Soccer: Season finished but no let up for Herbert

Head coach of the Phoenix Ricki Herbert. Photo / Getty Images

He wants an X-factor and hopes to find it among the possible six new players for the Phoenix. The season is over, but the job is just beginning for coach Ricki Herbert.

It was a disappointing way to end a fractured campaign, with a 1-0 loss to Adelaide despite dominating possession and territory for long periods. The home side scored a 70th-minute goal through captain Travis Dodd and the Phoenix could not save their season in the last 20 minutes.

Herbert says his side lacked an "X-factor" and how to gain that cutting edge for next season is one of many things on the agenda. He expects to bring up to six new players to the club, and that recruitment process starts in earnest this week. There are nine current players yet to re-sign, and not all of them will be retained.

There are the ongoing questions over the financial status of owner Terry Serepisos and the continuing battle to persuade boom youngster Marco Rojas to stay. Then there is the small matter of two All Whites matches against China and Japan next month.

The Phoenix squad was strengthened after last season's run to the preliminary final, with the only significant loss being talented midfielder Jon McKain. Herbert's tinkerings with the tactics and formation in the first third of the season were a failure, but the team regained their confidence and mojo in the last few months.

The injury to Paul Ifill was a major blow, though this was tempered somewhat by the emergence of Rojas. The home record continued to be outstanding, while the poor away record continued to stand out.

Unlike many other football leagues around the world, the A-League has a real egalitarian streak about it. The top three teams this season (Brisbane Roar, Central Coast Mariners, Adelaide United) were the bottom three teams last season. Only three teams, including the Phoenix, made the playoffs in both of the last two seasons.

The ongoing Serepisos saga hung over the whole season. To their credit, the players and coaching staff did their best to ignore it, but a sound front office is always a springboard to success on the field and it must have taken a toll. Herbert admitted the uncertainty had been a burden to carry, while insisting that he tries to keep things as separate as possible.

"Those are things in Terry's life and I don't get involved," says Herbert. "I coach a football team for him while [Terry] runs his businesses. I don't know the depth of it and it would be unfair to get involved."

On the playing side the Phoenix hope to bring in four to six recruits; Herbert will be looking to Europe to provide new blood for his squad.

"We have lacked a player who can put the ball in the back of the net 15 times a year," says Herbert, "and that, as always, has got to be a major focus. We will bring somebody to the club to do that job."

Most of the senior players are signed up for next season. Of the nine players off contract, Jade North, Nick Ward and Dylan Macallister seem players worth retaining.

"We haven't got into dialogue yet," said Herbert. "We have to figure out players we have a long-term interest in."

One they are desperate to retain is Rojas. Asked if he wanted to stay, Rojas was non-committal.

"Like I've said, the club's been very good to me and I'll consider all my options when I see them on the table. I'll speak to Dad, my agent, and we'll see where it goes from there.

"There's been a few bites here and there but I haven't spoken to him [Herbert] too much about it because I wanted to do it at the end of the season."

The fact he has refused to confirm he is staying would suggest he is still shopping around, especially as the Phoenix have already put an offer on the table.

"We are doing everything we can to keep him," says Herbert. "The club has been very clear. We hope there will be a loyalty factor - there are strong expectations on us to give young people a chance and it is disappointing if they leave after being given that shot. The grass is not always greener and I hope Marco realises that."

On Friday night the end came as most had predicted but in a manner few had suspected. Expectations were low for the Phoenix to progress against Adelaide, especially given their horrible away record this season, but they dominated for large periods of the match and created the best chances.

"I was really disappointed," says Herbert. "We did enough in the first half to win the game but we couldn't put it away. In the end we were punished. When you come to Hindmarsh Stadium you know the tide is going to turn at one stage. We were extremely buoyant at halftime - Danny Vukovic barely had to make a save - but it wasn't enough."

The Phoenix had a string of chances - Andrew Durante hit the crossbar - but even the introduction of Ifill in the 62nd minute couldn't change the final outcome, while the wet conditions limited the impact of Rojas.