Soccer: Turner worried about Kingz' standards

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Ten days out from the Football Kingz' first game of their second Australian National Soccer League season, Brian Turner is nervous.

The former long-serving international midfielder has no direct input into the Auckland-based franchise, but as an experienced coach and one of only two players to play 100 games for the national side he has reservations as the Kingz prepare for their season opener on Sunday week.

"I totally agree with the Kingz concept and what they can do for New Zealand football," said Turner. "But I have reservations about the way they are going about it.

"I have seen them play most of their pre-season games and really, I haven't seen anything different from the things that I felt cost them a top-six place last season."

Turner believes one significant problem is that the Kingz coaching staff are still playing players out of their best positions.

"Chris Jackson and Ivan Vicelich are two who spring to mind. Playing Jackson at the right side of the back three and Vicelich in the midfield staggers me. I think they can get away with playing three at the back as long as they have three mobile defenders - and Vicelich fits that mould.

"I feel the balance of the side is all wrong. The feeling you get from watching the Kingz play is that they lack on-field leadership and organisation. But that is not to say their captain, Harry Ngata, is not doing a good job. Rather it is the system," said Turner, who with Ron Armstrong, co-coached the Federation One team who beat the Kingz 4-2 in one of their warm-up games.

"In the midfield there is a reluctance to go forward with the ball. Too often they look to keep the ball and play it square.

"The ball speed is too pedestrian which allows the opposition to get 11 players behind the ball. They retain possession well enough but don't go anywhere.

"If Federation teams can score 12 goals and concede only four in beating the Kingz in three games it tells me the lessons of last season haven't been learned. There was no urgency, no spark.

"The Kingz losing to these sides is like the Auckland Blues losing to Grammar or Suburbs by 30 points. Obviously they are having problems with their new goalkeeper [Julio Cuello].

"Even in their 6-0 win over a Northland side last weekend, there were two or three times he got nowhere near the ball. That has to be a concern."

"And at least they are playing, unlike some of the players the Kingz have on their books. That seems to be another issue they are happy to fudge over.

"Don't get me wrong," said Turner. "I want to see the Kingz succeed. Our game needs that.

"Unless the problems, off as well as on the field, are quickly resolved, I have real doubts about the Kingz' future."

Assistant Kingz coach Shane Rufer was just as forthcoming in replying to Turner's concerns.

"Everyone has an opinion and we have to live with that, but for the game to prosper we have to work together and I'm not going to get into petty bickering," Rufer said.

"Yes, we are disappointed with the results so far but we are determined the focus should be on looking forward not back. Our goal remains the same. We are determined to do better than we did last season. Inconsistency is one of the biggest concerns. We played quite well against Chile but not so well in others.

"The mental preparation has to be the same for every game," Rufer said. "It doesn't matter whether you are playing Chile, a Federation team or Tiddlywinks United, you have to be properly prepared.

"A good start is crucial and will lay the foundation for the season. We must get it right on the pitch."

The Kingz' buildup has not been ideal, with injuries causing problems.

The Kingz will play the Marconi Stallions in Wanganui on Friday night and a Federation Four team in Palmerston North on Sunday in their last serious hit outs before their season kicks off against Sydney Olympic in Sydney.