New Adelaide United FC Coach John Kosmina will get an indication of how much his influence is already rubbing off on the Reds’ playing group when they meet Sydney FC at the Sydney Football Stadium.
New Adelaide United FC Coach John Kosmina will get an indication of how much his influence is already rubbing off on the Reds- playing group when they meet Sydney FC at the Sydney Football Stadium tomorrow night (Thursday 22 December 2011).
Following the turmoil of last Friday night-s home loss and the subsequent week of change which saw Kosmina take over as the club-s new coach, tomorrow night-s match in the harbour city promises to be a game of intrigue on many levels.
A new man at the helm provides a fresh start for the Reds and in just the few days Kosmina has been in charge, he has undoubtedly put his stamp on the squad as he attempts to galvanise the group.
“This comes down to what I said about this not being a team but a group of individuals…they have the basics of a team, they-ve got the foundation there, but now they need to start operating like a team and that means sometimes you do some dirty work to help your friend out, you don-t just play how you want to play for your own benefit,” Kosmina said.
“It-s about who wants to stand up and be counted now.”
For his first up assignment, Kosmina is likely to need all of his coaching nous and experience to plot a victory away from home against Sydney FC, a club that he coached previously and that will be riding high after a come from behind win over the Newcastle Jets last weekend.
On top of trying to resurrect the Reds- season and rediscover their confidence, Kosmina will have to do it without two starters from last Friday night. Captain Jon McKain is suspended having accumulated five yellow cards and striker Sergio van Dijk has succumbed to a hip flexor strain and will not be rushed back until he is back to full fitness.
Midfielder Spase Dilevski is expected to play after getting through training this morning despite copping a heavy knock during yesterday-s session.
“How we-re going to play when we-ve got other bodies available is a whole different question,” Kosmina said.
“What we-re doing tomorrow night is what I think will work best for what we-ve got available.”
While the odds may be well stacked against the Reds, Kosmina has other ideas and believes an early Christmas present for the club-s supporters is not out of the question.
“I want to see a 3-nil win for us…if we don-t concede any goals then we might score some,” Kosmina said.
“I think these guys can do a job. They-ve got to get used to me and I-ve got to get used to them, it-s easy sitting in the stands watching people but it-s a bit different when you-re in close contact and I can look at their little movement patterns, their touch and things like that, but I think there are makings of a good side here provided people are aware of what their jobs are but more importantly that they-re willing to do those jobs.”
Regardless of the result on Thursday night, Kosmina can already see a positive change of attitude from the players and a determination to fight their way out of their current slump.
“I think the mood has lifted each day. That-s not blaming anyone, all I-m saying is that when you cop the losses they-ve had and the way those losses have transpired, of course people are going to be a little bit glum, of course their heads are going to be down, so the whole thing is don-t be depressed about it,” Kosmina said.
“I know you go through bad spells as a player, like you go through bad spells as a coach and bad spells in life when you don-t want to get out of bed in the morning and go to work because it-s too damn hard, but you can-t sit there and sulk about it, you-ve got to get out and do something about it and I think they (the players) have done that this week.”
Tomorrow night will see just what kind of response Kosmina-s presence has had early on, as his second tenure with the Reds in the Hyundai A-League begins at the Sydney Football Stadium.
