WANDERERS striker Mark Bridge insists Tony Popovic’s team selections have to be seen as a strategy to endure a long season, and has allayed concerns over the side’s fitness.
Popovic chose to start Shinji Ono and two striker signings, Tomi Juric and Brendon Santalab, on the bench in last weekend’s 1-1 draw with the Mariners.
Ono’s belated introduction had sparked concerns over his long injury record, but Bridge said that all had been fit to play, and were taking their turn in a necessary rotation policy with one eye on the Asian Champions League.
Western Sydney face Wellington on Sunday in their first home game of the new season, and Bridge predicted there would be more surprises.
“He was fully fit last week,” Bridge said of the Japanese international. The coaches have a plan when they select the team and every week changes with different tactics,” he said.
“It’s a long year and we’ve got the Asian Champions League as well and Shinji is a very important player in our team, so I think he’s being wrapped in cotton wool.
“It’s good – you need depth, especially with the Champions League coming up. There will be injuries and fatigue will set in around Christmas time, so you want a strong squad, not only for replacements but for starting places,” he said. “We’ve got a very good squad and it’s going to keep everyone on their toes.”
Asked inevitably about the prospect of Popovic being headhunted to become Socceroos coach, Bridge said the post-Holger Osieck speculation had not been a big story at the club, despite the national team’s heavy recent defeats.
“To be honest we haven’t even spoken about it, but of course we don’t want to lose him,” Bridge said. “Look what he did last season for all of us; not only us but for the club as well. He’s a great coach and a great man and I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before he does get that job [as Socceroso coach].
“It’s tough - they were very heavy defeats and probably not the best performances that we’ve seen over the past couple of years but I think people are forgetting it was Brazil and France.
“Brazil are probably favourites to win the World Cup. Although it’s 6-0, 6-0 they’re still two of the best teams in the world. It’s disappointing, but that’s football.”
Meanwhile, Adelaide have signed goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic to a new deal that will keep him at the club until 2017.
Ono’s belated introduction had sparked concerns over his long injury record, but Bridge said that all had been fit to play, and were taking their turn in a necessary rotation policy with one eye on the Asian Champions League.
Western Sydney face Wellington on Sunday in their first home game of the new season, and Bridge predicted there would be more surprises.
“He was fully fit last week,” Bridge said of the Japanese international. The coaches have a plan when they select the team and every week changes with different tactics,” he said.
“It’s a long year and we’ve got the Asian Champions League as well and Shinji is a very important player in our team, so I think he’s being wrapped in cotton wool.
“It’s good – you need depth, especially with the Champions League coming up. There will be injuries and fatigue will set in around Christmas time, so you want a strong squad, not only for replacements but for starting places,” he said. “We’ve got a very good squad and it’s going to keep everyone on their toes.”
Asked inevitably about the prospect of Popovic being headhunted to become Socceroos coach, Bridge said the post-Holger Osieck speculation had not been a big story at the club, despite the national team’s heavy recent defeats.
“To be honest we haven’t even spoken about it, but of course we don’t want to lose him,” Bridge said. “Look what he did last season for all of us; not only us but for the club as well. He’s a great coach and a great man and I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before he does get that job [as Socceroso coach].
“It’s tough - they were very heavy defeats and probably not the best performances that we’ve seen over the past couple of years but I think people are forgetting it was Brazil and France.
“Brazil are probably favourites to win the World Cup. Although it’s 6-0, 6-0 they’re still two of the best teams in the world. It’s disappointing, but that’s football.”
Meanwhile, Adelaide have signed goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic to a new deal that will keep him at the club until 2017.
