Definitely the honeymoon period before the lobotomiser sub editors revert to back the good ol' doom and gloom, chicken little business we know. Realistically the Gombau project will take time - a message he reiterates at every opportunity but there's always going to be people demanding instant results and the local rag tends to set that tone. Looking forward to my first taste of the Gombau era tomorrow night and the scary thought of a Cam Watson pass that travels forwards.

If he has already yelled at watson im betting by round 5 he will be charging onto the ground to spear tackle him lol

Josep will or I will. Watson must go...my least liked AU player..fkn useless:(

RB clearly not his forte. At times I've wondered if football in general is his forte or if he'd be better off picking up a trade. Elrich should get 45 tonight and a chance to his many detractors that he's worth a punt. Also looking forward to some Sanchez action and from the last week's reports, Awer Mabil should provide some entertainment.

He plays well when the team is playing well but any pressure and he folds. Cant mark his man either i dont know how much time he will see this year not much is my guess.

Cam didn't exactly set the world on fire tonight. Bowles was much better at RB and Watto was pretty wasteful when he moved into the middle where you'd think he's probably 4th or 5th choice behind Isaias, Malik, Melling and McKain.

Speaking of Isaias- perhaps not the toughest opponents but there was a lot to like about his half of football tonight. Great composure on the ball, some smart and very accurate passing and he dropped back to cover McKain's more cavalier moments well. Good signs but obviously still very early days.

RB clearly not his forte. At times I've wondered if football in general is his forte or if he'd be better off picking up a trade. Elrich should get 45 tonight and a chance to his many detractors that he's worth a punt. Also looking forward to some Sanchez action and from the last week's reports, Awer Mabil should provide some entertainment.

ADELAIDE United paraded new signings, Tarek Elrich and Isaias Sanchez, for the first time in a 2-1 win over MetroStars at Santos Stadium on Tuesday night.
The pair played admirably in Adelaide's second pre season victory after the side recorded a 4-1 win over Cumberland United last week.

Adelaide coach Josep Gombau's second win in charge started taking shape when teenager Awer Mabil propelled the Reds to a 1-0 first half lead over the state's reigning champion.

Gombau added fresh legs in the second half with striker Bruce Djite and Osama Malik tasting pre season action for the first time.

Reds substitute Jake Barker-Daish then made it 2-0 after a good cross from Young Socceroo Jacob Melling in the 75th minute.

But MetroStars didn't leave the clash empty handed when Matt Deegan beat young Reds gloveman John Hall at the death .

Adelaide will now line up for its third pre season clash when it faces Croydon Kings at Santos Stadium on Friday night from 8pm.

Pre season friendly: Adelaide United 2 (Awer Mabil, Jake Barker-Daish) MetroStars 1 (Matt Deegan) at Santos Stadium.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/football/new-adelaide-united-signings-show-form-in-friendly-against-metrostars/story-fnibbvew-1226692421340

SERGIO Cirio - Adelaide United's 23rd and final player to arrive for pre season training - owns a prestige "Made in Spain" coaching UEFA A-Licence.
Given his coaching credentials, the 163cm Barcelona-born 26-year-old forward should be a mentor to some of his new teammates when it comes to understanding what new boss Josep Gombau wants from Adelaide United on the field.

Cirio is just one more huge step away from being able to qualify to coach A-League teams in Australia when he earns his UEFA coaching ProLicence.

"My expectations are to give the maximum to my new team at all times,'' Cirio said at the Mediterranean influenced Zecca Bar on Tuesday after arriving in Adelaide on Sunday night.

"I want to adapt to the team, I want to know the players.

"What Josep wants is to bring beautiful football to Australia so it's something for us as players to enjoy and also for the fans to enjoy.''

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But Cirio said he has been forced to drop his impressive UEFA coaching studies while he adjusts to being outside of Europe for the first time in his nine-year career yet at the same time he hopes to master English.

But without a doubt Cirio is well versed with modern football the one which Spain has adopted and seemingly perfected in unison as a footballing nation.

The type of football where UEFA - in its Euro 2012 technical report - described Spain as playing a "4-3-3, with and without a striker, outstanding possession game, mesmerising middle-to-front mobility and intense pressing aimed at regaining the ball quickly" to highlight a few key technical points.

Nonetheless, Cirio has never worked under Gombau but declared contact had been made with his new chief when the Reds boss managed Hong Kong club Kitchee SC.

"He was interested in getting me to Hong Kong,'' Cirio said.

"But for different reasons it wasn't possible.''

Cirio will wear Adelaide's no. 9 shirt which was vacated by prolific goalscorer Serginho van Dijk last January when the goal machine moved to Indonesia to join Persib Bandung.

Adelaide's no.9 shirt - since van Dijk first donned the kit during Adelaide's 2010 AFC Champions League campaign - averaged nearly a goal every second game.

But prior to van Dijk's goalscoring 25 times the shirt had produced goals 18 after Shane Smeltz, Matthew Kemp, Paul Agostino and Cristiano all wore the no. 9 jersey since Adelaide was born in September 2003.

Cirio scored 22 goals for Spanish Segunda B club Hospitalet last season.

"People will have a lot of expectations for me to score a lot of goals,'' he said.

"I will try to score to give assists and to make sure the team is doing well.

"I've come here to do my best and I want fans to enjoy it.

"I'm not sure if I'll score a lot but I'll give it my best.''

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/football/sergio-cirio8217s-licenced-to-play-a-beautiful-game/story-fni2fq2r-1226692353349

The Phoenix also hope to stage their February 1 A-League game against Adelaide United at Auckland's Eden Park.

That will go ahead if Westpac Stadium is comfortable turning a cricket pitch into a football one overnight.

http://tvnz.co.nz/football-news/phoenix-ponder-defensive-options-in-pre-season-5528232

And depending how big a hit and so 'how long' Cirio is at AU, he could easily transition to be a future AU coach and continue on the flair/style of football that this Gombau era is set to bring! Thought not to get ahead of self. :p

Edited by GloryPerth: 9/8/2013 08:08:05 PM

Im also loving this style. It just looks so damn pretty to watch.
So pumped for the season to start so I can see this in action in a real match rather than a trial.

Some of the other teams fans are going to get a rude awakening when they actually get to see Adelaide playing this style rather than the past few years.

If the team can gel and play this style well watch out.

Against Cumberland and Croydon we played a good passing style, under pressure i.e. vs Metrostars we kind of defaulted back to the old kick it long style though. Hopefully we can drill the team in the off-season so they can play tiki taka style vs tougher opponents.

Need some help, people. Can you please post here your MOST LIKELY Starting XI + Subs, including formation, for Round 1?

Need some help, people. Can you please post here your MOST LIKELY Starting XI + Subs, including formation, for Round 1?