Season 2024/25 could not have gotten off to a worse start for David Zdrilic, who watched his side capitulate in the first half en route to a 6-1 defeat at the hands of Macarthur.
Moments of little effort and desire characterised the defensive display, carrying on from the final matches of last season.
The reasoning of players being underdone does little to fill the fans with any sense of optimism ahead of Round Two, where the challenge gets tougher with the visit of Giancarlo Italiano’s Wellington Phoenix.
Sunday’s horror show left behind a ton more questions than answers, and the coaching staff with little time to come up with solutions.
How many changes in the starting eleven?
The selection choices in defence for the opening game were surprising to say the least. Four central defenders in the back four, three of whom were aged 20 or under and the other, Luis Canga, had never played in the league.
There was a complete lack of cohesion between them, and they weren’t helped by the midfielders who left them exposed far too often.
At least half the goals conceded can be attributed to the players in the middle of the park either not making a tackle stick or failing to track back adequately.
Not one defender or midfielder played well enough to guarantee their spot in the team. Those who are fortunate enough to get another start will be under immense pressure to repay the faith put in them by the manager.
As for what the changes might be, I expect the defence to be reshuffled to include more recognised full backs and one of central midfielders to make way for Adam Bugarija, who looked promising off the bench and scored on debut.
Will Zdrilic adjust his style?
All the talk around David Zdrilic has been about his experience in the Red Bull system and his high pressing football philosophy.
Sounds good in interviews and looks great when executed properly. When it isn’t, the defence is left vulnerable and with Glory’s defensive record, the combination inevitably leads to goals being conceded.
Right now it seems the players aren’t yet able to effectively play the way in which the manager wants. Reports of confusion in a training drill in the warmup on Sunday is alarming proof of that.
Zdrilic doesn’t strike me as a manager who would stray far from his game plan. He will have faith in his style and in the players to get it right. His principles won’t change.
That being said, a lack of adaptability hurt Alen Stajcic in games last season. Zdrilic does need to show some flexibility, the challenge for him is to be more pragmatic in order to shore up the defence whilst maintaining the front foot approach he wants to utilise.
Can the fans reignite Glory?
“Reignite Glory” has been the slogan used by the Glory’s marketing in a bid to attract more fans to HBF Park.
Crowd figures haven’t been spectacular the last few years. The average of 5600 last season was the highest since 2019/20.
The fans now have the assurance of the club’s stability off the field and despite the opening result, this pre-season generated more excitement amongst the Glory faithful than most others of recent memory.
With new active support areas for the younger generation of Glory fans in Bay 136 and 137 to go along with The Shed, the matchday experience has been revamped and should encourage newer fans to attend.
The supporters often give the players a boost at home. After their performance last week, a boost is exactly what they need and if the crowd can help spark it against Wellington, they’re a chance to get their first win on the board.
Predicted lineup
Taggart
Faisal – Bugarija – Ngo
Gomulka – O’Neill
Hamzaoui – Majekodunmi – Canga – Carluccio
Sail
All images courtesy of Tom McCarthy.
