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Shaking Things Up

Posted On 30/11/2009

IAN Ferguson promised to shake things up during the week and along with shaking, he also rattled and rolled making no fewer than five changes to his struggling Fury team.

Four players were not only dropped from the starting lineup but completely cut adrift from the squad. Consequently the ensuing matchday performance by this reshaped team firmly proved that old adage of a week being a long time in football.

The capitulation against the Mariners a week earlier had stung all associated with NQ Fury. From the supporters through to the team boss, something had to give. Congratulations to Ian Ferguson for not standing still and accepting mediocrity, a call made by this blog in the aftermath of that Mariners disaster. Ferguson addressed many of the on-field concerns aired by myself and several other Fury supporters.

It seems for once that the humble armchair critics and the boss were on the same wavelength. In fact Ferguson satisfied all of my personal whims and then thought even further outside the square to fashion a new-look and competitive team.

This blog pulled no punches last week airing dissatisfaction towards Dodd, Henderson and Malik in particular. Dodd and Henderson had become liabilities and while Osama Malik definitely has a very bright future, his inexperience and perhaps lack of self belief at such an early stage in his career had become an issue.

Young players evolve and mature at different rates as is evident by comparing Osama Malik with Rostyn Griffiths. Rostyn is becoming an absolute beast in midfield and admittedly does have a couple of years over Osama who will no doubt benefit from the recent run in the team.

So out went Agius, Daal, Dodd, Henderson, Malik and Tadrosse with Cooke, Grossman, Hingert, Pasfield and Smith coming into the squad and Kohler promoted to the starting lineup from the bench.

Pasfield came in for Henderson, debutant Matt Smith replaced Karl Dodd, Jack Hingert took Chris Tadrosse’s leftback spot and another debutant but highly experienced campaigner Terry Cooke replaced the mercurial but oft M.I.A Fred Agius.

Chris Grossman, rested the week before due to specialist defenders regaining fitness, came onto the bench for possibly the unluckiest victim to feel Ferguson’s axe Dyron Daal.

What transpired on the field was a turnaround of the highest order. The opening 45 minutes was as good, if not the best, I have seen from any Fury line up to date. The football was fluent, purposeful and penetrative. Many players stood out and it was hard to find a great deal of fault, especially in the opening stanza.

David Williams was scintillating, Rostyn Griffiths dominated and Daniel McBreen was finally rewarded for his toil. The experienced players provided composure and with Kohler tidy in the midfield holding role Griffith’s was able to break the shackles and put his stamp all over the game.

David Williams electrified the left side of the park and Robbie Fowler buzzed about producing quality touches and openings while journeyman Terry Cooke combined well with Middleby on the right and showed plenty of quality.

Everyone knew Fury could go forward and trouble opponents, it’s the back five that have been the team's Achilles' heel. No one had even heard of Mathew Smith before Thursday and the former Brisbane Strikers captain stepped up and looked a seasoned pro.

What relief that was after being subjected to suicide bomber Karl Dodd. Jack Hingert another talented youngster, who I had previously aired surprise at not seeing more often, excelled and put in a fine shift. Even Johnny ‘Rambo’ Tambouras looked more assured than he has. Sure, he had his one mad moment when blindly back passing and nearly beating his own keeper, but we have grown accustomed to this almost endearing part of big John’s game.

Justin Pasfield did all that was asked of him and pulled off a couple of really strong saves ensuring he will keep his place. It was just nice to survive a whole match where our keeper hadn’t basically thrown the ball into his own net.

Fury lost a bit of momentum in the second half after Middleby succumbed to injury and Cooke’s fitness faded as expected. The pair had formed a strong combination and when the electric David Williams strained a quad, Fury lost further impact but had done enough to run out deserved winners and lift themselves off the bottom of the league table.

Admittedly the home team was guilty of defending a bit too deep and shutting up shop so to speak after going two goals up with about twenty minutes to go. The space between the midfield and defensive lines opened up and Adelaide did take advantage.

However this is a natural anomaly when a team has struggled and is desperate to get back to winning ways. Adelaide to their credit did step things up in the second half as you would expect as they were also fighting for their lives.

All in all Fury got their just desserts for a massively improved performance in a week that saw Ferguson emerge as a very canny operator and even the Reds' brilliant goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic was reduced to mere mortal rather than superhuman foe.

As for finals, well that will likely still prove to be a step too far but this team is now once gain travelling in the right direction and most pleasing of all is that Fury are once again both competitive and organised.

That is all I have personally ever asked for in this inaugural campaign. But a week can be a very long time in football and who knows what we will get next week?

Win, draw or lose more of the same would be very nice.

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