October 12, 2024 • 14 mins
The 20th season of the A-League is about to get underway - and the Wellington Phoenix are gearing up for the new season.
The Phoenix season kicks off on October 20th, with the team going up against Western United FC at home at Sky Stadium.
Coach Giancarlo Italiano joined Piney to discuss the upcoming season.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from newstalk edb All.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Wellington Phoenix have their first game a week today sky
Stadium and Wellington. They take on Western United with a
four o'clock kickoff off the back of their best ever
season last season under head coach gian Calo Italiana. I
caught up with him on Friday and asked how he
would compare how he's feeling now compared to how he
(00:33):
felt a week out from last season.
Speaker 3 (00:36):
Quite different.
Speaker 4 (00:37):
I would say that last season, you know, there was
a lot of question marks in terms of me being
a head coach, what direction I was taking the club.
I think where we're at this season now is where
the direction is quite clear, and the uncertainty about myself,
you know, I don't think exists. I think it's more
about now dealing with expectations for built on what happened
(01:02):
last season. That's been very difficult, and I think as well,
we've had the very sort of unstructured sort of I
wouldn't say chaotic, but close to it sort of preseason
because of all the international breaks and the players coming
back into the environment and just you know, signing a
(01:24):
bunch of new players as well, getting them integrated into
the way we want to play and building team chemistry.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
So from that point it's been difficult.
Speaker 4 (01:31):
But you know, we've had three games against now A
League opponents have been quite promising.
Speaker 5 (01:39):
How have you negotiated that uncertainty you call it chaos,
but that unstructured build up, how have you managed to
negotiate that to the best your ability and get your
team ready for week one?
Speaker 4 (01:50):
Yeah, it's been a fine balancing act. Like the thing
for me is the most important thing is the player welfare.
And once we finished the season, I felt it was
a really good time for a lot of those boys
to actually take.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
Some time off.
Speaker 4 (02:03):
Unfortunately, they had the Oversea Nations Cup and we're awaying
for about a month, and I had to make a
conscious effort or sorry, conscious decision once they finish what
I was going to do with them in terms of
like were we going to prioritize the Australia Cup and
what the actual preseason looked like. So I made a
(02:25):
decision and that they merit it to have some time off,
which I think is very very important. And so we
made a decision to rest those senior boys for longer periods.
Then we also had the Olympics and the Under twenties
qualifiers that kind of also jolted the ability of those
younger boys that be available for the Australia Cup game.
So it was a fine balancing act. It was more
(02:46):
about getting the right cohesion. But to be fair, I
would say that the young boys, especially in the Australia Cup,
it was a very young team that went out there.
We had even though like Marco, Whenkosa came off the bench,
I was actually quite pleased because we had i think
essentially one session with all the boys available, but we
had a large chunk of those young boys in pre
(03:08):
season and they were pretty good. I thought, you know
for a large part, you know, southmol we were in
there in the end part of their season and you
know that was our first hit out. We didn't even
have a friendly game to be fair between old groups.
Speaker 3 (03:19):
So but I was very happy. And again, you.
Speaker 4 (03:23):
Know, like even though we look at them as problems,
or we could view them as problems, they're actually opportunity
for us to refocus on what processes we put in
for trading and so on. So it's been, it's been,
it's been good.
Speaker 5 (03:35):
On the flip side, how different will the playing style
of Wellington Phoenix be this season compared to last season?
What is the evolution of the side into season two
under your guidance.
Speaker 4 (03:48):
Look until you see it's it's you know, these are
just words. But when I took over the team last year,
I knew the capability of the existing players and I
basically evolved the plague system to best suit the playing
attributes of those plays. So, you know, obviously when I
(04:09):
was got injured, you know, I readapted.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
To a different sort of style.
Speaker 4 (04:14):
And then when I had Baldy Costa and Oldie or
Crave up top, you know, I worked.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
To what their main.
Speaker 4 (04:23):
You know, what the skill set like, for example, speed
coming off the line, you know, playing with their back
to goal. So this season is a little bit different
where we're kind of you know, we've sold some good players,
some of those senior players that have left or someone
have given me the opportunity to bring in players more
aligned to the.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
Way I like to or the way I like to
see football.
