By Usman Azad
July 20th 2009 @ 7:49am
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Should Dadi get a starting spot for the Glory?
When Perth Glory face-off against Adelaide United in a little over two weeks time, should enigmatic striker Eugene Dadi be handed a starting spot or should he be riding the pine pony?
Six months ago this would a ridiculous question.
The fan-favourite was the leading goalscorer for the Glory in last season (he scored 10 goals, the most any Perth player has scored since the inception of the A-League) and with Nikita Rukavytsya, who has since moved to Dutch side FC Twente, they formed a fearsome partnership.
But after Perth’s impressive recruiting coup, which netted three Socceroo squad members, and the emergence of some the Glory’s younger players, is Dadi’s position now under threat?
In the off-season, the Perth went on an ambitious recruiting campaign. After four years of underwhelming performances in the league, Glory coach Dave Mitchell travelled in Europe in a bid to lure experienced players down under.
In the end he snared some impressive coups including Socceroos Jacob Burns, Chris Coyne and Mile Sterjovksi, former English Premier League defender Andy Todd and former Bundelisga striker Branko Jelic.
Mitchell has already publicly revealed his preferred position for his marquee Sterjovksi as a striker – which would he mean he’d be guaranteed a starting spot for the Glory.
But who should partner him?
In a refreshing change to past seasons, Perth are blessed with options.
Apart from Dadi, there are three other viable options – the club stalwart, the promising youngster and the overseas import.
With the acquisition of Coyne and Todd, Jamie Harnwell could be thrown forward where he has been successful in the past. In fact he scored the only goal in Perth’s last friendly against North Queensland Fury, though he has now suffered a hamstring injury and is expected to be sidelined for around six weeks.
Though young don’t overlook the technically-impressive Andrija Jukic. He was awarded a first team contract after a great year in the youth league where he scored six goals. He has also scored three goals in the Glory’s pre-season this year.
What is most exciting about Jukic is his potential. He is young, and will only get better with age and more on-pitch experience. I wouldn’t be surprised if he makes his debut in the A-League this season.
And lastly there is Dadi’s greatest competition, in my opinion, in the Serbian Branko Jelic. He had his first run on against the Fury and, from his brief stint on the pitch, it looks like he is goal poacher – similar to Dadi. He could have, and probably should have, scored a goal in the friendly and is set to get some more game time against Gold Coast United on Saturday.
To some Perth Glory fans Dadi’s recent form in the pre-season has been disappointing, with some even questioning his work ethic. But at the age of 37, it would be understandable if he takes a little longer to get going.
Even in short time at Perth he has been a great servant and has already proved to be a potent goalscorer. Though he faces some stiff competition, it is for this reason he should be the Glory’s first choice striker, at least for the beginning of the season.
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(13)
whiskeymac said | July 20th 2009 @ 9:34am | Report comment
competition for positions is great for the glory. IMO (as observation only) young players don’t tend to get much game time though in their first season, other than through injuries or for a few minutes at the end for experience, so I’d expect Dadi to have favour over them. Still you’d hope that the team is picked on form and not age or last season’s reputation. In saying that Sterj will play regardless (just as Culina will for GCU, Fowler for NQ and Muscat for MV) so it might be between Jelic and Dadi – can both not been incorporated at the same time? do they both really play the same role in the team?
Ryan Steele said | July 20th 2009 @ 10:58am | Report comment
I never realised just how many strikers Perth will have, this year. Great for squad determination.
whiskeymac’s right; starting squad selection should be based on current and training form. If Dadi’s not looking comfortable on the ball, don’t pick him. Likewise Sterjovski, or any other player, in any other position.
Looking at the Glory lineup, on paper, is it possible Mitchell will opt for a formation other than the usual 4-4-2? The squad does look very attack-minded, and capable of a 4-3-3, if they choose to go down such a path.
Pippinu said | July 20th 2009 @ 11:02am | Report comment
Some questioning his work ethic?
