Jets strike back with blunt assessment of Petrovski
Robert Dillon
February 21, 2008
NEWCASTLE coach Gary van Egmond declared yesterday that Sasho Petrovski was "not the sharpest tool in the shed" after bristling at cocky grand final week comments from the Central Coast striker.
And in a further sign there is no love lost between the Jets and the man who sunk them with two goals in the major semi-final, Newcastle skipper Jade North vowed to keep him scoreless in Sunday's A-League decider at the Sydney Football Stadium.
Petrovski's comments earlier this week were not exactly explosive, but in the countdown to a grand final they have provided Newcastle with extra motivation.
On Tuesday, he told The Sydney Morning Herald that if the Jets were as lax in defence as they were last Sunday, when they beat Queensland 3-2 in the preliminary final, then he and strike partner John Aloisi would cash in.
"Queensland could have killed Newcastle off and been in the grand final, but they didn't punish them," he said.
"I believe we would have punished them if they make mistakes then myself and John can make them pay for it."
Petrovski was also dismissive last week of the Jets' chances, tipping Queensland to win the grand final qualifier. Yesterday van Egmond fired back.
"Unfortunately Sasho's not the sharpest tool in the shed," van Egmond said. "If anyone's had a conversation with Sash, they'll understand what I'm talking about."
Asked to elaborate, van Egmond said: "I think he opens his mouth before he thinks."
North's response was equally forthright.
"I think they're a bit worried to be playing us, to be honest," he said. "I bet they were cheering for Queensland to get through, but that wasn't the case, and here we are, on a roll.
"I think them having the week off, they don't have any momentum going into the game.
"I'm just telling you now, they better be on their game."
There was little need to read between the lines when North was asked his opinion of the Central Coast strike force.
"I'd have to say Aloisi is a good player," he said.
Reminded that it was Petrovski who scored twice in their last encounter, North replied: "He's scored two goals all season and I don't think he's got any more in him."
North was confident the 3-0 loss at Bluetongue Stadium on February 10 would work in Newcastle's favour.
"They always seem to struggle against us," he said.
"Apart from last time, we didn't turn up to play, it was as simple as that this week's going to be a different game. The pressure's all going to be on them now.
"They've beaten us and they're lapping up the hype now and I think mentally they're not going to want to play us, because we want to beat them after what they did to us."
Despite his umbrage at Petrovski's comments, van Egmond acknowledged the Jets needed to pick up their game defensively this week.
"We still did get opened up in certain areas and ride our luck, which we're not happy with."
It seems to me that GVE and Gollum are more concerned with trying to unsettle our boys than firing up themselves for the weekend. I think they are still struggling to regain the upper hand, composure and confidence they would need to beat us. i.e. We are winning the psychological battle already
Robert Dillon
February 21, 2008
NEWCASTLE coach Gary van Egmond declared yesterday that Sasho Petrovski was "not the sharpest tool in the shed" after bristling at cocky grand final week comments from the Central Coast striker.
And in a further sign there is no love lost between the Jets and the man who sunk them with two goals in the major semi-final, Newcastle skipper Jade North vowed to keep him scoreless in Sunday's A-League decider at the Sydney Football Stadium.
Petrovski's comments earlier this week were not exactly explosive, but in the countdown to a grand final they have provided Newcastle with extra motivation.
On Tuesday, he told The Sydney Morning Herald that if the Jets were as lax in defence as they were last Sunday, when they beat Queensland 3-2 in the preliminary final, then he and strike partner John Aloisi would cash in.
"Queensland could have killed Newcastle off and been in the grand final, but they didn't punish them," he said.
"I believe we would have punished them if they make mistakes then myself and John can make them pay for it."
Petrovski was also dismissive last week of the Jets' chances, tipping Queensland to win the grand final qualifier. Yesterday van Egmond fired back.
"Unfortunately Sasho's not the sharpest tool in the shed," van Egmond said. "If anyone's had a conversation with Sash, they'll understand what I'm talking about."
Asked to elaborate, van Egmond said: "I think he opens his mouth before he thinks."
North's response was equally forthright.
"I think they're a bit worried to be playing us, to be honest," he said. "I bet they were cheering for Queensland to get through, but that wasn't the case, and here we are, on a roll.
"I think them having the week off, they don't have any momentum going into the game.
"I'm just telling you now, they better be on their game."
There was little need to read between the lines when North was asked his opinion of the Central Coast strike force.
"I'd have to say Aloisi is a good player," he said.
Reminded that it was Petrovski who scored twice in their last encounter, North replied: "He's scored two goals all season and I don't think he's got any more in him."
North was confident the 3-0 loss at Bluetongue Stadium on February 10 would work in Newcastle's favour.
"They always seem to struggle against us," he said.
"Apart from last time, we didn't turn up to play, it was as simple as that this week's going to be a different game. The pressure's all going to be on them now.
"They've beaten us and they're lapping up the hype now and I think mentally they're not going to want to play us, because we want to beat them after what they did to us."
Despite his umbrage at Petrovski's comments, van Egmond acknowledged the Jets needed to pick up their game defensively this week.
"We still did get opened up in certain areas and ride our luck, which we're not happy with."
It seems to me that GVE and Gollum are more concerned with trying to unsettle our boys than firing up themselves for the weekend. I think they are still struggling to regain the upper hand, composure and confidence they would need to beat us. i.e. We are winning the psychological battle already
