Adelaide United downs MetroStars in new coach Gertjan Verbeek’s first pre-season match at the helm
New Adelaide United coach Gertjan Verbeek laid down three non-negotiables to his players before his first pre-season match. So how did his charges fare embracing a seismic shift in philosophy?
GERTJAN Verbeek laid down three non-negotiables to his Adelaide United players before his maiden pre-season hitout as coach.
Ninety minutes later, the Dutchman was encouraged, but far from content, as his charges took their first steps towards embracing a seismic shift in playing philosophy.
“I see a lot of good things and also things we can improve,” said Verbeek, following Tuesday night’s 3-1 friendly win over NPL SA side MetroStars.
“I said before the game, ‘what I want is a good attitude, I want you to work hard, because you have only to play 45 minutes, and try what you have seen (in training)’.
“‘Think a little bit about how ... we want to play football and fill it in your own way’.
“That they did.
“The next week we will train more our tactical training.
“But the team I’m working with is a good team.”
A cool, still evening at the impressive new Taperoo Reserve provided the backdrop for Verbeek’s debut at the helm.
It also signalled the beginning of life without Craig Goodwin, as the star winger completed his move to Saudi Arabia.
The Reds lined in a 4-3-3 shape, not dissimilar to that generally employed by former manager, Marco Kurz.
But their execution could not have been more contrasting.
United began with its strongest side, minus defender Jordan Elsey, who picked up a thigh knock in training, and Vince Lia, who had returned to pre-season training late.
A back-four of centre backs Michael Jakobsen and Michael Marrone, flanked by Ryan Strain and Ryan Kitto, was urged to build from the deep with quick, short passing forward.
German Mirko Boland shielded the defence in place of departed skipper Isaias, giving midfield duo Nathan Konstandopoulos and the returning Riley McGree licence to create.
An over-reliance on shifting balls wide for wingers to whip repeated crosses into the area was a criticism levelled at United last summer.
Here there was far greater variety in attack, as Nikola Mileusnic and Ben Halloran were allowed to drift inside to run at defenders or get to the byline to cut low balls back.
Trialist Roland Alberg, starting as a No.9, benefited from this approach just after the half-hour.
Mileusnic, who later limped off with a quad problem, showed awareness to play a clever through ball for the Dutchman to clinically toe-poke home.
Alberg spurned another good chance soon after, but showed some glimpses of his quality despite clearly lacking match fitness.
McGree was the standout of the opening half in his first game back in a red shirt following two seasons on the books of Belgian outfit Club Brugge.
The SA-born talent demonstrated his pace and power with a series of promising thrusts and dictated play by constantly demanding the ball and distributing it intelligently.
“I don’t talk about players individually because it’s too early to pick one out,” said Verbeek, who had returned from his wedding in the Netherlands just 24 hours earlier.
“But I’ve been away for one week ... so I complimented the team.
“I could say the tempo was too high.
“But always they want to show in the first game the new trainer what they can do and they want to run forward.
“That’s one of the tactical things (to master) when you want to play offensive football.”
Adelaide fielded an entirely different XI after the break, as Verbeek gave a run to several of his promising youngsters.
A Lachlan Barr header conceded from a set piece highlighted some defensive frailties requiring attention, while the regularity of turnovers increased and the pressing dropped.
Striker George Blackwood won and converted a penalty, before also worryingly coming off with a hamstring complaint.
Impressive 20-year-old Kusini Yengi smashed in a blistering near-post finish to round out the scoring at the death.
But the repeated instruction of “play the ball forward, not backward” to players from newly-installed performance coach Gerald Sibon highlighted United’s objectives.
“I liked also the second half (when) I changed the whole team,” said Verbeek, who calmly observed the action from a pitch-side scaffold.
“There were some interesting players, who did a good job.
“It’s not strange that I’ve asked some young players now to train with the first squad
“Maybe we have a surprise.”