Have faith in Pim’s plans, says Kewell

Socceroos skipper Harry Kewell has urged people to trust coach Pim Verbeek and his methods despite mounting criticism from commentators over his lack of attacking adventure.

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For the first time in his tenure, Verbeek finds himself under pressure from circling critics going into Saturday’s (SUN AEST) World Cup qualifier against Qatar in Doha.

The 1-0 loss to Iraq in Dubai last weekend was Verbeek’s first defeat in six matches in charge, and has raised grumbles about the conservative style of play his side adopted especially when the game needed to be chased.

Kewell agrees with those who would love to see the Socceroos attack more.

But that, he says, is why he is not the manager and Verbeek is.

Kewell said he was confident the Dutchman was plotting the right tactics to get the Socceroos through to the next stage of World Cup qualifying.

“You ask any player, and their first instinct is to attack. We love to attack,” Kewell said.

“I’d like to have 20 chances and score 20 goals, but it’s not the case.

“That’s why they don’t have people like me in charge.

“That’s why they put a good manager in charge and he looks at all the other situations.

“He’s got a good team behind him and they’re sitting down day in, day out, trying to work out the best tactics to go to Doha.”

The Socceroos have scored just five times in Verbeek’s six games in charge.

But the results are impressive - three wins, two draws and only one defeat - and a spike in world ranking to No.35 and No.1 in Asia.

Midfielder Mark Bresciano said the Socceroos were starting to get better at playing a style which allowed them to conserve energy in the desert heat, and that all-out attack was not an option in the conditions.

“We’d like to play a different style, but in these conditions, you can’t,” Bresciano said.

“Slowly, slowly, we’re getting used to everything. We’re getting more games in these conditions.

“Last year with the Asian Cup and now coming here, we’re getting used to the style that we have to play in these conditions.”

Verbeek does look set to take a slightly more adventurous approach against the Qataris and revert to the 4-2-3-1 system he has favoured for much of his international coaching career.

That is likely to involve Luke Wilkshire at right-back, and Brett Emerton in a more advanced role on the right alongside Bresciano and Brett Holman backing up Kewell.

Shielding the back-four will be Jason Culina and improving Carl Valeri, who will step in for the suspended Vince Grella.

Kewell’s fitness is also building as he attempts to string together his fourth successive injury-free game.

While he remains without a club but on the radar of many for next season, Kewell said he trusted Verbeek to plot his course to match fitness.

“I’m okay, I’m okay, I feel good,” Kewell said.

“I was hoping to play 90 the other day, but throughout the heat you can’t physically play 90.

“The manager knows the right time to bring people off and put people on.”

The Socceroos leave Dubai for Doha tomorrow.

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