Speaker 4 (04:46):
And for me, you know that that's more of the
ball being more dominant, with the ball having control, with
more of the ball in high parts of the pitch
and probably a little bit cliche, you know, like a
ball orientated team, you know, possession team, so but also
still center around the ideas of control and being very
(05:07):
smart in all phases.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
So we'll still have that to build on.
Speaker 4 (05:11):
But you'll see that, you know, we'll have a different dynamic,
especially in the front third, middle third. Hopefully you see
a bit more pressing actions, so we will be a
little bit higher up the park, trying to have windows
where we're trying to regain the ball at a high
intensity for longer period. So everything we've done so far
in the preseasons has been ticking over really nicely. There's
(05:33):
been a nice dynamic and feel to the way we're playing.
But like with all things, you know, different mentalities, you're
trying to break old habits, you're trying to break behaviors
that you know we're instilled in the boys last year
and trying to further develop. So we'll evolve and it
has its challenges. You know, we've had three games that
(05:54):
we haven't scored, but if I told you we had
more opportunities in those last three games, and we did
probably in half of the season last year, I think
we're crazy you know, it's just a matter of like
finding you know, that.
Speaker 3 (06:04):
Last pass or that feel.
Speaker 4 (06:06):
And yeah, if I had gone into these games or
come out of these games where we had less chances
and we weren't getting to it we need it, I'd
be worried right now. But I just for me, it's like,
I think we need one or two games where we
take effect and you know, score a couple of goals
and build the confidence of the boys, and then I
(06:27):
think we'll hit the ground running.
Speaker 5 (06:29):
Was there any temptation, given the fact that last season
was so successful, even though it wasn't exactly the football
that you envisaged that you want to play, Was there
any temptation just to lock and load it again and
play the same way.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
Yeah. I think the problem when.
Speaker 4 (06:47):
Like if you take a step back and you see the.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
You look at the legacy team. So I'll call legacy teams.
Speaker 4 (06:55):
Seems like especially in football like a Barcelona in twenty ten.
You know that we had three years under Pep where
even though they started with a certain style, they evolved
every year, and then when it went to Bayern Munich,
he changed your style because he was suited more towards
the German game more about you know, curbing the counter attack.
And then when he went to the EPIL, you change
(07:15):
as well. He had inverted full backs, he had you know,
sixer stepping in his tens, and he completely different dynamic.
And that's a running theme like with any team that
you see, even Fergie when it was at United. Even
though he had an idea of how we played structurally
and tactically, it always evolved, you know, different, different nuanced
things that always changed. I think, you know, we're no different.
(07:37):
So if I was to think that, you know, we're
going to play the same way and get the same results,
I think it's pretty naive of my part. And also
like to think that I have more ideas and things
that I want to you know, I want to see
my teams and more importantly, I think one big thing
that I want fans seeing this year is when when
they watch US player. There's a nice energy to the
(07:58):
way we play, and anyone that watches us gets that
same feeling of you know, like contentment and seeing us
trying to play and be positive even even if we
lose a game. You know that, you know, we're brave
in what we do, and but there's you know, there's
a lot of good forward intent, a lot of positivity,
and I think you know that's something that you evolved to.
(08:18):
You don't You can't ask for it overnight. Even when
Angels at Brisbane, you know, like it took him, I
think half a season. You cleared out the players that
you know needed to and he still struggled for results,
but the intent was there, and then the year after,
you know, it kind of all came together. So again
we have the advantage that we've had a really successful
season last year, but again last years last year, that's done.
Speaker 3 (08:42):
Now we just need to build on all the good
things that we did.
Speaker 5 (08:45):
Marco roehas has arrived at the club. I think it's
going to miss at least the first game, maybe the
second with a stress fracture. Hopefully back soon. You mentioned
in the press release about Stephankolokovski how integral Marco roehas
was going to be to your side. What will his
involvement within your system look like Marco?
Speaker 4 (09:04):
Yeah, so with Marco in the squad he has. The
thing is is that we actually had to change just
set up in order to cater for Marco's absence, So
he has a bit of a creative role in behind Costa,
and also there's another player that would be on the
(09:27):
other side, but with the freedom as well that he
can play wide, he can come down lower, and you know,
there's also an emphasis on those other supporting players that
once he vacates a certain area, another player.
Speaker 3 (09:41):
Will step in. So yeah, it's he's very important.
Speaker 4 (09:46):
I think, you know, we spent most of the season
or the preseason trying to build on his abilities, and
he actually had a really nice chemistry with cost and
there was something that we've been trying to you know.
