Welcome to Fiji, Dane Flemming Serristslev! You have work to do
There was little entertainment, minimal creativity and always the feeling that the team should not be playing in such a restrictive manner.
Strategy
Fiji FA Media
The strategy did work in some games but became too predictable against stronger opposition, with the team appearing to have no Plan B when they fell behind.
Judging by how he organised his PNG teams, Serristslev may opt for a different approach.
He will likely build the team around Krishna in a way that gives the striker the freedom to focus on his own game.
That will probably mean injecting a bit more creativity from midfield and partnering him with a forward who can share the workload.
Ba’s Samuela Drudru is the name that comes to mind.
Drudru scored 21 times for Lautoka in all competitions last season and has won 12 caps with the national side.
But the striker has been inconsistent of late and has a tendency to switch off in the latter stages of games which could force Serristslev to look elsewhere.
In defence, there is perhaps a need to groom players who, rather than launch long balls forward, have the ability to start attacks from the back.
German-based Nicolas Prasad already has that skill-set having started his career as a midfielder; so does Stoke City defender Scott Wara.
Serristslev will hope to get Wara more involved with the team, with his ball-playing abilities and physical presence at the back important attributes.
But the prospects of him playing for Fiji again look bleak and perhaps it is time to move on.
The 20-year-old has not featured since his debut in a 1-1 draw against the Solomon Islands in 2018. Overseas-based players bring a certain degree of professionalism and quality to the national team.
Getting local-based players contracts to play abroad has proven a difficult task so far but Serristslev should consider addressing that as a priority.
His appointment was viewed by many as a step in the right direction for Fiji FA.
Serristslev brings roughly 40 years experience to the table and has coached teams in Europe and Africa.
The task that lies ahead will by no means be an easy.
There will likely be more setbacks than achievements.
But with the right amount of commitment and support, Fiji might just be able to dominate and improve on the FIFA rankings. first