01-17-2007, 10:43 PM
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Jets know whats required
Wednesday, 17 January, 2007 - 5:35PM
Marc Fox, Sportal
Savvy Newcastle Jets boss Gary van Egmond is well versed in all the various final round connotations ahead of his side's meeting with league leader Melbourne Victory on Friday night.
For Van Egmond, who has not yet agreed terms with the club for next season despite leading Newcastle from bottom spot to the cusp of a playoff place, the match might represent his final audition for a full-time role.
A defeat to the Victory will end the Jets' finals aspirations but he knows any other result will force the pressure back on third-placed Sydney FC and fourth-placed Queensland Roar.
"If we draw Â… Sydney will be in," said Van Egmond. "They can then have mentality that they want to go for the top two or they can have the mentality that they're in the top four regardless of what happens and rest certain players who maybe having niggles."
"If we win, we're definitely in. So we just need to get the three points and if we get the three points then obviously it sets up a magnificent game between Queensland and Sydney."
"Then you might have a situation where Adelaide are having to field their better team depending on that result."
The battle to claim a final four finish for consecutive seasons, though, is not without its obstacles.
The fifth-placed Jets face not only the challenge of opening the round 21 fixtures against the reigning premier but also a quick turnaround from last Sunday's 3-3 draw against the Glory in Perth.
That means Van Egmond has scheduled just two short training sessions this week with the emphasis on hard work delicately balanced with recovery following the arduous trip to Western Australia.
He knows playing first-up could work to Newcastle's advantage if it manages to beat Melbourne for the second time this season as it would force rival clubs playing later in the round to field their strongest sides.
But Van Egmond is concerned that if the Jets only draw, they not only hand the reigning champion an automatic finals berth but also gift his embattled counterpart Terry Butcher a chance to rest players before the semi-finals.
"Coaches can react to things when youÂ’re playing in the later games - even to the point of who you actually take in the squad and tactically what type of game youÂ’re going to play," he said.
Making matters worse, if Newcastle does finish in the top four, the odds of meeting a refreshed Sydney in the minor semi-final are strong.
But Van Egmond rightly says that the side's focus is purely on winning and that he will be asking his side for a fast start against Melbourne.
"We have to be patient but we also have to make sure that we're dominating the game and playing to the tempo that we want to play," he said. "If we can achieve that early on it will stand us in good stead for the whole of the match."
| Credit - A-League.com.au |
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