Australia News
Dutchy Wants Scruffy Goals
EXCLUSIVE: Gary van Egmond insists the smart acquisition of striker Jason Naidovski could be the key to his team unlocking the scruffy goals they have desperately lacked.
Although they triumphed in the grand final, the Jets fell agonisingly short of the Premier's Plate with just one goal separating them from Central Coast Mariners in the final table.The Newcastle Jets coach has a memory bank full of spectacular strikes from the Championship-winning season but admits he is struggling to recall too many bread and butter tap-ins.
Van Egmond is anxious to put that right and hopes the addition of Naidovski will be a tremendous asset in that quest.
The Jets coach told au.fourfourtwo.com: “Jason is a big target man with a real eye for goal. He’s tall but also quick and strong.
“He’s two good feet and capable of holding the ball up to bring others into play. He’s the sort of player we didn’t have last time out and it certainly gives us a different option in attack.
“Mark Jones (assistant coach) has worked with him and knows all about him from his time with the Australian Institute of Sport.
“We’re looking forward to working with him and helping him develop further. I think he can add to what we already have and be a handful for the opposition."
Spectacular strikes from Joel Griffiths in particular helped the Jets pick up crucial victories last season and while van Egmond is happy to see the goal of the season contenders flying into the back of the net, he is also keen to see altogether less glamorous strikes.
Although Joel Griffiths ended the season with the A-League’s golden boot he received scant scoring support from his teammates.
Van Egmond said: “I can think of some wonderful goals that we scored last year but off the top of my head I’m really struggling to think of any scruffy tap-ins from inside the six yard box or headers.
"Those are the sort of opportunities I want us to be converting and hopefully Jason can help us do that.”
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