Coach Gertjan Verbeek says Adelaide United must recruit in January transfer window, despite Reds’ return to winning ways
Adelaide United coach Gertjan Verbeek says the Reds must sign at least one player in the January transfer window to compensate for recent departures, despite his side’s return to winning ways.
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Rejuvenated Adelaide United must sign at least one player in the January transfer window to compensate for recent departures, according to coach Gertjan Verbeek.
But Verbeek said post-match he still expected a recruit to arrive in the final five days of the window, following last week’s exit of midfielder Vince Lia and goalkeeper Daniel Margush.
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It was in stark contrast to earlier this month, when the Dutchman claimed the Reds did not have the funds available to sign players.
“We have to,” said Verbeek, when asked if the club will add new personnel before January 31.
“We have let two players go, so we have at least to get one back.
“Otherwise we have to give some youth players a contract.
“It’s all about the money and I don’t go about the money.
“Youth players are cheaper than experienced ones.”
Adelaide, which has been hit hard by injuries this term, also released young playmaker Carlo Armiento last month, meaning it had an A-League minimum 20 players in its first-team squad.
Verbeek praised his side’s creativity and fighting qualities against Western, as it secured back-to-back victories thanks to substitute Nathan Konstandopoulos’ winner 11 minutes from time.
A Nikola Mileusnic brace and a Riley McGree strike helped the Reds to an early 3-1 lead and kicked their quick-transition game into top gear.
But the hosts were level just before the hour, when Besart Berisha (twice) and Alessandro
Diamanti were on target.
Verbeek said the display highlighted both the offensive power and defensive frailties of his team, which had bounced back from a four-match losing streak either side of Christmas.
“I think we played perfect first half,” Verbeek said.
“Only we (were) vulnerable when we lose the ball.
“When you a lot of times have the ball, every mistake you make it can be in the transition a chance for the opponent.
“That’s also a difficult way of playing football.
“We don’t play with 11 men behind the ball.
“We want to attack and we want to make goals.
“We have to improve and make less mistakes and then we can control the game better.
“When you make four goals in an away game then it’s still exciting to the end, it’s not a good sign.
“But in the end, when you count the chances we deserved to win.”
Verbeek said he was enjoying the open nature of the A-League in his debut season Down Under and gradually adjusting to a finals system for the first time.
But he was critical of the competition’s lopsided fixture.
It meant the Reds faced new club Western United for the first time on the weekend, having already played four other teams twice.
“It’s a crazy competition,” the 57-year-old mentor said.
“It’s a lottery. Some teams you have already played two times and some teams you meet for the first time.
“Normally when it’s going like I’m used to in Europe, halfway (through the season) you know a little bit where you stand.
“But here, you don’t know.
“It’s strange to play with 11 teams only 27 games.
“I don’t know a competition where that’s the same.”
The teenage prodigy picked up a foot problem during the Asian under-23 championships, but came off the bench in Saturday’s decisive third-place playoff win over Uzbekistan.