JVS heaps praise on youngster
February 05, 2012 16:33:23 UK
Heart were unable to defeat Victory in Saturday's Melbourne city derby but they had several positives to take from the game.
We had the impression that Goodwin was ready to play.
John van't Schip
One of those positives was the impressive debut of their young full-back Craig Goodwin, whose level of play didn't give away the fact that it was his first professional match.
Both the clubs were scared of losing, which resulted in a 0-0 stalemate. Just a share of the spoils was not something that Heart coach John van't Schip had targeted before the game but he found solace in the mightily exciting performance of Goodwin, who he had signed from VPL club Oakleigh Cannons.
Perth Glory are 1.72 to defeat Gold Coast United, who themselves are 4.50 to get the win.
In the post-match interview, van't Schip said: "I think he played very well. I was probably surprised he did that well. But knowing his qualities, knowing his touch, his cross, his mobility, it was not that I had doubts about him.
"The first game is often there things can work out very well."
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The Dutch coach then revealed that naming Goodwin in his starting line-up for such a crucial match wasn't a hard decision, as he simply tried to pick his best available options.
"It wasn't a difficult choice because we have seen him all year now (in the NYL). He's making very good progress.
"Where I come from, we always try to make it simple and when one left full back or is injured, we look at the next one, who is playing at a lower level.
"If he is not good enough or not ready then we will not take him. We had the impression that Goodwin was ready to play, even though it was a big game," JVS added.
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