Soccer: Fallon bides his time over key selections

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Kevin Fallon has never been one to dally over footballing decisions.

Some surprise, then, that the new Football Kingz coach is prepared to wait and be guided by a player before naming his team to play Parramatta Power in Sydney tonight.

Determined to shore up a frail defence that has cost the Kingz points in the two games since he took charge, Fallon has toyed with using veteran striker John Markovski in a central defensive role this week.

Whether the 31-year-old will become part of the rearguard will not be revealed until the team run on to Parramatta Stadium.

"It will be his decision," Fallon said before the team flew out of Auckland yesterday. "He has to be comfortable."

Fallon will not name his team until closer to kickoff and only after he and the players have watched the video of Parramatta's 2-1 loss to Perth last week.

"All I'm asking for is a 90-minute performance, for God's sake," Fallon said. "Unless they can concentrate for 90 minutes, they are not going to win."

While he has increased the workload, he is still not satisfied with fitness. Inadequate fitness leads to lower concentration and mistakes.

Changes will be made to the Kingz starting lineup because Riki Van Steeden is serving a one-match suspension. He has been replaced in the squad by midfielder Gerard Davis.

If Davis plays and Markovski takes up the defensive role vacated by Van Steeden, Paul Urlovic would push forward from the midfield to join Andy Vlahos, with Campbell Banks again ready to play off the bench.

Fallon has both goalkeepers in Sydney and will again delay deciding between James Bannatyne and Michael Theoklitos.

Parramatta have defender Alex Tobin back after he missed the Perth game. Steve Martin, who broke his nose in that game, is out for three weeks.

Parramatta have a solid record, with three wins in their nine outings.

They have managed just 10 goals in those games and have conceded 12.

They are in sixth place, the Kingz 12th.

Football Kingz: (from) Michael Theoklitos, Jonathan Perry, John Markovski, Levent Osman, Mark Atkinson, Gerard Davis, Chris Jackson (capt), Mark Burton, George Goutzioulis, Paul Urlovic, Andy Vlahos, James Bannatyne, Hiroshi Miyazawa, Harry Ngata, Campbell Banks.

Parramatta Power: (from) Les Pogliacomi, Nick Orlic, David Barrett, Alex Tobin, Steven Fitzsimmons, Ahmad Elrich, Lubo Lapsansky, Wayne O'Sullivan, John Buonavoglia, Steve Eagleton, Zlatko Arambasic, Matthew Thompson, Luke Roodenburg, Liam Reddy.