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NZ Knights out to improve attack [Thu Sep 1st, 2005]
The New Zealand Knights will look to offer more of a threat in attack when they host glamour club Sydney FC in their first home match of the A-League on Friday night.
Manager John Adshead believed his players "didn't do that badly" in going down to two late goals to the Queensland Roar last Sunday.
But while the Knights defended well for long periods of time in Brisbane, they realise they have to improve in midfield and up front, he said.
They also know they have to start scoring goals.
"We'll tweak the side a little bit and we'll have a little bit more of an attack-minded psyche," he said. "We'll be looking for a bit more from certain areas where we can attack from a little deeper, and we'll certainly be looking for a lot more controlled football in creating better opportunities in and around the penalty area."
Adshead has retained the defensive line-up of goalkeeper Danny Milosevic and a back four of Darren Bazeley, skipper Danny Hay, John Tambouras and Ronnie Bull for the match at North Harbour Stadium.
He said the defence was a sound part of the Knights' display against the Roar, and things came unstuck only in the last 15 to 20 minutes when Tambouras and Bull went off through injury.
Adshead has made two changes elsewhere to his 15-man squad, bringing in strikers Simon Yeo and Noah Hickey, who are both returning from injury and look likely to start on the bench.
Yeo missed most of the Knights' pre-season outings because of a groin injury and the former Lincoln City forward is still working his way back to full fitness.
All White Hickey returns after suffering a hamstring injury in the training game against the Solomon Islands last week.
Making way for them are Zhang Xiaobin, who has a back complaint, and Jeremy Christie.
While Sydney FC, coached by former German World Cup winner Pierre Littbarski, were the pre-competition favourites, Adshead described them as "not unbeatable".
However, after having managed only a 1-1 draw at home to Melbourne in the opening round last weekend, "they are going to be a little hungry for points".
Up front, Sydney will be without former Manchester United star Dwight Yorke and Sasho Petrovski, who will be on World Cup qualifying duty with Trinidad and Tobago and Australia respectively.
The pair between them scored Sydney's three goals in their 3-1 win over the Knights in the pre-season A-League Cup.
Adshead doesn't believe their absence would significantly affect Sydney's chances, saying the visitors had quality throughout their squad.
"It's going to be a really tough battle, but if we can't turn up and be counted, we have to wonder why we're here."
New Zealand Knights' squad:
Danny Milosevic, Darren Bazeley, Ronnie Bull, John Tambouras, Danny Hay, Neil Emblen, Steve Fitzsimmons, Ben Collett, Simon Yeo, Sean Devine, Zenon Caravella, Joshua Maguire, Joshua Rose, Noah Hickey, Glen Moss.
NZPA
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