To see Fury back training in Townsville...

 

Following a rollercoaster seven days which saw his team fly to Newcastle for a midweek clash against the Jets only to be informed upon their arrival in the Hunter that the game had been postponed, Fury ended the week flat and losing 2-1 to Gold Coast at Dairy Farmers last Sunday.

Robbie Middleby – the club’s football operations manager – sat on the Fury bench after Straka and his assistant Stuart McLaren had earlier been banned by the FFA following a recent clash against the Mariners.

“Franz wanted me to wear his jacket on Sunday but I thought I’ll do the next best thing and put it on the seat next to me,” Middleby told au.fourfoutwo.com.

“If we’d been in a position to win the game the player who scored the winning goal would have put it on.”

There was no winning goal and no sign of the jacket on Monday as a sombre Straka oversaw Fury’s recovery session at Townsville Sports Reserve.

The squad met behind closed doors prior to the session to plan Friday night’s clash with Graham Arnold's side. We spoke with the Czech coach about the season so far.

Franz, you didn’t look too happy out there at training today…

I’m always happy with the boys but we are so disappointed with this result. We can play better, much better. In football you can have a bad day and it’s a shame because we wanted to step up. It was hugely disappointing.

You’ve got a chance to redeem yourself against Central Coast – a team that recently beat you courtesy of a final minute goal to win 3-2…

We are looking forward to playing - in fact it would be better if we could play tomorrow. They were very strong when we played them last time but we lost the game – it was unlucky, definitely unlucky. And we want to revenge and I hope we will make the three points.

The fixture scheduling this season has been hotly debated and not just for Fury but other clubs too have gone long stretches without games. Your thoughts?

Definitely it was why we weren’t so sharp and so flat [against Gold Coast]. We lost our rhythm. If you prepare the team for the game and you play only two games in a month it is a mistake. I’m sorry. For example in December we have nine games. How can you play nine games in one month? We don’t have such a strong squad or a youth team. And there is the travelling too. It is a big question mark.

Overall, what have you made of the A-League and our football mentality?

I like it. They are very strong, very tough. They do the best on the field. Like on Sunday you can’t say ‘you didn’t fight’, No. they did the best what they can. This is what I like. They come to the session and they are excited.

They are excited about the games. This is a big advantage. Many of the players here want to go to Europe but the mentality is the same and the style is maybe similar to England - maybe not so much quality as England because you have the best players in the world. Here you have a similar mentality. It’s good.

How can we lift the A-League to the next level?

Maybe we need more excitement, more fans. Maybe we need the World Cup to come here, to wake up the people here and they are excited. If we could try to get to this level, it’d be fantastic. We’d excite the fans like in rugby.

It’s such a big country and I came back here 25 years after playing for national team of Czechoslovakia against Australia in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide. It was fantastic. John Kosmina was their big striker and I was his direct opponent, his marker [laughs] and I think he hated me in this game. But it was special.

Can you explain your philosophy and vision for this club?

My mentality, it’s my character. I was the same when I was a player. You have to be born like a leader. If you do some job and you like this job, you have to be excited. I was the same on the field. I was the leader and captain and pushed the boys ‘C’mon, c’mon’. They [Fury players] have to know I am one of them, that I’m on the touchline if something happens I’ll be there for them. If they need help I’m here.

I was in many countries a coach so it’s not only a sweet life, it’s also you have to be hard. But they have to know you don’t let the players down. You help them – and if you are critical they understand. It’s much better to be upfront and straight with the players and what the rules are. I like this.

I’m sure we are on the good way to make our young players big like Isaka Cernak who will go to Melbourne Victory and other players also have offers.

It is not easy but I will build a strong team for the fans and they love us and be proud of us and we have to be proud of them. And I hope so much we can build what I have in my head. It is an academy and teaching young players to give them a chance and do something for the future in Australia

Speaking of the Fury fans, their adoration for you is staggering. How surprised are you that this happened?

It’s not only a question about the club but it’s also a question about the fans. They have to enjoy it, they have to love us. If you are, how you say, direct with someone and be honest. They have to know we want to do the best job here for them.

We want to play football for them. If they come to the stadium we have to make a celebration for them. I was so upset yesterday [Sunday] but I wish we celebrate together. The kids when they stay there and so happy… it is this excitement I like. I love this city and the people and how they support us. Hopefully they stay excited in this city.

I call them family and I will do a big family here in Townsville.

Given this, how worrying is the speculation about the club’s future?

I was worried about this. I was very upset. But people like Rabieh Krayem [club CEO] they do the best for the club. Even the premier of Queensland, the young lady, she said she supported us

So, in ten years, where will you and Fury be?

I don’t know if I stay here or another place. You know how it is with coaches and their careers. You move around but I’m here and I enjoy this time and I hope I stay a long time.

To see Fury back training in Townsville...