Let’s all be very clear – not only is Dadi getting on, he’s naturally lazy – which is a pretty poor combination.
But if Harnwell is your main rival to a starting berth alongside Sterj, then I guess he’s got a chance to get a starting gig.
rojack said | July 20th 2009 @ 11:55am | Report comment
Not if he played like he did against Fulham. His first touch was horible. Couldn’t hold the ball and he is suppose to be our target man. I say we should go with a Jelic/Sterj combo.
Gibbo said | July 20th 2009 @ 12:26pm | Report comment
i hope they go with three forwards, with sterj on the right, then jelic and dadi can raffle central and left sides…
Pippinu said | July 20th 2009 @ 5:54pm | Report comment
Gibbo
I too would have thought that Sterj was an absolute natural on the right (in a three pronged attack a la 433) – but I thought I read above somewhere that Mitchell has already decided to play Sterj up front, which would probably suggest some sort of striker/centre-forward combo (in a 442 or 4411).
I hope Mitchell doesn’t fall into the trap of plonking Sterj up front just because he’s the money man, rather than playing him in his very best position (where he’ll still get the chance to regularly get on the score sheet).
Pippinu said | July 20th 2009 @ 5:54pm | Report comment
…by the way, some of Sterj’s best recent games for the Socceroos have been starting on the right.
Ryan Steele said | July 21st 2009 @ 10:15am | Report comment
A 3-man strike formation doesn’t have to play people on the sides.
With the strikers they have, it would be interesting (and quite possibly effective) to play Sterjovski up front, as intended, with Dadi and Jelic behind him, in their ideal poaching roles. Think of a spearhead, and not spread out as far.
It may be too controversial an idea, just because Barcelona don’t use their three front men in the same way, but it would suit an extremely aggressive style of football that is likely to be played. Plenty of shots, plenty of rebounds.
Call me crazy, but its style could put a lot more bums in seats.
Pippinu said | July 21st 2009 @ 10:28am | Report comment
Ryan
no doubt that it would bring the punters out – it would certainly take some balls to put out on the paddock.
Interestingly, in the A-League, where quality attacking full backs are a rare commodity, it’s a formation you could use without risking too much because the opposition will rarely have the type of full back that’s going to slaughter you out wide (where your cover will be minimal).
Ryan Steele said | July 21st 2009 @ 11:54am | Report comment
The cover’s only minimal in the attacking third, in reality. To make the formation successful, you’re likely to have one holding midfielder, and two out wide. You still have the four defenders; two central, and two full backs. It’s not often that a team has an attacking third that can defend strongly, so it’s not likely to effect things too dramatically.
A good striker knows how to play into the box, meaning they shouldn’t have too much trouble getting the movement they need from outside, with the likes of Jelic and Sterjovski. The squad has some impressive experience behind their belt, which is valuable for something like this (which, I agree, is fairly risky, as it hasn’t been tested).
I know this formation is the least likely thing we’ll see, but thinking about it makes it even more intriguing an idea.
Usman Azad said | July 21st 2009 @ 1:44pm | Report comment
Hi guys,
Thanks for all the comments – it’s been interesting to read them in the last couple of days.
At first I was actually with Ryan, and thought they should play three up front with Sterjovski on the right (as someone pointed out he played on the right for the Socceroos and, as I understand, he played on the right for Derby).
However, Dave Mitchell isn’t keen on three up front, prefering the two.
So it will be interesting to see who partners Sterjovski up front.
Gibbo said | July 21st 2009 @ 4:59pm | Report comment
Could end up like MV where one of them does the Ney Fabiano and, despite looking the goods, barely gets much of a run… although hopefully none of them get suspended for 6weeks in their first outing…
Pippinu said | July 21st 2009 @ 5:08pm | Report comment
Yeh dirty dobber Cornthwaite basically ruined Ney’s season.
Sir, sir – did you see that – he did it sir, I swear, he did it!!!