Phoenix need to show desirable qualities
Tom Doyle expects every Wellington Phoenix player to continue to show a strong will to win.
The left back returned to the starting XI last Saturday for the 2-1 A-League win over Perth Glory after missing the previous two 4-0 losses to Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers due to a groin injury.
He was as frustrated as anybody about what he saw from his team-mates during those games and said the team came together to address those issues last week.
‘‘We had a meeting last week and it was about more desire.
‘‘We had to have more desire all round the park, it wasn’t just with the back four, it was everywhere on the field. I think the boys showed that and there was more fight in winning second balls.’’
Doyle was unable to put his finger on why the team’s eagerness was there some weeks and not others.
‘‘I’m not sure what it came down to, it was just disappointing that we didn’t have that every game.
‘‘You can see we have that some games and we lose it some games. I can’t really speak for anyone else, but for me it’s obviously disappointing when you come off after a game and you don’t lose because you’re outplayed, but by losing those second balls and losing by a hunger to win the game.
‘‘That was a big thing that cost us in a couple of games, but last week we showed that we wanted to win that game and we did, so hopefully it’s the exact same this weekend.’’
Much was made of the strength of this Phoenix squad before the season started, so those comments from Doyle go some way to explaining why they sit last after 20 games this season, with just four wins and 17 points to their
name.
They have a chance to move off the bottom of the ladder for the first time since round six (November 12) when taking on the Central Coast Mariners in Gosford tonight, who are level on points with them, but ahead of goal difference.
The Mariners haven’t won since December 3 (five draws, six losses), but Phoenix coach Darije Kalezic said they remained a dangerous side.
‘‘Every bad form has to stop some time, but hopefully not tonight.
‘‘On the field we have to stop Central Coast playing and for that we need a really aggressive team, we need to win the duels, we need to win the second balls and then we can be dangerous with our attacking strength.’’
Kalezic said his ‘‘natural selection’’ of players would continue, with the likes of Sarpreet Singh, Dylan Fox and Tando Velaphi all to continue to be given the chance to prove themselves in the starting XI. Matthew Ridenton would also continue in the defensive midfield role instead of Goran Paracki to show his worth there.
Roy Krishna would be available to start, and will probably do so, but Kalezic said he also wanted to give Monty Patterson a chance to show what he was capable of.
‘‘If I want to see how good Patterson is in terms of the future, then he has to play.
‘‘What is really unusual here for the coach in terms of the A-League is I have to select the players and let them play without any overview of how good they are, like Tando and Monty Patterson.
‘‘Of course, I see some games on the DVD, but I can never make recruitment like how we make normally in Europe about the players. I have to give [Monty] minutes to make an objective opinion if he fits in the future of Wellington Phoenix or not. Not only Monty, but Tando and many other players.’’
Daniel Mullen has had knee surgery and is expected to be out for at least six weeks.