Phoenix to lift for Jets
THEY won’t resort to overtly physical tactics but Ernie Merrick is demanding more starch from his Wellington Phoenix midfield today.
The Phoenix have been kicked about in their last two A-League games: a 2-0 loss to Western Sydney Wanderers and then a 0-0 stalemate with Melbourne City – who were whistled for 22 fouls and six yellow cards.
It has disrupted the flow of the slick-passing Phoenix and it would be a massive surprise if the lowly Newcastle Jets didn’t attempt similar spoiler tactics at the Hutt Recreation Ground.
Coach Merrick has pleaded for protection from the A-League’s referees and it will be interesting to see how quick Kris Griffiths- Jones is to blow his whistle or reach into his pocket.
But whatever unfolds with the officiating, Merrick admits his players also need to lift after collecting just one point in three games since the Asian Cup break.
In particular, the Albert Rieraanchored midfield, who at times have been exposed positionally in the last three weeks.
‘‘We’re playing some terrific football in midfield, I don’t think we’re playing our best defensive stuff at the moment but we’re certainly creating chances up front,’’ Merrick said.
‘‘I don’t see too many changes to the first XI because I’m really happy with the attacking football we’re playing. I just think we need to get our defensive structure in the midfield right but the two at the back are doing a great job. Ben Sigmund and [Andrew] Durante are having a great year and Glen Moss in goal.’’
While the Phoenix have failed to score in their last two starts, Merrick was confident that stat was a mere blip.
‘‘Roy [Krishna] should have scored two, Burnsy [Nathan Burns] should have had one [against City]. We had lots of opportunities. It’s really about making sure the opposition don’t have as many chances as us and when we get our chances we take them. I don’t see any other changes to the squad at all, other than Louis Fenton dropping out [with concussion].’’
Michael Boxall will start at right back and will provide a much-needed aerial target from corners and free kicks.
Merrick had some sympathy for the Jets, a club in disarray under controversial owner Nathan Tinkler.
Newcastle has a new chief executive, Mitchell Murphy, who has walked into a firestorm with the latest revelations that players were paid two days late after the Australian Tax Office seized the monthly FFA grant used for payment.
Coach Phil Stubbins also survived an attempted coup which led to Tinkler sacking five players.
‘‘It’s very tough for a team to perform under such difficult circumstances, it’s really tough on the coach,’’ Merrick said.
‘‘But we can’t do anything about that. We have respect for the team but we’re out here to beat them in this fantastic stadium.
‘‘Any team in this league can beat any other team, bottom teams, top teams, middle teams.’’