Ross rips into Roar's porous defence
Following the club’s 3-2 defeat to Wellington on the weekend, Roar assistant coach Ross Aloisi tore into the squad during training on Tuesday over their woeful defensive performance.
It was made clear to the squad during an intense session at the club’s base that a repeat of that showing won’t be tolerated in their meeting with Adelaide United on Saturday night.
"It was just a bit of honesty in terms of our defending," Roar defender Shane Stefanutto told reporters of the tongue-lashing dished out by Aloisi at training.
"I know Ross as a football player and he's exactly like that as a coach and that’s why we love Ross.
"If you need to be told something, you need to be told something. We're men and we don't take things like that personally. We want that feedback as well so we can rectify those issues.
"It's about the improvement we still have in us and to continue to have throughout the season.
"We can’t just sit there and go, ‘we’ve got two wins from three games, that’s good enough good’. That's not what it's about."
Stefanutto is yet to feature for Roar in 2015/16 after a calf problem hampered his pre-season.
But the ex-Socceroo left-back has returned to full training and hopes to push the likes of Corey Brown, Jerome Polenz and Jack Hingert for a starting berth.
"I've been on this challenge for three, four, five years now,” said Stefanutto, who will retire from playing at the end of the season.
“I've been on one-year deals for a long time, and had many chats with the bosses that say it's 50-50. I wouldn't have it any other way.
"I am just excited to be back out there, part of this club and contributing whatever way I am required."
Roar are wary of a desperate Adelaide side still looking for a first win but are also after revenge after being knocked out of last year’s finals series by the Reds.
"Our aim as a team is to go there and keep clean sheets…that's why we want to keep improving and become an Italian-like defence that is scarcely letting in goals," added Stefanutto.
"We have high expectations at this club. We expect that of each other. Out there we are working as hard as we can to rectify this."
Phoenix players shocked at FFA decision
The Wellington Phoenix captain Andrew Durante said there was shock among the players when they first heard the news that Australian football's ruling body had declined the club's request for a 10-year A-League licence extension.
Football Federation Australia said the Phoenix, whose licence expires at the end of the current season, can still request a four-year licence until the end of the 2019/20 season.
The club is yet to announce their next move.
Durante said the initial news was hard to take, "coming to training the next day there was a lot of questions, there was a lot of shock I guess."
"But since then we've had some meetings and as a captain and a senior group it is our job to keep things positive around the camp."
"It is out of our control and there is nothing as players that we can do besides play well every week and that is solely our focus and leave the rest to the people that make the decisions."
Durante said it is a bit annoying because compared to some other clubs, the Phoenix runs very smoothly.
"You look around some of the other clubs who are folding who the FFA are having to prop up and that is probably the most disappointing thing that we are not a club that is causing any issues in the league."
"We have a good group, we are playing good football, we don't cause any trouble, and we are stable, so to see other clubs struggling but get 20 year licences is hard to take."
Durante said to see the Phoenix go under would be shocking for kids of New Zealand, football players and even the young players in their academy.
Durante said the players are remaining positive and preparing for their next game which is in Melbourne against the victory next Monday.
Jets out to shut down Mooy
Newcastle Jets defender Daniel Mullen says one of the big keys to a win over Melbourne City in Friday night's A-League clash, will be ensuring Australia midfielder Aaron Mooy isn't let free to run rampant.
The Jets have been closely watching Mooy's exploits so far this season for City, and know its fate at AAMI Park will largely ride on how well they can shut down one of the competition's most creative players.
"We've got to get his head down straight away so that he doesn't have all the time in the world on the ball," Mullen said.
"When he's got time on the ball he's effective, but if we can put his head down and put pressure on him we can still turn the ball over when he has it.
"It's more about doing the same (as usual) - keep it compact and get numbers around the ball and making it hard for him to play."
Mooy continued his brilliant form for City's midfield during Sunday's 3-1 win over Central Coast, and had a hand in his side's opener when he curled a cross for Patrick Kisnorbo to head beyond Central Coast keeper Paul Izzo's grasp.
The Jets have defended valiantly under siege this season, outlasting champion Melbourne Victory and Wellington Phoenix, and coming excruciatingly close to a draw with Sydney FC.
But Mullen said extra caution will be required against Mooy to ensure no free-kicks are given away within sight of goal.
"You could see in (Sunday's) game he took a couple where you thought 'there's no way he's going to shoot', and he did. It took a good save from the goalkeeper to keep him out," Mullen said.
"He's put one on the head of Kisnorbo as well for the goal, so we're going to have to make sure we don't give away too many silly fouls in and around the box.
"Every game he's been instrumental. But at the same time they've got a lot of quality everywhere else on the park, so we can't just focus on one player."
A-League
| StandingsAUSTRALIA: A-League | |||||
| Round 3 | |||||
| 25.10. 05:00 | Perth Glory | Adelaide United | 3 : 1 | ||
| 25.10. 03:00 | Melbourne City | Central Coast Mariners | 3 : 1 | ||
| 24.10. 05:30 | Sydney FC | WS Wanderers | 1 : 0 | ||
| 24.10. 03:15 | Wellington Phoenix | Brisbane Roar | 3 : 2 | ||
| 23.10. 05:40 | Newcastle Jets | Melbourne Victory | 1 : 0 | ||
| Round 2 | |||||
| 18.10. 05:00 | Perth Glory | Wellington Phoenix | 1 : 2 | ||
| 18.10. 03:00 | Brisbane Roar | Central Coast Mariners | 2 : 1 | ||
| 17.10. 05:30 | Melbourne Victory | Melbourne City | 3 : 2 | ||
| 17.10. 03:15 | Newcastle Jets | Sydney FC | 0 : 1 | ||
| 16.10. 05:40 | Adelaide United | WS Wanderers | 1 : 1 | ||
| Show more matches |
| StandingsAUSTRALIA: A-League | |||||
| Round 4 | |||||
| 30.10. 05:40 | Melbourne City | Newcastle Jets | |||
| 31.10. 03:15 | Central Coast Mariners | Sydney FC | |||
| 31.10. 05:30 | Brisbane Roar | Adelaide United | |||
| 01.11. 03:00 | WS Wanderers | Perth Glory | |||
| 02.11. 05:30 | Melbourne Victory | Wellington Phoenix | |||
| Round 5 | |||||
| 05.11. 06:00 | Adelaide United | Melbourne City | |||
| 06.11. 05:40 | Sydney FC | Brisbane Roar | |||
| 07.11. 03:15 | Newcastle Jets | WS Wanderers | |||
| 08.11. 03:00 | Central Coast Mariners | Wellington Phoenix | |||
| 08.11. 05:00 | Perth Glory | Melbourne Victory | |||
| Show more matches |
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