Soccer: Coach wants better attitude

Chris Milicich kicked a few bums this week.

Far from happy with the half-hearted effort turned in against Auckland City, coach Milicich gave his Waitakere United players the message.

"They need to turn up and show some enthusiasm," Milicich said in preparing for today's home game against Team Wellington. "A repeat of what they showed last Sunday will not be acceptable.

"The problems stemmed basically from a misunderstanding of defensive patterns which led to three pretty soft goals. We have responded to that by making changes."

Milicich has opted for greater width and hopes for better attacking options for the Trusts Stadium game.

He will play Joe Waugh up front with Keryn Jordan, allowing Stuart Hogg to play wide, as will Joe Edwards who gets his first start in place of Hoani Edwards.

In other switches, Jeremy Christie is back from suspension to replace Ben Steward in midfield and Nathan Christie replaces the injured Danny Hay and will play alongside Dean Tallentire.

"We defended poorly for 45 minutes against Auckland City," Milicich said. "We can't afford to do that again especially against a team like Wellington who will throw everything at us.

"We beat them 4-1 three weeks ago but two of those goals were on the counter," Milicich said. "I thought they were a very good side. But, we don't want to get beat two weeks in a row at home."

In today's other game, also at 3pm, Waikato FC are at home to Canterbury United. For Waikato, who have lost four of five, it is the chance to gather much-needed points.

"Even though we have lost those matches there have been significant periods when we have dominated and looked the better team," manager James Pamment said. "But our work in the final third has been lacking and that's what wins matches."

Canterbury are not the easiest team to face when attempting to turn things around. Losses in their last two matches - conceding five goals in each - has stung the southerners.

"We are not taking the chances we are creating, while the opposition are taking those they get," said United coach Danny Halligan, who hopes to have Glen Collins back for the game at Waikato Stadium.

Auckland City face a difficult away assignment tomorrow for their return with Otago United.

United have stretched their unbeaten run to six - including the upset 1-0 win over City away three weeks ago - and will be ready for more in the game between the two teams separated by goal difference in second place.

• In tomorrow's national women's league final, also at the Trusts Stadium, Soccer2 (Auckland-Manukau) will chase a third successive title.

Standing in their way is a young but not inexperienced Capital Soccer side, who reached the season's showdown with an overtime penalty shootout win over neighbours Central Soccer last weekend. "I think we have to be very careful about complacency," said Auckland captain, Maia Jackman, who led her team to a 4-0 win over Capital a fortnight ago.

•New Zealand Soccer has taken another jump on the field with its Coach Force programme.

"This initiative, backed by Sparc, will enhance our coach education and player development activity," New Zealand Soccer chief executive Bill MacGowan said yesterday.

"The appointment of three of the seven coaches to areas north of the Bombay Hills reflects the player numbers and talent in the region."

The coaches named yesterday are Keith Mackay, Paul Slack, Che Bunce, Andy Hedge, John Whittle, John Herdman and Maurice Tillotson, with Kevin O'Leary taking the management role.