After a turbulent past few weeks Adelaide United fans would have been relieved to see their team draw with Sydney FC. The match marked the return of John Kosmina as coach and showed that Adelaide could still play competitive football.
The result was a good one but the Reds have a long way to go, and find themselves at the bottom of the ladder.
The team has nothing to lose now but pride and the board will no doubt be sweating it out as they wait for the club’s imminent rise.
United’s list is arguably as strong as any in the A-League and could be a real force in the future but fans are getting restless and need to see results now.
Kosmina may be the man to take the Reds to the finals, and as a South Australian himself Kosmina has displayed the passion and intent required by any coach to lift his players and will undoubtedly work hard to turn the team’s season around – but will the players get the message?
Nothing but a win tomorrow night will prove Adelaide still has what it takes when it takes on the high flying Phoenix at Hindmarsh.
ItsCalledFootball
Roar Guru
Can John Kosmina resurrect Adelaide’s season? The answer so far is yes. As good a manager as you are, or Rini is, if you don't have the players respect, then they don't respond and start to pull in the wrong direction. We really need to replace managers like Durakovic and Lavicka for the good of the competition.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
No, it's not about being a better manager. As I have just said to jb above, agreeing with a point he had made, it's about a unique set of circumstances and it's about Kossie being the right man at the right time. It's unfortunate for Rini - but that's the way it works out sometimes.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
jb this is how it works out - and often too. Is it hit and miss? Yes, it is. But do such changes often turnaround a team's fortunes, at least in the short term? Well, yes, they often do. You touch on a reason why (and interestingly, I've included that reason in my pre-match review of this evening's Roar vs Victory game, which will be up shortly). You are spot on - Kossie goes into the games for the remainder of the season without a care in the world. That's partly because that's the sort of bloke he is anyway, but it's also a product of the circumstances he finds himself in. Take that burden off the manager, and it gets lifted off the team as well - that alone can lift a team to a whole new level. We often talk about technique, tactic and physical well being in our discussions (talking about forumites generally), but invariably, most of us miss the most important bit of a teams health and form - the bit between their collective ears.
Qantas supports Australian Football
Guest
Never would have thought that Kossie would be a better manager then Rini Coolen, but after last night he has got the AU FC playing some nice football again. From a fearful pragmatic bunch to a go forward in style outfit with no fear. Last night we saw what to expect in the future, a team with stacks of self believe once again. Welcome back Kossie..
j binnie
Guest
This whole story is reminiscent of NSL management in the latter days of that competition Lets take it step by step. From all reports,after the exiting coach was given full backing by the board only a few months ago by being given an extension on his contract the following occurs------- The team does not perform, and crowds start to dwindle. The 'board" decide to take action and sack the coach they have just re-employed for an extended period????? The "board" go to a controversial local personality and offer him what is reported as a "caretaker role" till season's end. The personality,with nothing to lose ,accepts. If he wins - great, if he loses -it was with the other guy's squad. Meanwhile, the long term former coach,having been "relegated" to a youth coaching position,walks away. Team plays it's first game and "scrambles" a point against Sydney defending like madmen for the last 30 minutes. So we watch and wait with bated breath for this weekend's result.?????Good media publicity but ------??? As I said, not what one would say is the best way to run one of our elite, professional clubs in our top competition. jb