Hyundai A-League 2011/12 Season – Week 12
Sydney FC v Adelaide United FC
Thursday 22 December 2011, Sydney Football Stadium
Kick-Off: 7.30pm AEDT (7.00pm ACDT)
Referee: Jarred Gillett
TV: Live and exclusive on FOX Sports 1
Radio: ABC Radio (891 ABC Adelaide, ABC SA, Grandstand Digital and online)
Twitter: https://twitter.com/adelutd_fc (hash tag #HALsydau)
Adelaide United squad: 1.Eugene Galekovic (gk) (c), 2.Osama Malik, 3.Nigel Boogaard, 5.Daniel Mullen, 7.Zenon Caravella, 10.Dario Vidosic, 11.Bruce Djite, 12.Antony Golec, 14.Cameron Watson, 16.Spase Dilevski, 17.Iain Ramsay, 18.Fabian Barbiero, 20.Mark Birighitti (gk), 21.Francisco Usucar, 22.Milan Susak, 24.Teeboy Kamara
*one to be omitted*
In: Osama Malik (promoted), Antony Golec (promoted), Milan Susak (returns from injury)
Out: Jon McKain (suspended – 1 match), Sergio van Dijk (hip flexor)
Unavailable: Cassio (ankle), Evgeniy Levchenko (groin)
Sydney FC squad: 1.Liam Reddy (gk), 2.Sebastian Ryall, 3.Jamie Coyne, 4.Pascal Bosschaart, 5.Michael Beauchamp, 7.Brett Emerton, 8.Karol Kisel, 9.Bruno Cazarine, 11.Dimi Petratos, 12.Shannon Cole, 15.Terry McFlynn (c), 17.Terry Antonis, 18.Juho Makela, 19.Mark Bridge, 20.Ivan Necevski (gk), 21.Scott Jamieson, 23.Rhyan Grant
*two to be omitted*
In: Mark Bridge (returns from injury), Terry Antonis (returns from injury)
Out: Nick Carle (hamstring – 2 weeks)
Adelaide United vs. Sydney FC – Hyundai A-League HEAD TO HEAD Record
Played 21 – Adelaide United FC 9 wins, 2 draws, 10 losses
22-Oct-2011… L 1-2… 2011/12 Wk 3 (Hindmarsh Stadium)
29-Dec-2010… W 2-0… 2010/11 Midweek (Adelaide Oval)
4-Oct-2010… W 2-1… 2010/11 Wk 9 (Sydney Football Stadium)
4-Sep-2010… W 3-1… 2010/11 Wk 5 (Sydney Football Stadium)
27-Dec-2009… L 0-1… 2009/10 Rd 21 (Sydney Football Stadium)
16-Oct-2009… W 2-1… 2009/10 Rd 11 (Hindmarsh Stadium)
16-Aug-2009… L 0-1… 2009/10 Rd 2 (Sydney Football Stadium)
3-Jan-2009… W 2-0… 2008/09 Rd 18 (Adelaide Oval)
22-Nov-2008… W 2-0… 2008/09 Rd 12 (Hindmarsh Stadium)
20-Sep-2008… L 0-3… 2008/09 Rd5 (Sydney Football Stadium)
28-Dec-2007… L 1-3… 2007/08 Rd18 (Adelaide Oval)
20-Oct-2007… W 1-0… 2007/08 Rd9 (Sydney Football Stadium)
1-Sep-2007… D 2-2… 2007/08 Rd2 (Sydney Football Stadium)
14-Jan-2007… W 1-0… 2006/07 Rd20 (Hindmarsh Stadium)
19-Nov-2006… L 1-2… 2006/07 Rd13 (Sydney Football Stadium)
2-Oct-2006… L 1-4… 2006/07 Rd6 (Hindmarsh Stadium)
19-Feb-2006… L 1-2… 2005/06 Semi Final 2nd Leg (Sydney Football Stadium)
12-Feb-2006… D 2-2… 2005/06 Semi Final 1st Leg (Hindmarsh Stadium)
3-Feb-2006… L 1-2… 2005/06 (Sydney Football Stadium)
27-Nov-2005… W 3-2… 2005/06 (Hindmarsh Stadium)
9-Oct-2005… L 1-2… 2005/06 (Sydney Football Stadium)
At Sydney Football Stadium
Played 11; Adelaide United 3, Sydney FC 7, Draws 1
Last time they met
22-Oct-2011 Week 3, Hyundai A-League 2011/12 Season at Hindmarsh Stadium
Adelaide United FC 1 (Vidosic 28-)
Sydney FC 2 (Coyne 60-, Carle 81-)
Adelaide United last three results
Wk 11. 16-12-2011… L 0-3… vs. Gold Coast United (Hindmarsh Stadium)
Wk 10. 10-12-2011… D 1-1… vs. Melbourne Victory (Etihad Stadium)
Wk 9. 2-12-11… L 0-4… vs. Central Coast Mariners (Hindmarsh Stadium)
