Confidence and momentum. Two buzzwords, which in their apparent absence, have come to define Melbourne Heart FC’s recent barren run, extended as it was by the Newcastle Jets yesterday, to eight matches.
Confidence and momentum.
Two buzzwords, which in their apparent absence, have come to define Melbourne Heart FC-s recent barren run, extended as it was by the Newcastle Jets yesterday, to eight matches.
Having entered January on a high, Heart-s New Year downturn have been as surprising as it is sudden, stymieing the side-s chances of snaring a home finals berth.
With six matches remaining, Heart-s cause is far from lost, with fourth spot and the spoils which accompany it, still within reach.
Indeed, sitting sixth on the table with four home games in hand, Heart remains well poised to rediscover the form which saw the side catapult into finals contention following a run of seven wins in eight matches through November and December.
But if winning is a habit, so is it-s unfortunate bedfellow, making the need for a turnaround all the more pressing.
In the aftermath of the side-s heaviest defeat of the season, Head Coach John van ‘t Schip was questioned over Heart-s sudden downturn in form and dismissed any notion a void of confidence was to blame.
The Ajax legend instead believes a lack of cutting edge, an absence of single-minded ruthlessness is the cause of Heart-s ails; recalling recent performances which suggested the side remained a sleeper force.
“(Confidence) can be there very quickly. I don-t think it (hasn-t been) there for eight weeks, as last week, we played a very good game against the Victory, a few good games against Brisbane and Central Coast,” van ‘t Schip said.
“In the first 20 minutes (against Newcastle), we had our best period and were playing quite ok. They were looking for answers to the way we were playing, but our problem is we didn-t create opportunities to score. That-s what it-s all about.”
However, while van ‘t Schip denies confidence is behind Heart-s current woes, he acknowledged it would certainly be impacted by his side-s winless run.
“We have to start winning, of course, because confidence is also about getting results. You can keep on playing quite well and not getting results. In the end, it-s going to affect your confidence,” van ‘t Schip said.
