Desperation not dogma
Wellington Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert is being careful to ensure his side doesn’t fall into the trap of playing desperation football in tomorrow night’s clash with Perth Glory at Westpac Stadium in Wellington.
Coming off a lean run in the Hyundai A-League 2007/08 season and up against a hungry Glory outfit, Herbert says the Phoenix have worked hard on keeping emotions in check in the leadup to the showdown with the visitors.
Despite playing what many pundits say is the best football in the competition, the Phoenix have been unable to convert good performances into competition points. Last weekend’s 2-1 loss to Adelaide United was a case in point, as the Phoenix failed to convert sustained pressure throughout the match into a vital win.
The Hyundai A-League’s newest club now sits at the bottom of the table, level on points with Perth but in last place on goal difference.
Herbert said the Phoenix would not be sucked into departing from their fluent playing style as they seek a three-peat of victories against the Western Australian team.
“We know where we sit, we’ve had two good results against them [Perth] at home [4-1] and away [1-0] and it’s a good opportunity for us to put things together. We’ve been playing well and the last match against Adelaide was very disappointing because it was a game we should have won three or four times over.
“We’re doing enough to show that we have the ability to win games. But one area I see as being important tomorrow is that we don’t start playing desperation football because we’re not a desperate sort of side. If we lose our rhythm then I think we could be ordinary. We’ve got to keep driving through it and be better and stronger.
“Perth will have a very similar determination, so I guess the game has all the ingredients to potentially be the match of the round given what the two teams would like to get from it.”
Herbert said the Phoenix would most likely start with a 3-5-2 formation, with veteran striker Vaughan Coveny linking with Shane Smeltz upfront.
“Having Vaughan in the mix gives Shane the option to do other things. Sometimes when Shane is on his own he’s having to win all the aerial stuff and get down channels and that’s probably because we haven’t had alternatives going down the flanks.”
The onus would be on Ahmad Elrich, in particular, to put pressure on the Glory’s defence out wide.
“I’m looking to Ahmad to be better with his decision-making. I think that if we can start taking fullbacks on, get more advanced down the pitch and add a little more variety in what the crosses look like, then that’ll help.”
Despite having let the opposition off the hook in several matches, Herbert said there had been no need to read his squad the riot act.
“I don’t think it’s a matter of the players showing more commitment and determination, I think it’s always been there. The players have always shown that attitude and it’s never been something I’ve had to question.
“I think it’s really a matter of them keeping their heads now because these are the sort of games you can lose quite easily. If we go into this game with uncontrolled desperation the next thing we know we’ll have a player sent off and make life difficult for ourselves.
“Controlled aggression and determination is what we need to the fore and I have no reason to doubt that’s exactly what will be there tomorrow night.”
Wellington Phoenix squad: 1. Mark PASTON (gk), 20.Glen MOSS (gk), 2. Jeremy CHRISTIE, 3. Tony LOCHHEAD, 5.Karl DODD, 6. Tim BROWN, 8.Vaughan COVENY, 9. Shane SMELTZ, 10.Michael FERRANTE, 11.DANIEL, 12. Richard JOHNSON, 13. Steven OLD, 16.Kristian REES, 17.Vince LIA, 18. Ahmad ELRICH, 21.FELIPE *One to be omitted