cassio-s feat and the contribution he has made since he arrived in June 2007 should spur his team mates on.
“I think that-s part of it. He (Cassio) is part of the fabric of this club and the culture it has, and I guess it-s important that it is recognised by the club, by his team mates and also the football community here in Adelaide as well,” Kosmina said.
Hyundai A-League 2012/13 Season – Week 4
ADELAIDE UNITED FC v WELLINGTON PHOENIX
Saturday 27 October 2012, Hindmarsh Stadium
Kick-Off: 5.00pm ACDT
Referee: Jarred Gillett
Tickets: Available through Ticketek (call 132849, online at www.ticketek.com.au)
TV: Live & Exclusive on Fox Sports
Radio: ABC 891 Adelaide, ABC Digital & online
Twitter: twitter.com/adelutd_fc (hash tag #REDSvNIX)
Adelaide United Squad: 1.Eugene Galekovic (gk) (c), 2.Osama Malik, 5.Iain Fyfe, 6.Cassio, 8.Marcelo Carrusca, 9.Sergio van Dijk, 10.Dario Vidosic, 11.Bruce Djite, 12.Antony Golec, 14.Cameron Watson, 16.Daniel Bowles, 17.Iain Ramsay, 19.Jake Barker-Daish, 21.Jeronimo Neumann, 22.Fabio Ferreira, 30.John Hall (gk)
*1 to be omitted*
Ins: Sergio van Dijk (promoted), Bruce Djite (promoted)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: Jon McKain (leg – to be reviewed), Paul Izzo (gk) (international duty)
Wellington Phoenix Squad: 1.Mark Paston (GK), 2.Manny Muscat, 3.Tony Lochhead, 6.Alex Smith, 7.Leo Bertos, 8.Paul Ifill, 9.Benjamin Totori, 10.Stein Huysegems, 11.Jeremy Brockie, 12.Tyler Boyd, 16.Louis Fenton, 17.Vince Lia, 18.Ben Sigmund, 20.Glen Moss (GK), 22.Andrew Durante (c), 28.Ricardo Clarke
*1 to be omitted*
Ins: Andrew Durante (returns from illness), Ricardo Clarke (promoted)
Outs: Michael Boxall (omitted)
Unavailable: Lucas Pantelis (knee injury – indefinite), Mirjan Pavlovic (medical condition – indefinite), Dani Sanchez (knee injury – 5 weeks)