Speaker 3 (09:57):
Like flourish and encourage.
Speaker 4 (10:00):
But unfortunately, you know, whether it be down a scheduling
and availability, it's been difficult to put those two together
on the park.
Speaker 3 (10:07):
I think they've played.
Speaker 4 (10:09):
I think they played forty five minutes together so far
in a whole preseason, which has been disappointing.
Speaker 3 (10:15):
But again, once you know Marco is.
Speaker 4 (10:17):
Fully fit and we can reintegrate him, it's about also
building his minutes in this early part of the season.
I think once you know, we can get him close
around sixty seventy minutes of just you know, vigorous football.
Speaker 3 (10:30):
I think those two.
Speaker 4 (10:31):
Together plus all the other boys, will have a nice
chemistry and looking forward to.
Speaker 5 (10:35):
It in your two new Japanese players, So Dickie is
Sugar and Kazuki Nagasawa tell us about how they've fitted
in and what we can hope to see from them
this season.
Speaker 3 (10:46):
So I was lucky enough.
Speaker 4 (10:47):
I've known I've watched Shigi play for a long time,
and I was lucky enough to you know, I made
contact with his agent and we were able to, you know,
make the deal. Kazuki I knew from his days actually
playing in Germany because I used to follow them leaguer
quite a bit. So I had familiarity with those two players.
(11:11):
So when the opportunity came for them to come across,
I was actually quite excited and sorry.
Speaker 3 (11:17):
But the question was how they're integrated. I think that
so far they've both done very well in the environment.
Speaker 4 (11:25):
I think obviously, you know, for me, language is a
huge is a huge barrier. Kazuki, you know, He's English
is pretty good. Sheik's is getting better. He's starting to
understand my bad jokes, which is which is a good,
which is a good. It's a good start.
Speaker 3 (11:45):
But I think that.
Speaker 4 (11:51):
What's been promising is SIGI's first game against Newcastle probably
about half an hour.
Speaker 3 (11:57):
Found it very hard to get in the game, get touches.
Speaker 4 (12:00):
And then the second game against Wanderers, you had a
little bit more time started getting into the into the play.
It's still a little bit clunky, and then this last
game against Marinas, he basically grew in confidence and got
a lot more touches and you could see him Costa
and Balali and I'm just trying to think of the
(12:21):
young boys who played Oscar Van had start to build
a bit of a dynamic and with Red Trey as well,
so they're slowly coming along, you know, Kazuki as well.
Like Kazuki was lucky enough that he's been playing regular
minutes at Velgeta previously, but he had a bit of
time off and he know deloaded and now he's just
trying to build ninety minutes again.
Speaker 3 (12:43):
But you can tell he's got a lot of class,
you know.
Speaker 4 (12:44):
There's there's just something about both of those players playing
under pressure technically that it's really nice to watch. And
I think for me, it's just putting him in those
positions where they can absorb that pressure and that will
give us a different dimension as a season progresses.
Speaker 5 (13:00):
Just to finish do you feel ready? Well, what is
your sense of a ready? This team is to play well,
maybe not perfectly immediately, but to play well from the start.
Speaker 3 (13:18):
Do I feel ready? I don't think I ever feel ready.
Speaker 4 (13:20):
Even last year I didn't think, you know, when we
went into the season it was more about building. Last
year was more about building belief in the group and
churning results and getting to a point where you know
the boys understood the system well and you know we
could build. I think this year is there's a higher
expectation of the playing style, and I think where my
(13:42):
frustration sometimes which will further ahead, But given the circumstances
of the preseason, where where just you know, we've had
so many obstacles, I'm actually quite impressed at how far
the team's teams come. I think it will take us
about four to six games roughly before we start hitting
(14:02):
our straps. And what I mean by that is building continuity,
dynamic and starting players and also having that competition, the
intensity of competition, plus to travel and so on. I
think once we're able to get all that and the
boys have a confidence in what we're trying to do,
I think it will come together. So I know It's
(14:25):
a long answer, but in short I would say I'm
not entirely satisfied, but at the same time, given what's happened,
I'm happy how things are going.
Speaker 2 (14:36):
Good to have an extended chat with Jihan Kloertaliano, coach
of Wellington Phoenix. Their first game a week today, Western
United four o'clock sky Stadium for Auckland FC. It is
this coming Saturday, five o'clock. Go Medium out smart against Brisbane.
