Soccer: Coaches concerned at 20-player limit

Danny Hay models the Knights' playing strip. Clubs were given no say on their preference. Picture / Kenny Rodger

Coaches in the upcoming Australian A-League are united in voicing concerns at the problems the 20-player squad limit may bring.

New Zealand Knights football manager John Adshead said the feeling among the coaches he had spoken to across the Tasman was that the restriction might be difficult to manage.

"While it is not too bad at this stage of the season there are concerns that player strength could be tested," Adshead said after two friendlies and their first official pre-season match in Australia.

"I imagine that if the A-League favourites Sydney FC get more injuries the administrators might look at the 20-strong limit."

The Knights remain at below full strength as they work to get players ready for the start of the season on August 28.

"We are being ultra-cautious," said Adshead, who has three players sidelined through injury. "All squads are reporting the same thing, with players not ready to play yet."

The Knights have midfielder Josh Maguire recovering from a calf strain. Defender Darren Bazeley damaged a knee in a knee-to-knee clash three weeks ago, and midfielder Naoki Imaya is continuing his rehabilitation after breaking a leg in Australia a few weeks ago.

"Naoki is coming along well. I don't think he will be too far away come the start of the season," Adshead said.

"It might be he misses the first round, but will be ready for the second or third. We are not going to rush any player back."

With coaches able to name only 15 players for each match, Adshead said the pressure was mounting as his players chased a spot in the starting XI for the Hyundai-sponsored A-League opener against Queensland Roar at Suncorp Stadium.

Unlike the old Australian League where clubs could name three outfield players and a goalkeeper, there is no such restriction in the new league. "It will be my choice whether we go with four outfield players or have a goalkeeper on the bench," Adshead said.

While disappointed at his team's loss to Sydney FC in the pre-season opener at Aussie Stadium, Adshead said he took some positives from it.

"Sydney dominated the first 45 minutes and were handed a penalty which was a shocking decision. They were decidedly superior. It was obvious they, with 16 games behind them, were far better prepared and played accordingly," Adshead said. "But for me the positive was our attitude and fitness.

"Tactically we got it wrong and showed we have a lot of work to do. But even at 3-0 we didn't give in and deservedly got one back. The gap is not that big.

"As we had shown against Central Coast in our earlier [non-competition] game when we were also outplayed early, we came back because of our fitness levels.

"The determination and never-give-in attitude has been fantastic," said Adshead, who said he felt the level of commitment was as good or better than he had seen in any team he had coached in the past 20 or so years.

In looking at players, Adshead said some had quickly shown out in bringing different skills.

As an example, he compared what former Manchester United professional Ben Collett and Chinese under-23 international Xiaobin Zhang brought to the Knights.

"Collett is a neat, tidy player and good at retaining possession," Adshead said. "On the other hand, Xiaobin is more aggressive but without the same retention skills as Collett."

Adshead is also happy with what he has seen from youngsters Cole Tinkler and Jeremy Brockie.

"Tinkler has worked hard and acquitted himself well. When it comes to team selection, we won't be looking at players' ages. It is the same for Brockie, who has shown out as a tough kid."

Victory against Queensland Roar at North Harbour Stadium on Saturday night would keep the Knights' pre-season playoff hopes alive. They meet Central Coast Mariners at the same venue a week later in their final pool match.

If the Knights do not win through to the playoffs, Adshead will look for games at home to fill the gap before their first A-League outing.

* The Knights yesterday unveiled their playing strip. The clubs were given no say on their preference, with the Knights having a basically black and silver strip with, like other clubs, white as the predominant colour of their alternative uniform.

At the same time as the launch in Auckland, made in association with club charity Cure Kids, Knights midfielder Noah Hickey was in Sydney where all clubs paraded their new Reebok-provided strips.