Danny Allsopp says Ange Postecoglou’s inside knowledge of Brisbane will be useful on Saturday but ultimately it will be down to the players to secure an against-the-odds win.
Danny Allsopp says Ange Postecoglou’s inside knowledge of Brisbane will be useful on Saturday but ultimately it will be down to the players to secure an against-the-odds win.
Australia have a FIFA World Cup qualifier against Iraq in Qatar, leaving Victory without Archie Thompson and Mark Milligan for the match at Suncorp Stadium, while New Zealander Marco Rojas will also be on international duty.
The match marks Postecoglou’s return to the club he steered to the past two Hyundai A-League titles and Allsopp said Victory were keen to prove a point against their rivals.
“He will have some knowledge of some players and it will hopefully help us,” Allsopp said on Tuesday.
“But when the players go on the park you have to deal with the situations that arise because Ange is not on the field.”
Allsopp said the prospect of Victory starting the season with two losses wasn’t playing on his mind following last Friday’s 2-1 season-opening defeat to Melbourne Heart.
The Roar also opened the season with a loss, going down 1-0 to Perth Glory at Patersons Stadium.
“I think about winning more than I think about losing and I have got a pretty good record up in Brisbane so hopefully I can keep that going,” he said.
“Our supporters should know that we are still working hard now and we are going to make things right.”
Allsopp is in line for a starting position with first choice attackers Thompson and Rojas out of the team.
“It is tough for me this year in the way that we set up. We have got quality playing in the front and that may not suit me but when I get a chance I will give 100 percent,” he said.
“I would like to be playing every game but if I can’t then I will have to make sure I’m working hard to keep the other guys honest.
“That’s the way it should be. If the guys who are playing don’t do their jobs then maybe someone does have to play but I am just going to do as well as I can and not worry about the following week.”
