Three straight wins and a share of top spot on the ladder would have any A-League coach brimming with pride.
But Perth Glory manager Ian Ferguson is far from satisfied just yet, knowing all too well his side will need to improve in leaps and bounds if they are going to be around the mark at the business end of the season.
Perth were unconvincing but got the job done in a 1-0 win over Wellington on Sunday, with Shane Smeltz’s 33rd-minute strike enough to lift the Glory to their third straight win.
It was the second week in a row the Glory had been outplayed but still managed to win, with Melbourne Heart unlucky not to at least secure a point in a 2-1 result at AAMI Park.
But after enduring 13 losses in his 21 games in charge last season, Ferguson isn’t complaining about his side’s turnaround.
And the former Rangers star is confident his new-look outfit will only get better as players become more accustomed to each others’ on-field abilities.
“For us it’s fantastic. I’m really pleased with the wins and the points we’ve got,” Ferguson said.
“And don’t forget this is a new team we’ve put together as well. So to have nine points and throw in six or seven new players as well (is a fantastic effort).
“I’m delighted. I sat here last year and went through all these defeats week in and week out trying to make excuses and trying to keep these boys up.
“But we know deep down that we can play a lot better than (what we did against Wellington).”
Perth will be aiming to make it a club record fourth A-League win on the trot when they take on Central Coast at Bluetongue Stadium on Saturday night.
The Mariners, highly fancied leading into the season, sit last on the table with just one point to their name.
But Ferguson said it was too early to read much into ladder positions.
“You wouldn’t expect Melbourne (Victory) either to be sitting where they are (with just two points). It’s a strange league. There’s fine margins between winning and losing.”
Ferguson is hopeful midfielder Liam Miller will be fit to tackle the Mariners despite the Irishman suffering a severe case of cramp against Wellington.
mintox
Guest
Credit to Fergie for recruiting a very solid squad with some standout quality not to mention the surprise packets like Andrezinho and Mehmet. With the squad they have they should finish in a finals spot, however I discount the reasoning that "familiarity" is the problem with the team. It has been clear from the games so far this season that whilst the Glory have implement some what of a pressing game, they have to because they give away possession so carelessly. And I put the poor performances by the team down to the poor tactics selected by the coach. Vukovic kicked long to Mehmets head on every occasion and not once did the full backs come short to receive the ball from the keeper. All but a couple of those long kicks resulted in a turnover of possession after we'd just expended energy trying to get it back. Whenever Perth won the ball back it was played up to Smeltz and Mehmet who were both playing as high up as possible with a big gap to the two midfielders. Dodd provided very little penetration down the right as he always tucked inside and Andrezinho was the only one who provided any link between the midfield and strikers. There is no way that this can be written off as players being unaccustomed to each other, surely a coach has to tell his team that every player with the ball needs support options. This clearly hasn't happened so far for Perth this season (if you discount the first half of the Adelaide game when they were very very poor).
RocksGlory
Guest
We still have dead wood in the squad: Mcgarry Dodd Berger These three are truly awful and must not see a minute of game time anymore! Sterj needs to be starting ahead of Dodd, and jesse makarounis has to get a shot too, Miller is a gun but he needs the right people around him.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
I actually think I agree with him on this one. You can see in the chances being created and in even some of the turnovers, the team play is just on the brink of full maturity. A bit more familiarity and cooperation and we can become a very destructive proposition.
Axelv
Guest
Do Glory fans chant ' you don't know what you're doing' to Fergie?