Speaker 1 (14:48):
Rule. For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen
live to News Talks d B weekends from midday, or
follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from newstalk edb All.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Wellington Phoenix have their first game a week today sky
Stadium and Wellington. They take on Western United with a
four o'clock kickoff off the back of their best ever
season last season under head coach gian Calo Italiana. I
caught up with him on Friday and asked how he
would compare how he's feeling now compared to how he
(00:33):
felt a week out from last season.
Speaker 3 (00:36):
Quite different.
Speaker 4 (00:37):
I would say that last season, you know, there was
a lot of question marks in terms of me being
a head coach, what direction I was taking the club.
I think where we're at this season now is where
the direction is quite clear, and the uncertainty about myself,
you know, I don't think exists. I think it's more
about now dealing with expectations for built on what happened
(01:02):
last season. That's been very difficult, and I think as well,
we've had the very sort of unstructured sort of I
wouldn't say chaotic, but close to it sort of preseason
because of all the international breaks and the players coming
back into the environment and just you know, signing a
(01:24):
bunch of new players as well, getting them integrated into
the way we want to play and building team chemistry.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
So from that point it's been difficult.
Speaker 4 (01:31):
But you know, we've had three games against now A
League opponents have been quite promising.
Speaker 5 (01:39):
How have you negotiated that uncertainty you call it chaos,
but that unstructured build up, how have you managed to
negotiate that to the best your ability and get your
team ready for week one?
Speaker 4 (01:50):
Yeah, it's been a fine balancing act. Like the thing
for me is the most important thing is the player welfare.
And once we finished the season, I felt it was
a really good time for a lot of those boys
to actually take.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
Some time off.
Speaker 4 (02:03):
Unfortunately, they had the Oversea Nations Cup and we're awaying
for about a month, and I had to make a
conscious effort or sorry, conscious decision once they finish what
I was going to do with them in terms of
like were we going to prioritize the Australia Cup and
what the actual preseason looked like. So I made a
(02:25):
decision and that they merit it to have some time off,
which I think is very very important. And so we
made a decision to rest those senior boys for longer periods.
Then we also had the Olympics and the Under twenties
qualifiers that kind of also jolted the ability of those
younger boys that be available for the Australia Cup game.
So it was a fine balancing act. It was more
(02:46):
about getting the right cohesion. But to be fair, I
would say that the young boys, especially in the Australia Cup,
it was a very young team that went out there.
We had even though like Marco, Whenkosa came off the bench,
I was actually quite pleased because we had i think
essentially one session with all the boys available, but we
had a large chunk of those young boys in pre
(03:08):
season and they were pretty good. I thought, you know
for a large part, you know, southmol we were in
there in the end part of their season and you
know that was our first hit out. We didn't even
have a friendly game to be fair between old groups.
Speaker 3 (03:19):
So but I was very happy. And again, you.
Speaker 4 (03:23):
Know, like even though we look at them as problems,
or we could view them as problems, they're actually opportunity
for us to refocus on what processes we put in
for trading and so on. So it's been, it's been,
it's been good.
Speaker 5 (03:35):
On the flip side, how different will the playing style
of Wellington Phoenix be this season compared to last season?
What is the evolution of the side into season two
under your guidance.
Speaker 4 (03:48):
Look until you see it's it's you know, these are
just words. But when I took over the team last year,
I knew the capability of the existing players and I
basically evolved the plague system to best suit the playing
attributes of those plays. So, you know, obviously when I
(04:09):
was got injured, you know, I readapted.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
To a different sort of style.
Speaker 4 (04:14):
And then when I had Baldy Costa and Oldie or
Crave up top, you know, I worked.
Speaker 3 (04:19):
To what their main.
Speaker 4 (04:23):
You know, what the skill set like, for example, speed
coming off the line, you know, playing with their back
to goal. So this season is a little bit different
where we're kind of you know, we've sold some good players,
some of those senior players that have left or someone
have given me the opportunity to bring in players more
aligned to the.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
Way I like to or the way I like to
see football.
Speaker 4 (04:46):
And for me, you know that that's more of the
ball being more dominant, with the ball having control, with
more of the ball in high parts of the pitch
and probably a little bit cliche, you know, like a
ball orientated team, you know, possession team, so but also
still center around the ideas of control and being very
(05:07):
smart in all phases.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
So we'll still have that to build on.
