Aloisi: Put A-League on hold

Melbourne Heart coach John Aloisi has called on the A-League to take a break when players are absent on national team duty.

The Heart were forced to use four teenagers against Sydney at Allianz Stadium with Aziz Behich, Richard Garcia and Michael Marrone all away with the Socceroos at the East Asian Cup qualifiers.

Sydney were also without two of their stars and it told as both sides lacked quality and a cutting edge in front of goal, finishing in a 0-0 draw on Sunday.

The Heart youngsters did a solid job filling in but it was not enough to help the side to a much-needed win against the struggling Sydney.

Aloisi believes the time has now come for the A-League to stop when players are called into the national side to ease the pressure on coaches who are missing their key players.

“I understand the national team have to do a job and they have to qualify and pick which players they feel should play for the national team,” a furious Aloisi said afterwards.

“But I don’t understand how it’s in the middle of the season and that nothing is done about it in our league.

“It’s good for the club but not good for me as a coach.”

Asked if the A-League should stop when players are absent on Socceroos duty, Aloisi said: “If you’re going to have three players away for three weeks then yes.

“And I don’t know what condition they are going to come back in either.

“They have four games in eight days and by all means I’m not blaming the coaching staff of the national team because they have to worry about their job.

“But it doesn’t make life easy for me. If I’m under pressure and I’m not winning games they don’t care.”

Aloisi was also irate at the performance of referee Strebre Delovski, who he feels should have sent off Sydney defender Fabio for a terrible challenge on Ben Garuccio in the second half.

Garuccio was forced off with an ankle injury which is almost certain to keep him out of next weekend’s home clash with Perth.

An angry Aloisi said: “It was not a good tackle at all. I’m struggling to have players and then that tackle happens and there’s not even a yellow card.

“He’s (Garuccio) not good. It’s disappointing because it’s a tackle from behind and it hurts my player that I have to take him off and there’s not even a yellow card.

“I saw the replay and it’s probably a red card and I have to go one less player again.

“I keep my mouth shut every week about things and it doesn’t get me anywhere.”