ID :
22395
Fri, 10/03/2008 - 09:33
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/22395
The shortlink copeid
Vidmar wary of combative Mariners
If five matches in 14 days wasn't tough enough, Adelaide coach Aurelio Vidmar expects his charges to cop a physical battering in Friday night's A-League clash with Central Coast at Hindmarsh Stadium.
While Adelaide are over the moon with their success in the Asian Champions League,
with the club set to meet Uzbekistan's Bunyodkor in the semi-finals, their progress
in the tournament has meant their focus on the A-League has drifted somewhat.
Adelaide even asked Football Federation Australia to postpone some of their A-League
matches to cater for their ACL commitments - to no avail.
Central Coast, meanwhile, have quietly surged into fourth spot on the back of a
four-match unbeaten run, with their 4-1 triumph over Perth last week their most
impressive performance of the season.
Adelaide also hit top form last round, with their 2-0 win over Newcastle catapulting
them into third spot on the table and within one point of the top-two.
But Vidmar is under no illusions as to what the Mariners will serve up on Friday night.
"It's going to be a really big battle for us because the Central Coast is a physical
team," Vidmar said.
"They're not flashy or brilliant but they play good tough football and that's the
way Lawrie (McKinna) has instilled their football and they have been doing it very
well.
"They wiped Perth Glory off the floor with some great goals and they've got some
dangerous players.
"We really need to be focused, prepared for a physical fight and if we can match
them in that aspect I think we're good enough to get the three points."
Adelaide midfielder Lucas Pantelis is likely to spend another week on the sidelines
with a groin injury while Olyroo Kristian Sarkies has been ruled out with a foot
injury.
The Mariners will be without star goalkeeper Mark Bosnich, who injured his hamstring
against the Glory last week.
Andrew Redmayne is set to take over in between the posts.
Adelaide have ruled out launching an appeal against FFA's decision not to reschedule
the club's games but chief executive Sam Ciccarello admitted the decision could
affect United's A-League and ACL campaigns.
"We're very disappointed that our request couldn't be accommodated in what is an
increasingly busy and very difficult schedule," Ciccarello said.
"We're delighted to have progressed so far in this prestigious competition but
certainly this is a bit of a setback in terms of our ability to get the best out of
our playing squad."
While Adelaide are over the moon with their success in the Asian Champions League,
with the club set to meet Uzbekistan's Bunyodkor in the semi-finals, their progress
in the tournament has meant their focus on the A-League has drifted somewhat.
Adelaide even asked Football Federation Australia to postpone some of their A-League
matches to cater for their ACL commitments - to no avail.
Central Coast, meanwhile, have quietly surged into fourth spot on the back of a
four-match unbeaten run, with their 4-1 triumph over Perth last week their most
impressive performance of the season.
Adelaide also hit top form last round, with their 2-0 win over Newcastle catapulting
them into third spot on the table and within one point of the top-two.
But Vidmar is under no illusions as to what the Mariners will serve up on Friday night.
"It's going to be a really big battle for us because the Central Coast is a physical
team," Vidmar said.
"They're not flashy or brilliant but they play good tough football and that's the
way Lawrie (McKinna) has instilled their football and they have been doing it very
well.
"They wiped Perth Glory off the floor with some great goals and they've got some
dangerous players.
"We really need to be focused, prepared for a physical fight and if we can match
them in that aspect I think we're good enough to get the three points."
Adelaide midfielder Lucas Pantelis is likely to spend another week on the sidelines
with a groin injury while Olyroo Kristian Sarkies has been ruled out with a foot
injury.
The Mariners will be without star goalkeeper Mark Bosnich, who injured his hamstring
against the Glory last week.
Andrew Redmayne is set to take over in between the posts.
Adelaide have ruled out launching an appeal against FFA's decision not to reschedule
the club's games but chief executive Sam Ciccarello admitted the decision could
affect United's A-League and ACL campaigns.
"We're very disappointed that our request couldn't be accommodated in what is an
increasingly busy and very difficult schedule," Ciccarello said.
"We're delighted to have progressed so far in this prestigious competition but
certainly this is a bit of a setback in terms of our ability to get the best out of
our playing squad."
