Kosmina: Adelaide can bounce back

New Adelaide United coach John Kosmina is confident the Reds can turn things around despite a disastrous start to the A-League season.

Following a dreadful 3-0 loss at home to bottom side Gold Coast United, Adelaide demoted former coach Rini Coolen to a youth development role paving the way for ex-Reds boss John Kosmina to step in.

Kosmina coached Adelaide’s inaugural A-League side and spent close to five years at the club before being asked to step down in 2007.

The 55-year-old rejoined the club on Sunday in the hope of revitalising the Reds, who have won just two games this season and languish in ninth position – one point above last place.

“I think there are the makings of a good side … provided people are aware of what their jobs are and more importantly prepared to do those jobs,” Kosmina said.

“It’s not a team – it’s a group of individuals. They have the basics of a team and have got the foundation but now they need to start operating like a team.”

“That means sometime they do some dirty work to help their friend (team-mate) out and not just play how they want to play for their own benefit.”

Following his appoint on Monday, Kosmina has had minimal time to prepare for his first match in charge, against Sydney on Thursday.

Although having only three training sessions to work with the squad, Kosmina said he was impressed with the immediate change in morale and spirit the players displayed this week despite suffering through a rough patch of form that has seen the Reds winless in five consecutive matches.

“I’ve been happy with their response this week and I think the mood has lifted and gotten better each day,” Kosmina said.

“I can’t judge how they were (training) the week before but I could see they weren’t playing with a smile (against Gold Coast).”

“That’s not blaming anyone, all I’m saying is that when you cop the losses that they’ve had and the way those losses have transpired, then of course you would be glum and your heads would going to be a little bit down.”

“I know you go through bad spells as a player like you go through bad spells as a coach or in life … but you can’t sit there and sulk about it.”

“You got to get out there and do something and I think the players have done that this week.”