On the surface, Sydney FC veterans Ivan Necevski and Hayden Foxe appear the unlikeliest of saviours.
Goal-keeper Necevski failed to play a single game for the Sky Blues last season, forced to sit on the bench as the reliable Clint Bolton safeguarded the sticks in the club’s double title-winning campaign.
The veteran Foxe played a total of 195 minutes in 10 games off the same bench, his card seemingly marked as a permanent reserve.
But after his side shipped 19 goals in the first 11 games of this season, Sydney coach Vitezslav Lavicka looked at his back-up troops and decided it was time for change.
Liam Reddy lost his spot in goal, replaced by the patient Necevski, while central defender Foxe was drafted in to fix the numerous leaks at the back.
In the six games Necevski and Foxe have appeared together, the Sky Blues have kept four cleans sheets in picking up 11 points from a possible 18.
The turnaround has helped lift Sydney from the bottom of the table to four points outside the top six ahead of Wednesday night’s meeting with Wellington at the SFS.
“We’ve rectified things and we want to keep that going the rest of the season,” Necevski told Sportal on Monday.
“It’s a reflection on how hard the team’s been working, particularly in defence.”
“There is a lot of communication coming through the spine of the team because Hayden and I are both talkers.”
“If someone is cutting in behind our defence I can let the boys know exactly what’s going on and keep them on their toes.”
“I like to give them as much information as possible because it makes their job and mine a lot easier.”
Asked what Foxe has brought to the team, Necevski replied: “A lot of experience.”
“He’s played in some big leagues around the world and is a leader on the field.”
“He doesn’t shut up, which is good. The more you talk the more you stay involved in the game.”
“He’s been great for us.”
