With only four wins in 26 games, last season was one to leave out of Perth Glory’s memory books. But with a large rebuild over the break, goalkeeper Liam Reddy believes this season won’t be a repeat of last year’s disaster.
The 2021/2022 A-League Men season for the Western Australian side was their first ever wooden spoon and their worst result in a decade.
Marred by 16 losses, Richard Garcia’s mid-season sacking and the loss of Spanish star Diego Castro to the squad’s attacking line-up, the Glory seemed to simply fall apart.
However, over the break, the side have conducted a rebuild, bringing in a staggering 17 new signings as well as new coaching staff to support head coach Ruben Zadkovich’s style of football.
A certainly impressive job done by the club’s all-time leading appearance maker Andy Keogh, the now head of recruitment for the side.
Goalkeeper and fan favourite, Reddy, is feeling certain the side has prepared well over the break to do much better this season.
“Obviously we can’t hide away from the fact that we picked up the wooden spoon last year. But in terms of a rebuild it’s been really positive. The mood is really upbeat. We are really looking forward to the season as a whole,” Reddy said.
“The quality of players that he [Ruben Zadkovich] has recruited: Mustafa Amini, Aaron Mceneff, Ryan Williams. Even stocking up the defence with Mark Beevers coming in.
“There are some real quality acquisitions from overseas that have come to the league. It’s also exciting that we have been able to attract Stefan Colakovski. They are all players that have come here with a purpose to win games.”
Despite a massive rebuild, Reddy says the players have managed to form a strong chemistry together and the mood at the club is a lot different to how it was a year ago.
This has been accompanied by a change of training venue as well as much more intense pre-season training.
“The chemistry is there, it’s good we all get on well on and off the park. We have lunch everyday together and breakfast in the morning together. So we are in each other’s pockets so to speak but I think that’s gonna put us in good stead for the season because I think the closer, we are off the field, the better it’s gonna be on the field and that’s something that I’ve definitely seen with this year’s squad,” Reddy said.
“The major thing that I have really witnessed in terms of the change from last year to this year is that the playing group is a lot fitter. Players like Giordano Colli, Jacob Muir have come back fitter and stronger which has pushed the group again.
“The intensity of training is a lot higher, and you know it had to be because we weren’t good enough last year. The quality of players has helped that.”
Reddy says the new signings have also brought a willingness to learn and there has been an overall step-up in work-ethic from the squad as a whole.
“The new players that have come in have brought a great work ethic but then the players that were here last year have all jumped on board and done exactly the same and so the group’s come together really nicely,” Reddy said.
“The new players have bought into how Ruben and his staff want to play the game and they are bringing intensity to training. I feel like the football club’s getting back to where it was when we were successful.”
It will be interesting to see how the side bounces back against Newcastle Jets following its unfortunate 1-0 loss to Western Sydney Wanderers in round one.
Feature image credit: Vision Inspired Photography
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