Robinson's reaction to draw

Wanderers A-League head coach Carl Robinson on Tuesday’s draw announcement and how the team is progressing with their pre-season preparation.

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The countdown is now on for the start of the A-League season with Robinson’s men set to take on newcomers Macarthur Bulls at Wanderland.

For Robinson, the match will be his very first in charge for the Wanderers with the team itching to get going.

“It’s a great start, I think everyone wants to play in good games, big games, so we’re just excited to get going,” said Robinson.

“Probably the hardest thing is waiting another four weeks until we do start.

“It’s been a tough year in general for everyone so to have some football on the horizon and something to look forward to is a positive.”

With a massive month to open the season, the A-League side will play eight games in 34 days to kickstart their 2020/21 campaign including five matches at Bankwest Stadium.

This brings on its own set of challenges and the congestion of fixtures early on is something that Robinson is embracing as it gives an opportunity for every member of his squad to play.

“Four games is always challenging in two weeks, again it’s the old adage that if you want to play every Saturday, which is a settled schedule, then players not in the team want to know why they’re not playing games,” explained Robinson.

“What I will say is that with four games in a short period that the squad will be used.

“Everyone will get a chance to play, we’ve got a lot of talented young players here at this football club which is really exciting for the future and they’ll be able to showcase their talents.

“But it’ll be up to them how much they play based upon what they do in training, if they’re showing up at training and playing in practice matches they will get more time.”

Robinson provided an update on how the team was progressing with their pre-season preparations as well as his implementation of a new mentality and culture at the Red & Black.

“I would say we’re about 60%, we’ve still got three of four key additions that I’m trying to get up to speed that have not been involved in my training group yet,” said Robinson.

“I’m still looking to try and add three, possibly four, players to a group of young players.

“Since the day I have walked into the door the players have been terrific. It’s a very different way of playing, I’m challenging them every day. It’s not easy, because we train intensely, we do double sessions and I’m trying to build this mentality, environment, and culture.

“Everyone says it and they throw out these random words all the time that when there’s change needed it’s this and that, football is very simple.

“You have to train the way you want to play. If you train properly, you play properly. You have to be organised and work in the moments in the game and the phases in those moments. It’s about training them to know what I want and what I require.”