Fit, firing and out to make amends, Blacktown City coach Mark Crittenden has declared his team to be a force to be reckoned with in 2018.
The boys from Lily’s Football Stadium suffered an acrimonious end to their 2017 season giving up the Premiership title to APIA Leichhardt Tigers despite holding a six point lead with five rounds to go.
It is a pain which is sure to spur City on to greater heights this season and Crittenden said it was more than evident when his squad returned to begin preseason training.
“In all my years coaching I have not seen a team turn up to start preseason in as good shape as they did this season,” he said.
“2017 was the first time in four seasons in which we didn’t finish the season with a trophy and that really hurt.
“The way everyone has committed themselves from the outset has given me plenty of confidence that we will be able to return the high standards we have set at this club.”
Crittenden said the team had remained mostly unchanged from their 2017 squad with established stars Joey Gibbs, Mitch Mallia, Matt Lewis, Zach Cairncross and Shayne D’Cunha all returning.
One player who will not run out for Blacktown this season is last season’s breakout star James Andrew who turned down a deal to stay at the Seven Hills based club in order to join Marconi.
Three big additions to the team in 2018 will be former Sydney Olympic defender Yianni Spyrakis, French striker Charles Mendy, who joins Blacktown from Brisbane’s FFA Cup surprise packets Peninsula Power and ex-Newcastle Jets star Devante Clut.
“Yianni is a good young player with good feet, great vision and an excellent passing game. He’s a great guy to have in the team and I’m really excited by what he brings to the team this season,” Crittenden said.
“Charles is a big athletic striker who has really impressed so far this preseason and I think he will be a difference maker for us having such a unique skill-set.
“While it was very disappointing for us to lose James Andrew, I think with the new boys we have coming in as well as the return of some key players from injury will put us in good stead to compete for silverware.”
An incredible FFA Cup run, which included wins against A-League side Central Coast Mariners and ended in a dramatic penalty shoot-out loss to Western Sydney Wanderers, has spirits high in Blacktown.
With a big preseason behind them, Mark Crittenden’s Blacktown side will once again be a team to watch out for.
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