Can the events of a season drag a player down, making him play below his best? I think the answer is a resounding yes!
Friday night Australia’s Socceroos took on the Fifa top 20 rated team Ghana, in an evenly fought game where one single goal separated the two teams.
That goal was scored by the Rams own Mile Sterjovski. I have been an advocate of the player since his arrival at Derby and I firmly believe his performances in the Rams strip more than endorsed my faith in his ability. More often than not he showed his fighting spirit and obvious talent in what was a lost cause long before his arrival.
Sadly many of his performances, like many of his team mates fell below what we expected from players of their talents. The only possible reason behind such an occurrence was when confidence is low, then no matter what a player’s ability; the end result will be affected by that state of mind.
Sterjovski scored a cool and well placed goal against Ghana that won the international friendly for Australia which topped off a great performance from the attacking midfielder. The fact that in the final few minutes he received a second yellow card that saw him sent off did not water down his effect on the game.
The red card (which was very soft) darkened what was a productive game for a player who had been through so much recently with Derby County. Recent reports in the press had him fire back at Paul Jewell’s comments regarding players signed in January not living up to expectation. Mile felt that he and other signings had come in under such pressure that to try and turn the situation around would have been beyond most players.
I have always maintained that Mile Sterjovski is a fighter and a player that will provide genuine effort should he be given the opportunity. In some of the Rams best games of the year including their stunning effort against Manchester United he was one of their best players. Against such quality opposition no one could honestly believe it was a fluke, instead surely it was a case of quality rising to the top against
adversity.
Whatever the case, when the Championship season gets underway Derby County will be one of the favourites to bounce straight back up. The Rams will take the field with Mile Sterjovski as one of the players who will plays a major part in making that a genuine possibility. His experience and genuine talent will be an important part of any push for a promotion place.
On Friday night he won the day for our national team as an Australian but in some part he proved something to those who would doubt that Derby can bounce back from this disastrous season. He will need support to do so but will be one who will not go missing in the fight that lies ahead.