the team is starting to get a big head.
Dashing Dutch import Bas Van den Brink has joined outspoken boss Clive Palmer in predicting the near impossible: Gold Coast United can go through the entire season unbeaten.
Derided as delusional when he made his presumptuous prophesy last year, billionaire backer Palmers confidence is now rubbing off on his players, with former FC Omniworld centre-back Van Den Brink one of the pillars at the back for Miron Bleibergs men convinced that after three wins and 10 goals scored with just one conceded, United are on course for a minor miracle.
With the Newcastle Jets at Energy Australia Stadium looming as the next obstacle to be knocked over on Sunday, Van den Brink, 26, told The World Game: "I reckon we can go through undefeated, for sure, but it will be very hard because if you switch off for a second you can get punished.
"We dont fear anybody and we are happy to le them be concerned about us. Lets see what happens but we feel we can achieve big things, just like our owner says.
"Adelaide was our hardest game so far, but we beat them 2-0 after surviving a few sloppy moments and thats given us even more faith in ourselves.
"We think were getting better each time we play. The understanding is getting better all he time."
Van den Brink, a former teammate of fellow United revelation Zenon Caravella at second tier Omniworld, claims Uniteds combination of craftsman and grafters glued together by midfield mainstay Jason Culina - would be good enough to win promotion to Eredivisie if they were deposited into Dutch football.
"We have some outstanding players, everybody is talking about what we are capable of doing in the final third with guys like Shane Smeltz, Joel Porter and of course Jason Culina. And we are proud to have them.
"Its not just hype, those guys are excellent but we are also solid at the back. A lot of thats down to our keeper Scott Higgins.
"We are working hard and making our own good fortune. If we carry on like this it will be possible to be undefeated, but we know there are tough games ahead."
While acknowledging the loss of Adam Griffiths to Saudi outfit Al Shabab bit deep, Van den Brink also hailed the emergence of Michael Thwaite as an astute defensive midfielder and the resurgence of forgotten man Kristian Rees as his centre-back partner.
He also believes Steve Pantelidis, rejected by Melbourne Victory, is proving his doubters wrong.
With an FFA disciplinary hearing on Thursday set to possibly rub Pantelidis out for two games after being charged with striking out at the Fury's Robbie Middleby in round two, Van den Brink believes referees are too harsh on the midfield enforcer.
"Sometimes the officials are too tough on him. Hes been getting yellow cards for quite trivial incidents. Maybe he has some sort of name, but I feel hes been very unlucky in that area."
If Pantelidis does miss out against the Jets, midfielder Robson, who scored in round one against the Roar, is knocking on the door again after recovering from a knee ligament injury.
Van den Brink insists the private jet-travelling aristocrats of the A-League will never become complacent, no matter how much they embarrass their A-League rivals.
"Miron Bleiberg and Paul Okon would never allow that," he added. "And nor would the players. We are a very hard working team and what you have seen in the first three rounds is really the result of all the sweat on the training track over the past months."
He also revealed that hands-on iron ore tycoon Palmer has given the occasional impromptu address to the team, exhorting them to deliver on his pledges.
"Before the first game against the Roar he gave a bit of a speech in the dressing room and the players appreciated it. We feel this is more than just a football club, its got the feeling of a family.
"But he never interferes in what the coaches are doing. He picks his moments well and we all wont to do well for him."
Van den Brink, whose ability to play out from the back has won him many admirers, admits to feeling like a "rock star" each time he boards Palmers corporate jet to wing his way to destinations which have so far included New Caledonia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Adelaide and this weekend Newcastle.
"It does make you feel special, like youre in a rock band," he says.
An appropriate analogy since United are now officially the entertainers of the A-League.
http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/a-league/van-den-brink-tips-perfect-season-227842
