Nick Carle insists Sydney FC’s star-studded combinations will improve with every game as the Sky Blues look to fuse marquee signing Brett Emerton into a new-look squad.
Sydney coach Vitezslav Lavicka’s decision to play Emerton in a wide left role for much of Saturday’s 2-0 loss to Brisbane Roar has come under question in recent days, with calls for the Socceroos star to be used more centrally.
Lavicka is still juggling with his best set-up with Emerton’s arrival, the return of Slovakian midfielder Karol Kisel and a squad brimming with attacking talent in Karle, young gun Terry Antonis, Terry McFlynn, Mark Bridge and Bruno Cazarine.
But Carle, who has been used up front in Sydney’s opening two matches, felt Emerton was versatile enough to play anywhere on the pitch and said the squad simply needed time to build combinations.
“I think that was the first time we’ve fielded that team, so it’s obviously going to take a few games to gel and mould,” Carle said.
“Unfortunately, Karol was injured for a bit of pre-season and Emmo arrived later in the piece and we all haven’t played together too much.
“But I think there’s some very good signs and, when you’ve got players of Karol and Emmo’s quality, we will be dangerous.
“The amount of chances we’ve created in the first few games has been brilliant … so there’s more to come from us.”
Carle admitted Sydney were disappointed with their start to the season, as they remain goal-less after two games following a scoreless draw with Melbourne Victory in their season opener.
But he said there were plenty of positives to take out of the loss to the Roar, who already appear to have reasserted themselves as the competition’s benchmark side.
“I was very impressed with the way Brisbane played although I did think we showed there is a way to beat them,” Carle said.
“I thought we pressed them quite well in the first half … we just gave the ball back cheaply a few times and didn’t finish our chances.
“… If you look at the chances, I really do believe we created the more chances in the game … but they have to be credited for the way they played, it was a brilliant display of football.”
Sydney’s tough draw to the season doesn’t get any easier as they travel to Hindmarsh Stadium to face Adelaide United on Saturday.
“You don’t want to get into a rhythm of drawing or losing games so it’s very important for us to get a win and go from there,” Carle said.
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