Speaker 4 (05:11):
But you'll see that, you know, we'll have a different dynamic,
especially in the front third, middle third. Hopefully you see
a bit more pressing actions, so we will be a
little bit higher up the park, trying to have windows
where we're trying to regain the ball at a high
intensity for longer period. So everything we've done so far
in the preseasons has been ticking over really nicely. There's
(05:33):
been a nice dynamic and feel to the way we're playing.
But like with all things, you know, different mentalities, you're
trying to break old habits, you're trying to break behaviors
that you know we're instilled in the boys last year
and trying to further develop. So we'll evolve and it
has its challenges. You know, we've had three games that
(05:54):
we haven't scored, but if I told you we had
more opportunities in those last three games, and we did
probably in half of the season last year, I think
we're crazy you know, it's just a matter of like
finding you know, that.
Speaker 3 (06:04):
Last pass or that feel.
Speaker 4 (06:06):
And yeah, if I had gone into these games or
come out of these games where we had less chances
and we weren't getting to it we need it, I'd
be worried right now. But I just for me, it's like,
I think we need one or two games where we
take effect and you know, score a couple of goals
and build the confidence of the boys, and then I
(06:27):
think we'll hit the ground running.
Speaker 5 (06:29):
Was there any temptation, given the fact that last season
was so successful, even though it wasn't exactly the football
that you envisaged that you want to play, Was there
any temptation just to lock and load it again and
play the same way.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
Yeah. I think the problem when.
Speaker 4 (06:47):
Like if you take a step back and you see the.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
You look at the legacy team. So I'll call legacy teams.
Speaker 4 (06:55):
Seems like especially in football like a Barcelona in twenty ten.
You know that we had three years under Pep where
even though they started with a certain style, they evolved
every year, and then when it went to Bayern Munich,
he changed your style because he was suited more towards
the German game more about you know, curbing the counter attack.
And then when he went to the EPIL, you change
(07:15):
as well. He had inverted full backs, he had you know,
sixer stepping in his tens, and he completely different dynamic.
And that's a running theme like with any team that
you see, even Fergie when it was at United. Even
though he had an idea of how we played structurally
and tactically, it always evolved, you know, different, different nuanced
things that always changed. I think, you know, we're no different.
(07:37):
So if I was to think that, you know, we're
going to play the same way and get the same results,
I think it's pretty naive of my part. And also
like to think that I have more ideas and things
that I want to you know, I want to see
my teams and more importantly, I think one big thing
that I want fans seeing this year is when when
they watch US player. There's a nice energy to the
(07:58):
way we play, and anyone that watches us gets that
same feeling of you know, like contentment and seeing us
trying to play and be positive even even if we
lose a game. You know that, you know, we're brave
in what we do, and but there's you know, there's
a lot of good forward intent, a lot of positivity,
and I think you know that's something that you evolved to.
(08:18):
You don't You can't ask for it overnight. Even when
Angels at Brisbane, you know, like it took him, I
think half a season. You cleared out the players that
you know needed to and he still struggled for results,
but the intent was there, and then the year after,
you know, it kind of all came together. So again
we have the advantage that we've had a really successful
season last year, but again last years last year, that's done.
Speaker 3 (08:42):
Now we just need to build on all the good
things that we did.
Speaker 5 (08:45):
Marco roehas has arrived at the club. I think it's
going to miss at least the first game, maybe the
second with a stress fracture. Hopefully back soon. You mentioned
in the press release about Stephankolokovski how integral Marco roehas
was going to be to your side. What will his
involvement within your system look like Marco?
Speaker 4 (09:04):
Yeah, so with Marco in the squad he has. The
thing is is that we actually had to change just
set up in order to cater for Marco's absence, So
he has a bit of a creative role in behind Costa,
and also there's another player that would be on the
(09:27):
other side, but with the freedom as well that he
can play wide, he can come down lower, and you know,
there's also an emphasis on those other supporting players that
once he vacates a certain area, another player.
Speaker 3 (09:41):
Will step in. So yeah, it's he's very important.
Speaker 4 (09:46):
I think, you know, we spent most of the season
or the preseason trying to build on his abilities, and
he actually had a really nice chemistry with cost and
there was something that we've been trying to you know.
Speaker 3 (09:57):
Like flourish and encourage.
