Even captain Alex Brosque admits he is surprised by Sydney FC’s record-breaking start to the A-League season.
But he is confident they can extend their 12 game unbeaten run on Friday night against second-placed Brisbane, who will be without Brett Holman.
Brosque’s Boxing Day brace helped the Sky Blues romp to a 4-0 win over Adelaide United, extending their unprecedented run.
They now have nine wins and three draws – the best start to any Australian national league season – after 12 games.
Much to Brosque’s amazement.
“I was a bit surprised when I looked at the stats,” Brosque told AAP.
“But looking at the amount of points we have got is definitely tough to do.
“Especially in a competition like ours. With the salary cap the teams are so even, anyone can beat anyone.”
But Brosque is confident no one will be beating Sydney FC any time soon.
The Sydney FC striker confident in the belief there is no better time to play the Roar than when they are without Holman at Allianz Stadium.
The former Socceroos attacker has been sidelined since earlier this month with a knee injury.
“I think them losing Holman in the last few weeks has hurt them a little bit,” Brosque said of the Roar.
“It has hurt their go forward.
“I think we are getting them at a good time.”
Sydney FC are nine points clear of Brisbane and now Brosque wants to put daylight between the Sky Blues and the Roar.
“This is one, if we can beat Brisbane we get a fair gap between us and them,” he said.
“We want to finish this Christmas-New Year period strong.”
Brosque’s double against the Reds ensured he became just the second player to score 50 goals for one A-League club.
He notched goal No.50 and No.51 in Adelaide on Boxing Day to gain entry to the elite club.
Archie Thompson is the only other member of the club after he scored 90 for Melbourne Victory
“It’s nice. It shows if anything what the club means to me,” Brosque said.
“I can’t see myself at any other club.”
Aaron
Roar Rookie
After seeing victory pick apart the mariners maybe the sky blues should be more worried about the lads in navy than brisbane roar. That said 9 points isn't beyond brisbanes reach. On the other hand 36 undeafeted (how's that for invincible) is a little too far for sydney to manage but not a bad effort none the less.
punter
Guest
I was at Manly Beach all day today. What did you do to escape the Melbourne weather? Shopping again?
steve
Guest
Sydney sporting fans are well known for their failure to attend sporting events in their own city. SOO is the prime example where the boffins in charge are handing out heavily discounted tickets, if not freebies, to build the crowd numbers.
Nemesis
Guest
For sure. Looking forward to it already. Let's hope both teams bring their A Game.
Caltex & SBS support Australian Football
Guest
I hope you will enjoy the game Nem, on SBS2, I know I will, no matter how many turn up!
Nemesis
Guest
Absolutely. Yet, when they visited Sydney FC for a Derby Match, only 15k fans turned up. It's a real shame that NSW teams don't make use of the 12 derby matches every season to travel to all games.
punter
Guest
A team from Gosford that has been to as many GFs as the mighty MV. Think about that.
Nemesis
Guest
Meanwhile in Melbourne, the Victory pulled a crowd of 20,500 to watch a team from Gosford. Extraordinary stuff.
Realfootball
Guest
I'm tipping 13000. SFC are struggling to pull a crowd at the moment. Don't know what more they have to do.
MoriartyExp
Roar Rookie
Lets hope a good crowd turns up at SFS for the game, will be a sunny day in Sydney, top of the table clash, come one Sydney peeps, over 20,000 would be fantastic. I'm hoping for Ryall to start over Jurman as his passing game is so much better, Jurman is the turnover king (I think that's why him and O'Neil got dropped) Also hoping Ibini gets some solid game time, even pushing Brosque up front with Holosko and Ibini on the wings with Ninkovic sitting behind Brosque.
Waz
Guest
And I am agreeing with (most) of what you've said. All I'm saying is a few posters are getting carried away and acting as if their opinion is fact, I'm all for opinion.
Realfootball
Guest
Waz, this is an site where football aficionados post opinions. Whether they stack up against a club's football dept is neither here nor there. I'm sure players couldn't give a toss, nor football departments, nor should they. It's just chewing the fat with like minded people. Once an individual puts themselves up on the stage of any kind, the audience, paying its money, has a right to comment. The performer/audience relationship is not just one of passive spectatorship, but of active engagement. When a creative work enters the public sphere, it is fair game, and you accept the good with the bad. Footballers are no different. As the aphorism goes, if they don't like the heat, they can always stay out of the fire. And, I might add, they are very well compensated financially. In particular, I have no sympathy for Holman, who stayed away from the A League until better paying offers dried up. We got him when we were all he had left, to be blunt.
Waz
Guest
To be fair the anonymous posters on this site discussing Holman (who don't even use their real name even) are up against the football department at The Brisbane Roar. Much as I defend fans right to an opinion let's not over inflate our position in this; and Roar are unbeaten in ten games and the reason it's not better is because of an inability of last seasons star striker to convert chances to goals. Holman has played well this season.
TheMagnificent11
Roar Guru
Whoops, double post
TheMagnificent11
Roar Guru
I don't think he's marquee standard either. Just saying that he's not the complete muppet some make him out to be.
TheMagnificent11
Roar Guru
I don't think he's marquee standard either. Just saying that he not the complete muppet some make him out to be.
Waz
Guest
fair enough, but the boy was hitting the ball well last season and he's had just as many chances this season but he's regularly butchering them. It wouldn't be the first time a players form has dipped over contract uncertainty
Mister Football
Roar Guru
I'm with Realfootball on this, and I think the early threads when Holman was first signed will show that we both argued he was not up to marquee standard (especially as a 34 year old), and that a player whose main asset is pace, hard running, and harrying defenders should never be a candidate for marquee status (and no doubt we would have mentioned his horrendous first touch on more than one occasion). Of course, many posters at the time were stuck on the fact that he scored on long range goal in the 2010 World Cup....
TheMagnificent11
Roar Guru
Agree that he is technically poor. However, he makes clever runs, works hard in defence and puts in some decent balls in behind. All reasons why coaches love him. I think he was a starter under van Gaal at AZ when they won the league. He has deficiencies, but he has qualities as well.
Realfootball
Guest
I'm sorry, Waz, I can't accept that McClaren's poor finishing this season is due to his contract situation. He's just not hitting the ball well.