Smith disappointed by no-show

Alan Kennedy | 5th July 2010

"BITTERLY disappointing" was how Webbers Retravision Cougars coach Brad Smith described his side’s latest defeat against Brisbane Strikers.

It was not so much the 5-1 drubbing the Cougars received, but the lack of enthusiasm team members displayed.

“It was a disappointing display all over the park,” Smith told the Morning Bulletin.

Only three players came away with reputations intact, said the coach – mid-fielders Anthony Hartnell and Tristan Fraser and the Cougars’ most-improved player, Tim English.

“We weren’t up to it,” Smith said.

“We just didn’t want to play. It was only 1-nil at half-time, but in truth, we were just hanging in there.

“They (Strikers) played well and with far more purpose.”

The Cougars’ goal, when it arrived, was a gift, with a poor pass from a Strikers defender giving Tom Evans a clear

opportunity, which he accepted to score.

That made the score 3-1 and while the Cougars improved briefly, it did not change the pattern of the game.

“We played half-decent for 20 minutes out of the 90,” Smith admitted.

The selection experiment made by the Cougars failed to bring rewards.

Michael Kay was given a man-marking role on Strikers’ danger man Chris Thurtell, but he could not control the Brisbane player.

Thurtell scored score two goals for his team, while Kay re-injured an ankle, and was substituted in the second half by Ben McMaster.

While Smith was disappointed Kay could not master Thurtell, he refused to blame him for the defeat.

“You can’t just blame it (the loss) on that,” he said.

The other experiment was up front, but Martyn Davis failed to prove he was the man to play in the striker’s role for the Cougars.

“At half-time we didn’t talk tactics, I just asked why we bother to train and play when there is no enthusiasm,” Smith said.

New fullback Gilly Buckley was another who failed to impress the coaching staff.

“He was well off the pace,” Smith said.

“The game was too fast for him.”

Buckley was substituted in the second half by Eduardo.

Even players who did well were not exempt a little bit of criticism.

Midfielder Hartnell did his midfield holding role to Smith’s satisfaction, but the coach was disappointed the talented player continued to play too many passes backwards.

Oliver Saunders tried hard but misdirected too many passes, turning over possession to the Strikers, the coach said.

The Cougars’ defeat and Bundaberg’s win over NQ Razorbacks means the Cougars look set to pick up the wooden spoon.

So what do the Cougars do for the final six weeks?

“There will be changes,” Smith promised.

However, the options for the Cougars are limited.

Justin McMullen comes into the picture, but the hard part for the Cougars is the fact the side has very little to build on for the future.

How many of the current squad will be available for the 2011 season is debatable, but the number of local players with hands up to take their places is minimal.

Next weekend the Cougars face a tough home clash against neighbours Whitsunday Miners.


http://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/story/2010/07/05/smith-disappointed-by-cougars-no-show/