Sydney FC coach Vitezslav Lavicka concedes his side has much to improve on in attack but has denied talk they are too reliant on the wizardry of Nicky Carle.
The Sky Blues are enjoying a strong start to the Hyundai A-League season, currently in second position on the back of a four game unbeaten run.
It’s a run of form built more on a well-drilled and structured defence rather than any free-flowing and free-scoring football.
Goalkeeper Liam Reddy is close to the best form of his career while new defensive signings Jamie Coyne, Michael Beauchamp and Pascal Bosschaart have gelled almost immediately.
But at the other end of the field Sydney have managed just seven goals in their first six games, with even last placed Gold Coast (eight) scoring more than Lavicka’s side.
And most of the Sky Blues’ attacking burden has fallen on the shoulders of Carle, with the 29-year-old scoring three and setting up another two of Sydney’s current haul.
Asked if Sydney were too reliant on Carle to make things happen, Lavicka said: “Nicky is doing a great job for us. He’s a valuable player because he sets up the goals and he has score goals for us this season.”
“But Sydney FC is not about one player only.”
“We know we need to improve as a team in attack.”
“It’s one goal before we play the Mariners this weekend.”
Skipper Terry McFlynn added: “Championships are built on defence.”
“We know if we can get that part right, which we have, we can build on the rest.”
“(Mark Bridge) Bridgey’s starting to score now, Nicky’s (Carle) scoring goals, Bruno’s (Cazarine) got goals, there’s goals right throughout the team.”
One of the players that could add goals to the Sydney side is Socceroos star Brett Emerton who will return to the side from national team duty for the clash with the Central Coast on Saturday night.
Emerton played the full 90 minutes for the Socceroos against Thailand on Tuesday and set up the winning goal for Brett Holman.
He will come straight back into the starting side in place of Rhyan Grant, who will be away with the Olyroos with fellow Sky Blues Sebatian Ryall and Dimitri Petratos.
“We are happy Emmo (Emerton) did a good performance. His confidence is probably high,” Lavicka said.
“Now he’s coming back to Sydney this morning to get the medical checking before (the game) and some recovery only.”
“He’ll be ready to play for us.”
Sydney will start favourites against Graham Arnold’s Mariners, who have struggled to recapture their 2010-11 form in the early weeks of this season.
“It’s wrong to judge any team this early on,” McFlynn said of the Mariners.
“But we know what to expect from them. They’re a well drilled side. They’ve got a good structure in place with some talented individuals.”
“Our confidence is high at the minute but we can’t get complacent. We have to keep working hard on a daily basis and the results will follow.”
