Rival coaches and former Socceroos forwards John Kosmina and David Mitchell have expressed sympathy for out-of-touch Sydney FC striker John Aloisi following the World Cup hero’s embarrassing brace of misses against Perth on Sunday.
Aloisi, signed from the Mariners in the off-season in a deal worth $1.3m a year, blew two certain goals during a forgettable first half display as the sky blues crashed to a 4-1 defeat.
The second of the opportunities – a tap in to an open goal from a metre out – left the shattered marksman on the ground clutching his head in the foetal position.
Kosmina dragged the misfiring Aloisi – scorer of just two goals this season – from the bench after 55 minutes, with boos raining down from the SFS stands.
“There’s not much you can say is there?” the Sydney boss said after the game.
“(You’ve) just (got to) keep your head up. That’s how it goes sometimes.”
“When things aren-t falling for you, they’re not falling for you and you’ve got to look at what you can do to change it.”
“They were gilt-edged chances, especially the second one, but strikers miss chances.”
Glory coach Mitchell added: “John Aloisi’s been a great striker for Australia and it’s sad that the crowd got on his back and booed.”
“When it’s not going for you sometimes that happens.”
“It’s unfortunate.”
Aloisi cut a distraught figure on the bench after being replaced but his skipper Steve Corica backed the one-time international to eventually bounce back.
“Obviously he’s going through a tough time but he’s just got to keep his head up and hopefully the chances he’s getting he’s going to score soon,” Corica said.
“You all go through bad times and your good times.”
“He’s a good professional and he-ll get on with it.”