Speaker 4 (10:00):
But unfortunately, you know, whether it be down a scheduling
and availability, it's been difficult to put those two together
on the park.
Speaker 3 (10:07):
I think they've played.
Speaker 4 (10:09):
I think they played forty five minutes together so far
in a whole preseason, which has been disappointing.
Speaker 3 (10:15):
But again, once you know Marco is.
Speaker 4 (10:17):
Fully fit and we can reintegrate him, it's about also
building his minutes in this early part of the season.
I think once you know, we can get him close
around sixty seventy minutes of just you know, vigorous football.
Speaker 3 (10:30):
I think those two.
Speaker 4 (10:31):
Together plus all the other boys, will have a nice
chemistry and looking forward to.
Speaker 5 (10:35):
It in your two new Japanese players, So Dickie is
Sugar and Kazuki Nagasawa tell us about how they've fitted
in and what we can hope to see from them
this season.
Speaker 3 (10:46):
So I was lucky enough.
Speaker 4 (10:47):
I've known I've watched Shigi play for a long time,
and I was lucky enough to you know, I made
contact with his agent and we were able to, you know,
make the deal. Kazuki I knew from his days actually
playing in Germany because I used to follow them leaguer
quite a bit. So I had familiarity with those two players.
(11:11):
So when the opportunity came for them to come across,
I was actually quite excited and sorry.
Speaker 3 (11:17):
But the question was how they're integrated. I think that
so far they've both done very well in the environment.
Speaker 4 (11:25):
I think obviously, you know, for me, language is a
huge is a huge barrier. Kazuki, you know, He's English
is pretty good. Sheik's is getting better. He's starting to
understand my bad jokes, which is which is a good,
which is a good. It's a good start.
Speaker 3 (11:45):
But I think that.
Speaker 4 (11:51):
What's been promising is SIGI's first game against Newcastle probably
about half an hour.
Speaker 3 (11:57):
Found it very hard to get in the game, get touches.
Speaker 4 (12:00):
And then the second game against Wanderers, you had a
little bit more time started getting into the into the play.
It's still a little bit clunky, and then this last
game against Marinas, he basically grew in confidence and got
a lot more touches and you could see him Costa
and Balali and I'm just trying to think of the
(12:21):
young boys who played Oscar Van had start to build
a bit of a dynamic and with Red Trey as well,
so they're slowly coming along, you know, Kazuki as well.
Like Kazuki was lucky enough that he's been playing regular
minutes at Velgeta previously, but he had a bit of
time off and he know deloaded and now he's just
trying to build ninety minutes again.
Speaker 3 (12:43):
But you can tell he's got a lot of class,
you know.
Speaker 4 (12:44):
There's there's just something about both of those players playing
under pressure technically that it's really nice to watch. And
I think for me, it's just putting him in those
positions where they can absorb that pressure and that will
give us a different dimension as a season progresses.
Speaker 5 (13:00):
Just to finish do you feel ready? Well, what is
your sense of a ready? This team is to play well,
maybe not perfectly immediately, but to play well from the start.
Speaker 3 (13:18):
Do I feel ready? I don't think I ever feel ready.
Speaker 4 (13:20):
Even last year I didn't think, you know, when we
went into the season it was more about building. Last
year was more about building belief in the group and
churning results and getting to a point where you know
the boys understood the system well and you know we
could build. I think this year is there's a higher
expectation of the playing style, and I think where my
(13:42):
frustration sometimes which will further ahead, But given the circumstances
of the preseason, where where just you know, we've had
so many obstacles, I'm actually quite impressed at how far
the team's teams come. I think it will take us
about four to six games roughly before we start hitting
(14:02):
our straps. And what I mean by that is building continuity,
dynamic and starting players and also having that competition, the
intensity of competition, plus to travel and so on. I
think once we're able to get all that and the
boys have a confidence in what we're trying to do,
I think it will come together. So I know It's
(14:25):
a long answer, but in short I would say I'm
not entirely satisfied, but at the same time, given what's happened,
I'm happy how things are going.
Speaker 2 (14:36):
Good to have an extended chat with Jihan Kloertaliano, coach
of Wellington Phoenix. Their first game a week today, Western
United four o'clock sky Stadium for Auckland FC. It is
this coming Saturday, five o'clock. Go Medium out smart against Brisbane.
Speaker 1 (14:48):
Rule. For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen
live to News Talks d B weekends from midday, or
follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
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