Melbourne coach Ernie Merrick is maintaining the faith with his attacking game plan saying that the results will come so long as the team keeps playing good football.
Melbourne coach Ernie Merrick is maintaining the faith with his attacking game plan saying that the results will come so long as the team keeps playing good football.
Heading into Thursday’s clash with in-form Newcastle at Etihad Stadium, Melbourne has gathered four points from its first four matches, and is looking to make it seven from five against the Jets.
Interestingly, Merrick believes that the only game Melbourne has got three points from this season, the 1-0 win over North Queensland in Townsville, was one of the team’s flatter games this season and he wants his players to continue attacking as they did against Perth last week.
“I’m really glad that at this stage of the season we are playing good football. I think over the course of the season, that’s what you rely on, rather than the game against Fury which is all defence, we win the game, but you aren’t going to do much in the year if you play like that,” he said.
Merrick played three out and out strikers in the game against Perth, with Carlos Hernandez in behind them. Hernandez in unavailable for the match against the Jets, but that won’t change the way Melbourne approaches the match.
“I think our strategy is working well. The difference is I’m encouraging our midfielders to get forward in numbers, rather than have a whole range of defensive midfielders,” Merrick said.
The Jets are coming off a surprise 1-0 win over the previously unbeaten Gold Coast on Sunday. Merrick expects that there will be a few upset results across the league until things sort themselves out more after the first round of matches.
“It will take about ten games before things start getting sorted out as to who the top half are and who the bottom half are. I’ve got a funny feeling that for 27 rounds, anybody will be able to take points off anyone. It’s very close,” he said.
Meanwhile, defender Adrian Leijer will play his first match against Newcastle since January 2007 when the Jets shocked the then championship favourites by beating them 4-0. But Leijer is not too concerned by the unfamiliarity of the Newcastle side.
“I know most of their players. Even the young guys, Kaz Patafta was here Jason Naidovski was with us in a couple of Olyroos camps. And they-ve got some good experienced players as well. They are a tough team,” Leijer said.
“I think every team in this competition, no-one is a walkover. We’ve got to be on our toes and hopefully get the points and get back up the ladder.”
