Australia NewsJets To Play Touring Urawa |
GARY Van Egmond hopes games against a touring Urawa Red Diamonds side will fine-tune his Jets ahead of the club's first Asian Champions League campaign in 2009.
The Red Diamonds have been confirmed, according to Van Egmond, as touring Australia in the J-League off-season in the next month or so.Newcastle has been drawn with Ulsan Hyundai of South Korea, Beijing Goan of China and Japan's Nagoyan Grampus Eight in the group stage of the revamped ACL.
Speaking after the draw, Van Egmond said that the touring Japanese side would provide good quality opposition with the Jets already out of contention for the A-League finals in February..
The J-League side won the ACL in 2007 but in 2008 the power-club dropped off badly in the J-League.
And Van Egmond hoped the Young Socceroos – who will be in camp on the Central Coast in January or February – will also provide opposition ahead of the tournament kick off in March.
"I think both the Jets and the Mariners have done well," the Jets coach said after the draw.
"I think we've avoided some of the heavyweights in groups F and G like Suwong and Kashima Antlers. But there are no soft draws in the ACL."
The Jets are believed to be playing their first game away from home although who that will be is still a mystery.
Newcastle will be relying on technical director Ian Crook to undertake much of the scouting of the opposition across Asia.
And the Griffiths brothers connection may also help. Ryan Griffiths, brother of Jets stars Joel and Adam, is currently playing in the Chinese Super League.
"We have to be more tactically aware and less naïve," added Van Egmond of his side's step up from the A-League. "We have to be mindful of that otherwise we'll get punished."
Van Egmond also revealed that an unnamed Korean player will arrive next week in camp to be assessed by the Jets coaching staff.
Have YOUR say - What do you think about "Jets To Play Touring Urawa"? Tell us NOW in the comment section below.
In this issue, we discuss arguably the most important player on the pitch, Strikers. What makes them tick?
We talk to Premier League hot-shots Wayne Rooney and Fernando Torres, Socceroos’ frontmen Harry Kewell and Josh Kennedy, as well last season’s Bundesliga top scorer Grafite and Man United legend Andy Cole.
We talk to Premier League hot-shots Wayne Rooney and Fernando Torres, Socceroos’ frontmen Harry Kewell and Josh Kennedy, as well last season’s Bundesliga top scorer Grafite and Man United legend Andy Cole.
Have you got a scoop? Tell us about it and you could be the first to break the news on FourFourTwo.
