COMPETITION for places is hotting up at Gold Coast United with just over a week to go before Miron Bleiberg’s men kick off their second season in the Hyundai A-League in a blockbuster derby clash with Brisbane Roar at Skilled Park (Sunday 8 August, 3.00pm).
With striker Shane Smeltz available and the recent form of young guns James Brown and Golgol Mebrahtu, Bleiberg is facing the proverbial selection headache when he mulls over his starting eleven in the countdown to the match.
It’s a luxurious position for the United Head Coach who has at his disposal a squad full of seasoned professionals along with a large handful of eager youngsters who are all tipped to make their mark this term.
With the majority of his playing stocks fit, healthy and available for Round One next Sunday, training sessions are showing the tell-tale signs of becoming competitive auditions for a starting berth in the M1 derby against the Roar.
“You can see training becoming more and more intense as we get closer and obviously this is a good sign because we know everyone wants to play,” Bleiberg said.
“There is competition for places everywhere, but especially in the midfield. Jason Culina, Michael Thwaite, Zenon (Caravella), Robson, Panta (Steve Pantelidis); the list goes on and they all want to be in the starting team.
“Up front is the same. Smeltzy is there, Joel Porter is there, Tahj (Minniecon) is there, and Andrew Barisic has been scoring goals in pre-season again. Then we have some of the youngsters like Golgol Mebrahtu and James Brown knocking on the door and putting pressure on everyone.
“We have similar competition for places in defence and as a coach you want this situation. It’s good and it’s healthy.
“There is just over a week for us to apply some polish to our tactics for the visit of the Roar and overall I’m happy with where we are. The players are well prepared and they know what is expected of them.”
Scorer of last weekend’s winner against North Queensland Fury, 19-year-old marksman Golgol Mebrahtu, is one of United’s young brigade intent on making life uncomfortable for his more experienced teammates. Lightning quick with a keen eye for goal, Mebrahtu looked sharp in pre-season and found the net on a regular basis.
Not content with living in the shadows of his goalscoring mentors, Mebrahtu has his sights firmly set on forcing his way into Miron Bleiberg’s weekly plans.
“My initial aim is to make it into the team then from there try to cement a place if I can,” Mebrahtu said.
“If I train hard and play well then I have a chance of establishing myself. I want to play as many games as possible and contribute some goals to what we all hope will be a successful season for the whole club.
“I realise that I’ve still got a lot to learn but I have some great players around me who I pick things up from every day. Shane (Smeltz) is the best of the best when it comes to scoring goals in Australia and he is always giving me tips to improve my game.
“Shane has been there and done it so anything he can offer to me in the way of advice is a real bonus.”
One player who won’t be in contention next weekend is midfielder Matt Osman. The former Central Coast Mariner is awaiting results of a scan on his knee after falling awkwardly in a low-key training match against a Brisbane Select XI on Wednesday. Osman is likely to face around a month on the sidelines.