Craig Dean discusses the Jets hopes of equaling the F3 derby ledger this weekend on the Central Coast.
Being defeated 2-1 against Melbourne Victory on Saturday wasn-t the result that we were hoping for and the way we lost was disappointing. One of our own players scoring goals against us is never something neither we nor they wish for to happen – it was just unlucky.
In Byun-s defence, the goals were scored out of sheer desperation. It was just the intensity and angle in which he met the ball that put it in the net.
Regardless of the result, the performance was positive. Most players- pre and post the game were positive, which is always a good sign. As we near the business end of the 2011/2012 season we will be encouraging consistency on and off the field to get us placed in the final top six.
Suspension and injury has plagued us over the last few weeks. As a coach you always want to put your best eleven on the field and these issues have restricted us from doing so. Jobe-s foot injury and Tarek-s suspension from this weekend-s match add to the list, yet it allows more opportunity for some of the younger players to step up and prove themselves.
Our younger players have been training and playing extremely well in the past. Ben Kantarovski, Taylor Regan and Jacob Pepper are some of the less experienced players that are becoming more valuable from week to week.
The team will need to adjust to running out on the field without Tarek this weekend. He has played every game this season and he will be missed when we meet the Mariners. But rather than focussing on the negatives, we look towards the positives of each game. Each younger player entering the field will benefit from this line up change, forcing them to challenge themselves at every move.
I know Gary (van Egmond) is keen to see some of the younger players take the field as he is always keeping one eye on the future. Football is about winning, but it is also about balance and that is what Gary and I have been trying to foster within the team.
Creating the depth within the squad to bring up youth players is an advantage, and we will definitely be using it to ours come Saturday.
Right now we are just trying to stay realistic in terms of placement on the ladder board. Obviously we want to rank as highly as we can and all we can do is work extremely hard towards that.
Consistency is going to play a major role in our season outcome and if we can steal a win in the F3 Derby we will be ecstatic. We were disappointed with our performance last time we met our Central Coast rivals and we will be going out with a point to prove.
We are looking forward to seeing a sea of red and blue cheering us on, as the F3 Derby-s are always the most entertaining matches to watch. Our goal is to notch up our first away game win and bring home that F3 Derby title.
Craig
