Defender Matthew Kemp admits it’s worrying that the star-studded Victory side haven’t yet gelled together, but is confident it’s only a matter of time before they do.
Defender Matthew Kemp admits it’s worrying that the star-studded Victory side haven’t yet gelled together, but is confident it’s only a matter of time before they do.
Victory put together one of the most exciting squads in Hyundai A-League history with the signings of Qantas Socceroo Harry Kewell and attackers Danny Allsopp, Marco Rojas and Juan Carlos Solorzano in the off-season.
But despite all the attacking threats the club possess, they have found the back of the net just four times to be ranked worst in the competition.
Kemp, who returned to the starting line-up for the first time in last week’s 0-0 draw with Central Coast, said it will take time before the players find the right chemistry.
“We’re not panicking about it, but it doesn’t feel as if we’re gelling as much as we’d like,” he said after training on Wednesday.
“I don’t know why to be honest. By this point of the season, we’d like it to be a bit more free flowing, but we’ll keep working hard and hopefully it’s going to come.”
“I think it’s coming, we’re working hard all week to be a bit more adventurous to create more chances.”
“It’s just those little things where you know the guy next to you what he’s going to do and he knows what you’re going to do and it becomes second nature.”
“At the moment it feels a bit like we haven’t quite got that (chemistry) – I think that’s still coming and when it clicks we’ll be good and hopefully it comes sooner rather than later.”
While Victory have the best defence in the competition with just four goals conceded, Kemp said the defenders need to improve just as much as the rest of the team if they want to reach the heights they aspire to.
“I think it’s all over the park we need to improve even at the back,” he said.
“We’re not conceding loads, but there’s still a lot we can improve on and that goes all over the park.”
“It’s about gelling together as a team and the defence can help in attack. It’s not just necessarily down to the people who put the ball in the back of the net.”
“If I can get forward and create that extra number that makes someone else’s job easier so I think it’s a matter of everybody all over the park improving.”
Victory take on Perth this Sunday at Etihad Stadium and Kemp is wary of the Glory, who are coming off three straight losses following three victories to start the season.
“They’re still a good side, they’ve made some very good signings and got some very dangerous players so they might be the wounded animal at the moment, looking to bounce back,” he said.
“I think we just need to worry more about ourselves and with the squad we’ve got once we get that chemistry right then I think we should let teams worry about us.”
