The Brisbane Roar only have one goal from two games, but considering their dominant performances against Hyundai A-League heavy-weights Gold Coast United and Sydney FC, coach Ange Postecoglou doesn’t want to hear a word about it.
At a press conference held at Suncorp Stadium a day out from the Roar’s clash with the likewise undefeated Wellington Phoenix, Postecoglou was exasperated to be asked first about his side’s lack of finishing touch.
“That’s a negative way to start isn’t it,” he said.
“Unbeaten? No goals against? Playing some pretty good football?”
“It’s not really a concern. At the end of the day you look at the way we’ve played we’ve certainly created enough opportunities and we’re hitting the target with those opportunities.”
“It’s the hardest part of the game to score goals.”
Mitch Nichols, Kosta Barbarouses and Thomas Broich have all shown the ability to play each other into space and find room to fire in front of goal, but not one has looked to have completely focused their radar in the 2010/11 season.
The Roar’s one goal from two outings doesn’t bode well in comparison to Wellington’s haul of five, but Postecoglou says the Roar will trust their defence and remain confident that their high intensity attack will eventually yield goals.
“We need to get our midfielders scoring goals, and I think Mitch (Nichols), Matt McKay, Thomas Broich, Henrique, all these guys, Massimo Murdocca, Erik (Paartalu), they’re all capable of scoring so I guess it’s just a matter of them keep performing at the level they are and when they get the opportunity, take it,” he said.
“It’s the hardest part of our sport. People say that we should be scoring more goals, but it’s not the nature of the game. A great performance doesn’t necessarily mean five or six goals.”
The Roar have rebuilt and worked hard following last season’s disappointing ninth-place finish. The early results have been positive, but while Postecoglou will take the rewards, in a 30-round season the Brisbane coach is digging in for the long-haul.
In line with the Roar’s long-term thinking, injured players Murdocca and Reinaldo will continue their gradual return to the fold, with both men named on the bench and tipped by the coach for minutes in the second half.
“There’s a hell of a long way to go and we just want to make sure that everyone we’ve got (is okay),” said Postecoglou.
“For us it’s about management and Reinaldo’s had some hammy problems and we won’t throw him in there until he’s 100 percent ready.”
“Because the team’s playing so well at the moment we just want to make sure that we’ve got enough stocks if we do get some injuries along the way.”
“Hopefully he’ll get another half an hour under his belt tomorrow, and then be ready to go the week after.”
“Massimo is good. Again, we could have pushed him last week, but we’ve given him an extra week. And again with the team playing well there’s no need to rush him in there. When the opportunity comes he’ll be ready to go, so he’ll come off the bench as well.”
In Friday’s clash both teams will have be given a stern test of their early promise. Wellington again look to confront their issues of playing away, and Brisbane will take on a side full of players riding high from World Cup experience.
As soon as the match with Sydney FC ended last weekend, Postecoglou was looking ahead to the dangerous Phoenix match and the Roar coach has an abundance of respect for his side’s Round 4 opponents.
“They’re a good side and they’re probably riding that wave of emotion still after the World Cup,” he said.
“They’ve had a good start to the season and I guess for them their sights for this season after going close last season is trying to win the thing, so it’ll be a good test for us.”
“We certainly respect the fact that they’re a good side who have a couple of really good individuals as well.”
“Paul Ifill is one of the outstanding players in the Hyundai A-League, so when you’ve got that sort of weaponry in you, it’s got to be respected.”
