Football: Merrick calls for more ambition in front of goal

Roy Krishna from the Phoenix. Photo / Getty Images.

It's often said the difference between a good team and a great team is their quality in front of goal and after four games of the Wellington Phoenix's season, it's safe to say they are in the good category.

The Phoenix have a squad packed with midfield enterprise who are good enough to make the A-League playoffs this season but, unless there is a ruthless turn-around in their precision in front of goal, it's hard to see them going further than the first or second round.

When coach Ernie Merrick was invited to comment on where things went wrong in their 3-0 loss to Melbourne Victory last weekend, his defence hardly got a mention. Instead, he focused on their naivety and lack of ambition in attack.

"I think we had three one-on-ones with the goalkeeper, but we didn't put them away, and I don't think we have enough players in our team who want to score goals," Merrick said.

The chief culprit of wastefulness in front of goal is Fijian striker Roy Krishna. But he is also their best and most dangerous attacker who has taken on greater responsibility since A-League Player of the Year Nathan Burns left the club.

Krishna is an exciting enigma whose A-League potential is still not clear. Is he good with the potential to be great? He always looks likely to create at least three or four good chances a game, but is often caught pondering, or snatching his shots at the key moment.

"Roy is the only player who looks determined to score goals and he had a wonderful game, but we need to have more players with his attitude," Merrick said. "If the guys genuinely want to get into the finals and achieve something, our attitude regarding goal scoring has to change."

There was a pivotal moment in the second half when the Phoenix were down 1-0 and Krishna was played through on goal but took a loose touch around the goalkeeper, giving a covering defender time to catch up and clear. Merrick used the missed chance to illustrate his point.

"Roy's got to put his body in between the player and the ball so he has to be felled but we're just a wee bit too honest. He went for the ball rather than cut off the defender, and he would have been right through on the keeper."

The Phoenix will be confident of adding to their modest tally of six goals from four games when take on the Central Coast Mariners in Gosford tomorrow night. The struggling Mariners have suffered three-straight losses and have just one win from their opening four games.

The Phoenix are without midfielder Vince Lia, who is set for six weeks on the sidelines with a hamstring injury and is expected to be replaced by Alex Rodriguez. The controversial departure of former Phoenix goalkeeper Liam Reddy from the CCM squad has dominated headlines in Gosford.